Amidst continuing concerns regarding COVID-19, this year’s annual meeting is designed to encourage social distancing and allow members to participate in the cooperative’s democratic process as comfortably and safely as possible.

Southwestern Electric Cooperative’s 83rd Annual Meeting of Members will be held at the Bond County Fairgrounds in Greenville again this year. Like last year, the meeting will be offered in a drive-through or pull up and park format. Members may vote and leave or vote and pull into a parking area to await the president’s address, CEO report and election results. 

Attendees will be asked to remain in their vehicles for the duration of their stay. The meeting will be broadcast through a short-range FM transmitter, and attendees will listen on their car radio. 

To expedite voting, members are asked to bring the registration card printed on the back cover of the July or August issue of The Southwestern. The cards are identical and either card will do.

To more effectively practice CDC recommended health guidelines and help ensure member and employee safety, the co-op is encouraging members to vote before the day of the meeting. 

Members will earn a $50 bill credit by presenting their preprinted registration card and voting before Sept. 11. Voting schedules appear below.

In addition to creating an environment which encourages social distancing, the co-op will limit interpersonal contact at this year’s meeting. Southwestern Electric will not serve meals, offer attendance gifts, hold prize drawings, play BINGO or put on a carnival. There will be no drawings for cash prizes or a year of free electricity.

This year, registration will open at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., Ann Schwarm, president of Southwestern Electric Cooperative, and CEO Bobby Williams will deliver their reports. Election results will follow. 

Questions or comments regarding the meeting may be directed to Susan File, vice president of member services, at (800) 637-8667 or susan.file@sweci.com. 

 

Voting Schedule

Members may cast their votes for board candidates in the 2021 election at the times and locations listed below.

 

$50 bill credit with registration card, $40 bill credit without registration card

Greenville office, 525 US Route 40, Greenville, IL 62246 

• Aug. 27 – Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Sept. 1 & Sept. 9 voting extended to 7 p.m.

St. Jacob warehouse, 10031 Ellis Road in St. Jacob

• Aug. 31 & Sept. 8 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

St. Elmo warehouse, 2117 East 1850 Avenue in St. Elmo (frontage road at the I-70 St. Elmo exit)

• Sept. 2 & Sept. 7 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. 

Members must bring the registration card from the back cover of the July or August issue of The Southwestern to receive the additional $10 bill credit.

 

$30 bill credit with registration card, $20 bill credit without registration card

Bond County Fairgrounds, St. Jacob & St. Elmo warehouses    Annual Meeting Day,

• Saturday, Sept. 11, 9-10 a.m. 

Members must bring the registration card from the back cover of the July or August issue of The Southwestern to receive the additional $10 bill credit.

 

Commercial and inactive members please note the following:

Commercial Memberships

• Commercial (business) members are advised that any representative wishing to vote will be asked to present satisfactory evidence that this person has been assigned to act as an agent of the business. A commercial member, just like any other, is entitled to a single vote in cooperative elections.

Inactive Memberships

• Only active members of the co-op are eligible to vote in the election.