Are you ready to serve on the board of trustees?

Calling members to fill two vacancies on co-op’s board

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s board members are community-minded individuals with a variety of skills. Our board is made of farmers, business owners, and professionals. We rely on their talents to help us make informed decisions on priorities and investments.

We recognize it takes many people with different skills to create a well-rounded board that can represent our community. That’s why we want people with diverse perspectives, experience, expertise, and views. We’re seeking local members of our community who can apply their unique talents to benefit our friends and neighbors. Above all else, we’re looking for those who love our community and want to see it thrive.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SERVE ON THE BOARD?
Serving on Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s board means you’re making a difference locally, using your individual talents and perspective to guide decisions about the co-op that benefit the community. While day-to-day decisions are made by co-op staff, major decisions are made by the board, whose mission is to look out for the vitality of the co-op and the community.

2026 BOARD ELECTION
Board members are nominated by district and are elected at large. Board elections are held in three of our nine districts each year. Members elect trustees to serve three-year terms and vote each spring online, by mail, or through SmartHub.

Three board seats are up for election – District 6 (Morgan Township), District 7 (Hanover and St. Clair townships), and District 8 (Colerain, Crosby, and Harrison townships). Two current board members have indicated they do not intend to run for reelection, leaving District 6 and District 8 vacant for the 2026 election. Board member Mike Tilton can run for reelection in District 7, if he chooses.

Members living in Colerain, Crosby, Hanover, Harrison, Morgan, and St. Clair townships can run for, and be elected to serve on, the board of trustees. To be a candidate for the board, your account with Butler Rural Electric Cooperative must be in your name. This means your name must appear on your bill from the cooperative.

Members who apply to become a board candidate will be verified as members in good standing and will undergo background checks. Qualified applicants will attend interviews with the nominating committee at the co-op’s office Nov. 18. The committee will select candidates to appear on ballots after the interviews.

The co-op provides compensation (per diem) for serving on the board. The average annual compensation is $15,000 per board member, which varies based on office and certification.

IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNITY
While you don’t need to be an expert in electricity or business to run, you do need to have a passion for the community and a willingness to actively serve and learn. We’re looking for individuals who can represent the full gamut of the members we serve. Ultimately, our board is the community pulse for the co-op and helps keep us on the right track. We love our community and want to help it thrive. If you share the same commitment and want to contribute to the greater good in a tangible way, consider running for a board position.

APPLY BY OCTOBER 15!
Learn more about board member requirements by viewing our Trustee Handbook here. 

If you’re interested in becoming a board member, fill out the Trustee Interest Form here by October 15. This form is similar to an application and allows the co-op to learn more about the candidate and confirm membership. You can also contact Julie Abbott, the cooperative’s director of administration, at 513-867-4402 or juliea@butlerrural.coop if you’re interested in running for the board of trustees.