Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:07] Speaker B: Welcome to the Buzz, a podcast by Boone Electra Cooperative. The Buzz is a monthly message to our community celebrating what it means to be a member owner of your local electric cooperative, Boone Electric Cooperative, your co op, our community.
[00:00:27] Speaker C: Welcome back to the Buzz.
[00:00:28] Speaker A: Zachary.
[00:00:28] Speaker C: Hi, I'm Zach Smith, communications specialist at Boone Electric Cooperative. And today we are joined by and celebrating the service of two men who have given many decades to Boone Electric Cooperative and its members, Joel Bullard and Frank Glenn. Gentlemen, welcome to the show.
[00:00:43] Speaker A: Thank you, Zach. Glad to be here. Yep.
[00:00:45] Speaker D: Zach, thank you.
[00:00:46] Speaker C: So, as of September 11th this year, 2026, you guys are officially retiring from the board, I guess we can say. But we're not really here to say goodbye so much as good luck. Thank you. And also reminisce a bit about your roles here over the years at the cooperative. So if I may ask, what prompted this decision to retire and what's the next chapter look like for both of you?
[00:01:09] Speaker D: Well, for me, it was time, I think it's time for other folks to step in with maybe some better ideas of what could be done to help Boon Electric along the way. I think. I think my stuff is kind of dried up, so it's just time to. To move on and do something different with. With my life.
[00:01:31] Speaker A: Oh, for me, I think I looked at it, Zach, you know, 33 years. I think I feel very, very blessed and fortunate and humbled that the directors and the membership allowed me to be able to hang around this long. I never thought I would stay that long when I first got elected.
And I'm like, Frank, it's just a stage in my life where I realized that 77 years old, and it's time to do something different and pass its torch on to the next generation of co op leaders.
[00:02:01] Speaker C: 33 years for you, and how long for you, Frank?
[00:02:04] Speaker D: You know, I've lost track.
I want to say maybe 20 would be my guess somewhere along there.
[00:02:11] Speaker C: So over 50 years between the two of you combined. And that's a long time, 10 to give your time and service to an organization. So thank you both for that.
Joel, we spoke briefly about it when you ran for the board initially, what it was like walking into that first meeting. And Frank, I wondered if you might share some of that same story with us. What made you want to even run for the board in the first place?
[00:02:36] Speaker D: You know, I've served on a lot of boards, and I served time on Boone County Fair Board. I served mfa, Columbia MFA on Advisory board and served with Cedar Creek Advisory Board back in the day when Farm Credit was then PCA and Federal Land Bank. I served on the PCA advisory board. So I had done that sort of thing. And I always thought Boom Electric would be the. If you could get on that board, you. You have done something. You. You've really gone up in the world. And I think that is true. I mean, I think Electric is a. Is a. Is a great organization as a cooperative. It's, It's.
You know, all. All the cooperatives that I worked on were nothing compared to what Boon Electric was. I mean, my gosh, when you talk about that first day coming to the setting around the table, I was like my eyes wide open. I thought, oh, my gosh, this is. This is something else. And the knowledge that all the directors at that time that had around the board table was just unbelievable. You know, the sharp people. And I certainly have been proud to be a part of that group of folks.
[00:04:04] Speaker C: We've talked before with some of the other directors. Joel, I think you've been one of them. How serving on Boone Electric's board is a lot different than maybe what some people's idea of serving on a board is like. Who are some of the people that took you under your wing or what were some of the things that stood out to you that you learned that were things either maybe you had misconceptions about yourself when you stepped into that role, or were some of the things that you were going to be deciding on every month or more often, as the case may be?
[00:04:35] Speaker D: Well, I'd say the dollars. I mean, you know, my gosh, the.
Every time we have a CEO report, we're talking about money. I'm like, wow, you know, that's. That's just huge amounts of money that you have to deal with, and we have to be cognizant of and protect.
Protect the membership and their ownership in this. This great organization.
