Manager’s Message — March 2021
LEC Board: Dedication to Service
Dear Co-op Community Members:
Every three years, Lane Electric members have an opportunity to vote for a board member to serve their district. These board members represent you and the unique needs of your district and community. Lane Electric has a seven-member board that serves our four diverse districts. They are dedicated to serving you and their community. If you look at their resumes, you will notice they serve beyond the board of Lane Electric.
Being a board member at Lane Electric requires monthly meetings, staying up to date on issues facing the industry, setting rates, and attending industry meetings. The time required to be a board member is more than the time given attending a monthly meeting. Yet, you will also see these dedicated people serving your communities through youth and senior citizen programs, food banks, school boards, as classroom volunteers, education foundations, Rotary, chambers of commerce, and many more. We are thankful to the current and past members who give so much of their time.
Some of our board members are dedicated to Lane Electric and our members beyond a single term.
I would like to take a moment to appreciate a former board member, Jim Hill, who served on the Lane Electric Board from 1974 to 2013, dedicating 39 years to the board of directors. Jim recently died at the age of 96. He served in every official capacity on the Lane Electric Board. Jim was often appointed to these positions by his colleagues because of his experience and wisdom. He was one of the first directors to complete the comprehensive education necessary to earn board certification credentials from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. In 2013, he was honored with a Life Membership Award from the Northwest Public Power Association. Jim was dedicated to serving Lane Electric and our members.
Just like our current board members, Jim was not only dedicated to his service at Lane Electric. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He also was a lifelong resident of Oakridge, where he and his wife, Dorothy, raised their three children. He devoted time to his community as well, serving youth and senior citizen programs. Jim dedicated 39 years, making our employees and members his utmost priority.
It is people like Jim and all of our Lane Electric board members who help make our communities better. Their time and dedication to service is appreciated by many. I want to thank not only current and past board members, but also their families, who give of their time to serve our members. You are all appreciated!
Sincerely,
Debi Wilson
