Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA) held its 81st Annual Meeting at the Salem Convention Center on November 30. The event was preceded by an NRECA class and an Energy Issues Workshop featuring expert speakers on a wide range of topics, including workforce development, artificial intelligence, and regional transmission organizations.
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- Harney Electric Manager Fred Flippence kicked off the annual meeting, featuring the theme. “Oregon’s Electric Co-ops: Leading the Charge.” Flippence, who chaired the ORECA board for 2 years, was honored with the prestigious ORECA President’s Award for his exemplary service to the association.
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- Salem Electric Director Joe Van Meter was elected as ORECA board president after serving 2 years as vice president. Also elected to the ORECA executive committee are Ron Holmes, Wasco, vice president; Shirley Cairns, Douglas, secretary-treasurer, at large; Russ Sapp, CPI and Pete Radabaugh, Coos Curry. Fred Flippence will serve as immediate past president.
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- ORECA’s Ted Case presents Central Electric CEO Brad Wilson with the coveted ORECA “Power Hitter Award” for the Oregon co-op with the best participation in America’s Electric Cooperative PAC, Oregon. Wilson issued a challenge to wrest back control of the award from CEC, which has dominated it for a decade.
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- Douglas Electric Director Shirley Cairns receives the ORECA Distinguished Service Award — the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an ORECA leader.
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- The ORECA Managers Panel remains a crowd favorite during each annual meeting, as Oregon co-op leaders describe some of the opportunities and challenges of running a distribution system in uncertain times. The 2023 panel included moderator, Billi Kohler, West Oregon; Andy Fletcher, Columbia Basin; Lisa Atkin, Columbia Power; Jeff Jones, Blachly Lane and Brad Wilson, Central Electric.
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- ORECA Executive Director Ted Case leads a discussion with House Majority Leader Julie Fahey and House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich about the 2024 state legislative session.