So I look at Joel, I look at Jay Turner and Keith Schnar. I mean, those were the folks that I meant. I just thought they were the greatest people. I mean, because of all the knowledge that they have and all their years of experience at the board table.
So those were, you know, people who I looked up to and I still do.
[00:05:25] Speaker A: When I first got on the board in 93, the thing that really stuck out to me was just the amount of commitment that it took for me personally to become a good director or as good a director as I could possibly be.
I just really, when I first got elected, I did not know how much time it would take of my time to be a director for Boone Electric. And that means going to class, not only going to the monthly meetings, but going to classes to learn to be a good director.
And also other time commitments that are involved and the people I looked up to, like Frank said, Jay Turner was a longtime member.
He was served probably 10 years before I got on the board. And Jay was always very knowledgeable and helpful to me and other board members. And also LD Bayrechter, who was a previous board president of Boone Electricity, very knowledgeable and guiding me. But when I first came on, we were a group of young directors, much like Boone Electric is transitioning now to a totally new set of directors that have been in place for many years here. It was a really neat experience, but it takes a lot of time to be a good director, Zach, I mean, more than the average person believes.
[00:06:48] Speaker D: Well, I certainly agree with Joel on that because I certainly didn't expect that. And when, you know, other boards that I served on, you didn't have that kind of training that you get here and all the classes that we were expected to take. And I understand why this is, this is an amazing place and you better be on top of your game to be able to understand everything that goes on.
And getting that training was beneficial by far.
[00:07:18] Speaker C: That is something that we, when we talk about the responsibilities that the board has, whether it's here on the podcast or especially when we get closer to annual meeting time, the one that everybody who has served on the board mentions. But I think it sometimes gets overlooked or maybe it's not as noticed by people who haven't served on the board or maybe don't see the training that you all go through is that aspect of learning the job, learning the business model, and whether that looks like how to review a very large budget, as you alluded to earlier, Frank, or the engineering that's involved in putting a new substation on the system. And not only those things, but also what I find interesting is how other directors or other co ops across the country do their thing, because there's that old chestnut, you guys know better than I do. And if you've been to one co op, you've been to one co op. So as you all have interacted with board members or directors at other cooperatives around the state as part of that training and your roles here, what did you come back with? What did those experiences teach you about the business of cooperatives? Or did it make you see Boone differently when you came back from some of those trainings or classes?
[00:08:29] Speaker D: You know, some of the fun training with when you were out, like at an NRECA annual meeting and you took training there and you're surrounded by folks from all over the country and listening to how they run their cooperatives.
There's none that are alike. I mean, we're, we are a system that's the same, but we're not alike. Everybody has got a different way of doing their business. And so that's, that was always intriguing to me was I thought, well, once you're on a, you're, you're a co op, everybody. That's not true. I mean, everybody's lives in a different part of the world. So it's just interesting to see and hear the differences in a lot of the cooperatives that around the country, not only just nationwide, but statewide too.
[00:09:20] Speaker A: Yeah, I would agree with Frank completely. I mean, when you, when you go to these meetings or training sessions and you interact with your fellow directors and managers for that matter, you learn so much about how things are done at other cooperatives and you can pick up little pieces and little tidbits and bring them back to your own cooperatives. It's an ongoing process.
The thing about being a director at Ben Electric Cooperative, we all take it so serious.
We're in charge of a $250 million company and the buck stopped at that board table. Something goes wrong. There's nine people that sit around that table and they're responsible. I don't care how they want to cut it.
So you better be on top of your game. Like Frank says, you better know what's going on because ultimately nobody else is responsible except you nine people.
[00:10:12] Speaker D: Well, and you, you come to the board table and you better look at your board packets because there's a lot of information in there. And you better be ready to, to voice your opinions if there's something that comes up that you really feel like you need to make a comment about or ask that question. It's so important to what's going to happen here.
[00:10:37] Speaker C: You both have served the cooperative through a lot of milestones. Whether that's storm restorations that the co op has gone through, Boone Electric forming satellite Internet subsidiary and not to mention all the changes in technology, annual meetings, the building.
