PICKENS – Blue Ridge Cooperative members will soon gather in Pickens for an evening of fun and fellowship, while conducting business to ensure the cooperative’s future remains bright.

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative will hold their annual meeting May 10, 2010 at Blue Ridge’s equipment facility located in Pickens.

Registration for at the annual meeting opens at 5:30 and closes at 7 p.m. Make sure you bring your registration card – located on the lower front cover of the April 2010 of South Carolina Magazine – and a picture ID with you when you register.

At 7 p.m. the business meeting will begin after the close of registration. On the agenda are an update on Blue Ridge’s outlook from cooperative officials, and the election of three directors to the Blue Ridge board.

The candidates for District 2 (Pickens County) are Robert Crenshaw and Joel Dalton, Jr. Joel Davis is running to represent District 1 (Oconee County) and Kenneth Southerlin and Kathleen Jennings are vying to represent District 3, Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

As a way to say thank you to its loyal cooperative members, Blue Ridge Electric officials will be giving away prizes during the business meeting. Register to win the grand prize, a 2003 Ford F-150 Pickup truck.

An early bird prize drawing will be held at 6:15 p.m., and more prizes will be given away at 8:30 p.m.

All members registered at the meeting will receive a free surge protector, and members are encouraged to enjoy refreshments and take advantage of the free blood pressure screenings that will be offered.

Entertainment will be provided before the business meeting by Curtis Blackwell and the Dixie Bluegrass Boys, who will perform from 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. and again from 6:30 – 7 p.m.

Gold City will deliver music sets that draw on their influences – gospel, country and blues – as they perform at 7:30 p.m. and again at 9 p.m.