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NDAREC focuses on wise energy use at its 67th annual meeting

Mandan, N.D.—The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) held its 67th annual meeting March 11 and 12 in Bismarck. Implementing the national Touchstone Energy campaign “Together We Save” as the annual meeting theme, NDAREC used the meeting to educate co-op managers, directors and employees on how they can encourage co-op consumers to start making small changes in the way they use electricity to help lower their electric bills and save energy. 

During the NDAREC business meeting, delegates unanimously re-elected Robert Grant, a director from Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, Williston, as president for his second two-year term. They also elected Russell Berg, a director from Cass County Electric Cooperative, Kindred, to serve his first two-year term as secretary. Berg’s appointment filled the vacancy created by the retirement of Ralph Birdsall, Verendrye Electric Cooperative, Velva, from the board. 

During a special luncheon, NDAREC distributed awards conveying special recognition to several individuals who have made a difference in their cooperatives and in their communities. The awards and winners included: 

Cooperative Leadership Award: Presented to Harvey Tallackson, a director from Nodak Electric Cooperative, Grand Forks, and to Birdsall.

Active in the rural electric program for 45 years in April, Tallackson has held all officer positions for Nodak, served on the Minnkota Power Cooperative board of directors for 32 years, and also served on the NDAREC board. Tallackson remains active in the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association and serves as vice chair of the resolutions committee. From 1976 to 2008, Tallackson also served in the N.D. Legislature. During that time, he was on the Senate Appropriations Committee for 29 years and served as chairman of this committee four times. A believer in continuing education, Tallackson earned both the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Credentialed Cooperative Director and the advanced Board Leadership credential.

Birdsall will leave the Verendrye board in June, after 39 years of service to the cooperative and more than 20 years of service at NDAREC, of which he served as secretary for 15 years. Birdsall played a lead role in starting Verendrye’s Co-op Owners for Political Action group. He also served on the Ward County and Berthold Farmers Union boards, participated in the Berthold Economic Development Corporation, chaired numerous community projects, and served as past trustee and current deacon at his church.

Helping Hand Award: Presented to Sen. Dwight Cook (R-Dist. 34), Mandan, the Helping Hand award recognizes faithful friends and strong supporters of North Dakota’s electric cooperatives. Cook earned the award for serving as prime sponsor and helping lead the passage of S.B. 2297 in the last legislative session. This bill reformed the property tax system for electric cooperatives, a measure co-ops have been supporting for many years. A strong advocate and voice for small businesses, farm families and fair tax policies, Sen. Cook currently serves as chairman of the Senate Finance and Tax Committee.

Community Service Award: Presented to Rex Sadler, chief of staff for Slope Electric Cooperative, New England, the Community Service Award is given to those who demonstrate an unselfish commitment to volunteerism. A 35-year veteran at Slope, Sadler has been an active member of the rural fire department since 1975, and has held the office of secretary and treasurer. A former mayor of New England, Sadler has served as a city council member, a member of a special assessments committee, a board member of the local credit union, a member of a community housing committee, and as finance officer for the American Legion Post. He also played a key role in developing the New England Area Strategic Plan.

North Dakota LIVING Magazine Center Pages Award: Presented to Northern Plains Electric Cooperative, Cando and Carrington, for focusing on local topics of interest, balanced by effective attention to national energy issues. This co-op’s overall design was praised for its effective use of photography and for short, reader-friendly items. Connie Krapp, director of communications and community development for Northern Plains, serves as the center pages editor. Jay Jacobson, general manager of Northern Plains, accepted the award on behalf of the co-op.

Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative, Columbus, and Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative, Flasher, also received an honorable mention in this category. Heidi Robbins, member services coordinator, accepted the award for Burke-Divide, and Jackie Miller, manager of member services, accepted the award for Mor-Gran-Sou.

Service Award: Presented to Tammy Kear, operations assistant for NDAREC, who has served the Statewide association for 25 years. Kear started as secretary/receptionist and was promoted to operations assistant in 2000. Her current duties include managing the circulation and postage for the North Dakota LIVING magazine, proofreading the magazine, performing secretarial and accounting duties, and providing support services to the different departments of the association.