KV REMC celebrates another successful year and looks ahead with member-consumers during annual Member Appreciation Day & Business Meeting

Kankakee Valley (KV) REMC celebrated another successful year with its member-consumers at the Porter County Fairgrounds during the company’s annual Member Appreciation Day & Annual Meeting. The event, held on September 25, always attracts a big crowd of member-consumers eager to celebrate with a variety of fun festivities.

“Tonight’s turnout is fantastic,” said David Janney, president of the board at KV REMC. “Even with the large crowd, we were able to move people through the registration and food line with little to no wait.  The great weather had our turnout as high as it normally is.” 

This year, member-consumers were treated to a plethora of activities: a cornhole tournament, catered dinner and desserts, live music from Region favorites Ashlyn and Nate Venturelli, juggling, glitter tattoos, and more. The annual event is important to KV REMC, who want its member-consumers to feel the stake they have in their utility service.

“We want to make a positive difference in the community,” said Scott Sears, CEO of KV REMC. “Community is one of our cooperative principles. So, as a cooperative supporting the community and our membership is at the heart of everything we do.”

In addition to the games and fun, member-consumers were able to join in for KV REMC’s annual Business Meeting. Unlike traditional utility service providers, KV REMC is a cooperative owned and operated by those it serves. This can most clearly be seen in member-consumers’ role in directly electing KV REMC’s board of directors. Two new directors for District 1 and District 2, respectively, were elected during Thursday’s meeting through member-consumers voting virtually and in-person.

Chris Birky, from Kouts and Dean Moretton from Valparaiso were re-elected to the board for another three-year term. KV REMC serves many rural communities in Northwest Indiana, representing almost 20,000 member-consumers.

“Not-for-profit utility organizations are very far and few between,” said Sears. “We just like to highlight how we’re different. One of the things that we are very proud of is that we give back to the community, and this event is just another way for us to highlight our community and tell them how much they mean to us.”

Member Appreciation Day gives KV REMC leadership a chance to engage their member-consumers in a low-stakes, fun environment that reminds everyone that the road to success is forged together.

“My favorite part is the service anytime our power goes out – we are usually up within two hours,” said Krystal Termini, member of the KV REMC for 10 years. “We get to do fun events like this that help everyone feel more connected to the company.”

To conclude the evening, KV REMC recognized the members of its Junior Board of Directors –  a program for high school juniors that offers real-world experience and scholarship opportunities ahead of college – and gave away prizes ranging from cash to bill credits.

As Member Appreciation Day came to a close, KV REMC has already begun looking forward to another successful year serving rural communities throughout Northern Indiana.

Kankakee Valley REMC is a membership cooperative serving over 20,000 member-consumers in Lake, Porter, La Porte, Marshall, Pulaski, Starke, and St. Joseph Counties. To learn more about its services or to become a member-consumer, visit kvremc.com.