75th Annual Meeting Highlights
“International Year of Cooperatives-

“Electric Cooperatives Build A Better World” was the theme at this year’s Annual Meeting in conjunction with the “International Year of Cooperatives” year-long campaign for 2012. A short business meeting followed two videos along with the 2012 Director Election results and a report from Hawkeye’s Chief Financial Officer. After the meeting was adjourned, drawings for over $1,000 in electric bill credits, Minnesota Twins tickets donated from Heartland Security, Cabot Cooperative Creamery Cheese Basket, REC RedWing crocks and extension cords were given away this year. Members then joined Hawkeye employees and directors for Kolaches (donated by C US bank), milk and coffee.

CEO Brian Krambeer reported on the following items during his presentation:

• Greatest challenge lies in our cost of wholesale power. “We do not have a National Energy Policy for director on future generation….it will most likely be driven by politics”
• Wholesale Power Increase of 3.7% reflected in rates effective June 1, 2012. Our last rate increase was May 2008.
• Introduced Hawkeye’s NEW Seasonal Rate Structure for June, July and August
• Revealed a new marketing campaign called “TogetherWeSave” – “We have the ability, with your support, to reduce our largest operating expense, hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
• Distribution System Reliability – Senator Harkin recently announced our $7 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Goal to obtain 900 miles of new distribution system – estimated costs of $27 million. Through application and approval of FEMA grants, Hawkeye will incur costs of $4 million. This is a $23 million benefit to the membership. The end result is Increased Reliability.
• Completion of the New Headquarters Facility. Came in under budget at $5 million, financed at 3.3% over 34 years. This is NOT why our rates are increasing.
• New Headquarters incorporates new technology and the end result is we are more efficient and can better serve our members.
• Managing Operating Expenses – Refinanced some of our higher priced loans at low interest rates, have a reduced workforce, utilizing FEMA grants for work plan projects and working close with other cooperatives.
• Shared Services – Hawkeye REC and Tri-County Electric received national recognition this past year in the Rural Electric Magazine for our shared CEO arrangement.
• We are focused on what we can control through the promotion of energy efficiency, reliability, cost saving programs for our membership, and meeting our membership needs with great service. 

 Director Election Results
Hawkeye would like to give a special thanks to Jim Shatek, Jed Becker and Kevin Dykstra for running on the ballot and offering their time and talents to Hawkeye REC. There was no election in Howard District as Roger Nibaur retired after 19 years of service on the board. The board is now at eight (8) members for the 2012 election term.

Dean Fisher
Re-elected in Chickasaw District
Charles Frana
Re-elected in Winneshiek District

Attendance Prize Winners:

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Make Plans to Attend Hawkeye’s 75th Annual Meeting
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
7:00 p.m.
Crestwood High School - Cresco, Iowa

You will receive your 2011 Annual Report in your mailbox during the second week in March 2012 which will include your voting ballot if you live in the Chickasaw or Winneshiek Districts (no election this year in the Howard District). Please call our office if you misplace the report or ballot.

Candidates for Director
Dean Fisher- Chickasaw District
Jim Shatek - Chickasaw District
Jed Becker- Winneshiek District
Kevin Dykstra - Winneshiek District
Charles Frana - Winneshiek District

Look in your Annual Report on pages 5-7 for the director candidate full biographies. There is no election in Howard District this year.

(Article published in the January 2012 REC newsletter)
The Holiday Season is Over…. Now We Turn to the Director Election Season  
We want YOU to Be a Part of YOUR Electric Cooperative

Are you interested in serving as a board member for Hawkeye REC? Consider becoming part of your electric cooperative by submitting your name as a director candidate is this year’s election.  Becoming a director is a great opportunity to learn more about your cooperative, work with local legislators and create new relationships that will last a lifetime.  A director must have the time to attend monthly board meetings, other special meetings and educational seminars which are designed to keep directors informed on the various aspects of Hawkeye REC and the electric utility industry. Their decisions are made in the best interest of the cooperative and they represent the entire membership. Director applications are available by calling (800) 658-2243 or emailing cchristensen@hawkeyerec.com. The application deadline is February 6/13. If you have any questions about serving as a director, contact the cooperative. You can also download an pdf file of the director appliation.

Nominating Committee Members
Tom Sabelka – Chickasaw County
Tony Schwickerath – Chickasaw County
Linus Kleve – Winneshiek County
Thomas Ryan – Winneshiek County

The nominating committee will be meeting on February 13 to select candidates.

Once the nominating committee posts the candidates, a member could also be nominated by petition containing the signature of not less than 1% of the cooperative's membership. Such petition must be received by the Secretary not less than 45 days before April 18. The Secretary shall post the nomination(s) at the office alongside the list of nominations made by the nominating committee.

Directors up for re-election
3-Year Term
Dean Fisher              Chickasaw County
Charles Frana          Winneshiek County

Note:
Roger Nibaur ( Howard County) will be retiring after 19 years of dedicated service to the cooperative. It was voted by the membership in 2010 to change the articles of incorporation from (9) nine to (7) seven board members as directors retire or resign. Therefore, there will not be an election in Howard County this year and the number of board members will be at (8) eight for the 2012 election term.

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