KEC Light Post September 2022

SEPTEMBER 2022

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Proposed bylaw changes

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A supplement to the Oklahoma Living magazine

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

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Renewables Report

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PUBLISHED FOR MEMBERS OF KIAMICHI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

BY BRETT ORME

KEC’s Annual Meeting set for October 1

C HI E F E X E C U T I V E O F F I C E R

Kiamichi Electric Cooperative members can look forward to new things at the 2022 Annual Meeting.

Set for Saturday, Oct. 1, KEC’s Annual Meeting will take place inside the Southeast Expo Center in McAlester off Highway 270.

Registration will open at 8 a.m., and the business meeting begins promptly at 10 a.m.

Whether you’re a McAlester resident or driving in from other parts of KEC’s service area, the meeting this year promises something for all ages.

KEC KIDS CORNER

of course a chance at our grand prize of a $600 bill credit! Prizes will be given away directly following the business meeting. Remember, you must register and be present to be eligible for prizes. To register, please bring your yellow Annual Meeting notice that you receive in the mail.

LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

We hope you and your family plan on attending KEC’s Annual Meeting as Brett and Terri provide entertainment and our employees share how we are working to serve you.

Co-op kids will get a closer look at the life of a lineman at the KEC Kids Corner. Our youngest members will have the chance to see a bucket truck up close at our new Touch-a-Truck event, and they’ll also learn about the dangers of electricity during a KEC Safety Show.

The co-op mascot, Willie the Wiredhand, will be on hand to greet the kids, and they are eligible for prizes too!

PRIZES

Every registered member will receive a grab bag at the door and

Stop by your local Chamber booth to visit with members of your community and to learn about the happenings in your area.

FLU SHOTS AND AIR EVAC

Mays Home Health will be providing flu shots to anyone in need. The Air Evac team will be in attendance to provide enrollment information and to answer general questions about the service they provide.

We hope you and your family plan on attending KEC’s Annual Meeting as Brett and Terri provide entertainment and our friendly employees share how we

are working to serve you.

On behalf of myself, the Board of Directors and staff we are eager to welcome you to the 2022 Annual Meeting!

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PROPOSED Kiamichi Electric Cooperative 944 SW Highway 2 PO Box 340 Wilburton, Oklahoma 74578 tele: (918) 465-2338 toll free: (800) 888-2731 FAX: (918) 465-2950 www.kiamichielectric.org email: support@kiamichielectric.org HOURS OF OPERATION Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm 24-HOUR OUTAGE HOTLINE (800) 888-2731 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mark Ichord, President DISTRICT 6 Ron Pelaconi, Vice President DISTRICT 3 Russell Shaw, Treasurer DISTRICT 1 Amy Miller DISTRICT 2 David Ray DISTRICT 4 Don Parr DISTRICT 5 Larry Culwell DISTRICT 7 Brett Orme Executive Vice President-CEO Kiamichi Electric provides reliable and affordable electricity to members in Pushmataha, Leflore, Latimer, Atoka and Pittsburg Counties.

KEC is seeking to amend its bylaws. Please see the proposed changes in red. Those who register and attend the Annual Meeting Oct. 1 will be eligible to vote in the matter of amending the bylaws as proposed on these pages, as long as a quorum has been established.

BY-LAWS OF THE KIAMICHI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. ARTICLE I MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1. Requirements for Membership. Any person, firm, association, corporation, or body politic or subdivision thereof may become a member in the Kiamichi Electric Cooperative, Inc., (hereinafter called “Cooperative”) by: (a) filing a written application for membership therein; (b) agreeing to purchase from the Cooperative electric energy as hereinafter specified; (c) agreeing to comply with and be bound by the articles of incorporation and by–laws of the Cooperative and any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees; and (d) paying the membership fee hereinafter specified; provided, however, that no person, firm, association, corporation or body politic or subdivision thereof shall become a member unless and until he or itapplicant has been accepted for membership by the Board of Trustees or the members. No member may hold more than one membership in the Cooperative, and no membership in the Cooperative shall be transferable, except as provided in these by–laws.

