Students and teachers will soon be heading back to the classrooms. This is the perfect time to remind them that up to $10,000 in grant funding is available through FRED's Technology Grants for Rural Schools Program. The grants are funded by a $50,000 donation from Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) and strive to help public schools served by OPASTCO members bring modern computers to every classroom, connect to the information superhighway and make sure that effective and engaging software and online resources are an integral part of the curriculum.

Grants range from $1,000 - $10,000 and all public schools located in OPASTCO members' service areas are eligible to apply. The deadline for this program is September 13, 2008

Published in June 2008, this survey addresses both executive and administrative/ operations compensation practices and regional classifications of respondents, participant profiles, and compensation data for 65 jobs.

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 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 applications and additional information are available online at FRED's Leadership Through Learning.

This year's Leadership Through Learning Program application deadline is December 8, 2008.

Summer is the perfect time to start clean up projects and 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 2008. Applications are being accepted year-round and reviewed every few months. Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference in your town!

Special thanks goes out to Bennet & Bennet, PLLC and Nortel Networks for sponsoring this program.

September 13, 2008 - Tech Grants deadline
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