Alaska Village Electric Cooperative

Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) held its 39th Annual Meeting on March 25, 2008 in Anchorage, Alaska. Seven board members and 63 delegates representing most of AVEC's 53 member villages met to conduct the annual business of the cooperative.

The meeting opened with a suggestions for improvement session in the morning and the annual meeting itself was conducted after lunch. Early registration and a reception occurred at the AVEC headquarters building the night before. Vests and special t-shirts commemorating our 40th anniversary were distributed.

Continued funding of the Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program is still a major issue of concern with the members, along with the future price of diesel fuel, which has been steadily increasing. Other perennial issues mentioned are the need for qualified electricians in the communities, funding and timelines of future construction projects, clean-up of old tank farm and power plant sites, streetlights, renewable energy and impacts of global warming including leaning poles.

Four people were nominated to run for two open seats on the board of directors: Robert Beans, formerly from Mt. Village; Charlie Curtis of Kiana; Kathy Chase of Holy Cross; and Norman Burgett of Huslia. The delegates re-elected incumbents Robert Beans and Charlie Curtis to serve three-year terms.

The following officers were elected: Charlie Curtis, Chairman; Robert Beans, Vice Chairman; Phyllis Clough, Secretary and Walter Sampson, Treasurer.

Chairman Robert Beans said AVEC's employees are a valuable asset and AVEC’s success over the past 40 years is due in large part to the experience and dedication of long-term employees, delegates, board members and power plant operators. He presented recognition certificates and service pins to long-term employees, delegates, board member and announced the Top 10 Plant Operators.

5 years: Marvin Mahlum, Lonnie Perry, Ciro Rivera and Rigoberto Serrano in Operations; and Katie Whelan in Administrative Services.

10 years: Karl Haddow and Patrick Hughes in Operations; Sherry Kent in Administrative Services; and Brent Petrie in Community Development/Key Accounts.

15 years: Wanda Rasmussen in Operations.

20 years: Mark Hillemeier in Operations.

30 years: Georgia Shaw in Member Services.

5-Years: James Ayuluk from Chevak; John Kelly from Emmonak; Kathy Chase from Holy Cross; and Raven Jackson from Kiana.

10-Years: Denis Shelden from Alakanuk; Ronald Kruger, Sr. from Anvik; Bobby Wyagon from New Stuyahok; and Herbert Lockuk, Jr. from Togiak.

5 years: Phyllis Clough.

Walter Brown from Eek received a gift certificate in recognition of his many years serving as Sergeant -at-Arms at the annual meetings.

AVEC extends a sincere thank you to all of the businesses that supplied donations for door prizes. As usual, we received lots of really nice prizes to give to the delegates, once again making the door prize distribution an anticipated meeting highlight.

Peter Moore of Emmonak won one of the grand prizes - $500 worth of free electric power! Isadore Anthony of Nightmute won the other grand prize, a custom-built trailer donated by Romax, Inc. of Wasilla. AVEC donated the freight charges to ship the trailer to Koyuk.