To the Editor:

Have you heard that Dakota Energy lost its lawsuit to break its contract with East River Coop? Did you know it appealed that decision to the 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals and lost again? Did you know that DEC dropped its lawsuit against 17 of its own members? Will it take it to the Supreme Court?

Who paid for those legal costs? Seventeen members paid a lot to defend themselves; thousands. Several members were even subpoenaed and deposed for hours. Who approved that? Who paid for that? The Board? Why would they do that to their own members?

Do you still wonder what’s in the letter of intent that the DEC board signed with Guzman Energy? They still won’t show it to us. What are they hiding?

Did you know that Kingsbury Coop changed its bylaws to prevent the board from doing this without a member vote?

Why aren’t all the other 25 coop members of East River suing them?

Dr. Jacobs of Iowa State Univ. reminds us of the 7 Cooperative Principles:
  - Voluntary and open membership

Do you believe in these principles? Do the incumbent board of directors believe in these principles? Do their actions confirm their views?

The cooperative principles are being affirmed by DEC members, and other coops, and in the courts.

Is it time for a change of leadership? Term limits? Bylaw review and revision? Please vote in Dakota Energy’s election of board members on Aug. 29.

Transparency. Let’s shine the light of day into the darkness.

No, neither Basin Electric, nor East River paid me to say this, and never has. Never.

Pat Doak
Huron