Annual Meeting Wrap Up
The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s 83rd annual meeting has come and gone, and it was nothing short of a success.
“This year’s annual meeting was a resounding success at the new venue,” Dan Rodamaker, TECA’s board chairman, says. “The changes in the agenda with a reception instead of a dinner were well accepted by the membership.”
More than 350 electric cooperative leaders embraced the changes this year. The meeting took place the week before Thanksgiving on Sunday, Nov. 17 through Tuesday Nov. 19 and it was held at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs for the first time. A new agenda was also in place, including breakout sessions and a grand reception. This allowed members to cover more ground, fellowship with one another and enjoy some good food and entertainment.
The unveiling of a new logo for The Tennessee Magazine, a panel discussion on how the Rose family balances political office while raising kids and thoughts on leadership from UT Baseball coach, Tony Vitello, all helped energize every moment at the annual event.
Energizing every moment happened to be the theme of this year’s meeting. Jessica Toliver, the community and member engagement specialist at Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, was the emcee for the three-day gathering and thought the event fit the theme well.
“The 2024 TECA Annual Meeting lived up to the theme – energizing every moment,” Toliver says. “Each session was as informative, and it was engaging.”
During Monday’s lunch, the 2024 Washington Youth Tour Delegates were recognized: Yuridia Garcia, Tennessee’s Cooperative Youth Ambassador and the $10,000 scholarship winner, Charlsie Strech, the 1st place winning essay and the $3,000 scholarship winner, Eli Jones, the 2nd place winning essay and the $2,000 scholarship winner and Allison Hoesel, Tennessee’s Youth Leadership Council Representative.
“That moment truly touched my heart, hearing from the Washington Youth Tour delegates,” Toliver says. “These students are quite likely the next generation of electric cooperative members and leaders and seeing them so invested now makes me optimistic for the future.”
The future is something Rodamaker is looking forward to especially with TECA’s 84th annual meeting being held at the same location on No. 16-18, 2025.
“It has been my honor to serve the member cooperatives as the board chairman over the last year,” Rodamaker says. “I look forward to serving the members in the upcoming year with a focus on accomplishing many of our strategic plan goals and objectives.”
