Dear Editor,
My name is Mark Rogers and I’d like to introduce myself as a candidate for the Board of Director of the White River Electric Association. This is for the Town of Meeker position that our member/owners will elect at this year’s annual meeting on Sept. 12.
My wife, Marie, and I have lived in Meeker since March of 1998. She currently works at Pioneers Medical Center in the financial services office. I retired at the end of 2010 with 36 years of service as a wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service and BLM. Since that time I have been one of the part time drivers for the Meeker Streaker transportation system operated by Rio Blanco County and Pioneers Medical Center. Our daughter, April, is married to Zack Allen and they have two sons, Mason and Gavin.
During our time here, White River Electric’s highest goal has been to provide safe, reliable electricity to our customers at a reasonable price. I believe they have been very successful meeting this goal and I see no reason to change this effort now. We live in a world of rapid and continuous change. The electric generation, transmission and distribution industry is no different. As we have progressed from the beginnings of the rural electrification of this country to today there have been changes and improvements too numerous to count. I don’t see any reason for this process not to continue, and likely at an ever-accelerating pace. And I am confident that White River Electric will continue to upgrade and improve the services and products we offer in order to keep up with these changing times.
As many of you know, after Gary Dunham’s passing last spring, the remaining Board members selected me to fill the remainder of his term on the board. I am truly honored and humbled by their actions. I know I’ll never replace Gary’s experience, knowledge and expertise with WREA and the electric industry, but I pledge to you to do the very best that I can and remain committed to the ideals and values that Gary and the other board members have been guided by over the years. I’ve learned quite a bit since my selection in May but realize my learning curve will be quite steep for many years to come. I believe that I’m up to the task.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my candidacy for this position.
Mark Rogers
Meeker