SECTION 2. Membership Certificates. Membership in the Cooperative shall be evidenced by a membership certificate which shall be in such form and shall contain such provisions as shall be determined by the Board of Trustees. Such certificate shall be signed by the President and by the Secretary of the Cooperative and the corporate seal shall be affixed thereto. No membership certificate shall be issued for less than the membership fee fixed in these by–laws, nor until such membership fee has been fully paid for in cash. In case a certificate is lost, destroyed or mutilated, a new certificate may be issued therefore upon such uniform terms and identity to the Cooperative as the Board of Trustees may prescribe.

SECTION 3. Joint Membership. A husband and wife Individuals may apply for a joint membership and, subject to their compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 1 of this Article, may be accepted for such membership. The term “member” as used in these by-laws shall be deemed to include a husband and wife individuals holding a joint membership and any provisions relating to the rights and liabilities of membership shall apply equally with respect to the holders of a joint membership.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the effect of the hereinafter specified action by or in respect of the holders of a joint membership shall be as follows: (a) The presence at a meeting of either or both shall be regarded as presence of one member; (b) The vote of either separately or both jointly shall constitute one joint vote; (c) A waiver of notice signed by either or both shall constitute a joint waiver; (d) Notice to either shall constitute notice to both; (e) Expulsion of either shall terminate the joint membership; (f) Withdrawal of either shall terminate the joint membership; (g) Either but not both may be elected or appointed as an officer or trustee, provided that both meet the the candidate meets the qualifications for such office.

SECTION 4. Conversion of Membership. (a) A membership may be converted to a joint membership upon the written request of the holder thereof and the agreement by such holder and his or her spouse individual to be added to joint membership comply with the articles of incorporation, by-laws and rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees. The outstanding membership certificate shall be surrendered void,and shall be reissued by the Cooperative in such manner as shall to indicate the changed membership status. (b) Upon the death of either individual who is a party to the joint membership, such membership shall be held solely by the survivor. The outstanding membership certificate shall be surrendered void, and shall be reissued in such manner as shall to indicate the changed membership status; provided, however, that the estate of the deceased shall not be released from any debts due the Cooperative.

Article IV Trustees SECTION 3. Qualifications. No person shall be eligible to become or remain a Trustee or to hold any position of trust in the Cooperative who: (a) is not a current member of the Cooperative and in good standing, actually receiving service and who must be a bona fide resident of the Districts served by the Cooperative; (b) is in any way employed by or has financial interest in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative or a business engaged in selling electrical or plumbing appliance fixtures or supplies to the members of the Cooperative; (c) is an incumbent of or candidate of an elected public office in connection with a salary or compensation in excess of $1000.00 annually; (d) while a Director and during the three (3) years immediately before becoming a Director, has been employed by the Cooperative or an employee of an entity controlled by the Cooperative or in which the Cooperative owns a majority interest (“Cooperative Subsidiary”), or have been a director, officer, employee, or agent of a union or other entity representing, or seeking to represent Cooperative employees regarding the terms and condition of employment with the Cooperative; (e) has done business with the Cooperative or have family that has done business with the Cooperative for goods or services or in which the Cooperative owns a majority interest (“Cooperative Subsidiary”) during the preceding three (3) years; (f) have any conflict of interest; (g) is not able to pass a background and credit check; (h) is in violation of the Cooperative's Nepotism Policy; (i) does not hold a high school diploma or equivalent certification; (j) does not have the capacity to enter legally binding contracts; or (k) is not a citizen of the United States of America

Upon the establishment of the fact that a Trustee is holding office in violation of any of the foregoing provisions, such member shall automatically be removed from office. Nothing contained in this action shall affect in any manner whatsoever the validity of any action taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE VII

