Buss, Oppor retire
Two longtime directors leave CWEC Board
For the City Times
Anthony Buss, Jr. and Leonard Oppor, two longtime directors for Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative (CWEC), have retired from the CWEC Board of Directors, after choosing not to seek reelection.
Buss, a resident of Eland, served as a director for CWEC for 20 years, and served as the CWEC board chair since 2009. Prior to that, he had served as a district committeeman for CWEC for roughly 15 years.
Oppor, a resident of Iola, served as a director for 12 years. Prior to becoming a director, Oppor worked for CWEC for 30 years, retiring as a lineman in 2001.
Prior to becoming a director, Buss said he had a long history of cooperative membershipsince he grew up on a family farm.
“Growing up with cooperatives in the family, I guess it just sort of rubbed off on me,” Buss said.
For Oppor, even though he worked for CWEC for 30 years out in the field, it was his curiosity about the business-side of the co-op that eventually led him to seek being a director. His time as a lineman proved to be beneficial once he became a director.
“The rest of the board was asking me questions about things that took place out in the field, and I could answer them,” Oppor said.
It was also Oppor’s time as a lineman that helped form his goals for his time as a director on the board. He knew what linemen endured out in the field and he wanted to make sure they had equipment needed to do the job efficiently.
Buss said he didn’t have any specific goals when he joined the CWEC Board of Directors, but knew the co-op would eventually need a new headquarters as the headquarters at that time, located in Iola, was “very antiquated.”
That goal was realized in 2011, when CWEC opened a new headquarters in Rosholt.
“It’s a building now that other co-ops, when we built it, other co-ops came and looked at it, and they used us as a model,” Buss said.
The accomplishment Buss is most proud of doesn’t involve the construction of a new building, though.
“If I ever got a question or complaint from a member, I tried to get them an answer and get the problem solved as quick as possible,” Buss said. “That’s probably the thing I’m most proud of and the thing I’ve done throughout my career.”
Even though Oppor said he didn’t enjoy the traveling aspect of it, he did enjoy attending meetings throughout the country.
“We’d get to visit with other board members and bring that information back to our board,” Oppor said. “I thought that was pretty interesting.”
He added that he made a lot of friends during his time as a director, but part of his decision to not seek reelection was an effort to get “new blood” on the board.
“New ideas don’t hurt,” Oppor said.
Citing health issues, Buss said the time was right to retire from the board.
“I think the most enjoyable part of being a director is the camaraderie you develop with your other directors,” Buss said. “I think within the last 9-10 years the board of directors has stayed the same, so you get to know everybody very personally, and you almost develop a family, especially with your directors and some of the employees. Not only is the camaraderie on a local level, but it’s also on a state and national level when you go to meetings you have to attend.”
Both Buss and Oppor said they plan to spend more time with family during their retirement.
Ron Onesti, of Wittenberg, was elected at the CWEC Annual Meeting April 27 to replace Buss. Onesti ran unopposed.
Lou Oppor, of Scandinavia, defeated Gregory Loeser, of Iola, to replace Leonard Oppor. Lou Oppor received 204 votes, while Loeser received 170 votes.
CWEC Board elects new officers
When the CWEC Board of Directors met on April 29 it elected new officers.
Director Tom Smith was elected as chair, while Director Mike Schultz was elected vice-chair and Director Lee Lehrer was elected secretary/treasurer.