CWP Accountability Group

05/21/2024

Crow Wing Power Board Member Election: How to Vote

Ballots will be mailed to all Crow Wing Power member addresses soon, and we thought this would be a great time to provide some information on how to vote.

Who Can Vote?
Per co-op by-laws if you obtain your power from the Co-op, you are a co-op member who is entitled to vote for board members.

Crow Wing Power has approximately 40,000 members—but in most years less than ¼ of members bother to vote.

How do I vote?
There are now four ways to vote (see below). You can vote through a mailed in ballot, or you can vote online with a computer or smartphone, or you can vote from a mobile device using a QR code, or you can log in and vote through the Co-op’sSmartHub application.

Eligible voters will be mailed information about candidates, a plain envelope, a postage paid envelope with the address of the company handling the election, a ballot, and instructions for voting electronically if you choose that route.

To vote:

Mail: Open the ballot information sent to you by mail. Two official envelopes are enclosed: a white “Ballot Secrecy Envelope” and a yellow Business Reply Envelope marked “Official Ballot”.
1. Upon completing your ballot, insert the ballot into the white “Ballot Secrecy Envelope” and seal this envelope.
2. Insert the sealed white “Secrecy Envelope” into the yellow “Official Ballot Use Only” return envelope.
3. Tear off and discard the large stub on the back. It has your name and personal information for your verification and use only. NOTE-- the bar coding on the yellow envelope flap will identify you as the official voter.
4. Seal and mail.
Mailed ballots must be received at the post office box designated on the yellow return envelope prior to 10:00 a.m., June 15, 2024. They can also be dropped off before the start of the annual business meeting-- held on Saturday, June 15th at 10 am at ForestView Middle School in Baxter (12149 Knollwood Drive).

Online By 10 a.m. on June 14, 2024. Go to//www.directvote.net/cwp. Enter your individualized information printed on the detachable stub of the enclosed yellow return envelope marked “Official Ballot Use Only” and follow instructions given on the website.
QR Code From a mobile device, scan the QR code printed on the detachable stub of the enclosed yellow return envelope marked for “Official Ballot Use Only” and it will take you to your personal ballot page.
SmartHub Vote in the app or online.
• App: Open your SmartHub app, login and click the “Vote Now” button.
• Online: Login to your SmartHub account and click the “Vote Now” button.

Other information about Board Member elections:

There are 9 board members, each serving three year terms. Board members represent 6 districts or three at-large positions: 1A/1B/1 at-large; 2A/2B/2 at-large, and 3A, 3B, or 3 at-large.
Board member terms are staggered so that each year, 3 board positions are up for election.

This year, District 1A, 2 at-large, and 3B are up for election. Every eligible member is entitled to vote for all three open positions each year, no matter where you live.

Please vote for a candidate in each of the three open positions!

Our Accountability group is promoting 3 candidates in the election:

Please vote for: Fred Hage, Greg Booth, and Ben Bernatsky!

04/22/2024

2024 CWP Election #1

Hello!

It’s that time of year again—the annual election for three Crow Wing Power board members is coming up.

We are happy to report our groups efforts have been making a big difference! The Co-ops board has had a complete turnover in leadership and is starting to take very positive steps -- but there is still more to do! Past management has left the Co-op with many problems to clean up!

We are once again supporting candidates who we know will continue improvements and restore accountability to the management of our Co-op.

We are urging you to vote for Fred Hage in 1a, Greg Booth in 2 at-large, and Ben Bernatsky in 3B. Ballot information should be coming out in a few weeks, in the meantime you can read about them here: https://www.cwpaccountabilitygroup.net/board-of-director-candidates

Remember, Co-op members can vote for a candidate in all three open board positions—you aren’t restricted to voting for the candidate from the district you live in.

Watch for upcoming emails providing more details on our candidates and Co-op issues in the coming weeks before voting ends at the annual meeting, which this year is at Forestview Middle School in Baxter at 10 am Saturday, June 15th.

See us on the internet and Facebook!
https://www.cwpaccountabilitygroup.net/
https://www.facebook.com/CWPAccountabilityGroup

Contact Us/ Send Donations

CWP Accountability Group
13169 Prairie Ridge Court SW
Brainerd, MN 56401

Email: [email protected]

09/18/2023

Check out the 2023 Crow Wing Power Annual Meeting on our website's links page:

https://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/4494249-emily-manganese-deposit-sits-untapped-despite-growing-market https://www.pineandlakes.com/news/4614192-crow-wing-power-board-members-say-state-ag-making-inquiries-co-op https://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/4614770-lawsuits-threatened-over-crow-wing-powe...

09/18/2023

Hello again from the Crow Wing Power Accountability Group!

The problems continue to build at Crow Wing Power!

Read the following letter sent to Co-op management and the board—it describes a legal mess created by offering to sell the Emily Mine in violation of legal agreements, proof that there are remaining mine royalty concerns, and a sad display of behavior from a board member at the end of the annual meeting in June!

https://www.cwpaccountabilitygroup.net/extras

06/17/2023

However, an AG investigation and financing are among many challenges the co-op faces.

