By Agripina Gomez
Every year, the Magic Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) hosts its annual meeting in Mercedes, Texas, where co-op members from all over the RGV gather together. In this meeting, co-op members have the opportunity to vote for new board members, and hear about the cooperative annual report. It’s more than just a meeting - it is a key part of the democratic process.
Co-op members that participate in community education programs learn that they are not just customers of an “electric company,” they are actually member-owners. They get excited and want to learn more about the cooperative, and ways they can participate and exercise their rights as member-owners. The annual meeting is an opportunity for that engagement to come to life.
A Growing Movement in the Rio Grande Valley
This year, the meeting drew attendees from all corners of the RGV — including San Benito, Hidalgo, Edinburg, Mercedes, and Brownsville. Members from colonias like La Paloma showed up in force, representing their communities with pride and determination.
We were joined by inspiring community leaders like Martha Camacho, a longtime advocate from La Paloma, who returned for her third MVEC meeting and continues to organize around immigrant justice and reproductive rights.
Maria Alaniz, affectionately known as Doña Beba, who hosts lively lotería days at her bodega, made delicious homemade meals and offered space for our co-op workshops.
Gloria Lozoya, a dedicated San Benito resident, has been attending the annual meeting for three years and recently urged the MVEC board to lower electricity rates, especially for elders living on fixed incomes.
An Historic Campaign: Arise Adelante's Role
We’re proud to partner with Arise Adelante in leading the first-ever electric cooperative organizing campaign in the Rio Grande Valley. While similar efforts have been successful in places like Colorado, this is the first time a campaign like this has taken root here in the Rio Grande Valley. Arise plays a critical role in educating and mobilizing MVEC member-owners, helping spread awareness and build power across the Valley.
Inside the Meeting: Elections, Announcements, and Raffles
When we arrived at the meeting, we checked in the front, and it was a smooth process. A member just had to show their ID to verify proof of residency, and each member can bring a guest. We were greeted in the front and escorted into the event center where they had snacks, drinks, and giveaway bags with swag. During the meeting, the Board of Directors presented the yearly report of expenses, and new projects such as the installation of smart meters. These meters are expected to reduce operational costs by allowing remote service controls, eliminating the need for in-person visits in many cases.
The board also noted a vacancy in District 5, and reminded attendees that members are technically allowed to self-nominate during the meeting, as outlined in the bylaws. However, this process was confusing and difficult for attendees to participate in. During the brief one-minute nomination window, an attorney used the time to speak about his daughter’s accomplishments - a gesture that, while heartfelt, sidetracked the purpose of that moment and left many members confused and disappointed.
There is currently no clear effort from the board to encourage everyday members from the community to run for open seats. Instead, there is a nomination committee that meets secretly and has no oversight from the member-owners, leaving the community members feeling shut out of the democratic process.
Of course, the raffle is a major draw - members had the chance to win household items and even a truck! Just bringing the invitation from the co-op’s monthly magazine enters you into the drawing. But the giveaways raise an important question: Are members being incentivized to attend, or empowered to lead?
Concerns Raised by Members: Lighting, Transparency, and Accountability
After the annual meeting, we had dinner with some of the attendees. For some, this was their first time at the annual meeting.
Some were concerned by the way the meeting went, they noticed that the 1 minute time allocated for member nomination was not taken seriously because the attorney distracted members by sharing his daughters accomplishments, instead of encouraging members to nominate themselves.
Many were troubled by how the nomination process was handled, especially the attorney’s interruption during the one-minute window. Others expressed frustration at the lack of board transparency, citing closed-door nominating committee meetings and limited outreach to the general membership.
One member, Mr. Antonio, shared that he feels overwhelmed trying to raise concerns while living next to the SpaceX launch site, dealing with broken streetlights, and confronting a lack of accountability from MVEC leadership.
This wasn’t just venting - it was the beginning of something deeper.
The Meeting After the Meeting: Organizing for Member Power
And like always, there is a meeting after the meeting, so we met for dinner.
The real magic happens after the annual meeting. That’s when we gather informally - to process, to plan, and to dream bigger. We met at Taco Palenque - because we love our Mexican food! Magic Valley members from the Rio Grande Valley connected with one another, many for the very first time. People were excited to learn they weren’t alone - that others across the Valley are also organizing for energy democracy, transparency, and a stronger voice in their electric cooperative.
Marlene Plua, a longtime Magic Valley member, helped kick off the evening by sharing updates on our growing coalition and reminding everyone of a critical truth: “You’re not just a customer - you’re a member-owner.” That simple realization lit a spark for many attendees, who were shocked to learn how much power they actually have, and how long it had been hidden from them.
Since 2023, our coalition has worked to educate members about their rights and mobilize turnout for the annual meeting. But this year’s dinner made it clear: people are ready to go further. Magic Valley members from all over the Valley were pumped up to meet fellow members, and learn that we are working on grassroots efforts to bring energy democracy to the RGV.
Fired Up and Ready to Organize
Lourdes Esparza - Contagious energy uplifted members interest in building committees in their neighborhoods.
I will go to the board meeting and meet with them, you tell me when and AHI ESTOY! PARA ESO ESTOY BUENO / I’LL BE THERE, THATS WHAT IM GOOD FOR. - Antonio
Yo nadamas les dejo una tarea, que me inviten a un vecino, y esten al tanto de un buen candidato para la mesa directiva! For homework I just ask to invite one neighbor, and be on the lookout for a candidate for the board of directors! - Agripina
Nuestra Cooperativa, Nuestro Poder (Our Co-Op, Our Power)
If you are a Magic Valley electric co-op member and would like to get involved - maybe you want to run for the board, or simply learn about your rights as a member/owner - please email me at agripina.gomez@sierraclub.org. We have free workshops, and you will get to meet your fellow MagicValley coop members! We want you to be a part of the first-ever electric coop campaign in the RGV, and help us pave the way for energy democracy for many families in our beautiful Rio Grande Valley.