MLEC Hosts District Meetings and 87th Annual Meeting

Four Board Directors re-elected

(November 10, 2026 – Centerville, TN) – October was National Cooperative Month, and Meriwether Lewis celebrated by bringing members together throughout its five-county service area for a month of appreciation, updates and community connections.

MLEC hosted district meetings in Hickman, Humphreys, Lewis and Perry Counties and its 87th Annual Meeting in Lewis County, along with a Membership Appreciation Day in Houston County. At each event, members received umbrellas as an attendance prize, spent time with local employees and won door prizes.

The district meetings provided an opportunity for members to hear directly from MLEC leadership about improvements across the service area. President and CEO Keith Carnahan shared updates on electric system investments, broadband improvements, reliability efforts and community involvement. Members also viewed the cooperative’s 2026 Annual Report, highlighting the progress made over the past year and future plans.

Members also participated in cooperative elections, with Hickman County Director Johnnie Ruth Elrod, Humphreys County Director David Daniel and Perry County Director Ronny Averett each re-elected to four-year terms after running unopposed. In Lewis County, Dr. Jeff Peery was re-elected with 198 votes, while candidate Travis Hinson received 106 votes.

MLEC’s annual meeting in Lewis County included a report from Chief Financial Officer Blake Harper on the cooperative’s most recent audit and financial standing. Those attending also heard TVA Customer Relations Manager Christopher Smith share appreciation for TVA’s partnership with Meriwether Lewis.

MLEC also recognized local students for their achievements and involvement in cooperative programs. Students were celebrated for scholarship accomplishments, participation in the Washington Youth Tour Short Story Contest and representation at the Youth Leadership Summit. Winners of the annual MLEC Poster Contest were also recognized.

“Our district and annual meetings wrapped up a great October of member events,” said President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “We’re grateful for the continued support of our members and the trust they place in MLEC. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to those who continue to make our cooperative strong.”

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