| Resource Type | Toolkit |
| Author / Source | Co-op Innovation Network |
| Publication Date | October 2026 |
| Location | United States |
| Initiative Type | Policy, Program |
| Project Complexity | Intermediate |
| Recommended For | Board, Staff |
Estimated reading time: 30+ minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
Every co-op has democratic member control on paper, but in many co-ops only a small share of members are actively engaged. This self-check helps boards find where bylaws, policies, and habits make participation harder, and whether members even know the options that exist.
A board and CEO can each answer twelve questions across six areas, compare results, and pick next steps at three levels of effort. Many fixes need no bylaw change, which makes this a low-cost way to build member trust and reduce governance risk before concerns grow.
Key Takeaways
| › | Covers six areas: information access, meetings and notice, voting, getting on the ballot, board terms and seats, and changing the bylaws. |
| › | An option only helps if members know it exists, so the simplest fix is often better communication about rules already in place. |
| › | Rules and deadlines that seem routine can make it harder for members to vote or run for the board without anyone intending it. |
| › | The goal is removing friction, not every safeguard. A balanced approach gives members a real voice while keeping the board stable. |
Implementation Considerations
- Regulatory or Governance Considerations: State law sets many defaults, from voting methods to records access. Have legal counsel review any bylaw or policy changes before adoption or a member vote.
Notable Examples
- Egyptian Electric Cooperative: Keeps one transparency page with five years of audits, Form 990s, policies, and board minutes.
- Golden Valley Electric Association: Starts open board sessions at 6:30 p.m. and had the highest member attendance in a 2025 Alaska scorecard.
- Dixie Electric Power Association: Added online voting after a state law change and raised total votes from about 3,300 to over 5,000.
- Connexus Energy: Interviews every qualified board applicant and lets anyone who isn't selected run by petition.
- Cherryland Electric Cooperative: Appointed directors serve only until the next annual meeting, not the rest of the term.
- Choptank Electric Cooperative: Explained its 2026 bylaw proposal with a change summary, a letter from the board chair, and personal replies to member questions.
- Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Adopted open meetings and petition nominations after a governance crisis in 2007 and 2008.
Estimated reading time: 30+ minutes
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