06/13/2023

Crow Wing Power Members: Important Opportunity Coming—Annual Meeting Saturday June 17
Why does our Coop hold an annual meeting?

Our Crow Wing Power Coop is required through by-laws to hold an annual meeting of membership. By laws allow for members present at that meeting to raise motions that can be voted on by those attending. If motions are passed by a majority of those in attendance, management and the board must take action on the motion.

The annual meeting is also the only place members can ask questions and hear from management and the board in one location.

As we have discussed in other messages, Crow Wing Power management and the board have not kept membership informed or consulted them on important decisions.

The Annual meeting is one of the few options members have left to raise concerns, and—given continued management refusal to release member information required to hold special meetings—the annual meeting is the only option members still have to vote on specific changes management and the board must consider.

This meeting used to be a big event that attracted large crowds, with food and entertainment available before the annual business meeting was held with members.

Ever since the 2019 annual meeting—when large numbers of angry members showed up after news of millions of dollars of personal profiting and lucrative royalty agreements became known (See https://www.startribune.com/ceo-s-bonus-sparks-anger-in-crow-wing-power-members/511024201/ )—Crow Wing Power management has taken steps that have reduced attendance.

They have dropped entertainment and food, moved the meeting from their large headquarters building, and even held it during the week when many members are less able to attend—all attempts to try and ensure another large crowd critical of management does not show up.

As a Coop member, you are an owner of the Coop—if you don’t like what you are seeing and hearing, you have an option to make your concerns known and ask for change at the meeting!

Don’t help Coop management by not showing up—make plans to attend the annual meeting!

It will be held starting at 10 am at Arrowood Lodge in Baxter Saturday, June 17th.

We hope to see you there!

https://www.cwpaccountabilitygroup.net/

Members were angered by a series of revelations, including that CEO Bruce Kraemer had gotten the bonus in connection with the 2006 sale of Hunt Technologies, a for-profit affiliate of the nonprofit electricity provider.

06/10/2023

IS CROW WING POWER ACCOUNTABLE?

Why has mine drilling begun again while Mining Equipment is being sold?

That’s a great question.

CWP was happy to tell us that drilling had started again at the Emily mine site several months ago.

Although we understand there is reason to believe previous drilling verified the presence of manganese with a purity level satisfactory for mining if a suitable ore extraction method can be proven to mitigate environmental concerns, they say additional exploration is needed to determine if the ore is viable for mining.

At the same time, efforts to sell stock shares in the mine interest (by companies claiming ownership of Crow Wing Power’s interest) tout the current viability and potential in the resource there.

Now we understand there is something else Crow Wing Power has not told members--they are selling very expensive mine equipment from the site in Emily.

Did Crow Wing Power or one of its subsidiaries pay for the equipment in the first place? What is happening with the proceeds of that sale, and why is mining equipment being sold at the same time more drilling is being conducted? Why are we really drilling again, and who is paying for the cost of that? If North Star Manganese is paying for drilling, will they deduct that cost from the purchase price of the mine now that Crow Wing Power agreed they could buy it at any time at their discretion?

So many questions…. Who is looking out for Crow Wing Power member interests here?

We need board members who will demand the Coop stop hiding what it is doing from members, consult members on important decisions involving millions of OUR money, and manage in MEMBERS best interests!

https://www.cwpaccountabilitygroup.net/

06/10/2023

IS CROW WING POWER ACCOUNTABLE?

Is our interest in the Emily Mine for Sale?

The answer is: YES!

Reporting by Mike Hughlett of the Star Tribune (link to this article on our website https://www.startribune.com/controversial-crow-wing-power-mine-project-inches-forward/600271121/?refresh=true ) tells us that North Star Manganese has an option to buy the mine interest from Crow Wing Power for $30.25 million at any time up to the time mining actually begins.

We believe it’s no coincidence at all that the Coop has received another unreported and nearly identical offer to buy the mine back from the group that sold its interest to the Coop in the first place.

So, in essence, whoever is in control of mining agreements for the Coop decided to only match the other offer, not seek a higher amount.

And because we believe that North Star will be allowed to deduct money it has already spent from its eventual purchase price, the actual payback for selling the mine could be less than the other offer.

You’d think members should be consulted on all of this. Not only has that not occurred, but we have heard nothing about it from management or the board!

And that is just the direct sale of interest.

Nevada Silver Corporation and Electric Metals (USA) Limited also claim complete control of the same mine interest, and they make no mention at all of the ownership by Crow Wing Power and its members.

They are selling thousands of stock shares in the mine to potential shareholders and special “insiders” with no apparent mention to those individuals of the ownership by Crow Wing Power and its membership.

From the start, all we have heard from Crow Wing Power management and the board is that the mine is being managed in the best interests of Coop members.

With the many unreported options and offers to buy the mine outright and sales of stock shares in the mine, it is more than fair to question how member interests are being protected!

Is our interest being given away or sold for small profit while management, “insiders” and non-member shareholders reap the vast majority of profit?