Article IV Trustees

SECTION 3. Qualifications. No person shall be eligible to become or remain a Trustee or to hold any position of trust in the Cooperative who: (a) is not a current member of the Cooperative and in good standing, actually receiving service and who must be a bona fide resident of the Districts served by the Cooperative; (b) is in any way employed by or has financial interest in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative or a business engaged in selling electrical or plumbing appliance fixtures or supplies to the members of the Cooperative; (c) is an incumbent of or candidate of an elected public office in connection with a salary or compensation in excess of $1000.00 annually; (d) while a Director and during the three (3) years immediately before becoming a Director, has been employed by the Cooperative or an employee of an entity controlled by the Cooperative or in which the Cooperative owns a majority interest (“Cooperative Subsidiary”), or have been a director, officer, employee, or agent of a union or other entity representing, or seeking to represent Cooperative employees regarding the terms and condition of employment with the Cooperative; (e) has done business with the Cooperative or have family that has done business with the Cooperative for goods or services or in which the Cooperative owns a majority interest (“Cooperative Subsidiary”) during the preceding three (3) years; (f) have any conflict of interest; (g) is not able to pass a background and credit check; (h) is in violation of the Cooperative's Nepotism Policy; (i) does not hold a high school diploma or equivalent certification; (j) does not have the capacity to enter legally binding contracts; or (k) is not a citizen of the United States of America

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D BYLAW CHANGES Upon the establishment of the fact that a Trustee is holding office in violation of any of the foregoing provisions, such member shall automatically be removed from office. Nothing contained in this action shall affect in any manner whatsoever the validity of any action taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE VII NON–PROFIT OPERATION SECTION 1. Interest or Dividends on Capital Prohibited. The Cooperative shall at all times be operated on a cooperative non–profit basis for the mutual benefit of its patrons. No interest or dividends, other than “patronage dividends” as defined below, shall be paid or payable by the Cooperative on any capital furnished by its patrons. The term “patron” as used herein shall mean only a person, firm or entity with whom the Cooperative does business, either as a member with provisions of these Bylaws or as a non-member by authorized contractual authority.

SECTION 2(a). Patronage Capital in Connection with Furnishing Patronage Business. In the furnishing of services of all kinds, including furnishing of electric power and energy, the Cooperative’s operations shall be so conducted that all patrons will through their patronage furnish capital for the Cooperative. In order to induce patronage and to assure that the Cooperative will operate on a non–profit basis, the Cooperative is obligated to account on a patronage basis to all its patrons, and to assign patronage dividends in an aggregate amount equal to the Cooperative’s current Federal taxable income related to its patronage business (computed assuming no deduction for patronage dividend amount and after reduction for any losses and deductions incurred during prior years and deductible by Cooperative in computing its current taxable income). All such amounts in excess of operating costs and expenses at the moment of receipt of the Cooperative are received with the understanding that they are furnished by the patrons, members and non–members alike, as capital. The Cooperative is obligated to pay by credits to a capital account for each patron all such amounts in excess of operating costs and expenses. The books and records of the Cooperative shall be set up and kept in such a manner that at the end of each fiscal year, the amount of capital, if any, as furnished by each patron is clearly reflected and credited in an appropriate record to the capital account of each patron, and the Cooperative shall within a reasonable time after the close of the fiscal year, notify each patron of the amount of capital so credited to his account.

The Cooperative shall recoup amounts owed from member and former members from capital credit retirements. If either party requests a separation of a joint membership, except as otherwise ordered by a court, the Cooperative shall assign each party 50% of the allocations and retirements. Capital credits of deceased, except as otherwise ordered by a court or instructed by the deceased individual legal representative, shall be transferred to the next of kin presenting Certificate of Entitlement. Except as otherwise ordered by a court or instructed by a dissolved, liquidated, sold, or transferred Entity Patron’s legal representative, the Cooperative shall assign or transfer the Patron’s Capital Credits to the Patron’s owners based upon ownership. The Cooperative may regularly impose a yearly dormancy or service charge for each year a Patron or former Patron fails to claim Capital Credits retired and paid to the Patron or former Patron.

