Baldwin EMC held its 2024 Annual Meeting at its Summerdale headquarters on Friday, November 1. The meeting included voting in elections for trustees.
Joseph Coleman of Loxley was re-elected to another term representing District 2, Tommie Werneth of Orange Beach was re-elected to serve District 4, and Peggy Vanover Barnes of Foley was re-elected to serve as the representative for District 6 on Baldwin EMC’s board.
There were 17,944 members who voted either in person or by mail in this year’s election. The Annual Meeting also included special addresses from Board Chairman Peggy Vanover Barnes and Chief Executive Officer Hunter Robinson.
Joseph (Joe) Coleman has served as the trustee for District 2 since 2007 and is a Credentialed Cooperative Director through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). He also holds the NRECA’s Director Gold Credential. Coleman is a lifelong resident of Baldwin County and a veteran of the United States Army. In addition to serving on Baldwin EMC’s Board, he serves on the Board of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. Coleman and his wife Rebecca live in Loxley on property originally purchased by his grandparents in the 1940’s. The Colemans have three children and one grandson.
Tommie Werneth joined Baldwin EMC’s board in 1996 and currently serves as its Vice President. She currently serves as Past Chairman of the board for the Alabama Rural Electric Association, the trade association for the state’s electric cooperatives. Werneth is also a Credentialed Cooperative Director through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and holds the NRECA’s Director Gold Credential. Werneth and her husband Ed built their first home in Orange Beach on Cotton Bayou in 1978. They have resided in Orange Beach for more than 45 years. They have one daughter and son-in-law and three grandchildren. They are both active members of St. Thomas by the Sea Catholic Church.
Peggy Vanover Barnes has served on the Board of Trustees since 1988 and is the trustee for District 6, and currently the President of Baldwin EMC and chairman of the Board of Trustees. Before being elected President in December 2008, she also served terms as Secretary/Treasurer and Vice President. She is a Credentialed Cooperative Director through NRECA and holds the NRECA’s Director Gold Credential. Vanover Barnes currently serves as Chairman of the AREA Chairmen’s Council. She is a native of Baldwin County and a graduate of Robertsdale High School. Vanover Barnes is married to Kenneth Barnes, and they have six children, five of whom reside in beautiful Baldwin County.
Immediately following the Annual Meeting, Baldwin EMC’s Board of Trustees held a re-organizational meeting to select board officers for the upcoming year. Peggy Vanover Barnes was elected to serve another term as President and chairman of the board, Tommie Werneth was once again chosen to serve as Vice President and Joe Coleman was elected to serve another term as Secretary/Treasurer.