We believe board members need to investigate these and other questions and ensure members are better informed and have our best interests in mind!

https://www.cwpaccountabilitygroup.net/

06/10/2023

IS CROW WING POWER ACCOUNTABLE?

Who are the people involved in Crow Wing Power’s Mine Interest?

That’s another great question!

While we can’t claim to know everyone involved, after looking at posted information, filings, and recent media reporting, three names continue to show up as having a position of control over the various companies and subsidiaries involved.

Crow Wing Power CEO Bruce Kraemer leads or is listed as having sole control over the Co-op and it’s past and current subsidiaries Hunt Enterprises and Cooperative Mineral Resources.

Hunt Enterprises was formed during Crow Wing Power’s purchase of an interest in Hunt Technologies, which coop members later learned led to the taking of millions of profits by Kraemer, other Coop executives, and 7 of the 9 board members present at that time. Hunt Enterprises took 22.5 million dollars of Coop money to purchase an interest in the Emily manganese deposit.

Cooperative Mineral Resources was formed as the Coop’s mining subsidiary and was involved in setting up the mine building in Emily, purchasing mining equipment there, and initial borehole mining efforts.

Henry “Rick” Sandri and Gary Lewis formed and are leaders of North Star Manganese, the one entity Crow Wing Power members have been told about as a partner of the Coop’s interest in the mine.

Lewis is also Chief Executive Officer and a director and Sandri is Chief Operating Officer and Director of Nevada Silver Corporation, which claims complete control of the Emily manganese project.

Lewis is Chief Executive Officer and a director of Electric Metals (USA) , which also claims ownership of the Emily manganese project.

In past discussions of interest in the Emily mine we have heard of another company called Battery Mineral Resources (BMR). Sandri was at one time Vice President of Business development at BMR and Lewis was Chief Executive officer.

The Star Tribune reported in April ( link to this article on our website https://www.startribune.com/controversial-crow-wing-power-mine-project-inches-forward/600271121/ ) that BMR shareholders removed Lewis as CEO over concerns regarding the financial situation at the company.

We think the presence of these same three individuals as leaders of so many entities with claim of control over the Emily mine interest is concerning, and conflict with standard governance structures designed to ensure that individual manager interests are secondary to owners.

Crow Wing Power members are the owners of our Coop—yet we are told nothing about the complex relationships involved in the mine. We have no way to remove people who are managing our interest for personal profit. Evidence of that can be seen in our vote to remove CEO Kraemer at the 2019 annual meeting—that has yet to happen.

What we can do is vote for board members who will better insure both they and members are informed about mine plans and relationships, and will push to ensure members interests are the first priority!

https://www.cwpaccountabilitygroup.net/

06/09/2023

IS CROW WING POWER ACCOUNTABLE?
Who are Crow Wing Power’s Mining Partners?

That’s a great question that we think deserves answers from Crow Wing Power management.

In 2008, in a highly unusual move--Crow Wing Power used $22.5 million dollars of Coop money to buy an interest in the manganese deposit near Emily—widely touted as one of the richest in the world.

The Coop sought and failed to find a mining partner for years.

In June of 2019 -shortly before the annual meeting that year—Coop members were first told that North Star Manganese is our mining partner.

The timing of the announcement was interesting—coming directly after news media reports (link to this article on our website https://www.startribune.com/crow-wing-power-s-investment-in-maganese-mine-raises-questions/492218951/ ) of lucrative personal mine royalty agreements for Bruce Kraemer, other CWP executives, and one large undesignated recipient that still has not been identified by the Coop.

Members were told North Star was exactly what they had been seeking—a company formed to investigate and develop manganese deposits in North America.

In actual fact—North Star Manganese was born just a few weeks before the partnership announcement.

They had no presence in the state at all before that time.

Then—and still today—their stated address takes you to a small office in a Roseville office building that is not an actual mining company office at all (show picture of NSM’s Roseville office address door).

And while Crow Wing Power has only told members about North Star’s involvement, they are not the only company with an interest in the Emily manganese deposit.

A company calling itself the Nevada Silver Corporation claims that North Star Manganese is a subsidiary of theirs—they also claim “exclusive exploration, mining and processing rights of manganese ores in the Cuyuna Iron Range, Crow Wing County, Minnesota”.

And it goes on—Nevada Silver Corporation recently announced a name change to Electric Metals (USA) Limited. And they claim that “EML’s principal asset is the Emily Manganese Project in Minnesota”.

You’d expect Crow Wing Power management to understand this mess of interconnected companies and ownership in what they tell us is our mining interest, but when pressed by an accountability group member at the 2022 annual member meeting, CEO Bruce Kraemer said “you know more than I do about that”.

If the CEO of our Coop doesn’t even claim to understand, how can members be assured our interests are being looked out for?

We need board members committed to understanding mining connections--and ensuring the Coop mine interest is managed in the best interests of its members!

https://nsmanganese.com/

https://nevadasilvercorp.com/

https://electricmetals.com/

https://www.cwpaccountabilitygroup.net/2023-candidates