VEA’s annual membership meeting Saturday

Valley Electric Association, Inc. will hold its annual meeting on Saturday, celebrating the cooperative’s 50th anniversary with a look toward the future.

The event will start at 11 a.m. at Pahrump Valley High with a lunch and documentary, followed by a presentation at 1 p.m.

The event is the cooperative’s largest event of the year. Hundreds of VEA members attended last year’s event, and an even larger crowd is expected this year, according to VEA.

“Last year’s annual meeting was a tremendous success for VEA in engaging with its member-owners and discussing important aspects of our cooperative’s recent successes and expectations for the future,” VEA Chief Executive Officer Tom Husted said. “With 2015 marking VEA’s 50th anniversary, this year’s event serves as a unique opportunity for community members to gain insight into the rich history of our organization and its lasting impact on southwestern Nevada.”

This year’s meeting theme is “Then and Now,” highlighting VEA’s history and their half-decade of service in the area.

VEA will provide its member-owners detailed information about current and upcoming projects and its plans for the future.

The event will provide VEA member-owners with detailed information about the cooperative’s projects, member-focused efforts and strategies for the future. In addition to a presentation from Husted, the event will feature the announcement of this year’s VEA scholarship recipients.

Mark Hall-Patton, administrator of the Clark County Museum System, will serve as the event’s special guest speaker at the 1 p.m. presentation.

Henderson-base Hall-Patton, a regular on the Las Vegas-based reality show, “Pawn Stars,” will speak to the crowd about Southern Nevada’s history.

Before the meeting gets underway, those in attendance will have the opportunity to see an in-depth documentary about history of VEA, featuring interviews with various VEA members including board representatives, and employees, in addition to community members that helped mold the cooperative.

The meeting is free for community members and will feature a lunch and prize drawings, including a grand prize of 50 $100 bills ($5,000), a first runner-up prize of 50 $50 bills ($2,500), and a second runner-up prize of 25 $50 bills ($1,250). Additional prizes include a 55-inch LCD television, a barbecue grill, gift certificates and 10 VEA power bill credits.

Complimentary transportation will also be provided to members to and from the meeting Saturday.

A bus will begin loading at 9:30 a.m. at the Beatty Community Center located at 100 South A Ave. in Beatty, and will then pick up people at the Fort Amargosa building in Lathrop Wells at 10:15 a.m.

Those who are interested in attending and/or obtaining a ride should RSVP by calling 775-727-2189.

The high school is located at 501 E. Calvada Blvd.