The Journal wants to take one last opportunity to urge that you vote in the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative board election. And to attend the annual meeting, if you can.

You, the members, own the cooperative. Just as you pay your monthly electric bills, you should “pay your dues” by voting.

If only 10 percent of the membership votes, what conclusion will the board and management draw? That nobody cares? That the 90 percent who don’t vote are satisfied with the way the co-op is run? That rate increases are just fine with 90 percent of the members?

Whether you appreciate the way the co-op is run, or not, there are board candidates who will represent your views.

Changes are happening for electric and telecommunications services in San Juan County. Some of your fellow members are active in trying to affect the direction of those changes. We think those changes might work better if everyone pays attention, gets involved and votes.

The paper does not endorse anyone in particular for election to the board. But we do recommend that the member-initiated bylaw amendments be rejected.

One proposal would mandate that the board and management meet quarterly with members on Orcas, San Juan and Lopez islands; the other would require that board meetings be streamed on the internet or video conferenced to interested members.

Although making more information available is never a bad thing, neither proposal is proper for the co-op’s bylaws; however, both would be appropriate for the board to consider as policies.