All Cuivre River Electric Cooperative members are invited to attend their cooperative’s annual meeting, Friday, Aug. 14, at the Family Arena in St. Charles.“One lucky person will leave the meeting as a grand prize winner of free electricity for one year,” says Cuivre River Member Services Manager Kevin Hurd. The grand prize is valued at $1,500.Two fortunate members will also leave the meeting as winners of $500 worth of free electricity. Two others will win $250 worth of free electricity.The cooperative has traditionally offered prizes of free electricity one month at a time and will continue again this year ($200 maximum per month, September 2015 through August 2016). More than a dozen additional prizes will also be awarded and tentatively include tickets to three different St. Louis Cardinals games, a pair of Toby Keith concert tickets, and gift cards galore.Cuivre River and other electric cooperatives across the country encourage their members to participate in their annual meetings. Door prizes are one way to encourage participation and help attain a quorum at the annual business meeting. Members must be present to win.This annual event mixes family entertainment with cooperative business.Doors open promptly at 4 p.m. to allow ample time for members and their immediate families to register and enjoy a meal of hamburgers or hot dogs, visit information stations and enjoy Butch Wax and the Hollywoods (performing one show 5:30–7 p.m.). The business meeting, which includes director elections and two proposed bylaw amendments, starts at 7:15 p.m.Based on cooperative principles, each member household or business is entitled to one vote for a director candidate in every district. One director will be elected in each of the four districts.Those competing on this year’s ballot are:Lincoln County District No. 3: Michael “Mick” Burkemper (incumbent), Tim Judge and Joann Jungermann.Warren County District No. 2: Larry Brewe, Arden Engelage and Keith Luecke.St. Charles County District No. 1: Mark Schulte (incumbent) and Sean McAndrew.St. Charles County District No. 3: Dale Anderson (incumbent), Darrell P. Dechant, W. Edward Kahl and James M. Bruchas.Members unable to attend the Aug. 14 meeting may cast an absentee ballot in person at a Cuivre River office through the close of business on Aug. 13. Offices are located at 1112 East Cherry St. in Troy and 8757 Highway N in Lake Saint Louis. Lobby hours are weekdays 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at each office. Drive-up window hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. in Troy and 7 a.m.-6 p.m. in Lake Saint Louis.This year’s event also includes information stations, music by Butch Wax and the Hollywoods, plus attendance prizes at the end of the business meeting.“Electricity is one of the best values we can offer,” says Hurd. “It’s not fancy but it’s our most popular prize – something every single member wants to win!”Some restrictions apply to free electricity prizes, including a $1,500 grand prize limit, based on Cuivre River member’s average monthly residential use last year. For some members, the prize may not last a full year; for others, it may last even longer.The Family Arena is located at 2002 Arena Parkway in St. Charles. Convenient access is available via Interstate 70, Highway 94, or the Page Avenue Extension (Hwy. 364).Cuivre River is the largest member-owned electric cooperative in Missouri, providing dependable electric service to over 62,000 homes and businesses in St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, Pike and Montgomery counties.For more information, call (636) 528-8261, 695-4700, (800) 392-3709 or visit www.cuivre.com.Cuivre River Electric