GONZALES, Texas – July 9, 2026 – GVEC’s 2026 Annual Meeting took place on Thursday, June 25, in Gonzales at the J.B. Wells Expo Hall. In all, 1,247 members participated: 152 in person and 1,095 by proxy.
Registration began at 5:30 p.m. with GVEC Board President Gary E. Birdwell calling the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Board Vice President Henry “Bubba” Schmidt Jr. delivered the invocation.
Before the business meeting began, members registered to vote and for prize drawings, enjoyed the traditional chili dog meal, browsed exhibits featuring GVEC products and services, and stopped by the internet tent team table to spin the prize wheel.
Three incumbent GVEC Board members were reelected to serve additional three-year terms: Lewis Borgfeld will continue building on his 53 years of service to GVEC as he represents District 2. Morris Harvey will enter his sixth term representing District 5. District 8 will continue being represented by Mark Roberts, who has served on the Board for 17 years.
In addition to in-person and proxy participation, this year’s meeting introduced a new way for members to take part in the Annual Meeting. For the first time, GVEC livestreamed, giving members the option to watch online.
During the meeting, GVEC also announced the retirement of $12 million in capital credits to eligible current and past members. Capital Credits reflect GVEC’s cooperative difference by returning margins to members when financial conditions allow. The GVEC Board of Directors passed a resolution authorizing the allocation of margins to members who received electric service in 2025, as well as to members who subscribed to GVEC Internet services in 2025.
Eligible members will see their retirement as a bill credit on their July bill or as a check in their mailbox.
The Annual Meeting Video, titled “The Plan That Delivered: Five Years Forward,” highlighted the Cooperative’s commitment to strategic planning and responsive service to its members in a growing region. The video reflected on the past year’s achievements as well as the successes and challenges over the last five years.
The Members to be Heard portion of the meeting provided members with the opportunity to participate in a general Q&A session with President Birdwell and General Manager and CEO Darren Schauer.
Several members took to the microphones during this time, giving GVEC the opportunity to respond to a question about data centers and accept a few words of appreciation from members who have used GVEC’s Port-A-Cool fans or had an outage restored quickly.
A special presentation of GVEC’s Public Service Awards (PSA) also took place during the evening. This forty-year-old tradition recognizes individuals and organizations for their outstanding community service. From early October through mid-December each year, all members are invited to nominate a deserving individual or organization making a positive difference in the GVEC region at www.gvec.org.
GVEC’s 2026 Individual PSA went to Vicki Frenzel of Gonzales. Frenzel and her late husband Paul have dedicated themselves to their community through various volunteer organizations, most notably by preserving Texas historical events and places with significant donations of time, talent, and financial support. Among her many accomplishments, Frenzel spent years researching and documenting the participants of the 1835 Battle of Gonzales, resulting in the publication of Gonzales: Hope, Heartbreak and Heroes. GVEC donated $5,000 to Pioneer Village Living History Center in Gonzales in honor of Frenzel, who selected the nonprofit to receive the donation made on her behalf.
GVEC’s 2026 Organizational PSA was presented to the Gonzales Crystal Theatre in Gonzales. Barbara Crozier accepted the award on behalf of the organization, which was recognized for its longtime dedication to bringing people together through theatrical arts, youth development, and historic preservation. Originally opened in 1913, The Crystal has served generations of the Gonzales community through performances, summer workshops, theater productions, and programs such as the Shakespeare Ninja Program and Young Texian Troupe. GVEC recognized The Crystal’s longtime contributions to the community with a $5,000 donation.
Members can view the Annual Report, the video presentation of the report, and the entire Annual Meeting online at www.gvec.org.
GVEC is a progressive cooperative focused on delivering products and services that empower the people and communities in South Central Texas. A trusted local partner since 1938, today GVEC provides dependable electricity, high-speed internet, and beyond the meter services like AC/heating, solar and battery storage solutions, and electrician services. The Cooperative proudly serves over 130,000 consumers in surrounding areas through five customer service locations in Cuero, Gonzales, La Vernia, Schertz and Seguin.
