Submitted Photo Verendrye Electric received an award for Outstanding Military Support from the Minot Area Chamber EDC in March. Accepting the award was Manager Randy Hauck, center. Pictured from left are Minot Sen. David Hogue, Chamber EDC Chair Kevin Black, Hauck, Gov. Doug Burgum and Brekka Kramer, CEO of the Minot Chamber EDC.

For its support of the Minot Air Force Base, Verendrye Electric Cooperative received the Impact Award for Outstanding Military Support from the Minot Area Chamber EDC.

The award was announced at the Chamber EDC’s annual meeting in March by the Chamber’s CEO Brekka Kramer. Businesses that won impact awards were nominated by members of the Chamber EDC.

“Verendrye Electric Cooperative has had ties to the military for decades,” Kramer said. “From maintaining and operating electrical infrastructure at Minot Air Force Base after its construction in 1955 to volunteering and serving food at countless military appreciation events in Minot, Verendrye has gone above and beyond in supporting our military.”

Verendrye has served the Minot Air Force Base since it was built in 1955. Verendrye’s relationship with the Air Force started in 1951 when the cooperative served a radar base south of Minot. In 2011 Verendrye signed a 50-year contract to own and maintain the facilities on the Minot Air Force Base.

Verendrye Manager Randy Hauck said serving the Air Force Base brings benefits to the cooperative and its members.

“Its an honor to serve the Minot Air Force Base which is key to national defense and has a $600 million economic impact to North Dakota,” Hauck said. “Serving the base brings benefits to our members because it allows us to have more resources and brings a significant and stable income to the cooperative.”

After securing the contract to own and maintain facilities on the base, Verendrye built an outpost there where four lineworkers work full time. Verendrye also serves many of the base’s missile facilities in rural areas. Some of the power distribution infrastructure used to serve those sites is also used to serve other accounts.

According to a 2023 economic impact report from the Air Force, there are around 12,200 people on the base when you include personnel, their families and civilian workers. The report showed 6,500 jobs on the base and 2,032 indirect jobs created.

Verendrye employees have gotten to know many of the men and women who serve their country in the Air Force by attending and volunteering at events such as the Military Day at the Zoo where Verendrye Electric employees help grill hotdogs and serve food. The Prairie Warrior Auction, which raises money for morale programs on the base, is another event Verendrye supports.

Hauck currently serves on Minot’s Task Force 21, a group that promotes the retention of the base, which years ago was on a list of bases considered for closure. Member Services Manager Tom Rafferty chairs the Governmental Affairs Committee in Minot. Hauck, Rafferty and Business Manager Christel Laskowski all participate in the Honorary Commanders program where they pair up with an airman in leadership and go to events together and get to know each other. Verendrye also periodically takes base personnel on tour of its facilities and power plants near Beulah.

The Air Force Base is Verendrye’s single largest account in terms of energy sales, comprising almost $3.5 million of Verendrye’s $50 million in revenue in 2022.

Verendrye Annual Meeting June 8

Mark your calendar for Verendrye Electric Cooperative’s 84th Annual Meeting on June 8 in the State Fair Center in Minot. Registration begins at 4 p.m. and the meal is served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Entertainment starts at 5 p.m. and the business meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s theme is Energizing Your Future. You’ll learn in the business meeting about how the cooperative is planning for a bright future, and of the improvements we’ve made to ensure you’re power remains reliable. You will also get to vote for candidates for the Verendrye Board of Directors. See next page for details on the election.

We are pleased to have the Heritage Singers headline the event this year. The Heritage Singers have wowed audiences for over 40 years with their vocal performances, which include a variety show each year in the Minot area. The group is comprised of some classically trained musicians, directors and singers, as well as people who just like to sing.

You will enjoy a free meal of meatballs and mashed potatoes with all the fixings, and ice cream bars.

Prizes

Several prizes will be given away, including a chance to win $3,000 cash or a consolation prize of $840 cash. The cash prize is given to a member who has to be in attendance at the time of the drawing. The $3,000 drawing is from all of the Verendrye members. If that person is not present the $840 consolation drawing will occur from names of registered members and will be given away to a member who is present.

A number of other prizes will also be given away to members who register at the meeting. Registered members will also receive a free kitchen scissor.

Kids activities and prizes

Kids will be entertained with bounce houses from Backyard Bounce Inflatables N’ More. There will be a variety of bounce castles to appeal to all ages. Two bikes will be given away – one for a boy and one for a girl. Cotton candy will also be served.

More information will be available later on our website and in the Annual Report members will receive in the mail.