Congratulations to the 14 high school juniors and seniors who were selected to participate in the 2009 Leadership Through Learning Program! The students will travel to Washington D.C. in April and spend an all expense-paid week in the nation's capital learning about government, civic affairs, and telecommunication regulations. They will visit museums, monuments (like the FDR Memorial pictured here) and other historical landmarks as well as attend workshops, programs and seminars throughout the week. A visit to the OPASTCO office is scheduled for April 23rd. The program is made possible by NECA's sponsorship and will take place from April 19-24.

Each year, FRED awards over 50 scholarships to students who live in or attend school in the service area of OPASTCO members. Both Telephone Companies and Associate members are eligible to nominate students for this program. Applications are due (received, not postmarked) to FRED by February 17, 2009.

Nominating OPASTCO members should note that each company may submit 4 applications. Each Holding Company's subsidiary may submit only one application.

Sponsored by FRED, this annual survey addresses both executive and administrative/operations compensation practices as well as benefits practices of small telecommunications companies. This comprehensive survey includes regional classifications of respondents, participant profiles, and compensation data on more than 65 jobs. The survey was directed by Dr. Robert L. Mathis (Professor Emeritus, University of Nebraska at Omaha) who has had extensive academic and consulting experience in human resource management in many industries, including the rural telecommunications industry. CD version is available in 2009! A detailed listing of the jobs and benefits areas covered can be found here.

For a PDF version of the survey, click here.
For an Excel version of the survey, click here.

With the uncertain economy, now more than ever, rural communities and their residents need financial resources for education and development. 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. If your company is looking for a charity that directly benefits your community, please consider making a donation to FRED's Annual Giving Campaign.

Donations can be made in honor or memory of a special person and are tax-deductible.

It may be only February, but spring is right around the corner. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about your community's projects and to identify those areas of your town that can use a face lift. The Ethyl Grant program provides matching grants to OPASTCO member telephone companies that are involved with projects aimed at bettering their communities. Projects that will be considered include sprucing up downtown, eliminating an eyesore, constructing a playground, updating a community center and more. The grants range from $500 - $2,500. An estimated $10,000 in funding is available in 2009. Applications are being accepted year-round and reviewed every few months. Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference in your town!

Thank you Nortel Networks and Bennet & Bennet, PLLC for sponsoring this program.

February 17, 2009 - Scholarship applications due
April 19 - 24, 2009 - LTL Program in Washington, DC
July 27, 2009 - FRED's 20th Birthday Celebration