Annual Meeting Review: BEK Marks 74 Years of Making Connections

“Value Beyond Connections” isn’t just a theme, it’s a promise BEK Communications Cooperative has been keeping for 74 years. Members gathered on June 11 at the Steele Amvets in Steele, ND to mark another year of that commitment at BEK’s 74th Annual Meeting.

The meeting opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a welcome from Board President Brett Stroh. A total of 242 people attended in person, with 98 registered members among them, and many more tuned in from across the state as the meeting was broadcast live on BEK TV and the BEK TV+ streaming app.

CEO Derrick Bulawa kicked off the business portion of the meeting by introducing the 2025 Year in Review video, offering members a look back at another productive year for the cooperative. The program continued with the Auditor’s Report from Chris Skidmore of Baker Tilly, followed by questions from attendees.

Members voted on director seats in Districts I, II, III, and V-East. Sanford Williams of District I, Kevin Bernhardt of District III, and Ed Everson of District V-East were each re-elected to serve on the board. The meeting’s only contested race, District II, where incumbent Bob Subart faced challenger Chase Dewitz. Members voted to elect Chase Dewitz for the seat.

With no old business and no new business brought before the membership, the meeting was adjourned.

Immediately following the annual meeting, the Board of Directors held its reorganization session and unanimously re-elected Brett Stroh as President, Kevin Bernhardt as Vice President, and Bill Becker as Secretary/Treasurer.

If you weren’t able to attend or watch live, the meeting is available on demand through the BEK TV+ streaming app.