I'm curious from your perspective, though, because we always talk about, oh, what's changed in all that time? I'd like to know what hasn't changed in that time.
[00:11:02] Speaker A: I don't know how Frank feels about this, but the one thing that has not changed about Boone Electric cooperative in my 33 years are the employees work for Boone Electric. They Are dedicated. They love Boon Electric.
They did in 1993 and they do in 2026. I don't see any change there. It stayed the same. And boy, am I thankful for that.
[00:11:27] Speaker D: Boy, is Joel right? I mean, I. I don't know. Or you can say it is. That is the greatest part, is just these people have such a love for their job and love for the membership to do everything possible to make sure that their lights are on. And, and they are group. A great group of people.
[00:11:51] Speaker A: And I think the second thing that hasn't changed, Zach, since I got on the board is the board's dedication to safety.
[00:11:59] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:12:01] Speaker A: If. If anybody at Boone Electric comes to the board and says we need X number of dollars to provide something to provide safety for the employees, it's a 90 vote almost immediately. I mean, it's, it's without question the board's top priority. It has been since I've been on the board and it still is today.
[00:12:21] Speaker D: Well, I think that's why Scott comes in, talks to us first, is because of safety, because we look at it as so important that it's. It's a high priority, making sure everything's safe. It's safe.
[00:12:34] Speaker C: It's kind of what everything rests on.
[00:12:36] Speaker D: That's right.
[00:12:36] Speaker C: They're not safe. Then we.
[00:12:38] Speaker D: That's right.
[00:12:38] Speaker C: Kind of everything else falls after that and we failed.
[00:12:41] Speaker A: You know, when I was board chair, I told the lineman, when I go to a safety meeting, I said, guys, do what you're supposed to do. I don't want to have to go to your family or your wives and say, I'm sorry, don't make me do that. That's part of the board's safety emphasis. We don't want to be put in that position. And we want those guys to go home to their wives and families at night.
[00:13:05] Speaker C: You want them to be here for 33 or more. When you initially said that, that that hasn't changed, it made me think there actually are, I think, a couple faces that haven't changed in the time that you've been on the board.
You mentioned earlier, Joel, the responsibility of the board, not just making the decisions, but the fact that you are elected to represent the membership. And so when you two and your seven co board members are in there around the director's table making decisions, you're making those with not just yourselves in mind because you guys are members who were elected from the membership to represent them, but you have neighbors, you have friends, you have people, people in the community who also are affected by the Decisions that you all make. When you all joined the board and you were learning your way around it from some of those folks that you mentioned earlier, did they have any words of wisdom to use as kind of ifc? Frank's already nodding, he's got something good
[00:13:59] Speaker D: former board member and we all know Jay Turner. But anytime some discussion came up about rates or what do we have to do, Jay always reminded us about his mother in law at the end of the line, what's that margin there that they have only so many dollars. So we have to keep that person in perspective that let's make sure that it's reliable, it's affordable.
And I think that's what's important to what we try to accomplish, making sure that those people are thought of.
[00:14:35] Speaker A: I think it's one of the toughest board meetings, how often they roll around is when we go to talk about rates. I mean, Frank and I and other seven board members, we all pay our luxury bill every month just like everybody else. So we're raising our rates also if we have to. And it's a tough, it's a tough decision because you gotta go tell your neighbors, I'm sorry, but you know, we had to raise rates, but it's for the betterment of the co op. I mean it's just something that inevitable sometimes, but it's not a fun job.
[00:15:09] Speaker D: Well, and I think for Joel and me, we come to the boardroom, we take our farmer hats off and now we got to become board member for Food Electric Cooperative. And we have to think of the cooperative which is the members, the employees, the facilities, the infrastructure. So all this has to be thought of as we make those day to day decisions.
[00:15:30] Speaker A: Frank and I are farmers and we have to take our farmer hat off. But even if you're another director and you're a banker or you're an engineer or you're whatever, whatever cap you wear in your private life when you walk in that boardroom, you've got to hang it up on the rack and be done with it. Because all the business of Boone Electric is right in front of you. And that's what's got to get all your attention. You can't let your personal feelings or thoughts come into conflict with the operations of Boone Electric Car.
