The Board of Trustees plays a vital role in the success of First Electric Cooperative. Qualified and committed leaders are essential to strong governance and to upholding the cooperative principles and democratic process that guide member-owned organizations, now and in the future.

The nominating committee is responsible for reviewing applicants for board service and determining the slate of candidates for member elections. Throughout this process, the committee is committed to a fair, transparent, and objective review of all applicants to support a strong and trusted election process.

Committee members are expected to demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, teamwork, and a solid understanding of cooperative principles, mission, and values. All candidate applications are reviewed professionally and with strict confidentiality to ensure a respectful and thorough evaluation process.

Through this work, the nominating committee helps secure strong leadership for First Electric Cooperative and supports the cooperative’s continued service to its member-owners through a fair and democratic election process.

 

Director Candidate Application

The undersigned wishes to be considered for a position on the Board of Directors and hereby submits the following information to the Nominating Committee:

General Information

Please read the following section and certify your qualifications by selecting the appropriate box below.

BYLAWS, ARTICLE IV, SECTION 3.
Board Member Qualifications

SECTION 3. Qualifications. To become or remain a director a person must:

  1. be a member in good standing of First Electric Cooperative Corporation (the “Cooperative”);
  2. not be a close relative of an incumbent director or an employee of the Cooperative;
  3. not be a current employee, or a former employee of the Cooperative within six (6) years of the termination of his or her employment or the spouse or child of such current or former employee;
  4. be a bona fide, permanent, and full time resident, and receiving service from the Cooperative at his or her place of abode for at least three (3) years, within the district that said member represents or would represent on the board of directors;
  5. not be in any way employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise, or a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative;
  6. through words and actions and by virtue of temperate demeanor and character, promote the best interest of the Cooperative and its members;
  7. be committed to learning and having time to learn about the Cooperative and issues affecting the electric industry and electric cooperatives, and willing to devote significant time necessary to become a meaningful contributor on behalf of all members served by the Cooperative; and
  8. possess and place a high value on personal and corporate integrity and ethical behavior.

When a membership is held jointly, only one (1) person may be elected a director.

Employment

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Personal

In a separate Word or text document, please provide a response to the following. When complete, upload your document.

  1. Why are you interested in serving as a director of the Cooperative?
  2. What qualifications do you have that you feel would be beneficial to the Cooperative and to you in serving as a director?
  3. State your understanding of the time commitment requirements for a director of the Cooperative, both in terms of attendance at monthly meetings and in terms of other meetings. Are you able and willing to make the time commitment required? Please state any possible conflicts you foresee if elected as a director in being able to spend the time required.
  4. What do you see as the major challenges the Cooperative will face within the next five years?
  5. A copy of the Cooperative’s Conflict of Interest policy is attached. Are you willing and able to adhere to the provisions of the policy? If not, why not?
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BACKGROUND CHECK DISCLOSURE AND AUTHORIZATION

Board of Director Candidate – First Electric Cooperative Corporation

Instructions to Candidate: Please read each section carefully. Section 1 is a standalone disclosure under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Section 2 authorizes background screenings and related checks. Complete the information and sign where indicated.

SECTION 1. FCRA STANDALONE DISCLOSURE

FECC may obtain one or more consumer reports and/or investigative consumer reports about you for purposes related to your candidacy for election or appointment to FECC’s Board of Directors. These reports may be prepared by a consumer reporting agency and may include information about your character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living.

The reports FECC may obtain can include, as applicable:

  • Credit reports and credit history.
  • Criminal history records (federal, state, and local) and searches of national criminal databases.
  • Motor vehicle and driving records.
  • Identity verification, address history, and prior names/aliases.
  • Publicly available information from courts and government records.
  • Reference verifications.
  • Publicly available online and social media information.

You have the right to request, in writing, a complete and accurate disclosure of the nature and scope of any investigative consumer report requested, and to receive a copy of the A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

SECTION 2. AUTHORIZATION AND CANDIDATE CONSENTS

By my signature below, I voluntarily and knowingly authorize the following, subject to and consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law:

2.1 Authorization to Obtain Consumer Reports. I authorize FECC and its designated agents, including any consumer reporting agency, to obtain consumer reports and/or investigative consumer reports about me at any time in connection with my candidacy for the Board of Directors, and, if I become a director, to the extent reasonably necessary for continued service or role-related determinations.

2.2 Criminal History, National Database, and Identity/Address Searches. I authorize searches of federal, state, and local criminal history records; national or multijurisdictional criminal databases; sex offender registries; sanctions/watchlists; and identity, address, and alias history.

2.3 Credit Report (Non-Employee Screening). I authorize FECC and its agents to obtain my consumer credit report for non-employment director-candidacy purposes. I understand FECC will evaluate any such report in a manner consistent with applicable law and only for legitimate, role-related purposes.

2.4 Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) / Driving Record—DPPA Consent. Where relevant to the role or FECC risk management, I authorize FECC and its agents to obtain my motor vehicle and driving records from any state, including Arkansas. This consent is provided pursuant to the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and applicable state law.

2.5 Public Social Media and Online Searches. I authorize FECC and its agents to review publicly available online and social media content for candidacy-related purposes. I understand I will not be asked to disclose usernames, passwords, or the content of nonpublic communications, nor to add FECC or its agents to my private networks.

2.6 FECC Service Account Review. I authorize FECC to review and provide to its Nominating Committee my service/account information with FECC, if any and to the extent relevant to my candidacy. This may include my current and past service addresses, length of service at each location, usage records, other/previous accounts, payment history, past disputes, and correspondence.

2.7 Disclosures, Adverse Action. Before FECC takes any action adverse to my candidacy or service that is based in whole or in part on a consumer report, FECC will provide me with a copy of the report, a summary of my rights under the FCRA, and I will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond, as required by law.

2.8 Ongoing Nature of Authorization. This authorization remains valid through the candidacy process and, if I become a director, during my service as a director, and permits FECC to obtain updated reports of the same types described in Section 2 when reasonably necessary for legitimate, role-related purposes and as permitted by law. I may revoke this authorization prospectively at any time by written notice, which will not affect reports already obtained or actions already taken.

2.9 Accuracy, Use, and Nondiscrimination. I understand FECC will not use any report or information in violation of applicable federal, state, or local equal employment or fair credit laws and will consider the nature, gravity, recency, and relevance of any information to legitimate FECC interests and role-related criteria. I acknowledge my right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information with the consumer reporting agency.

2.10 Limited Release. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I release FECC, its directors, officers, employees, agents, and any consumer reporting agency or information provider from liability for collecting, providing, and using information obtained in good faith pursuant to this authorization, except that this release does not waive any rights I have under the FCRA or other non-waivable applicable laws.

SECTION 3. CANDIDATE DISCLOSURES AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • I certify that the information I provide to FECC or its agents in connection with this authorization and any background screening is true, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge.
  • I understand that any material misrepresentation or omission may adversely affect my candidacy or, if applicable, my service as a director, consistent with applicable law.

SECTION 5. CANDIDATE SIGNATURE