To the Editor:

In opening, I would like to quote a paragraph from Dakota Energy’s May of 2020 newsletter, labeled  Autonomy and Independence.

“Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.”

Webster’s definition of autonomous is, “acting in accordance with one’s moral duty rather than one’s desires.”

To this day, I personally have not seen D.E’s Management or Board of Directors act or conduct business according to this principal.

With the guidance of their high-powered law firm in Denver, they continually interpret the co-ops by-laws to work in their favor, taking away the member owners’ voices.

Did you know that many member owners are afraid to speak their opinion or attend meetings for fear of retaliation? These members have read  the editorials and know how D.E. and their Attorneys respond to those who oppose their agenda. Yes, subpoenas, and when they fail at that, their next move is to depose those who stand up to them and in one case serve a cease and desist order..

In December of 2020 a member owner requested a current membership list as per their by-laws and it was provided to him in a timely manner. Now, D.E. refuses to give anyone a current membership list.

Why did only a few of D.E.’s Board of Directors attend the special meeting in Miller  on Sept. 8? Why did D.E. schedule this meeting on the same day as East River Co-ops annual meeting? Coincidence? I think not.

And last but not least, D.E. is holding a customer appreciation lunch with door prizes in Huron and Miller next week. Why, to try and buy support?

Douglas Hart
Huron