CHELCO will begin its Annual Meeting one hour earlier than originally scheduled on Saturday, April 12. The business meeting will now start at 10 AM, with doors opening at 8 AM. All planned activities will proceed as scheduled.

We kindly ask that scholarship applicants still plan to attend the Annual Meeting. However, we fully understand and support anyone who chooses to attend Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy Will May’s funeral and is concerned about making it on time. If that is the case for you, please let us know and we will excuse your absence. Applicants attending Deputy May's services will still be eligible to win a scholarship.

We deeply appreciate your understanding as we make this adjustment to allow attendees and staff the opportunity to attend Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy Will May’s funeral. Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy May’s family, friends, and the entire Walton County Sheriff’s Office during this difficult time.

Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative, Inc., (CHELCO) will host its Annual Meeting at Freeport High School on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

The fun starts early with everything kicking off at 9 a.m. Our team works hard to make this event fun and informative for all in attendance. Members are invited to attend the free event and enjoy indoor and outdoor exhibits, plus some fun and games before the business meeting, scholarships and prize drawings.

Our partners from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Fire District, and Walton County Emergency Management will be onsite with information and giveaways.

Once again, we are excited to offer bucket truck rides and two bounce houses for children.

One of our most popular exhibits is the Live Line Safety Trailer. Our crew uses a life-sized mock-up of electric wires, poles and components to demonstrate the danger of power lines and educate viewers on safety, specifically when faced with downed lines. Part of the demonstration includes the dangers of making contact with a 7,200-volt live line. Line technicians simulate this with a hot dog in a punctured glove.

Don’t worry about the hot dog, though. We will have additional food available. We will provide a complimentary breakfast, including biscuits, donuts, and fruit, served in the cafeteria. Plus, our Coastal Coffee Bar friends will return with their mobile coffee cart.

The business meeting portion of the day will begin around 10:30 a.m.

We will announce the Board of Trustees election results for Districts 2, 4, and 6. If you are eligible and interested in running, applications are available at CHELCO offices and online at CHELCO.com/board-trustees.

During the annual meeting, we will share information on the activities of the co-op, our financial report, and other items I think you’ll find interesting and informative.

Be sure to stick around following the conclusion of the business meeting. This is when our staff will draw the ten recipients who will each receive a $1,000 CHELCO Scholarship to use towards their higher education. Applicants must be in attendance to enter their name into the scholarship drawing. Visit CHELCO.com/scholarships to apply today. The deadline to apply is March 28.

After the scholarship announcements, we will give away thousands in prizes, including gift cards to local restaurants, merchandise and electronics.

For those unable to attend in person, we will record and publish a video of the annual meeting.

Exercise the benefits of your cooperative membership by joining us for the annual meeting on April 12.