âIt was a big decision. The board didnât take it lightly,â said general manager Max Beach, Idaho County Light and Power Cooperative, on the cancelation of Novemberâs annual membership meeting, the first in the co-opâs history. âIt hasnât happened before, but here we are in our 82nd year and things are different.â
That difference is COVID-19, and as the nation adjusted to safety procedure to minimize spread of the disease and âflatten the curve,â so followed states and communities. This yearâs planned annual November meeting was initially to be an abbreviated affair to meet COVID safety guidelines â streamlined agenda for essential business only, seating for members only, and no lunch â but Idahoâs move around that time to stage 3 guidelines and limiting gatherings to 50 persons made even those cautious plans beyond what was acceptable for safety.