It’s annual meeting season here at FreeState and that means we’re preparing information, putting together our trustee election, and going through the processes that make being a cooperative member different. I’ve been asked, “why should I go to another meeting?” The answer is because the annual meeting is more than a meeting. It’s an opportunity to engage with your cooperative because we work for each of you.
Here are two reasons why you should attend the annual meeting on Tuesday, April 26.
Electing Your Trustee Representative
Each month, trustees represent you around the boardroom table. They are members just like you who take on the responsibility to review and carry out due diligence on policies that will affect every member of FreeState — including themselves. They are not shareholders, they are members fairly elected by the membership to serve three-year terms. Members who meet the trustee requirements according to the bylaws can run for a trustee position. While our trustee candidates for the 2022 election have already been slated, consider serving your cooperative in the future.
Staying Updated
The annual meeting serves as a place for members to get information on how the cooperative has done over the past year. It is a place to celebrate milestones and discuss industry trends that may impact members. It also creates accountability. Each year FreeState puts together an annual report available to each member that includes financial information, and insight into the overall performance of the cooperative. The annual meeting gives you an opportunity to ask questions and connect with FreeState trustees and staff and industry experts that can answer your questions directly.
There are other reasons to attend the annual meeting, but these two are what drive the staff at FreeState. We want our members involved. We encourage engagement and dialogue. We work for you, and we do our best to provide each member with an avenue to get the most out of your cooperative membership.
And, we’ll provide a meal and a free gift to the first 750 members who attend. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 26. We’ll see you next month!