FRED and the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) are providing an opportunity for 15 students from rural communities to travel to the nation's capital. The week long program gives students the chance to learn more about civic affairs, the government, and telecommunication regulations. This year, the program runs from April 19-24, 2009. 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 application and additional information are available online at FRED's Leadership Through Learning page.

This year's Leadership Through Learning Program application deadline is December 8, 2008. Participation is free to the telco and student.

During OPASTCO's winter convention in Hawaii, FRED will be hosting a traditional luau on January 19th. Your company can enhance the beauty of the evening by sponsoring the table centerpieces and dinner buffet decor. A personalized card with your message will be placed in each of the 40+ Hawaiian inspired centerpieces and signs will be placed on the dinner buffets highlighting your sponsorship. 500 people are expected to attend the luau making this sponsorship a great way to get your company noticed; whether you have representatives at the convention or not. FRED sponsorships are tax-deductible so please consider the foundation in your end-of-year charitable donations.

To reserve this sponsorship, please call Melissa Korzuch, FRED Director, at 703/680-7528 or e-mail her at mak@opastco.org.

OPASTCO members will soon receive a copy of FRED's 2008 Annual Report which highlights all the programs and activities for the last fiscal year. The publication includes scholarship and award recipients, fundraising donors and recaps FRED's summer and winter events.

Each year FRED conducts an Annual Giving Campaign to raise funds for programs that support OPASTCO members and their communities. This year, the campaign will benefit FRED's Scholarship and Ethyl Grant Programs. These programs provide OPASTCO member communities with more than $80,000 in scholarships and grants each year. With your donation to the Annual Giving Campaign we can increase that amount and give more back to rural areas. Every penny of the money we raise from this campaign is returned to the rural communities we serve.

We are able to do our work thanks to the many donations we receive from the OPASTCO community. This time of year, many companies are considering end-of-year charity donations. If your company is looking for a charity that directly benefits your community, please consider making a donation to FRED's Annual Giving Campaign.

For more than a decade, FRED and RTFC have been working to facilitate cooperation between OPASTCO members and schools in their service areas. This program provides the resources schools need to bridge the "digital divide" by funding technology in the classroom. FRED applauds the grant recipients, who work to provide new and innovative approaches to learning. In 2008, thanks to RTFC's generous donation, FRED awarded $50,000 in grants to 8 schools in rural areas:

▪ Altha Public Schools, Grant: $1,662.14, Nominated by: GTC, Inc.
▪ Bowlegs Public Schools, Grant: $9,500, Nominated by: Pottawomie Telephone Company
▪ Davenport Public Schools, Grant: $5,946.80, Nominated by: Central Oklahoma Telephone Company
▪ Eastern Greene Middle School, Grant: $3,235, Nominated by: Smithville Telephone Co, Inc.
▪ Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, Grant: $8,670.82, Nominated by: Ketchikan Public Utilities
▪ Lavina Schools, Grant: $9,790, Nominated by: Mid- Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
▪ Redland Elementary School, Grant: $5,000, Nominated by: Clear Creek Telephone and Television
▪ Wittenberg School, Grant: $6,195, Nominated by: Wittenberg Telephone Company

Congratulations to all the recipients!

December 8, 2008 - Leadership Through Learning program deadline January 17-21, 2009 - OPASTCO winter convention in Kauai
January 19, 2009 - FRED's traditional Hawaiian luau

The FRED board and staff send you and yours warm holiday wishes this December. May you have a safe holiday season and a very Happy New Year!