By definition, a Cooperative is a group of people
joining together to do something for the group that cannot be done
individually (in this case, provide electric energy).
It is a business enterprise, which is jointly owned and equally
controlled by those who use it.
During the 1930's, the vast majority of rural
In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt created the
Rural Electrification Act (REA), which provided money in the form of
loans to electrify rural
To that end, Central Missouri Electric Cooperative
(CMEC) began business in 1938.
Today, your Cooperative serves over 8,200 farms,
residences, schools, and industries in rural, central
CMEC exists for only one purpose:
to provide the best possible electric service at the lowest
possible cost to the member‑owners in the area it serves.
Your Board of Directors employs a general manager who is responsible for day-to-day
operations of the system.
The general manager employs and oversees the staff as they perform all
duties necessary to provide rural electric service. These duties are
divided into the following departments:
Distribution – Central MO Electric Cooperative, Inc;
Transmission –
Central Electric Cooperative;
Generation –
Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc;
Cooperatives are businesses owned by the consumers
they serve and are guided by a set of seven principles that reflect the
best interests of those consumer-owners.
Voluntary and Open Membership
- Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to
use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of
membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious
discrimination.
Democratic Member Control
- Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members,
who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.
The elected representatives are accountable to the membership.
In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one
member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a
democratic manner.
Members’ Economic Participation
- Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the
capital of their cooperative.
At least part of that capital is usually the common property of
the cooperative. Members
usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a
condition of membership.
Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the
following purposes:
developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of
which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to
their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities
approved by the membership.
Autonomy and
Education, Training, and Information
- Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected
representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute
effectively to the development of their cooperatives.
They inform the general public, particularly young people and
opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
- Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the
cooperative movement by working together through local, national,
regional, and international structures.
Concern for Community
- While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable
development of their communities through policies accepted by their
members.
CMEC operations are carried out under the policies
established by the Board of Directors.
Nine directors serve on the board and are elected from among the
membership at CMEC’s annual meeting. Each member has one vote in the election.
Each director must be an active CMEC member and is elected for a
three-year term.
| Name | Position | County |
| Ron Bledsoe | Director | Saline |
| Raymond Boland | Director | Saline |
| Francis Burks | Vice President | Saline |
| Don Thiel | President | Saline |
| Ron Eickhoff | Director | Pettis |
| Pat Wood | Sec./Treas. | Pettis |
| Jim Sneed | Director | Pettis |
| Jared Singer | Director | Pettis |
| Jerry Rank | Director |
|