Members of Dunn Energy Co-op form advocacy group
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A group of Dunn Energy Cooperative member-owners have announced the formation of Move Dunn Energy Forward.
MDEF is an advocacy group whose mission is to support the Dunn Energy Cooperative in strengthening its commitment to member-driven, cooperative principles and practices.
The advocacy group was formed following the passage of three controversial bylaw amendments and a significant show of member concern at the Dunn Energy annual meeting on March 17 of this year.
According to MDEF, the bylaw amendments were put up for a member vote last spring without adequate information, discussion or debate.
One of the changes adds an arbitration clause allowing Dunn Energy to deny members their basic right to bring a lawsuit in a dispute with Dunn Energy and also prohibits members from joining any class action lawsuits against the cooperative.
Another change allows non-resident, out-of-area directors to serve on the board of directors, which would permit corporations in other states to appoint non-member representatives as candidates for a director position.
A third change allows the cooperative’s board of directors to adopt voting by electronic ballot, a method declared by the nation’s leading Internet security experts to be impractical, unable to be secured, costly and easily hacked or manipulated (visit www.verifiedvoting.org for more information).
“Both prior to and following (the annual meeting), a number of members raised important, well-documented concerns about the proposed bylaws and brought them directly to DEC’s board and management,” said Gerald Lausted of Menomonie, a spokesperson for MDEF.
“We have written letters or attended board meetings. We’ve requested a public forum for more meaningful discussion and debate. Unfortunately, the response from DEC has been disappointing,” he said.
“It is clear DEC members are not being given all the information they need to make informed decisions or protect their own rights,” Lausted said.
“That runs counter to the guiding principles of the cooperative and directly against all members’ best interests,” he said.
MDEF’s mission is to support Dunn Energy in strengthening its commitment to member-driven, cooperative principals and practices.
MDEF is open to all member-owners of the Dunn Energy Cooperative.
For more information, visit the MDEF website at www.movedec.org and follow the organization on Facebook.
You can also sign up for a mailing list so you can stay informed and up to date on important developments.
For additional information, contact Lausted at gplausted@gmail.com.
