Duties and responsibilities of a board member

Cass County Electric Cooperative’s (CCEC) board of directors is elected to three-year terms. Directors must be cooperative members and residents of the district in which they are seeking directorship. Each director represents one of CCEC’s membership districts, with one At-large director representing all districts.

Once elected to the board, directors have two primary functions: set cooperative policy and provide financial oversight. As decision-makers, they are responsible for working with the cooperative’s CEO and key staff to set policies and develop strategies to keep the cooperative on track. To do that, they must maintain a working knowledge of all segments of the electric cooperative, from the broad national overview to the day-to-day operations. The oversight function and fiduciary duties require monitoring the cooperative’s business performance, risk assessment, and compliance with legal obligations.

Other responsibilities and functions of the board are to:

• Represent cooperative members.
• Contract for and approve an independent financial audit.
• Hire and supervise the general manager or CEO.

Training in governance responsibilities, utility operations, and management oversight is necessary for a director to perform successfully. CCEC’s board of directors recognizes the importance of education and strives to stay abreast of changes in the industry by completing continuing education courses. They also must obtain their Certified Cooperative Director certification during their service to the cooperative.

Directors represent the members who elect them and take the duties and responsibilities of their position seriously. They uphold the unique democratic business model that distinguishes CCEC from utility companies whose purpose is to make a profit for investors. At CCEC, the guiding principle is accountability. Your board of directors is there to uphold that mandate with knowledge and integrity.