Who: SAEC Members
What: SAEC 2020 Annual Meeting
When: Tuesday, October 27, 10 a.m.
Where: Pike County Cattlemen's Complex in Troy
With the health and welfare of our members and employees in mind, SAEC will change the format of its 2020 annual meeting:
Instead of the traditional in-person meeting, a drive-thru meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 27, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. SAEC asks members not to arrive before 10 a.m.
Members can register for the meeting and vote without leaving their vehicle. Drive-thru lanes will be set up at the Pike County Cattlemen’s complex in Troy.
Each member who registers and votes will receive a $50 credit to their electric bill and be registered for door prizes drawn at a later date. Members will also receive a hamburger and a goody bag from the cooperative.
Members must show their official annual meeting notice, which they will receive by mail, to register.
Drive-Thru Registration: It’s a simple process
Step 1: Enter Pike County Cattlemen’s Complex off Highway 231.
Step 2: Follow directions to the registration area.
Step 3: Three lines will be available for members to vote and register.
Step 4: Present your registration card to an SAEC employee to vote, register and receive your $50 bill credit.
Step 5: Follow directions to exit behind Pike County Cattlemen’s Complex on Pike County Road 5520
Why We're Changing this Year's Annual Meeting
For more than 35 years, South Alabama Electric Cooperative has conducted the annual meeting without interruption. While the location may have changed, the agenda has always been the same. We come together as a cooperative and enjoy food, fellowship and good entertainment, followed by a business meeting, elections and an address from the general manager.
This year, the coronavirus pandemic has posed a challenge to that tradition. The safety of our members and employees is always the highest priority at SAEC, and it quickly became apparent to the board of trustees there was no safe way to hold this year’s annual meeting in the usual format.
Typically, between 1,200 and 1,500 members attend the meeting. Even hosting it at a facility the size of the Pike County Cattlemen’s complex, there is no way to welcome that many people while observing the necessary social distancing protocols to keep our members safe.
However, the annual meeting is too important for it to simply be canceled. It isn’t just a great opportunity for us to come together as a community, but it is also part of the cooperative’s core mission.
Democratic member control is one of our guiding principles, and there is no better demonstration of that concept than the annual meeting. While there, members can voice their ideas and concerns directly to cooperative leaders and cast their votes for who they think should represent them on the board of trustees.
In order to preserve that member participation while still protecting our community, SAEC’s leadership and board decided to hold this year’s annual meeting in a new drive-thru format. As you have seen on the previous pages, it will work a little differently from our usual event, but it will be just as easy for members to make their voices heard.
In fact, live entertainment is the only part of the traditional annual meeting that members will miss this year. Each member will still be included in a drawing for door prizes, receive a goody bag and get a sack lunch. In addition, every member who registers and votes will win by receiving a $50 credit to their electric bill the following month.
We know these changes may inconvenience some members, but rest assured we are taking every step to make sure the process runs smoothly. The Pike County Sheriff ’s Department will be present to help direct traffic, and cooperative employees will be positioned all along the traffic route to answer any questions you may have.
By holding a drive-thru annual meeting, SAEC will ensure that our members’ democratic control of their cooperative is not jeopardized while also protecting their health and safety. We look forward to seeing all of you next month.