AHOSKIE – Roanoke Electric Cooperative will be holding their annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day this Saturday, Aug. 24 at Hertford County High School.

The annual REC meeting is always held on the fourth Saturday in August. This year’s meeting also coincides with Roanoke Electric’s 75th anniversary of electric power service to rural northeastern North Carolina.

“Sept. 30, 2013 marks a monumental milestone in the existence of the cooperative,” said REC Communications Specialist Brittany Tann. “In remembering our past, we are reminded of the strides that have pushed Roanoke EC into the best position to better bring safe, reliable and affordable electricity to your homes while enhancing the quality of life in our diverse communities.”

“Each year, Roanoke Electric hosts its Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day event in order to discuss official business,” said REC Vice-President of Member Services, Marketing, and Technical Services Marshall Cherry.  “Members vote on Roanoke Electric’s Board of Directors, review our financial performance for the previous year, and give members an opportunity to enjoy the fellowship of other members and the REC staff.”

“It is very important that members attend the Annual Meeting to participate in the election process,” Cherry added. “Each year we select three members to serve as directors for a three-year term and members get to hear reports on the cooperative’s business.”

This year, Roanoke Electric will be celebrating 75 years of hosting this signature event – a major milestone in the cooperative’s history.  In light of this major milestone, there will be some exciting new announcements on this year’s agenda.

One lucky winner will ride away in a 2003 Ford Taurus that will be rotated out of the REC fleet this year.  In addition to the car give away, members are invited to come and enjoy the fun of games, gift bags and other prizes.

Also new on this year’s agenda is the debut of a Teen Summit session.

“This session will educate teens, ages 13-18, about the cooperative way of doing business and the many programs and scholarships that Roanoke Electric has to offer for our next generation of members,” said Susan Tann, Member Services Staff Assistant, who helped coordinate the Teen Summit.

“It’s just trying to get those teens involved so they can help their parents and also help themselves because they’ll be our next generation of members,” she added. “We want to use this to try and put them on a great path for success.”

For more information and to register your teens for this event any member can call 252-209-2267.

This year’s meeting will also include the announcement of the launch of REC’s new program for home energy retrofits.

Roanoke Electric is also excited about receiving an award from CoBank, AgBank and associated partners in the amount of $40,000 for a Sustainable Forestry and African-American Land Retention project at this year’s Annual meeting.

The format of this year’s meeting will be as follows:  Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and will last until 11 a.m.  The Teen Summit session will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

“At 8 a.m. members are also encouraged to attend our Straight Talk forum for the unique opportunity to hear updated information about today’s ever-changing business environment,” said Susan Tann. “Our Annual Business Meeting will begin at 11 a.m. and lunch will be served following the business meeting,” she concluded.

“We are looking for all members to be in attendance for this special event,” said Cherry. “That includes members of our Cooperative Owner’s that have taken an active role in contributing to our political action network for cooperatives.”

Also participating at the annual meeting will be Roanoke EC’s 2013 Scholarship Winner, Montrell Wilson. Other events of note include the Bright Ideas-Youth Tour, the Youth Leadership Camp, and a chance for young members’ children to participate in Roy Williams Basketball Camp held annually in Chapel Hill.

“Come out and celebrate this joyous milestone with us,” said Brittany Tann.

For additional information on this year’s annual meeting, call 252-209-2236.