By Nicole Pitcher
At the upcoming LPEA annual meeting, members will be asked to vote on a minor bylaw amendment. It is not a major change, but it does clean up something that has been unclear.
When LPEA sent out mail ballots yesterday, only the members on record at that time can receive and return a ballot. If someone becomes a member after that point, staff cannot issue them a ballot or add them to the process electronically. That has been the practice for years.
But we do not currently have is a bylaw that clearly explains that for members who join our cooperative after the cutoff date.
The proposed amendment adds what is called a “record date,” which is simply a defined point in time that determines who is eligible to receive a ballot. This is a standard approach used by many cooperatives and is allowed under Colorado law. Members who join after that date are still able to vote in person at the annual meeting.
The goal here is clarity, giving staff a consistent way to explain the process and helping avoid confusion during elections. It is a small change that puts into words what has already been practice, making the rules easier to understand for everyone.
Nicole Pitcher is a current LPEA District 1 Director representing Archuleta County customers. While the full LPEA Board of Directors voted unanimously to recommend this bylaw amendment, Ms, Pitcher is writing in her individual capacity to express her personal opinion on this topic.