An update from Central Board President, Bill Davis

What a roller coaster of a year 2020 has been. We were preparing for our 81st Annual Meeting when the pandemic disrupted the world, and it quickly became apparent that we would not be able to have the meeting in May. That seems like ages ago, however, here we are, just one month out from our first drive-through Annual Meeting in four locations. Our staff has put their creative hats on to bring the meeting to you in a manner that is convenient and most importantly, safe for all to enjoy. 

This year, attendance is critical to Central’s business model as members will vote on three bylaw amendments proposed by the board of trustees. Information on the bylaw amendments will be included in your official notice that you will receive by mail later this month. You can also find the amendments on our website at MyCentral.coop/AnnualMeeting.

Voting at member meetings falls under one of the seven cooperative principles that guide co-op operations: Democratic Member Control. It means that you, as a member of Central, select who represents you on the board of trustees and help determine the guiding direction of the co-op. This direction comes from participation in member meetings, answering surveys and being an engaged member. 

Like any successful democracy, the decision-making process does not operate in the dark. We do our best to keep you informed about the financial condition of the co-op, tell you when situations arise that could affect your bill or service, and educate you about the issues involved. We do this through these pages in Oklahoma Living, on our website and social media, and in conversations with you at meetings.

While this year’s annual meeting won’t be conducive to long, face-to-face conversations, that doesn’t mean the dialog must stop. We will make updates to you available via videos posted to our website and social media. You will have the opportunity to hear from Hunter Robinson, our CEO; Carol Dvorak, our secretary/treasurer, and myself as the board president. We have some great things to share with you all! 

We also encourage you to send us an email at editor@mycentral.coop or give us a call at the office. We would be happy to answer your questions and converse with you about the bylaw amendments or other issues you might have. After all, democracies are most effective when the membership is well-informed. 

We hope you will prioritize your democratic member control in Central by attending this year’s Annual Meeting. Watch our website and social media for additional information and watch your mail for the official notice. Be sure to pre-register for your location online at MyCentral.coop/AnnualMeeting or by calling 844-533-4130.