Annual Meeting

At KEM Electric Cooperative, we cherish the opportunity to connect with our valued members, and there's no better occasion to do so than our Annual Meeting! It's a time of celebration, collaboration, and community, and we warmly invite you to be a part of this special event.

Thank you for attending the 2024 Annual Meeting! 

KEM Electric Cooperative members gathered in Linton, ND on June 11 for KEM Electric’s 2024 Annual Meeting. Prior to the meeting starting, members enjoyed a complimentary meal prepared by Deb Schumacher. The Prairie Rascal 4-H club assisted members with their meal and drinks. Members were also welcome to visit the operations and safety booth to meet with personnel on current and upcoming projects, and while there, they could register for prizes. Upon arrival members also received an appreciation gift celebrating 80 years of service.

KEM Electric Cooperative chairman, Victor J. Wald welcomed and thanked members for attending the annual meeting. Emma Sanders and Alexis Vetter played an instrumental version of the Star-Spangled Banner. Members listened to cooperative updates from co-managers, Travis Kupper and Jason Bentz as well as chief financial officer, Alex Craigmile. Chief of staff/line superintendent, Dale Nagel and manager of member relations, Marcy Sanders also addressed the membership.

KEM Electric board directors elected

The membership fulfilled Cooperative Principle #2, democratic member control, by voting to fill the board positions from District 1, District 2 and District-at-Large. Representing District 1 John R. Beck, Linton, ND and District 2, Carter Vander Wal, Pollock, SD were re-elected to the board. Anton (Tony) Schaffner, Zeeland, ND was voted to fill the vacant District-at-Large position.

Member focused programs and grants

Susan Meidinger, Operation Round Up vice-chairperson, highlighted the charitable foundations 2023 giving. Operation Round Up is a cooperative program in which KEM Electric members can voluntarily choose to round up their monthly utility bills to the next dollar and donate their pennies. In 2023 KEM Electric’s Operation Round Up board gave $8,650 back to the communities in the service area from schools to fire districts.  

Youth recognized and awarded

KEM Electric annually awards one $500 scholarship to a graduating senior from each of the high schools within its service area. The following students were awarded:  

  • Ashley Public School: Daniel Schumacher, Civil Engineering at North Dakota State University. 
  • Kidder County School: Grace Nicholson, Accounting at Bismarck State College. 
  • Hazelton Public School: Emma May Weiser, Nursing at Bismarck State College. 
  • Napoleon High School: Jazlyn Weigel, Biomechanics at University of Mary. 
  • Strasburg High School: Rebekah Pool, Animal Science at South Dakota State University. 
  • Linton High School: Riley Richter, Computer Science at University of Mary. 
  • Zeeland High School: Dominic Meier, Agribusiness at Bismarck State College. 
  • Wishek High School: No applicants. 
  • GED/High school outside of KEM Electric Service Area/Home school: Abby Rivinius, Nursing at Bismarck State College. 

Also recognized, the recipient of the $1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative scholarship, Teagan Erbele from Napolean High School.  

This year’s Youth Tour recipient was also acknowledged, Bridger Rivinius a sophomore at Gackle-Streeter Public School. Rivinius will join delegates from across the state and nation to learn from and about each other while participating in events that highlight our nation’s rich history, U.S. government, the cooperative business model and rural electrification.

Each year KEM Electric awards Luck-of-the-Draw scholarships to students who registered for the meeting and attended with a parent or guardian. The goal of these scholarships is to encourage the younger generation to learn about the cooperative business model, and to show how their voices can be heard, and their votes count. The scholarships were awarded to Morgan Huizenga from Strasburg, Cheyanne Lindgren from Ashley, and Gracyn Holzer from Linton.

Members recognized for participating

The evening concluded with door prizes being drawn for the members. Prizes ranged from bill credit to Medora Musical tickets.

The board of directors, co-general managers and staff at KEM Electric wish to thank members for participating in the annual meeting of the membership and look forward to meeting members’ electrical needs in the future.