Are You Ready to Serve? 

Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative Accepting Nominations for Board Trustees to Serve in Lane/Gove, Ness/Rush and Scott/Logan County Districts

In one of the most notable inaugural speeches given, John F. Kennedy spoke his famous words, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” His inspiring words urged Americans to take actions that benefited the greater good. In essence, Kennedy was saying our country thrives when we all contribute our talents to the common good.

On a smaller scale, I think the same can be said about our co-op, specifically with regard to our board members. Lane-Scott Electric’s board members are community-minded individuals with a variety of skill sets. Our board is made up of farmers, business owners, community leaders, etc. We rely on their many talents to help us make informed decisions on long-term priorities and investments. Our directors live right here in the co-op’s service area, and we consider them the eyes and ears of the community because they provide their perspective on important community issues to the cooperative.

We recognize it takes many people with different skills to create a well-rounded board representative of the full spectrum of our communities. We want folks with diverse perspectives, experience, expertise and views. We’re seeking local members of our community who can apply their unique talents to benefit all our friends and neighbors. But above all else, we’re looking for people who love our community and want to see it thrive now and in the future.

What does it mean to serve on the board?

Serving on Lane-Scott Electric’s board means you’re making a difference locally, using your individual talents and perspective to guide big decisions about the co-op that in turn benefit the larger community. While day-to-day decisions are made by co-op staff, major decisions are made by the board, whose mission is to look out for the vitality of the co-op and the community it serves. On a granular level, Lane-Scott Electric board members typically provide input and guidance on:

• budgets
• co-op goals and direction
• co-op’s community/charitable contributions
• capital investments and upgrades in equipment and technology
• renewable investments and energy mix
• co-op’s role and involvement in economic development

In addition, Lane-Scott Electric board member delegates also serve on the Sunflower Electric Board of Directors and Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Board of Trustees.

Opportunity to Serve

Lane-Scott Electric’s board election results will conclude in July at the Annual Meeting. Trustee terms rotate every three years between the nine trustee positions. Every year, trustee positions whose three-year terms have expired are open to nominations. This year the county districts up for election are Lane/Gove, Ness/Rush, and Scott/Logan county districts. Candidates must be a Lane-Scott Electric member, using, receiving, or purchasing Lane-Scott Electric electricity in one of the two county districts, and be a bona fide resident.

While you don’t need to be an expert in electricity or business to run, you do need to have a passion for the community and a willingness to actively serve and learn. We’re looking for individuals who can represent the full gamut of the members we serve. Our board meets on a regular basis, and we offer specialized training opportunities to help board members make informed decisions. Board members gain a deeper understanding of the electric utility industry, the cooperative business model and local economic development efforts.

Ultimately, our board is the community pulse for the co-op and helps keep us on the right track. We love the communities we serve and want to help them thrive. If you share the same commitment and want to contribute to the greater good in a tangible way, I hope you’ll consider running for a board position. If interested in running for election this year, contact our office by end-of-day April 18 by calling our office at 620-397-5327 or 800-407-2217.

To learn more about Lane-Scott Electric’s trustee election process and 2024 details, click here.