BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) recognized Doug Lund, former board member of Nodak Electric Cooperative, with the 2018 Cooperative Leadership Award at its annual meeting on Jan. 15.

For the past 28 years, Lund’s service to North Dakota’s electric cooperatives has been steady and strong. He began his board service in 1990 at Sheyenne Valley Electric Cooperative. When the cooperative merged with Nodak Electric Cooperative in 2001, he continued his board service, providing continuity and a depth of knowledge that members could rely on through the merger and beyond. Lund also served on the NDAREC board of directors, serving four years on the Rural Electric and Telephone Committee and one year on the Professional Development Committee.

Retired Nodak Electric Cooperative CEO George Berg served alongside Lund for 12 years. He endorsed Lund for the Cooperative Leadership Award, saying, “Doug has all the qualities that make a good leader in the cooperative world. He listened and cared about the concerns of the member-owners and the cooperative’s employees, and he was always concerned about the safety of our employees and the general public.”

Doug exemplifies the cooperative principle of ‘Concern for Community.’ He’s helped lead local education, youth and senior citizen programs. His cooperative service has extended to the Sharon Elevator board and the Aneta Farmer’s Union Oil board. And, he’s even found time to participate in the fun aspects of living in a rural community – like the record-breaking turkey barbeque in Aneta.

Lund’s commitment to North Dakota’s electric cooperatives and the communities they serve demonstrates his appreciation of the cooperative model and his dedication to providing electric service to rural America. North Dakota’s electric cooperatives congratulate him on receiving the Cooperative Leadership Award.

Every year, NDAREC recognizes individuals for their generous contributions to North Dakota’s electric cooperatives and the communities they serve. An eight-member committee of the NDAREC board of directors selects award recipients from nominations submitted by NDAREC’s members, which includes 16 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives.

NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 16 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to nearly 250,000 North Dakotans via 196,000 meters. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, line worker safety training and professional development services, cooperative business development, and communication services including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.