[00:16:01] Speaker D: That's absolutely true.
[00:16:02] Speaker C: It's a balancing act, right? I mean, you guys have got to figure out a way to yes, meet the operating expense, the budgetary needs of the cooperatives so that the business can continue to provide its service of electricity. But at the same time, you've got to keep those folks at the very end of the line in mind and keep things affordable and ultimately what's best for the members as a whole in front of you. And I would assume that's sort of the lantern through the. Through the path. Sometimes when it gets a little confusing,
[00:16:31] Speaker D: it can, it can be absolutely. But it's those thoughts that you have to keep in mind that you're trying to do your best for all the folks that are buying that energy. You know, we try to do everything we can to make sure it's reliable, portable and.
And there every time they go flip the switch.
[00:16:52] Speaker C: Has there ever been a thought where you're kind of have a moment of. I never thought when I joined the board that one day we would be talking about this building, this new building.
[00:17:03] Speaker D: I think when I first got on the board, I mean I never thought that we would go through that process. That was an amazing, amazing.
Actually, I'm going to go back to the day that we all met as directors, staff sitting in that room with the builders and.
[00:17:23] Speaker A: Architects.
[00:17:23] Speaker D: Architects and trying to make this thing happen. And, and I'll never forget, we kind of split up. It was the board, we stayed in the room and the staff went outside because it's all on the staff. I mean the staff and employees to make this thing work because they literally had to move out of this building and move to different.
Two different buildings. And what a major task that was. And it all came together.
I think that was quite a process and I'm thankful for that day because it seemed like everything worked extremely well because of that day we met.
[00:18:02] Speaker A: Frank said that was a big decision. I mean when you go to looking at. Looking at spending 30 plus million dollars members money, you know, I know I don't like Covid didn't like the atmosphere. But it did bring low interest rates.
It let us build this building and finance it cheap.
So I'm thankful for that. But I never thought I would even see any part of that when I first got elected.
[00:18:30] Speaker D: I never either. It's just, it was, it was quite a experience and, and we didn't live it day to day like, you know, you all did. I mean we were here to only maybe once a month for our meetings or anything that might come up as a committee to discuss something. But you all, you all carried the
[00:18:52] Speaker C: load having only ever come to work for Boone Electric here in this building. But hearing the way that other people talk about it, I can tell you from the folks who lived it, as you put it, Frank, they're very, very, very thankful for that process. And had they, you know, knowing what was on the other side of it and being able to come to work here every day, I'm sure they would go through it again if they had to. Not that they could, because as you pointed out, Joel, with the conditions created by Covid, and we all know that we were just talking with Vicki about it last month. We, you all could not have made the decision to do this building today. That financial environment doesn't exist anymore.
[00:19:31] Speaker A: No, it doesn't. And it. We were talking about this at lunch today. It would be financially impossible because interest rates are so high. The cost of building the building is so high. The timing, everything worked just, just perfect.
[00:19:47] Speaker D: Well, I, again, on that same day, you were sitting there with Randy Coyle and you asked, we were talking about doing it in segments and you asked how much money would we save. We just did it all at one time.
[00:20:00] Speaker A: And it was $850,000.
[00:20:03] Speaker D: A lot of money.
[00:20:04] Speaker A: Well, everybody's here today. We're going to have a board meeting.
And so we had a board meeting right there that afternoon.
And the contractor was there, the architect was there, the staff was there.
And it, Frank stated early, it turned out to be the best move. Luckily.
[00:20:26] Speaker C: I know you said some of the decisions aren't always fun to make, but there have to have been a few, or at least a few moments from several decades of doing this job that stand out as really good days like that one.
[00:20:37] Speaker D: I think every time we met was a good day.
[00:20:41] Speaker C: That's the right answer.
