The 2006 Annual Meeting

REMC annual meeting by Ingrid Lochamire

A record crowd enjoyed good weather, good food and good fun at the LaGrange County REMC annual picnic June 17. A final count of 792 REMC members brought their families and turned out to register for $1,500 in cash prizes, and to enjoy a free lunch along with some entertainment.

Local barbership quartet PAGAJOJI entertained the crowd, while Maple Lane Wildlife Farm kept youngsters busy with a petting zoo and cart rides. The event was truly a family affair, with wives and children of REMC employees and directors pitching in to serve food, run the games and explain the many benefits of REMC membership.

Sponsors of the event, along with the REMC, were the LaGrange County Pork Producers, LaGrange County 4-H, LaGrange County EMS, the LaGrange County Sheriff's Reserve Posse, Farmers State Bank, Prairie Heights FFA, Shipshewana Auction and Parkview LaGrange Hospital.

On the business end of things, the annual meeting opened with a slide presentation highlighting REMC's efforts to assist in clean-up following Hurricane Katrina last fall. LaGrange County linemen Delmar Bontrager and Gerald Young were part of that mission.

The members present voted to re-elect Jeff Hampshire and Mark Bontrager as directors, with all seven directors recognized by board president Hampshire. Hampshire commented that this event saw the largest turnout ever for an annual picnic, up over 200 from last year.

Special guests at the annual meeting were Indiana Rep. Marlin Stutzman and Sen. Robert Meeks, both county residents. Also recognized were past directors and general managers.

Current vice president and general manager Mark Leu noted that the electric cooperative will mark 70 years in business this fall, having run its first line in October, 1936.

"We've come a long way from having to light a fire to cook meals and pumping water by hand," said Leu. He said that today, the cooperative prides itself on providing value to its customers -- "a fair return for their investment." On average, cooperative members in LaGrange County spend about $3.50 per day for "a standard of living we take for granted."

Leu noted another benefit of REMC membership is "having a voice and participating in the future of this business."

The LaGrange County REMC gives back to the community in many ways, including Operation Round-Up, which since its inception has donated over $100,000 to local causes.

Leu assured those at the event that LaGrange County REMC is "committed to providing a cooperative business that supplies value, now and in the days to come."