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Dear Member,
Welcome to the FRED 411 newsletter, a
monthly publication generated by the Foundation for
Rural Education and Development (FRED). As a
member of OPASTCO, you are receiving this
information to keep you up-to-date on programs and
services offered by FRED. All OPASTCO members
are
eligible to participate in FRED programs as part of
their membership dues. If you prefer not to receive
this information in the future, you may remove your
address at any time. If you have any questions
about the information listed in the FRED 411,
please click on the links or contact Stephanie Patton,
FRED Program Coordinator, at sap@opastco.org.
| Come Explore Fine Cuisine and Exhibits |
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On Monday, January 14, 2008,
FRED will have exclusive access to the entire Arizona
Science Center. Located in downtown Phoenix, the
Arizona Science Center features more than 300
hands-on exhibits, a five-story giant-screen theater,
live demonstrations, traveling exhibitions, and exciting
science programs for people of all ages.
FRED will be offering an "Around the World in 80
Days" themed buffet dinner at the Science Center.
Enjoy the tastes of Mexico, Greece, France, Italy, USA,
and the Orient. Additionally, a wide variety of worldly
sweets will be available in our dessert buffet and full
bars will be open all evening.
Ticket prices are $125/adults and $75/children and
include: buffet dinner, hosted beverages, deluxe motor
coach transportation to and from the event and
admittance into the Arizona Science Center with
private access to exhibits, and giant-screen theater.
Sign up for this event on the OPASTCO registration form.
Reserve A Table
For a tax-deductible donation of $500, you can reserve
a table for 10 people in a prime location during this
event. There is a limited number of tables available,
reserve yours today by signing
up online or visiting our Sponsorship Options Form.
To register online for this event please visit our online registration page.
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| NEW Sponsorship Options Available! |
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Help support FRED by signing up to be a Sponsor!
Sponsorships range from $500-$2,000, so there
is something to suit all budgets. Associate
members and Telephone members are encouraged
to support this event.
Several NEW sponsorships have been added
for this event! These are tailored towards the needs
of Associate Members, but can also be reserved by
Telcos as well.
- IMAX Theater Shows - $2,000
- Exhibits - $1,750 (three opportunities available)
- Gourmet Coffee Bar - $1,750
- Program - $1,750
- NEW! Hosted Bus + Reserved Table -
$1,250 (multiple
opportunities available)
- NEW! World Food Stations - $1,000 (six
opportunities
available)
- FRED Friend Donor - $500 (multiple opportunities
available)
Reasons to become a FRED sponsor:
~ Great publicity for your company-over 550 people
are expected to attend this event!
~ Sponsorship donations are tax-deductible
~ Show your support of OPASTCO's charitable
foundation
~ Help defray costs so that more funds can go directly
to rural communities served by OPASTCO members
For more information about OPASTCO's 45th Winter
convention in Phoenix please visit the convention brochure.
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| Start Getting Ready for Scholarships |
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$70,000 has been earmarked for the 2008 FRED
Scholarship Program. Any Senior or College Student
that lives in or attends school in a service area of an
OPASTCO member is eligible to apply for this
program.
Applications are due into the nominating OPASTCO
member by January 31, 2008. Companies then need
to submit their applications to FRED before February
8,2008.
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| Submit an Ethyl Grant Application Anytime During the Year |
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FRED's Ethyl Grant is now accepting applications on a
rolling basis for both Community Development and
Educational projects. Applications will be reviewed
approximately every three to four months. OPASTCO
Telephone Companies may only submit one
application every six months.
Support your community by applying for an Ethyl
Grant today!
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| 2007 Telergee Survey is Now Available |
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CoBank and FRED are pleased to offer the 2007
TELERGEE Benchmark Survey, which includes 2006
year-end financial data from over 200 rural Incumbent
Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) nationwide. All
participants in the study are clients of TELERGEE
member CPA firms. Each TELERGEE firm supplies
the financial statements that go into producing the
benchmarks presented in the study. The study
presents four classifications of ILECs:
1. Cooperatives on cost study
2. Cooperatives on average schedule
3. Corporations on cost study
4. Corporations on average schedule
Telergee Survey Order Form
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| Join the 2008 Annual Giving Campaign |
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FRED is gearing up for the start of the 2008 programs,
and encourages all members to contribute to FRED's
Annual Giving Campaign.
The Annual Giving Campaign runs through the end of
March 2008 and benefits the Ethyl Grant or
Scholarship Program. This campaign also allows you
the option to make a donation in honor or memory of
someone special.
The more you give...the more FRED gives back
to OPASTCO Communities.
Take a moment to review the brochure
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DEADLINE: Dec. 11 for FREE week in Washington |
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FRED and the National Exchange Carrier Association
(NECA) are providing an opportunity for students from
rural communities to travel to Washington D.C., for a
week long program to learn more about the
government, civic affairs, and telecommunications
regulations. This year, the program runs from March
9-15, 2008 and partners with
Presidential Classroom. Students will have the
chance to tour historic landmarks, attend seminars,
and meet members of Congress, journalists and
other Washington insiders. The program is open to
high school juniors and seniors who live or attend a
high school in an area that is served by a nominating
OPASTCO Telephone Company Member. Brochures
with the applications and additional information are
available online at
FRED's Leadership Through Learning. Hard
copies of the brochures were mailed out to members
in October. PLUS...Students may now
apply on-line.
Click here.
New for 2008
Students will use the
Washington, D.C. architecture as a metaphor for
democracy. The city is home to some of the world's
greatest art and most important buildings of the
modern age. Universally recognized symbols of our
system of government -- executive, legislative, judicial
buildings as well as the White House, Capitol, and
Supreme Court, will come alive for students during a
week of fascination and fun. Students will learn and
understand how the very design of the federal city is a
physical testimony to our culture.
This year's Leadership Through Learning
Program application deadline is December 11, 2007.
Applications are Available on the Web...
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