On May 16, Co-op members and their families will be given a free lunch as they ride the ferry to OPALCO’s 72nd Annual Meeting. The healthysack lunch with sandwich, salad and cookie in a reusable, insulated bag along with coffee and beverages will greet each annual meeting bound rider.

General Manager Randy Cornelius will be handing out gifts. Door prizes such as power and garden tools, Mariners tickets, a load of gravel, generous gift certificates, kitchen tools and appliances, camping and sporting equipment, OPALCO bill credits, art and merchandise from local businesses may be won. Every member attending will receive a $5 credit on their next bill.

The six board of director candidates: Winnie Adams, Moriah Armstrong, Roger Crosby, Joan Pedrick, Jeff Struthers and Chris Thomerson will be on the ferry.

Six member-voters who get their absentee ballots to the Eastsound OPALCO office by noon on Friday, May 15 be entered into a drawning to receive a $50 credit on their bill.

Ballots may be cast at the annual meeting on the ferry, where they will be tabulated and election results announced. A quorum of at least 100 members is required at the annual meeting for the election to be held.

Energy Services Coordinator Martha Warachowski will be on hand to help you save money on your bill and increase your energy efficiency. System Engineer Joel Mietzner will be available to talk about the new automated meters and infrastructure. Stuart Clark, OPALCO’s account executive from Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), will address the group about upcoming BPA rate increases and smart grid technology.

Members from San Juan Island will board the ferry at 8:25 a.m. (or ride the Mystic Sea by reservation only – call 376-3549 to reserve a seat); Orcas Island at 10:20 a.m.; Shaw Island at 10:35 a.m.; and Lopez Island at 11 a.m. Please arrive early for parking and registration.The travel schedule, please go to www.opalco.com.