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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.
| See You in Phoenix! |
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Join us on Monday, January 14, 2008, when
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 dinner 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.
Register on-site in Phoenix.
It is not to late to sign up. When you get to Phoenix
simply fill out the flyer for the FRED event located in
your registration packet and turn it in to Stephanie or
Melissa at the OPASTCO Registration Desk.
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| 2008 Survey Questionnaire Now Available |
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The 2008 Small Telecommunications Compensation
& Benefits Survey Questionnaire is now available.
Two version are available online, and a hard copy of
the survey is being mailed out to all telephone
companies this week. The deadline for
submitting the questionnaire is February 8, 2008.
The lead researcher for this 20th annual survey is Dr.
Robert Mathis of the University of Nebraska at
Omaha. The 2008 Survey will include information on
more than 65 jobs, as well as a number of benefits
areas. Companies participating in the survey pay less
for the reports than companies that do not participate.
Additional details and complete instructions are
contained in each version of the questionnaire.
Also Pre-Order your survey today! An order form is
also available on our website at
www.fred.org/publications.html
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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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Scholarship Deadline Right Around the Corner! |
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$70,000 has been earmarked for the 2008 FRED
Scholarship Program. Any high school senior or
college student who 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.
Applications are Available on the Web...
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