John Cassady, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives, serves on the 12-member National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) National Resolutions Committee. This committee works to unify the nationwide voices of electric cooperative members through the national resolutions process. Resolution proposals developed at the local level, then reviewed and refined by each region before being finalized by the National Resolutions Committee. These resolutions provide NRECA members with a collective voice in shaping advocacy efforts and exemplify Democratic Member Control.
Cassady is now in his second term as a member of the NRECA National Resolutions Committee.
What is the National Resolutions Committee?
The National Resolutions Committee consists of 12 members who represent different regions across the country. Cassady represents NRECA Region Four, which includes Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The committee is comprised of three subcommittees: legislative; regulatory; and cooperative management and employment and community.
Cooperatives can submit either new resolutions or propose amendments to existing ones. A resolution is a formal policy or principle that directs the positions and actions of the NRECA and its member cooperatives regarding legislative, regulatory and other operational matters. This year, the committee received six new resolutions and reviewed 15 additional submissions, including amendments and discussion topics. In some cases, multiple cooperatives submit different amendments to the same resolution. When that happens, Cassady said the committee reviews each version, identifies the most effective language and blends the ideas into a unified resolution. This unifies the voice of members and keeps the process member-driven.
Cassady’s Committee Role
Cassady’s began as the committee’s legislative subcommittee vice chair and now serves as the subcommittee’s chair, overseeing all legislative resolutions. Cassady attends the initial meeting (June), the regional meeting (September) and the national meeting held in March. His role as legislative chair is to lead the subcommittee, represent its interests, ensure progress on legislative matters, and maintain order during discussions. The legislative subcommittee is made up of a vice chair and three regional representative members.
Kankakee Valley REMC proposed a new resolution
Kankakee Valley REMC proposed a new resolution that was discussed at the first National Resolutions Committee meeting on June 20, 2025. This proposed resolution is for NRECA to support artificial intelligence (AI) technology for electric cooperatives. This means advocating for policies that recognize the value of AI in supporting electric cooperatives. The proposed resolution outlines six key areas where NRECA support is encouraged:
1. Research and development
2. Cost reduction and efficiency in routine tasks
3. Service improvement
4. Accessibility and training
5. Advocacy and funding
6. Collaborative implementation
The idea for the resolution began when Kankakee Valley REMC’s CEO and board started attending NRECA meetings and recognized a growing concern. While artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly relevant, NRECA has no official stance on the technology. In response, Kankakee Valley proposed a resolution to address the role of AI in supporting electric cooperatives.
To strengthen the proposed resolution, revisions were suggested by North Carolina’s statewide association, making it more streamlined and focused. The updated resolution, now a joint effort between two states, will be considered during the NRECA Regional Meetings in September 2025. The Regions I and IV meeting will be held in Providence, RI.
If approved in September, the resolution will move forward for a final vote at the March 2026 NRECA National Meeting, where the National Resolutions Committee will make its final decision.