NEIC 2025 Board Elections and Bylaw Questions

Voting

All NEIC member-owners are invited to vote for our Board of Directors. This year, the board has also proposed five bylaw changes, which are described below the candidate statements on this page.

Online voting is open through Monday, April 14, at 5:00 p.m (CDT).

Please read the candidate information and proposed bylaw changes and then use the link below to vote.

Candidates for the NEIC Board of Directors

Voters may vote “Yes” or “No” on each candidate. A candidate must receive a number of “Yes” votes greater than 50% of the valid ballots in order to be elected.

Pat Vasatka

1. Why would you like to serve on the NEIC board of directors?

I have worked with NEIC over the past 10 years, focusing on finance and acting as bookkeeper. I have assisted with some of our file management efforts and participated in board meetings. I took a short break last year due to work commitments. When the treasurer resigned due to a change in his work schedule, I stepped up to support the organization in the role of treasurer.

I have found our current board has a great energy level and a commitment to seeing NEIC succeed and would like to continue to engage with them. As we have a new bookkeeper coming in during 2025, I also believe my continuity would be helpful for that person and bring consistency to our financial processes.

2. What kinds of expertise, interests, skills, or other resources would you bring to your work on the board of directors, or on any of NEIC’s committees?

I am currently the VP of finance for Enterprise Minnesota, a non-profit located in NE. My experience in finance, cash management and financial reporting applies well to NEIC.

3. Have you served on a board of any other organization? If so, which one(s)?

I am a trustee for my home parish, acting as the corporate secretary, I have also served on the finance committees for the parish and for Women Ventures (also in NE).

4.  Please provide any other relevant information.

Jill Wilhelmi

1.  Why would you like to serve on the NEIC board of directors?

I was a person who got involved fairly early on with NEIC and served on committees and eventually served on the board for several years. I loved (and still love!) the mission and the purpose of NEIC. I value small, local, independent businesses and the way that they can shape a community. I loved (and still love!) the way that NEIC can serve a dual bottom line. If not me, who? 

2.  What kinds of expertise, interests, skills, or other resources would you bring to your work on the board of directors, or on any of NEIC’s committees?

I work professionally in a corporate legal department. In that role, I see a lot of contracts and complex issues. I can find my way around a set of financial statements and have a good familiarity with Minnesota property law and in the cooperative business model in general. I also have a fair amount of institutional memory relating to NEIC’s formation and early years. 

3.  Have you served on a board of any other organization? If so, which one(s)?

I am currently on the board of directors of Chorus Polaris, which is a local community choir. I served on the NEIC board in various roles from 2015-2022 and 2024.

4.  Please provide any other relevant information.

I am happy to field any questions and can be contacted at jillmwilhelmi@gmail.com.

Sam Toberman

1.  Why would you like to serve on the NEIC board of directors?

As a long time resident of NE and commercial property owner myself, I believe that my skills would be a fantastic fit for the COOP. Additionally, having previously served on the NEIC board, I bring existing experience and historical knowledge to help the COOP grow and endure its next phase. 

2.  What kinds of expertise, interests, skills, or other resources would you bring to your work on the board of directors, or on any of NEIC’s committees?

I am a commercial and residential rental property owner and have been for almost 20 years. I am also exceptionally organized and have experience with contractors, tenants, and the intricacies of property management. Previously I was on the Property and Tenant committee where we explored new properties, and navigated the complexities of COVID and the hardship endured by our tenants at that time. 

3.  Have you served on a board of any other organization? If so, which one(s)?

I have previously served on the board of NEIC for a 3 year term, and was on committees prior to that. I am a member of multiple COOPs, including Eastside Food, Fair State, REI, and local energy utilities. 

4.  Please provide any other relevant information.

I believe that my dedication to the neighborhood and vast experience with various forms of real estate make me a uniquely qualified candidate for the board of NEIC.  

Andrew Sinning

1.  Why would you like to serve on the NEIC board of directors?

My wife, Leslie Watson, has been involved with NEIC since its inception and I have been an interested observer (and cheerleader) for many years. Now that our children are adults and we have more free time available, I’d like to be more actively involved in our community and joining the board of this long-familiar cooperative would be a great way to ease into that. I support the current board’s work to steer NEIC through its recent challenges and would enjoy helping to (re)imagine whatever comes next for this unique co-op.

2.  What kinds of expertise, interests, skills, or other resources would you bring to your work on the board of directors, or on any of NEIC’s committees?

I am a software engineer by day, and a handyman and jack-of-all-building trades by night and weekend. I am fascinated by architecture and a student of buildings and the systems and structures that comprise them. I would be most interested in bringing these skills to bear through the Property & Tenant Committee, although would also be glad to lend a hand to NEIC’s back-of-house through tech support as needed.

3.  Have you served on a board of any other organization? If so, which one(s)?

No.

4.  Please provide any other relevant information.

Bylaw Questions

Voters may vote “Yes” or “No” on each bylaw question. A question must receive a number of “Yes” votes greater than 50% of the valid ballots in order to be adopted.

Proposed Revision #1: Technical correction to Bylaw 3.3 to address typographical error

Explanation: This non-substantive revision corrects a transcription error in last year’s ballot. Members voted to adopt the provision last year, which was presented with the error; this revision would simply remove it.

Proposed Revision #2: Revise 3.4 to add a serious conflict of interest as a reason for the board to terminate membership.

Explanation: This revision is designed to authorize the board to remove a member if it determines that the member has a serious conflict of interest that is fundamentally at odds with NEIC’s interests or purposes or is necessary to protect the co-op in some critical way.

Proposed Revision #3: Revise 5.1 to clarify (a) when a director’s term begins, and (b) that the term limit applies to three consecutive three-year elected terms (and so excludes appointments or partial terms).

Explanation: This revision is designed to resolve ambiguities about when terms begin, as well as the impact of term limits on the board’s ability to appoint a director to a vacancy. As revised, the bylaw would make clear:

• A director’s term begins at the close of the annual meeting, following announcement of the election results.

• The term limit applies only to three-year, elected terms. Service of a partial term does not count toward the limit. A director who reaches the term limit is eligible to be appointed by the board to any vacancy that may occur following that election (as that is not an elected term).

Proposed Revision #4: Revise 5.4 to eliminate the ability to nominate directors in writing or from the floor of the annual meeting.

Explanation: With the movement to electronic voting, nominations from the floor are no longer workable. A write-in candidate is similarly challenging given that our bylaws require any measure submitted to the membership to be approved by a majority of those voting. A write-in candidate is unlikely to be able to achieve that threshold in electronic balloting. The board believes that the better practice is for candidates to present themselves through the normal process so that all members can weigh their qualifications against other candidates. If there is a vacancy on the board due to insufficient candidates, members are always welcome to present themselves as potential appointees.

Proposed Revision #5: Revise 5.8 to (a) eliminate the requirement that members be allowed to review any reports and (b) remove the requirement that officer elections occur at the next “regular” meeting of the board after the election.

Explanation: While NEIC strives for transparency with members, there are occasionally confidential matters—including written reports—that require more sensitive handling. The board has not had a practice of releasing all reports to members for this very reason, and this bylaw change will affirm existing practice.

This bylaw also addresses the timing of board meetings, and makes clear that the board can hold its first meeting following the election outside of the regular schedule. This is intended to work in hand with the revision to Bylaw 5.1 above, making clear that newly elected directors’ terms commence at the close of the annual meeting. When there is significant turnover, including among officers, it is important for the board to hold its first post-election meeting in short order and this revision makes clear that is appropriate.