Northern Lights 89th Annual Membership Meeting
PrintStory and photos by Elissa Glassman
On a sunny April day, Northern Lights celebrated 89 years of dedicated service to its members at the annual membership meeting at NLI’s headquarters in Sagle, Idaho.
More than 300 people gathered at the celebration with 232 registered NLI members in attendance. They enjoyed barbecued smokies, fresh coffee, and cookies. Also, registered members each received a $25 energy credit and a complimentary gift bag.
The crowd gathered before the meeting to watch NLI lineworkers demonstrate a life-size electrical display. There were also informative display booths regarding electrical safety, 811 call before you dig, and vegetation management, plus a photo booth, games, and more.
At the beginning of the business meeting, members listened to Vienna Soleil sing a beautiful rendition of the national anthem.
The purpose of the meeting was to share reports on the previous fiscal year, elect directors for Districts 3 and 6, and conduct any other business.
One candidate, Steve Elgar, was nominated for District 3. One candidate, Dave Anderson, was nominated for District 6. Pursuant to NLI Bylaws Section 4.04(d), no elections were held in those districts, and Steve and Dave were duly elected to serve another 4-year term.
NLI Board President Steve Elgar discussed the co-op’s charitable donation programs that members can contribute to, including Operation Round-Up and Helping Hand. For Operation Round-Up members can opt-in to have their bills rounded to the nearest dollar. Those funds are donated to local food banks on a monthly basis. Helping Hand—Northern Lights’ energy-assistance program funded by member and employee donations—offers members who are experiencing temporary financial difficulties 1-time assistance on a portion of their power bills. NLI also has a donation committee that contributes to nonprofit organizations throughout our community.
NLI General Manager Annie Terracciano gave an annual meeting message regarding recent projects to enhance NLI’s system in each of its districts.
Keith Simovic, of the accounting firm Moss Adams LLP, reported on NLI’s strong financial standing.
NLI awarded 8 $1,500 educational scholarship certificates, including:
- Lanie Allen of Sandpoint, Idaho.
- Ana Chase of Moyie Springs, Idaho.
- Max Hannum of Trout Creek, Montana.
- Peter Minick of Sandpoint, Idaho.
- Thomas Mooney-Rivkin of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
- Brady Packer of Sandpoint, Idaho.
- Eloise Shelton of Clark Fork, Idaho.
- Sawyer Treadaway of Sandpoint, Idaho.
Congratulations to all of NLI’s scholarship winners.
NLI has been serving members since 1935. NLI was organized to bring electricity to rural areas that investor-owned utilities would not serve. When it was established more than 89 years ago as Northern Idaho Rural Electrical Rehabilitation Association, it was the first rural electric cooperative west of the Mississippi River. Today, it is 1 of the largest cooperatives in Idaho with more than 23,000 accounts.
