Annual Meeting

Runestone Electric Association holds an Annual Meeting each spring to update members on how their co-op is doing financially and operationally, to elect directors, and to transact business. It is an opportunity for members to learn more about their co-op, ask questions, and get educated on programs offered by Runestone Electric Association. Members are notified each year by mail and in the newsletter when and where the Annual Meeting will take place.

2026 Annual Meeting Recap

Runestone Electric Association held its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 22, at the Alexandria Area High School Performing Arts Center. Board of Directors seats were determined in Districts 3, 6, and 7, and scholarships were awarded to 27 students.

Runestone Electric’s bylaws allow for uncontested director elections to be elected by acclamation. Three directors ran unopposed and were reelected. These include Jon Winter, District 3; Joel Seela, District 6 and Matthew Mattson, District 7.

Board President Andy Anderson and CEO Al Haman reported on the cooperative’s activities and financial condition during the business meeting. Anderson shared the process for restoring power outages and highlighted the Operation Round Up program, the Member Tour held in October, and the REA employee group.

“At year-end, the cooperative’s total assets were $111.5 million. That includes plant assets like the office and warehouse, lines, poles, and transformers. All our ratios exceed lending requirements. The cooperative finished 2025 with 151 net new services,” said CEO Haman. Inflation, Mid-Continent Independent System Operator (MISO) market dynamics, demand side management programs, Minnesota’s carbon-free by 2040 law, Minnesota’s nuclear moratorium, and data centers were also discussed in the CEO Report.

Twenty-seven 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:

Rowan Boesl, Rowan’s parents are Brent & Amanda Boesl, Parkers Prairie
Sophie Pfeffer, Sophie’s parents are Ken & Kristine Pfeffer, Parkers Prairie
Samara Groetsch, Samara’s parents are Corey & Stephanie Groetsch, Carlos
Olivia Suchy, Olivia’s parents are Jacob & Jacki Suchy, Parkers Prairie
Hayden Lenarz, Hayden’s parents are Thomas & Denise Lenarz, Sartel
Ava Klimek, Ava’s parents are Daniel & Sarah Klimek, Alexandria
Jaiden Anderson, Jaiden’s parents are Tyler & Kellie Anderson, Evansville
Whitney Blume, Whitney’s parents are Dominic & Charlene Blume, Elbow Lake
Carter Kjesbo, Carter’s parents are Brian & Nicole Kjesbo, Barrett
Julian Ramos, Julian’s parents are Jorge Ramos & Stephanie Rutten-Ramos, Farwell
Rose Schonberg, Rose’s parents are Nathan & Jessica Schonberg, Farwell
Benjamin Dehne, Benjamin’s parents are Jason & Danelle Dehne, Montevideo
Abbey Walz, Abby’s parents are John & Amanda Walz, Alexandria
Lacey Siira, Lacey’s parents are Andy & Emily Siira, Brandon
Meadow Zimpel, Meadow’s parents are Philip & Kyrsten Zimpel, Alexandria
Sullivan Rooney, Sullivan’s parents are Ryan & Hannah Rooney, Alexandria
Rebecca Wold, Rebecca’s parents are Jared & Pamela Wold, Alexandria
Lillyana Gylsen, Lillyana’s parents are Lee & Kim Gylsen, Alexandria
Maddi Bouldin, Maddi’s parents are Shawn & Jessi Bouldin, Nelson
Levi Middendorf, Levi’s parents are Travis & Jen Middendorf, Osakis
Maari Kvidt, Maari’s parents are Ben & Abbey Kvidt, Alexandria
Amelia Crossley, Amelia’s parents are Larry & Darla Crossley, Carlos
Nora Anderson, Nora’s parents are Mikkel & Amanda Anderson, Kensington
Trayton Zeithamer, Trayton’s parents are Randy & Tammy Zeithamer, Starbuck
Lily Mahoney, Lily’s parents are Paul & Christine Mahoney, Kensington
Kendall Brueggemeier, Kendall’s parents are Brandon Brueggemeier & Lisa Hilgers Brueggemeier, Waconia
Ryan Greseth, Ryan’s parents are Cory & Melanie Greseth, Villard

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 15,500 accounts in the rural areas of Douglas, Pope, Grant, Stevens, Ottertail, Stearns, and Todd counties.