Annual Meeting Goes Virtual

You’re invited to join Benton REA for the virtual 83rd Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, October 21, at 6:30 p.m.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Benton REA is unable to host a member appreciation event and in-person annual meeting in 2020.

Adapting with the current events, the board of trustees passed a resolution declaring an emergency and invoking section 2.08 of the Benton REA bylaws. This allows for an online annual meeting, with hopes of meeting in person in 2021.

This year’s meeting will be shorter than past meetings—approximately 30 minutes in length—and followed by a member question-and-answer session.

“One benefit to the online meeting is that members can be a part of their co-op business from the comfort of their homes,” says Board President Mike Freepons.

The board of trustees is hopeful members who have never attended an annual meeting will do so this year simply due to the convenience of the online format.

During the meeting, members will hear from Mike, along with Secretary/Treasurer Catherine Russell, Vice President Connie Krull and General Manager Mike Bradshaw.

Trustee ballots not mailed by the July 10 deadline can be placed in the locked drop box in front of the Benton REA office at 402 7th St. in Prosser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 21. Election results for districts 4, 5 and 6 will be announced during the annual meeting.

Members must register for the annual meeting by 4 p.m. on October 21. Go to www.BentonREA.org/AnnualMeeting.