Company News
Her Touch To UTC’s Customer Focus Began in 1979, Judy Daughrity Retires
Judy began her career at United as a Customer Service Representative and has been Executive Assistant to the General Manager for the last 15 years. She relates that she has been so fortunate to have served such a dynamic company who cares so deeply about what it means to its customers. “ I have been honored to work for such a progressive company and be associated with great people over the years,” she says.
UTC Welcomes Craig Rowland
As a new member of our construction crew, Craig helps to install the cable that keeps us all connected. After 4.5 months on the job, Craig says, without a doubt, that this is the best job he’s ever had. Why? Maybe it’s because he’s working for a company he believes in. “United Telephone is customer friendly. They truly care about their customers.”
Holiday Closings
2010 HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
- Memorial Day – Monday, May 31
- Independence Day – Monday, July 5
- Labor Day – Monday, September 6
- Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26
- Christmas – Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24
- “B” average or higher, OR rank in the top 25 percent of their class
- Show commitment to community or school involvement through participation in extra curricular activities
- Complete an application form
- Submit a letter of recommendation from United Telephone Company
- Write a 1,000 word essay on certain criteria from OPASTCO
- Be Available to travel to Washington, D.C.
- Adhere to strict dress codes if selected to attend the program
- Bridgette Elmore - 2008
- Bethany Gamble - 2007
- Kalah Mathis - Alternate – 2006
- Danille Hooper – 2005
- Holly Whitworth & Cord McLean – 2004
- Vanessa Hitchcock - 2002
- Academics (25 pts.)
- Activities (20 pts.)
- Letter of Nomination and Recommentation (5 pts.)
- Financial Need (25 pts.)
- Scholarship Essay Questions (25 pts.)
- Bethany Gamble – 2008
- Britt Elmore - 2007
- Melanie Howell - 2006
- Cord McLean – 2005
- Vanessa Hitchcock - 2004
Technical Support will be open on those dates.
EMPLOYEE NEWS
Employee Anniversaries - 2010
5 Years
Jaimy Cooper - May 2
Terry Wales - August 1
Sammy Pate - October 31
Frankie Darnell - October 31
10 Years
Kerry Newcomb - October 23
15 Years
Cheryl Bowman - February 13
30 Years
Vaughn Seegraves – January 7
Wayne Townsend – March 27
Specials
High Speed Internet/DSL
Free activation on all speeds, starting at just $29.95/month
Sign up for High Speed Internet/DSL from UTC and get free installation with a
12-month agreement. For stable, fast and constant bandwidth, nothing outperforms DSL for Internet access – and adding it to your existing phone service is as easy as can be. With three packages to choose from, you can get the speed you need so everyone in the family can get the online time they need:
Just Right DSL
$29.95/month
512 kb
High Speed DSL
$49.95/month
Up to 3.0/512 kb
Static IP DSL
$74.95/month
Up to 3.0/512 kb
with static IP/domain
*DSL may not be available in all areas. Prices are for residential customers. Call for business rates. Free activation for new DSL customers only. Some restrictions may apply.
UTC Longdistance
Calling Plans that Make Connecting with Friends and Family Easier than ever!
With United Telephone Company’s Residential Unlimited Plan, you can talk all you’d like to your friends and loved ones for the low monthly price of only $39.95.
The ultimate long-distance deal! Call anyone, anywhere in the domestic U.S. for one low monthly rate.
Our other plans include:
600 Nationwide Plan - $19.95 monthly
600 minutes of nationwide long distance you can use whenever you want.
Additional minutes are just $.09.
1200 Nationwide Plan - $34.95 monthly
Just like our 600 Nationwide Plan with twice the minutes, at less than twice the cost!
Additional minutes are just $.09.
9 Cent Plan – No Monthly Fee
Direct dial anytime, to anywhere within the domestic U. S. for just $.09 a minute.
*Residential unlimited, 600 and 1200 nationwide plan prices apply to voice calls only. All data/Internet calls will be billed at $.09 per minute.
