Together, we can lead the responsible transition to a clean energy future
The nomination petition process:
HCE will create a webpage with an online petition for HCE members, who reside in your territory, to sign electronically in support of your nomination. A link to your online petition page will be emailed to you within 2 business days upon completion of the Self Nomination Form below. The provided link to your petition webpage can be shared to members living in your district. You will receive a notification email each time the online petition form is signed so you can track your signatures.
15 signatures are required to be considered a candidate in the election. We suggest that you collect more than the required 15 signatures because very often people do not know if they or their spouse or roommate is the named member of record in our system.
Once you have collected your signatures, please email Jenna Weatherred at jweatherred@holycross.com. She will then verify your collected signatures to make sure that you have 15 members’ signatures. It is a good idea to do this before the deadline so that you can collect more signatures if needed.
If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to call Jenna Weatherred directly at 970.947.5470.
Three seats on the Holy Cross Energy Board of Directors are up for election in 2021.
Two seats in the Northern District and one in the Southern District.
Two Directors from the Northern District. The Northern District is the general area east of Glenwood Canyon along the I-70 corridor to Vail Pass, including Gypsum, Eagle, Edwards, Avon and Vail.
One Director from the Southern District. The Southern District is the general area southeast of Carbondale along highway 82 – El Jebel, Basalt, Snowmass, Aspen.
Not sure what your district is? Give us a call, we’re happy to help 970.945.5491
Board service overview
It is important to review HCE’s Bylaws regarding directors beginning on page 4 and the corporate policy regarding board matters. The following is an overview of board member qualifications, time commitments, responsibilities, and compensation. The overview can also be viewed or downloaded via PDF.
The HCE Bylaws, Article IV, Directors, Section 2 addresses director qualifications in detail. Please review the bylaws and, specifically, this section carefully. A director candidate must comply with many general qualifications/requirements, including:
- You must be a member of HCE for at least two years prior to election as a director.
- A director must permanently reside and use electric energy provided by HCE at a residence within the director district from which you are nominated.
- Attend at least 10 of the 12 monthly meetings of directors within any 12-month period.
- Once becoming a director, obtain a Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) designation within three years of becoming a director. The CCD program is a basic, five-day training/educational program for new directors, provided through our national trade organization. The CCD classes can be taken one day at a time or all five at once at locations within the United States.
Once you are elected as a director, you are expected to:
- Attend 12 regular, monthly board meetings, usually scheduled on the third Wednesday of each month starting at 9 am. Meetings sometimes last six or more hours. Approximately eight of the meetings take place at the HCE Headquarters facility in Glenwood Springs, with four meetings, one each quarter, held at HCE’s Cooley Mesa facility near Gypsum. Over the past year, all 12 meetings have been held virtually; meetings will continue to be virtually as long as state/county mandates require.
- Prior to each board meeting, directors receive an electronic board meeting packet containing a meeting agenda, financial reports, staff reports, and accompanying information. Directors are asked to prepare for each board meeting by reviewing the information contained in the packet.
- Attend the annual meeting, usually held in June on a weekday starting around 5 pm. The location of the annual meeting alternates between the Eagle and Roaring Fork river valleys. The 2020 meeting was held virtually, and the 2021 meeting may be held virtually if deemed necessary.
- Participate in committee assignments. Committees usually meet once per month for three hours or so. Scheduling and location are up to the Committee chairman and have been held in Glenwood Springs, Gypsum, Avon, and virtually.
- Directors have the opportunity to attend educational programs as well as State and National trade association meetings. Many of which are two to three days in length and require travel and lodging.
- Directors also may wish to attend or participate in consumer/member-related meetings and events within HCE’s service territory.
Being a board member of an organization with annual revenues exceeding $135 million, employing 165 employees, and providing an essential service to nearly 60,000 locations with over 3,000 miles of electric line is a significant responsibility involving:
- A fiduciary duty to act in good faith, exercise care, and act in the best interest of HCE.
- Setting the organization’s mission and purpose, engaging in strategic planning, selecting and supervising the chief executive officer, selecting a corporate attorney, and overseeing an annual financial audit.
- Reviewing, monitoring, and reporting to the membership regarding critical operating and financial performance.
- Providing oversight, adopting policies, monitoring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and ensuring adequate internal controls.
- Acting in a professional manner and exercising confidentiality.
- Developing as a director through educational and training opportunities.
Each member of the Board of Directors receives compensation for their involvement with and time spent carrying out their duties as directors. Generally, the compensation is as follows:
- A monthly fee of $1,000.
- A fee for attending board meetings, committee meetings, the annual meeting, educational or training programs, etc. of $500 for each full day (more than four hours) and $250 for each partial day (four hours or less).
- Reimbursement for mileage at the IRS rate for travel to and from board meetings, committee meetings, the annual meeting, educational/training programs, etc.
- Reimbursement for registration fees, lodging, travel, meals, etc., for attending approved meetings and events.
This general overview only covers the high points of some of the components of being a Director of Holy Cross Energy. Should you have any questions, please contact Jenna Weatherred at 970-947-5470 for more information.
How to run for a board seat
Verify your eligibility
Eligible candidates must have been a member of HCE for at least two years immediately prior to May 31, 2021, resident in the district in which they are seeking election and have no conflict of interest. Director qualifications and detailed elections information can be found in our bylaws.
Get 15 member signatures electronically
Complete the Self Nomination Form below. HCE will create a webpage with an online petition for HCE members, who reside in your territory, to sign in support of your nomination. A link to your online petition page will be emailed to you within 2 business days after you complete the Self Nomination Form. You can then email the provided link to other members living in your district and ask for their support by signing your online petition.
Verify your 15 signatures
Once you have collected your signatures, please email Jenna Weatherred at jweatherred@holycross.com. She will then verify your collected signatures to make sure that you have 15 members’ signatures. It is a good idea to do this before the deadline so that you can collect more signatures if needed.
If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to call Jenna directly at 970.947.5470.
Deadline to submit petition signatures
The following will need to be completed by Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:00 pm for a candidate to be listed on the 2021 ballot.
- 15 petition signatures must be submitted and verified
Signed authorization for a background check - Signed certification for Board compliance
- 250-word biography
- Headshot submitted
Campaign and vote
Board members are elected from the membership, by the membership. HCE members elect their board of directors by mail-in vote or secret ballot at the Annual Meeting of Members if held in person.
This year’s Annual Meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at the Spring Creeks Ranch, 644 Cowen Dr., Carbondale, CO., 81623 or virtually if necessary.