FOR MEMBERS OF EAST CENTRAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE the Annual Meeting You Don’t Want to Miss!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24th
Drive-Thru: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In-Person: 5 - 7 p.m.
Business Meeting: 7 p.m.
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 1801 E. 4th St., Okmulgee
By Lowell Hobbs, President, East Central Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees
East Central Electric Co-op could be compared to our turnpike system in Oklahoma. Turner Turnpike was the first in Oklahoma and connected Tulsa to Oklahoma City with fast, convenient and safer travel, costing only a few coins tossed in the basket of the toll booth. Soon additional toll roads were built to other parts of the state for faster uninterrupted travel, but with additional cost. You can still get to Tulsa and Oklahoma City without paying the toll, but it takes longer on a two-lane road. Over the last 80 plus years our electric service has improved our lives immensely, but at a cost.
We could still burn wood for heat, do without air conditioning, use kerosene lamps and travel by wagon at less cost than the way we live now. I know you think I am stupid to write that but as our way of life has improved so has the cost. I lived during those times of no phone, no electricity, and no running
water in the house and I don’t want to relive those years. I am willing to pay more for the many amenities we enjoy today than to do without them.
On another note – take notice our ECE meetings for districts 1,3, and 6 have been completed. At this writing, I don’t know who will be the candidates in district 1 and 3. I do know Jim Hall, incumbent, plans to file for his District 6. Larry and Max are retiring, so for sure we will have 2 new board members to be elected at annual meeting on June 24. Please come and be a part of it by voting for the candidate of your choice – Remember with candidates in the 3 districts you can vote for 1 candidate in each of the three 3 districts.
In the last few years, we have had 2 new neighbors move-in – Both named John. This story is about a different John than the last story. Second John had enough land that he wanted to buy
Lowell Hobbs, District 2 President
Larry Harvey, District 1 Vice President
Dwight Luther, District 7 Secretary / Treasurer
Jim Hall, District 6 Assistant Sec. / Treasurer
Max Shoemake, District 3
Michael Vernnon, District 4
Jay Emerson, District 5
To
918-756-0833.
some cattle and join our friend group of cowboys and cowgirls. He did not have a cowboy hat but wanted one so he would come nearer to “fitting in”. Our whole group journeyed to Ft. Worth to the ranch rodeo and a visit to Cowtown at the older Ft. Worth Stockyards. John asked if I would help him select a hat and added that price was not a limiting factor. He wanted a quality hat, that price didn’t matter. We were all in Ryan’s Western Store when I saw John coming toward me carrying a really nice-looking hat. I could tell by looking that he had selected a high-quality hat and I told him so. He handed me the hat and as I looked inside at the price of $5,000 and revealed that to him, he almost fainted then exclaimed quite loud – Price does matter!
Lowell Hobbs represents ECE District 2. To reach him, please call his cellphone at 918-695-5289.
On the Ballot: Candidates for Board District 1, 3 & 6
Candidate filing is complete. The list of candidates for each district will be included in the official notice mailed to each members’ home. Candidate bios and introductory videos are available online at ecoec.com/2026-annual-meeting.
Every co-op member who registers at Annual Meeting, whether through the drivethru or by attending our in-person event, will receive $20 off their next electric bill.
Every co-op member who attends Annual Meeting will receive a gift bag containing your 2025 Annual Report, information about co-op goods and services, and an ecoLINK cap. Be sure to grab your goodies.
Grand Prize - $1,000
Two Winners - $500
Three Winners - One free year of 1GB ecoLINK Service
Four Winners - Three free months of 1GB ecoLINK Service
Ten Winners - One free month of 1GB ecoLINK Service
60 Winners - $100
Our in-person event will have games, virtual reality experiences, and balloon animals that are sure to delight all ages.
Drive your cool vehicle through our drive-thru Annual Meeting. A co-op employee will take a picture of your car and at the end of the day all of the coolest rides will be compiled into a Facebook post. Anyone can go on Facebook to vote for the favorite. The car with the most likes by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, will win $50 off their next electric bill.
We will have a special prize drawing of two $100 bill credits, exclusively for those co-op members who attend our in-person business meeting at 7 p.m.
Your favorite recipe could win $25 off your electric bill. Bring it to Annual Meeting with your name and account number to enter.
Annual Meeting in 15 minutes or less.
Drive up, collect your goodies, register, vote, and be on your way. Do it on your schedule, any time between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
South Entrance to OSUIT Campus, by Pistol Pete.
Our activities inside Covelle Hall offer co-op members the opportunity to converse with board members and employees, experience virtual reality and fun kids games, and have the chance to win additional prizes.
Registration & Voting: 5 - 7 p.m.
Scholarship Presentation: 6:30 p.m. Business Meeting: 7 p.m.
In-Person Meeting Here! Grab a bite at the Cowboy Cafe!
Meet Board Candidates Here!
Drive-Thru Here!
Enter OSUIT campus here off of 4th street!
Facility Rules: Service Animals Only, please leave pets at home.