SMECO to Host 66th Annual Meeting
Members to Elect Directors
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) will host its 66th Annual Members' Meeting on Wednesday, September 1, 2004, on the lawn at the Cooperative's Hughesville Headquarters. Registration begins at 3 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m., rain or shine. Members must be registered to vote before 7:30 p.m.
At the Annual Meeting, members will vote for candidates running for five available seats on SMECO's Board of Directors. In Calvert County, incumbent director W. Michael Phipps is running for re-election to the one available seat. In Charles County, directors Gilbert O. Bowling and Francis J. Nimmerrichter are running for re-election for the two available seats. James A. Richards is running for the one seat up for election in Prince George's County, and in St. Mary's County, incumbent director Francis E. Hewitt and candidate George Michael Thompson are vying for the one available seat.
All members, regardless of their county of residence, may vote for directors from all counties and the proposed changes to SMECO's bylaws. Amendments to SMECO's bylaws are being made to modernize the language and eliminate dated material. The proposed changes affect several bylaws, but they will be grouped and voted on as one item.
To register to vote, members should bring their registration postcards to the meeting. The "Membership Identification Cards" were mailed August 12. Members who register to vote will be eligible to win prizes. Drawings will be held for 50 small prizes and six grand prizes: three U.S. savings bonds, two gas grills, and a used SMECO vehicle.
SMECO will serve free soft drinks and ice cream from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. to those attending the meeting. Hot dogs and nachos will be offered for sale, with proceeds to be donated to Charles County Hospice. Entertainment will be provided by the Solid Brass Band from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.; special guest Tom Wisner will also perform one of his songs. Representatives from local organizations and historic sites will set up displays for attendees to view until 7:30 p.m. when the meeting starts. SMECO will have a representative from the Action Committee for Rural Electrification hosting a special display and enrolling members in the Co-op Owners for Political Action program. Co-op members are encouraged to join this political action committee which supports the interests of electric cooperatives and their members.
SMECO encourages members to visit the cooperative's Web site (www.smeco.coop) for more information about the Annual Members' Meeting.
SMECO is a customer-owned electric cooperative providing electricity to over 134,000 services in southern Prince George's County, and in Charles County, St. Mary's County, and all but the northeast portion of Calvert County.