The Homer Electric Association is holding their annual meeting on May 7 at 6 p.m. in Soldotna High School. However, HEA recommends acting responsibly by following state health mandates warning against the risk attached to meetings of more than ten people. They have mailed ballots to members for at-home board voting.
Despite cancellations of meetings across the area, the HEA bylaws require that a meeting of the members take place and be held annually in the first week of May.
Bruce Shelley, HEA Director of Member Relations, says the meeting is still on, but advises members to follow the governor’s advice: “It is a sad point where we’re at today because with the COVID-19 virus / pandemic going on, we have worked long and hard to bring a great 70th anniversary meeting together, but it has been saddened because of this pandemic. Our membership bylaws say that we have to have this meeting, but our governor has asked us, through mandates, not to gather more than ten people together at one location and he has asked us not to travel between communities. We’re told by our bylaws that we have to have the meeting, so we have to have the meeting. So, that is still going on.”
Three director seats, one from each district, are to be filled this year via an election. Ballots and the required notice of meeting were mailed on April 10, with current information in each packet. Members are requested to take the time to read and follow the ballot instructions to ensure their vote is counted. They aim to tabulate results so the election results can be announced on May 7, through local media, the HEA website, and HEA’s Facebook page, at a minimum.
Mr. Shelley: “We do have an election going on for our three districts, and that is going to continue. That is going to happen by mail only. So, when you get your ballot, please get that signed, get it marked with the person that you would like to see as the director in your district, and get them mailed back in.”
Restrictions against large gatherings in Alaska, and travel restrictions are forecast to continue into May, so it is highly unlikely that the meeting can be safely or lawfully held. COVID-19 Health Mandate 9 states that “no gatherings of more than ten people may take place.” HEA has recommended heeding the health mandate.
The required quorum of 50 members will likely not be reached. Under the bylaws, failure to obtain a quorum at the annual meeting would allow a majority of those who are present to adjourn the meeting to another time, or cancel it completely, depending on the circumstances and future outlook. In the event the health mandates at the time of the meeting allow such a gathering and a quorum is reached, a short meeting will be convened, but without the usual meal, reports, presentations, or drawings.
For any members experiencing problems or struggles and are in-need of HEA’s assistance, Mr. Shelley encourages members to contact HEA whenever necessary: “I do want to reach out because there are several people that are hurting due to loss of jobs and their businesses are at stake here. Please call-in to Homer Electric. Let us help you. We don’t know if you need that help unless you can give us a call, so please give us a call. We definitely want to help you during this time. A good number to call in on is (907) 235-8551. We want to help during this time.”
