Cavalier Rural Electric Cooperative personnel from left to right: Kerry Mikkelson, director; Marty Tetrault, assistant operations manager; Charles Riesen, CEO; Tim Devine, director and Owen Goeser, director

 MANDAN, N.D. – The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) recognized Marty Tetrault, assistant operations manager at Cavalier Rural Electric Cooperative (CREC), with the 2017 Community Service Award at its annual meeting in January.

“I’m new to Langdon and CREC, so I am not versed in all that lead up to Marty receiving this recognition,” says CREC Manager Charles Riesen. “However, I’ve been around long enough to recognize who the ‘go-to’ people are. Marty is CREC’s ‘Michael Jordan.’ Yes, he’s good, but, he also makes all of us better, because we all want to make sure we are doing our share.”

Tetrault truly embodies the cooperative principle of concern for community. First elected to the Langdon City Commission in 2000, Tetrault has served his community for more than 17 years. During that time, he has been involved in many projects, including the transfer of the municipal water supply source from Mt. Carmel Dam to the City of Devils Lake. Tetrault also serves his community by volunteering for the Langdon Volunteer Fire Department. Currently the assistant fire chief, Tetrault regularly responds to emergency calls and helps with special events, including an annual fundraiser that serves meals to about 700 people.

In rural communities, school athletic programs bring the community together. To succeed, those programs require leadership and support from volunteers. Tetrault was instrumental in developing a grade-school football program. In addition, he coaches grade school and high school teams, schedules games and maintains the football and baseball fields.

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.