[00:20:43] Speaker A: We had some tough, tough meetings, but we had fun at those tough, tough meetings. Everybody respected each other, loved each other.
I didn't always disagree, I'll tell you that. Sure.
[00:20:57] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:20:57] Speaker A: I mean, I've seen board members stand up at a board meeting and look across the table and say, what are you talking about?
And then sit back down. But at the end of the day, everybody was okay.
[00:21:09] Speaker D: Yep. We all walked out as friends.
[00:21:11] Speaker C: Nine people. You have to have a difference of opinion between at least two of you at some point sometimes.
But it still is good.
[00:21:18] Speaker D: I mean, you shake hands and laugh and, and head out the door and be happy with what happened.
[00:21:24] Speaker C: You guys all came back to the next meeting, so worked it out.
[00:21:28] Speaker A: And 100% of the time, every decision that was ever made, Zach, all nine board members supported that decision, whatever it was. I don't know any time in my mind that there was ever a director that silently or backdoorly cut down a decision that the board made. They all Supported it.
That makes me very proud.
[00:21:49] Speaker D: Yep. And that. That's my hope for the future, that it's always like that, that they can all get together, make sure that whatever decisions are made, that everybody supports that decision as they leave the boardroom.
[00:22:03] Speaker A: That's my hope and dream as I walk out the door, is that the current board and the future board, they can have their discussions, they can have their disagreements.
Arguments maybe. But when the chairman slams that gavel down and says, meeting adjourned, they're all friends and they all get along and they go on their way and they have a good time, that's my dream.
[00:22:28] Speaker D: Mine too.
[00:22:29] Speaker C: I would have to say that that has to be a fairly rare experience. And that makes me wonder if during those other interactions with directors or other co op leaders from other states or even other co ops here within Missouri, if you guys came back to the next board meeting thinking, you know what, we may have our disagreements or we may have this problem going on right now, but we've got a pretty good thing going here.
[00:22:52] Speaker A: Oh, absolutely.
[00:22:53] Speaker D: Sure.
[00:22:54] Speaker A: Yeah. I think Frank and I can both say, you know, let Frank talk to that. But we go to those meetings and it just takes one to make a horrible situation on a board level, this one board member that can cause a lot of problems.
And we've seen those out in other co ops across the country and in Missouri and whatever. And we always come back home and say, man, we got a good board. Got a good board.
[00:23:20] Speaker D: I have been so proud to be a part of this, this cooperative. And the board, we've always sat down together and been able to iron things out and done it so that we're.
We're still friends.
And we've got such a great staff that come in and provide us the information too, that we, we need to make those decisions. And that's what's, I think is. Makes our lives easier, too, is that staff.
[00:23:55] Speaker A: Frank and I served on the board.
We've broke bread together, we've had fun.
We've done different things that are fun. We've gone to the lake together. We've went to cardinal ball games.
We have tough business decisions, but we also enjoy being around each other. And again, I hope the board can continue that because it's always been my philosophy that it works on relationships. Everything in life is based on relationships, whether it's family or business. And the board is no different. If you've got good relationships, understand people, things will work out.
[00:24:34] Speaker C: I'm straying from the path a little late in the story here, but did you guys know each other socially before you served on the board together at all?
[00:24:42] Speaker D: Okay, that agricultural community, you do know each other.
[00:24:46] Speaker C: Yeah, kind of like being in a small town. Even if Boone and Columbia are not quite small by that definition.
[00:24:53] Speaker A: Frank and I were talking earlier today.
Boone Electric is. The territory of Boone Electric is changing. You know, when Bootlectric was First formed in 1936, it was a rural county.
It's not a rural county anymore. And I think that you're seeing that shift with the membership and evident. And of course the directors are changing too. There's not so many farmers left on the board anymore and that's okay. That's a way that our community is changing.
[00:25:26] Speaker D: Yeah, I agree totally.