REMOTE SITES – 2010
Chapel Hill Nolensville
Kenny Nelson Ballenger
Farms Palmetto
(new)
The Hills at
The Villas
at
Rover Sawmill
Place
Flat Creek Sunset
Hills
Hilltop Sundown
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Inns of the Cove –
located on Covington-Eudailey Rd. near Arno Rd. in
Williamson Co.
300
Building has been delayed
Sanoma Development –
located on Split Log Rd. in Williamson Co.
Approximately 70
$600,000 and up Homes
in
60
Building began in 2009
Bonner Estates – located off
60
Building began
in 2009
204
Building has been
delayed
Elmbrooke Subdivision –
Located at the intersection of
in
46
Building to begin in 4th Quarter 2008
72
Building has been delayed
Vantage Point – Located at
312 Unit Apartment Complex
(near
High Point Subdivision –
Located on
96 Residential Units
34605 S.F. Medical Office Complex
UNITED TELEPHONE COLORING CONTEST OCTOBER 2008
Since 1998, United Telephone Company has proudly sponsored a Coloring Contest for 2nd Graders in our service area. We’re especially excited about this year’s contest because one of the winning posters will be selected for the cover of our 2009-2010 Telephone directory. Our coloring poster shows United Telephone’s commitment to providing the latest technology and quality service to our customers; and our involvement in our schools and community.
We select a winner from each class and they will receive a $10.00 Wal-Mart Gift Card. We will also select one over-all winner from each school. Those winners will receive a $25.00 Wal-Mart Gift Card. Out of the five over-all winners from each school in our service area, we will select the winning poster for the cover of our telephone directory. That winner will receive $100 cash. In addition, the classes that participate in our contest will get to enjoy a Popsicle party when we come to announce the winners.
UNITED TELEPHONE ESSAY CONTEST
The concept for United Telephone’s Essay Contest was developed by Chaz Taylor, Inc. and employees of United Telephone in 1987. The contest was designed to motivate student’s thinking about technology and how it affects their lives and future.
The first essay contest was held at Forrest School for sixth grade students and expanded to include fifth and sixth grade students for several years. The contest is now open to all fifth grade students in our service area. These include Chapel Hill Elementary, College Grove Elementary, Community Elementary, Nolensville Elementary, and Rock Creek Elementary.
United Telephone selects a specific technology topic or question for the students to write about each year, encouraging them to draw illustrations to go with their essay. Students are asked to write between 250 and 350 words on the subject. A $50 Savings Bond was originally awarded for the winning essay, but as the contest progressed, we awarded $100 to first place winners, $50 to second place winners and $25 to third place winners.
In 2007, we celebrated our 20th anniversary of the essay contest. We hope it continues as an educational tool for students many years into the future.
LEADERSHIP THROUGH LEARNING PROGRAM
The Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) and the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) recognizing the importance of providing educational opportunities to our future leaders, have created the Leadership Through Learning youth program. Students are invited to spend an all-expense paid week in our nation’s capital to learn about government civic affairs and telecommunications regulation as well as to meet students their own age from all parts of the country. The program is open to any high school junior or senior who lives in the service area or attends a high school that is serviced by a nominating OPASTCO Telephone Company Member such as United Telephone Company. Next year, the program takes place over the dates of April 19-24, 2009. The deadline for applications to be received (not postmarked) by FRED is December 8, 2008. For more information about this program or to download an application, visit www.fred.org.
Student requirements are as follows:
Developing Leadership Through Learning
Chelsey Bowman, daughter of our own Cheryl Bowman, will be joining high school juniors and seniors from across the country in our nation’s capital to learn about government, civic affairs and telecommunications regulation. Chelsey was one of only 12 students in the nation chosen for this all-expense-paid trip sponsored by the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED).
***Colin Henson***
a senior at Forrest School, was selected to receive a $1,000 academic scholarship by the Fund for Rural Education and Development (FRED). Sponsored by United Telephone Company, the given award is based on merit and demonstrated commitment to rural life. FRED will send the awarded scholarship to Carson Newman College on behalf of Colin.FRED selected 59 students from rural areas throughout the United States, and received more than 160 exceptional applications sponsored by rural independent telephone companies and cooperatives.
