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SLEMCO’s 67th Annual Meeting Attracts Thousands:
Lucky SLEMCO Winner Drives Home In New Car,
20 Others Win $2,000 For College

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Olivier were stunned as their names were called as the grand prize winners of the 2004 SLEMCO Annual Meeting held at the Cajundome in Lafayette yesterday, June 5th. When offered the choice of five brand new 2004 vehicles from Lafayette Motors, Mrs. Olivier decided to think on it awhile and together they will make their final decision on Monday when they go to pick up their new vehicle at the dealership.

During the meeting, SLEMCO also awarded $40,000 in college scholarships to twenty students who will be attending college this fall. Winners included Benjamin Pitre of Opelousas, Hayley Jeansonne of St. Martinville, Alana Carrell of Church Point, Theresa Guilbeau of Carencro; Matthew Couvillon of Abbeville, Kari Begnaud of Maurice, Angelle Bush of Lebeau, Justin Broussard of Abbeville, Christina Marks of Arnaudville, Brandon Melancon of Duson, Spencer Hulin of St. Martinville, Jennifer Buford of St. Martinville, Kerry Richard of Rayne, Tiffany Francis of Arnaudville, Kane Hubbard of Church Point, Justin Hardy of Opelousas, Leslie Clark of Lafayette, Katy Douget of Crowley, Candice LeBlanc of  Duson and Jordan Romero of  Kaplan.

Earlier in the meeting, Clark Gray of Crowley, Dave Aymond of Lafayette, Dewey Ledoux, Jr. of Opelousas and Harold Kennison of Cecilia were re-elected to three-year terms on the SLEMCO Board of Directors.

SLEMCO Board President Jerry Meaux of Lafayette spoke to the crowd of more than 10,000, detailing plans for $4.2 million in credits resulting from the last of the Cajun Bankruptcy proceeds that will be applied to the accounts of qualified customers in September of this year. Any SLEMCO member connected between August of 2003 and July of 2004 will be receiving a credit to their account based on the electrical usage in their homes during that time.  He also announced the upcoming availability of online bill payments for all SLEMCO customers beginning later this summer.

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Dale Sittig addressed the crowd as keynote speaker. In his address, he praised the company for bringing power to rural Acadiana and for becoming such an important part of the local economy. 

He also told the membership of SLEMCO’s efforts to work hard to lower its electric rates and assured members “that the rates and service you are getting are nothing but the best.”

J.U. Gajan, SLEMCO’s general manager and chief executive officer, told all the SLEMCO members present that “the 25 year contract we negotiated in 2001 for wholesale power is still below cost, and the management practices we have instituted in the daily operations of SLEMCO is the reason your rates are so competitive today.”

Gajan went on to illustrate how SLEMCO and its members have a unique partnership that is about more than reliable, low cost electricity. He detailed how the two work to improve higher education through college scholarships and how member contributions help the truly needy with a wide variety of assistance.

“Our partnership is also about family,” Gajan explained. “And families look out for one another.  Families are there for one another. Whether it is something suspicious we see when reading meters, help in our parking lot with a stalled automobile, or proposed legislation that will take away our rights, we are always on watch for you, our extended family. And perhaps more importantly, like any good family member, we will always be here for you whenever and wherever you need us.”

SLEMCO provides electric power to some 83,000 residents and businesses in the parishes of Acadia, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion.

6/5/04

For more information, contact SLEMCO's Mary Laurent at 337-896-2520.