Letters to the Editor
Quorum critical at annual meeting
Editor:
The upcoming annual membership meeting of the Socorro Electric Cooperative is a crossroads event for all members.
On Saturday, April 9, registration at Finley Gym starts at 5 p.m. and is stated as ending at 7 p.m. This is subject to interpretation and the whimsy of board trustees with an unannounced agenda. It is also crucial to have a quorum of members present in order to conduct the business of the annual meeting.
Again, the quorum is subject to the equivocal needs of board of trustees President Paul Bustamante and his select minions. They are not there to conduct business for the members. They use every opportunity to fulfill their own requirements with co-op assets and resources.
Co-op members must attend in vast numbers in order to demonstrate their willingness to transform the co-op into a business that serves its members — not a select group of greedy officials who go so far as to file lawsuits against their very constituents. Believe me, Bustamante and his shadow, attorney Dennis Francish, will develop whatever strategy is required to circumvent the good of the members. Francish is Bustamante’s attorney. He does not serve the co-op at large. We, the members, pay him for that!
Since the Socorro Electric Co-op refuses to share it’s financial information with its members, although it’s required to by a bylaw, we cannot obtain figures on how much you and I are paying Francish. We can only guess that he’s taking in a large sum since he has to be at Bustamante’s beck and call at all times. He is paid to drive back and forth to Socorro from Albuquerque, no doubt. We’ve paid this parasite to strategize against us and file suit against us for his own purposes.
Are we, as co-op members, bound to continue this? We have been upset at the over-indulgence of board trustees and their favored moles at the co-op taking huge sums from us so they can live a lifestyle they couldn’t otherwise afford. Their mercenary attorney is taking as much or more than they are — and he’s doing nothing for us members. Do you want to change that? Come to the meeting. Bring your questions and your right to participate.
We must all show up and demand answers and a follow-through on the changes we voted in last year. Bustamante and his attorney, to whom he pays nothing out of his own pocket, will derail any progress we’ve made, if they can. Every shady move and tactic will be used against us.
At Bustamante’s recent recall election he used every co-op resource to finagle the election in his favor. His indebted trustees were assembled in a gantlet at the gate to the voting place. Voters had to pass through them to get inside and were subject to whatever influences these intimidators chose to apply. Francish ran the election. Sound fair and above-board to you?
Bustamante and Francish will use any and all maneuvers to keep us from achieving a well-run, profitable, community-serving Socorro Electric Cooperative. They’ve sacked and pillaged it to the point of bankruptcy and they could not care less. You and I have to care. We have to show up and make our demands clear. It’s our co-op — not Francish’s.
Herbert Myers, Socorro
Fishing derby a community event
Editor:
I had a very pleasant experience as my wife and I took four of our grandsons to the Escondida Lake fishing tournament. The lake looked as good as I have seen it — no trash — the water was high. Thanks to the Socorro County roads department.
The weather was a bit chilly in the morning but otherwise excellent. I don’t know how many people were present, but the crowd was pretty much elbow-to-elbow. It appeared to me that fun was had by all.
The winners of the raffle and the fishing contest were only some of the lucky ones as everyone seemed to have a good time — meeting neighbors they haven’t seen for a while and making new friends.
Thanks to all the contributors of the bike, fishing poles, bait and the many things given away to the youth of our community. Thanks to the DAV, Socorro Fire Department EMTs, New Mexico Game and Fish for informing the people of the laws.
Thanks to the local law enforcement and the volunteer fire department from Midway VFD for NOT being present like last year. Your absence was noted and appreciated. I don’t believe we need grown men and women wearing camouflage and packing weapons to keep 5- and 10-year olds in line.
Gary Coppler, San Antonio