Runestone Electric Association members gather for annual meeting

ALEXANDRIA — Runestone Electric Association held its annual meeting on Wednesday, April 23, at the Alexandria Area High School Performing Arts Center.

Board of Directors seats were determined in Districts 1, 3, and 4, and scholarships were awarded to 19 students.

Runestone Electric’s bylaws allow for uncontested director elections to be elected by acclamation. In District 1, Gary (Andy) Anderson, Parkers Prairie, ran unopposed and was reelected, and in District 4, Dave Staples, Kensington, ran unopposed and was reelected.

In the District 3 Director election, Jon Winter, Hoffman, was elected to the Board with 215 votes. Glenn Hjelle, Elbow Lake, received 68 votes, and Lori Sommers, Barrett, received 39 votes.

Winter will serve a one-year term to complete the open term, and Anderson and Staples will serve three-year terms.

Board President Gary (Andy) Anderson and CEO Al Haman reported on the cooperative's activities and financial condition during the business meeting.

“2025 is a big year for REA as we celebrate our 90th anniversary. It all began with a meeting in August of 1935 for folks interested in organizing a cooperative power line company,” Anderson said in a press release.

He highlighted some of the early pioneers and challenges of bringing power to the rural areas, the passing of former REA Director Audrey Hjelle, the Member Tour held in October, Operation Round Up, and the REA employee group.

“At year-end, the cooperative's total assets were $108 million. That includes plant assets like the office and warehouse, lines, poles, and transformers. All our ratios exceed lending requirements. The cooperative finished 2024 with 152 new services built,” Haman said in a press release.

Where and how power is delivered to REA members, potential impacts of tariffs, the future of nuclear energy in Minnesota, and local power reliability were also discussed in the CEO Report.

Nineteen students whose parents or guardians are REA members received $1,000 scholarships funded through unclaimed capital credits. Randomly drawn from each of the seven REA districts, winners include:

Weston Olson, parent of Garth Olson of Miltona

Paislee Dummer, parents Erik and Carrie Dummer of Alexandria

Pearse Byrne, parents John Byrne and Kelly Jahner-Byrne of Woodbury

Brooklyn Taylor, parents James and Natasha Taylor of Alexandria

Sadie Koehler, parents Rodney and Kelly Koehler of Morris

Evan Rollofson, parents Chad and Gwen Rollofson of Barrett

Justin Miller, parents Jason and Julie Miller of Herman

Alex Aldis, parents James and Carmen Aldis of Alexandria

Addison Staples, parents Dave and Amy Carlson of Kensington

Natalie Meichsner, parents Bryan and Lisa Meichsner of Brandon

Tyler Spaeth, parents Jeremy and Carla Spaeth of Alexandria

Zachary Anderson, parents Randy and Nicole Anderson of Alexandria

Mason Gorghuber, parents Eric and Bonita Gorghuber of Garfield

Jaxson Bakeberg, parents Kyle and Tina Bakeberg of Nelson

Grace Reinke, parents Keith and Angela Reinke of Osakis

Taven Ebnet, parents Christoper and Lindsey Ebnet of Nelson

Luke Hoffmann, parents Franklyn and Mindy Hoffmann of Glenwood

Ellie Douvier, parents Tony and Mandy Douvier of Glenwood

Levi Schultz, parents Nathan and Melissa Schultz of Lowry

Immediately following the adjournment of the meeting, the Board of Directors held a reorganization meeting to elect officers.

Elected were Gary (Andy) Anderson (District 1), president; Mike Loken (District 5), vice president; Matthew Mattson (District 7), treasurer; and Dave Staples (District 4), secretary.

Other directors include Barbara Johnson (District 2), Jon Winter (District 3), and Joel Seela (District 6).

Runestone Electric Association serves over 15,400 accounts in the rural areas of Douglas, Pope, Grant, Stevens, Ottertail, Stearns, and Todd counties.