The Governance Committee of the Board of Directors has identified revisions to modernize and streamline Choptank Electric’s bylaws. The amendments are being proposed as a single amendment because the changes are intertwined throughout the entire document. 

Below is a synopsis of some of the substantive bylaws changes recommended by the Board. You will receive the proposed bylaws in their entirety in mid-March along with the ballot to vote. The existing bylaws and a mapping document detailing the changes are available at choptankelectric.coop/governance. 

Substantive changes in the proposed 2026 Choptank Electric Bylaws:

1. Removed the concept of Patronship Types as previously described in Section 2.03. The revised Bylaws instead state “[e]xcept as otherwise provided in the Articles or these Bylaws, all members have the same rights and obligations” (Section 2.4). 
2. Added a member conduct and consent section (Section 2.5(e)). 
3. Added additional director qualifications to Section 4.4 and additional ability of Cooperative to investigate and confirm those qualifications (Section 4.4(e)).
4. Changed to permit officers to be elected at the first board meeting after annual meeting and removed requirement that it be without nominations (previously Section 6.02, now 6.1). 
5. Expanded indemnification section to be more prescriptive as to when Cooperative will and will not indemnify a Director, an Officer or another individual (previously Section 10.07, now Section 6.14)
6. Expanded on the ability to deliver documents electronically (Section 9.1).

Important sections that did not change: 

1. The requirement that an Annual Member Meeting occur
2. The total number of Members needed for a quorum
3. The composition of the Board
4. The procedures for Director and Officer elections
5. The required Cooperative officers 

You will receive your ballot and the proposed bylaws the same way you receive your monthly Choptank Electric bill (via mail or email). There will be four ways to vote: by mail, online, in person at the Annual Meeting or on the SmartHub app. If you have any questions or concerns, you may send your comments by mail or email us at legal@choptankelectric.coop.