“Colin Henson was selected among an outstanding group of young people to represent ‘the best of the best,’ stated FRED Foundation Director, Melissa Korzuch.” “The primary interest of the foundation is to assist students with high potential for success and a strong desire to return to a rural community upon graduation. We were overwhelmed by the remarkable credentials of the applicants. Each of this year’s FRED Scholars is very intelligent and exceedingly active in their community. We hope every FRED Scholar will someday return to their hometowns to contribute to the community that clearly gave them an admirable, productive start in life.”
For more information about the FRED Foundation contact:
FRED Contact: Haley Smit, FRED Program Coordinator – 202/659-5990.
TELCO Contact: Cindy Autry, United Telephone Company – 931/364-4322.
Previous winners include:
United Telephone is proud to sponsor this learning opportunity for local students in our service area.
FRED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Each year, the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) awards scholarships to rural America’s best and brightest students. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,500 and are funded by the FRED Scholarship Endowment and by donations to the FRED Annual Giving Campaign. The Everette Kneece Return to Rural America Scholarship honors Mr. Kneece’s vital and pioneering efforts on behalf of FRED and is awarded in the amount of $5,000 to the year’s top applicant.
To apply for any FRED Scholarship, students must live in or attend school in an OPASTCO member’s service area.
In 2008, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the OPASTCO membership during the FRED Annual Giving Campaign, a total of $72,500 was awarded to 61 scholarship recipients.
Students are evaluated based on five (5) specific criteria:
The 2009 scholarship applications are due to FRED by February 16, 2009. Please submit applications to United Telephone by January 30, 2009. Both high school seniors and students already attending post-secondary schooling are eligible to apply. For more information on this scholarship program, visit www.fred.org.
Previous winners include:
TECHNOLOGY GRANTS FOR RURAL SCHOOLS
As the role of technology in the classroom grows, it becomes a powerful tool to improve both teaching and learning. Many schools are incorporating new, innovative technology in an effort to help motivate and inspire their students. Their goals include bringing modern computers to every classroom, connecting every classroom to the information superhighway and making sure that effective and engaging software and online resources will be an integral part of every school curriculum. Many public schools in rural areas lack the resources to obtain new technologies and cannot meet these goals. The Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) in cooperation with the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) created the Technology Grants for Rural Schools program to help meet the growing need for innovative technology in the classroom. This grant program provides funding for projects that advance technology and foster cooperation among the Telco, school and community.
Technology Grants are available to public schools that are working in cooperation with their Telco to enhance learning by increasing the use of technology in the classroom. This includes adding new programs and curriculum for technology education and purchasing new equipment. Summaries of successful proposals in 2008 can be found at www.fred.org.
Any public K-12 school located in the service area of an OPASTCO telephone company can apply. A letter of nomination and support from the local telephone company must accompany all applications. Projects and purchases must directly benefit the rural school requesting the grant.
Chapel Hill Elementary applied for the Technology Grant in September 2008. We eagerly await the results of their application and hopefully anticipate the approval of a grant.
For more information on this program or to download an application, visit www.fred.org.
ETHYL GRANT PROGRAM
The Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) created the Ethyl Matching Grant Program to help provide funding for rural communities and schools. The program provides matching grants ranging from $500-$2,500 to OPASTCO member telephone companies that are involved with projects aimed at bettering their schools and communities. By requiring a 100% match from donations outside the applicant’s funds, FRED hopes to promote cooperation among local groups to set the stage for future projects. An estimated $10,000 worth of grants will be available each year through this program. These funds have been made available through donations by Bennet and Bennet, Nortel Networks and FRED’s Annual Giving Campaign.
The two focus areas for this program are Education and Community Development. Examples of projects that may be considered are located on FRED’s website at www.fred.org. FRED will accept only applications per community, with a limit of three (3) applications from an OPASTCO member every 6 months. More information about the program and a downloadable application form can be found at www.fred.org.
