Replace the highlighted text with your details, and feel free to make additions or edits as you see fit. Download a copy of this letter here.
Dear [Insert Managers Name],
My name is [insert your name here], and I am a member-owner of [insert name of your co-op].
I love being a member-owner of our co-op. I value having my voice heard in decisions our co-op makes. I want to be able to trust that our co-op board and co-op management are making the best decisions in the interest of members like me. However, I am very concerned about the lack of transparency and absence of member participation in our co-op and other rural electric co-ops across Minnesota. Co-op members like me need to have important co-op information readily available to make informed decisions about our organizations.
A recently released report card on the websites of rural electric cooperatives in Minnesota found that information vital for members is missing from most websites. For example, over 80% of co-ops in Minnesota do not post how to vote in co-op elections, and over 60% do not post the dates of upcoming board meetings. Our co-op website only includes [insert number] of nine categories of information reviewed for the report card. You can find the Report Card at the Minnesota Local Energy Project website (www.mnlocalenergyproject.org).
This report deeply concerns me. We need our co-ops to be the most democratic organizations in Minnesota. As a member, I urge you to take action to make our co-op more transparent and more democratic once again.
In cooperation,
[insert your name]