Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative members gather in Mandan for 2024 Annual Meeting
Mor-Gran-Sou Electric members gathered in Mandan, ND for Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative’s 2024 Annual Meeting on June 13. Prior to the start of the meeting, members enjoyed a complimentary meal prepared by Border States Electric and the Mandan Rural Fire Department. They were treated to music by The Bluestems and could visit the Bismarck Lark’s mascots. Additionally, upon arrival, members received an appreciation gift.
Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative chair, Steve Tomac welcomed and thanked members for attending the annual meeting. Mandan Boy Scout Troop #54 presented the colors and lead the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance. Members listened to cooperative updates from co-managers, Travis Kupper and Jason Bentz as well as chief financial officer Alex Craigmile. Manager of operations, Gary Fitterer and member service manager, Julie Armijo addressed the membership as well with various updates.
Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Board Directors elected
The membership fulfilled Cooperative Principle #2, democratic member control, by voting to fill the board positions for At Large, Morton County and Sioux County. At Large, Steve Tomac, St. Anthony, ND; Morton County, Kathy Tokach, St. Anthony, ND; and Sioux County, Chad Harrison, Ft. Yates, ND were re-elected.
Member focused programs and grants
Jeff Tweten, Operation Round Up president, highlighted the charitable foundations 2023 giving. Operation Round Up is a cooperative program in which Mor-Gran-Sou Electric members can voluntarily choose to round up their monthly utility bills to the next dollar and donate their pennies. In 2023 Mor-Gran-Sou Electric’s Operation Round Up board gave over $3,600 back to the communities in the service area from schools to fire districts.
Youth recognized and awarded
Mor-Gran-Sou Electric annually awards one $500 scholarship to a graduating senior from each of the high schools within its service area. The following scholarship winners, who were chosen by a panel:
- Elgin-New Leipzig Public School: Ameerah Rosin, Nursing at Dickinson State University.
- Flasher Public School: Javin Friesz, Engineering at Dickinson State University.
- Glen Ullin Public School: No applicants received.
- Hebron Public School: Chezney Erickson, Nursing at Bismarck State College.
- Mandan Public School: Ellie Landeis, Psychology at North Dakota State University.
- New Salem-Almont Public School: Grace Olin, Agribusiness at North Dakota State University.
- Selfridge Public School: No applicants received.
- Solen Public School: Leora Plenty Chief, Northern State University.
- Standing Rock Community/Fort Yates Public School: No applicants received.
- Home school or student outside Mor-Gran-Sou Electric service territory: Edyth Hatlestad, Business at University of St. Thomas.
Also recognized, the recipient of the $1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative scholarship, Elijah Gietzen of Glen Ullin. Braden Schlatter of Glen Ullin was awarded the West Dakota Utility Services $500 scholarships offered to students planning to attend a certified vocational or technical school.
This year’s Youth Tour recipient was also acknowledged, Lucy Blend a junior homeschool student from New Salem. Blend 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 Mor-Gran-Sou 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: Logan Miller, Elizabeth Taylor, Stran Ressler, and Lane Teddick.
Members recognized for participating
The evening concluded with door prizes being drawn for the members. Prizes ranged from bill credits to Medora Musical tickets.
The board of directors, co-general managers and staff at Mor-Gran-Sou 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.