All such amounts credited to the capital account of any patron shall have the same status as though they had been paid to the patron in cash in pursuance of legal obligation to do so and the patron had then furnished the Cooperative corresponding amounts for capital. All other amounts received by the Cooperative from its operations in excess of costs and expenses except those outlined in Section 2(b) shall, insofar as permitted by law, be (a) used to offset any losses incurred during the current or any prior fiscal year and (b) to the extent not needed for that purpose, allocated to its patrons on a patronage basis and any amount so allocated shall be included as part of the capital credited to the accounts of patrons, as herein provided.

In the event of dissolution or liquidation of the Cooperative, after all outstanding indebtedness of the Cooperative shall have been paid, outstanding capital credits shall be retired without priority on a pro rata basis before any payments are made on account of property rights of members. If, at any time prior to dissolution or liquidation, the Board of Trustees shall determine that the financial conditions of the Cooperative will not be impaired thereby, the capital then credited to patrons’ accounts may be retired in full or in part. Any such retirements of capital shall be made in order of priority according to the year in which the capital was furnished and credited, the capital first received by the Cooperative, being the first retired.

Capital credited to the account of each patron shall be assignable only on the books of the Cooperative pursuant to written instruction from the assignor and only to successors in interest or successors in occupancy in all or a part of such patron’s premises served by the Cooperative unless the Board of Trustees, acting under policies of general application, shall determine otherwise. In the event that a non–member patron shall elect to become a member of the Cooperative, the capital credited to the account of such non–member patron may be applied by the Cooperative toward the payment of a membership fee on behalf of such nonmember patron.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these by-laws, the Board of Trustees, at its discretion, shall have the power at any time upon the death of any patron, if the legal representative of his estate shall request in writing that the capital credited to any such patron be retired prior to the time such capital would otherwise be retired under the provisions of these by–laws, to retire capital credited to any such patron immediately upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Trustees, acting under policies of general application and the legal representatives of such patron’s estate shall agree upon; provided, however, that the financial condition of the Cooperative will not be impaired thereby.

Make payments and report outages using our free mobile app

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operation round up M O N T H LY U P D AT E Operation Round Up® is a voluntary bill roundup program that benefits local communities, organizations ,and needy families.

Funding applications are available at Kiamichi Electric, local social services, or online at www.kiamichielectric.org.

YEAR-TO-DATE COLLECTIONS 2022: $31,493.00 TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS SINCE INCEPTION: $1,689,078 TOTAL COLLECTED SINCE INCEPTION: $1,793,555

One-Pot Chicken Enchilada Mac & Cheese INGREDIENTS

• 16 ounces elbow macaroni • 1 (10 ounce) can red enchilada sauce • 1 cup half-and-half • 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies

• 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese • 2 cups shredded pepperjack cheese • 2 cups cubed cooked chicken • ¼ cup chopped cilantro

DIRECTIONS

Energy Efficiency

Tip of the Month Our faucets and appliances use a lot of hot water. You can lower your water heating costs by using less hot water in your home.

Water heating accounts for a large portion of home energy bills. To save energy (and money!) used for water heating, repair any leaky faucets, install low-flow fixtures and insulate accessible hot water lines.

When it’s time to purchase a new washing machine or dishwasher, look for models that are ENERGY STAR®-certified.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Combine enchilada sauce, half-and-half, and green chiles in the same pot over medium heat and cook until warm, 5 to 10 minutes. Slowly add Cheddar cheese and pepperjack cheese and whisk continuously until melted, about 5 minutes. Return cooked macaroni to the pot. Add chicken and cilantro and stir until combined and heated through, about 5 minutes more.

Renewables Report

Data collected from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative — KEC’s wholesale power provider — reflects generation during May 2022, which shows 43 percent of the power generated by WFEC came from renewable sources.