[00:25:28] Speaker C: Well, I was going to put you guys both on the spot because we were speaking earlier in the show about what previous board members had told you or coached you or mentored you in and you already kind of spoke to this a little bit. But I wondered if you had any particular responsibility that you wanted to charge the present or the future board with things to uphold or keep in mind as they take this wheel of the ship you two have helped steer for so long.
[00:25:54] Speaker D: You're right. Steer the ship. Keep the ship afloat.
Do the job that your membership voted you to do. Take care of the members.
That is so important that you think about what I said earlier about that person at the end of the line. But, but also we've got a, a great thing going here.
Keep that great thing going and only make it better.
[00:26:20] Speaker A: When I first got elected to Boone electric support in 1993, it didn't take me very long to realize I got hooked up with a really, really neat organization.
And I hope that the current directors and future directors of Boone Electric feel the same way. And as Frank said, steer the ship.
We've got a great staff.
Keep Boone Electric in that top tier group, which I think we are. That's where we want to be. That was always our goal as directors that had Boone Electric in that top tier group of co ops in Missouri. I think that's where we're at and that's where I hope we stay.
[00:27:01] Speaker D: I know going to some of those statewide meetings and national meetings. I come back here and I'm. I can say I'm really proud to be a director at Boone Electric. And the folks that we surround ourselves with are just top notch and I just makes me feel really proud.
[00:27:21] Speaker C: Well, Joel, Frank, I'm sure that there will be a more official send off than this sometime in the near future for both of you and that there are many people out there who will be wishing you well for your futures. But thank you both, both for being here today and taking the time to speak with me now, but also for your time and efforts over the years. You both have not only upheld those responsibilities that you inherited when you were elected, but by all accounts anyone you speak to around Boone Electric. You too have represented the members best interests. You considered the well being and the safety of the employees.
And you performed that very necessary balancing act that we talked about earlier of evolving with the times and keeping Boone Electric relevant while also keeping those fundamentals of the cooperative business model at the front of all those decisions that you had to make. And those are a lot of plates to keep spinning, never mind keeping them all in one piece and off the kitchen floor. So thank you both for everything that you've given Boone Electric and you will be missed, but not forgotten.
[00:28:24] Speaker A: Well, thank you, Zach. Yeah, I. I would just like to say that I owe Boon Electric far more. Ben Electric doesn't owe me anything, but I owe Ben Electric a lot because it's just afforded me the opportunity to have a lot of great experiences. And I hope I've just given back a little bit.
Not near what I need to give to pay them back. I'll tell you that.
[00:28:47] Speaker D: I agree with Joel and I think one of my fondest memories was Joel was president of NCSC board and seeing him in New York City up in front of that group of people, I'm like, oh my gosh, am I ever proud to know Joel.
It was a great, great thing to see.
[00:29:08] Speaker A: To all the directors that I've served with, I can't name all of them off the top of my head, but some fabulous men and women, just beautiful people. And I just want to say thank you to all them. They, they brought joy to my life.
Just a lot of fun.
[00:29:27] Speaker D: I agree. They have great friendships. Still are great folks. So yes. Thank you. Thank you.
[00:29:36] Speaker A: Frank mentioned Jay Turner earlier and Jay is a dear, dear friend of Frank and myself. And we used to always say that Jay's blood is not red.
It's been electric. Great.
I hope that Jay has brought Frank and I some pretty electric green plug.
[00:29:57] Speaker D: I think he has no doubt about it.
[00:29:59] Speaker C: I would certainly count on it. Thank you both. Appreciate you both joining us here today.
[00:30:04] Speaker A: Thank you, Zach.
[00:30:05] Speaker D: Thank you, Zach. Appreciate the questions.
[00:30:08] Speaker C: And thank you all for joining us here on the Buzz. I haven't forgotten about you all either. Hope you won't forget us next month. Until then, we'll see you somewhere down the line.
[00:30:16] Speaker B: Thank you for tuning in to the Buzz, a podcast by Boone Electric Cooperative. To subscribe or for more information, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram X and LinkedIn. And of course, you can always visit us 247 at Boonelectric Co op Boone Electric Cooperative, your co op, our community.
