Bonnie Krause Meet WRT s New CEO

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1 Celebrating g 60 Years of Serving You! Bonnie Krause Meet WRT s New CEO Don Brooks 1962 Dale Albers 1979 Dale Svingen 1989 Bob Barfield 2000 Mick Grosz 2012 Bonnie Krause Monday [muhn-dey] - Noun. The second day of the week; the first t day of the typical work week. Monday, January 16, 2012 was anything but a typical start to the work week for Bonnie Krause. For over 32 years, she has been reporting for work at WRT s Hazen Office. Bonnie first started out working part-time in accounting, later supervising the WRT Accounting Department from 1988 to In 2002, she also added Chief Operations Officer duties to her workload. But it wasn t until this particular Monday, that Krause officially began her first day as WRT s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). With the recent retirement of Mick Grosz (see inside pages), Bonnie now holds the distinction as the sixth manager and first female leadership in the cooperatives 60 years of existence. She was hired by then manager Dale Albers and worked closely with managers Dale Svingen, Bob Barfield and Mick Grosz. Bonnie was raised in Mott, ND. Her accounting experience started with a bookwork position for the statewide Big Boy and KFC restaurants under the ownership of Harley McDowell. Bonnie later moved to Hazen with husband Mike Krause to establish their own family in his hometown. The couple raised two daughters, with Bonnie then joining WRT part-time. The rest you could say is history. Bonnie and Mike continue to live in Hazen and now enjoy three grandchildren. In her limited free-time, Bonnie serves on the Union State Bank & Associates Board of Directors, the Hazen Area Dollars for Scholars Scholarship Committee and the Hazen Library Board. Her hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed in the workplace or in her community. Krause has been awarded ND Dollars for Scholars Chapter Hero, the Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce Award, Hazen s Outstanding Citizen award and the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) Excellence in Leadership Award. She has also participated on panels at several national industry conferences. Krause recently shared I look forward to working together with the employees, the Board and our communities to provide top notch service and services. GROSZ RETIRES PG 2 WRT S 60 TH ANNIVERSARY PG 4 5 DEADLINES PG 6 DATES TO REMEMBER: February 3 WRT Scholarship Deadline February 20 WRT Payments Due Your monthly newsletter e from West River Telecom January ary 2012

2 Grosz Retires from WRT Friday the 13th may seem unlucky to some, but for WRT CEO Albert Mick Grosz it was the start of a new adventure. Grosz closed his offi ce door in Hazen on January 13, 2012, handing the keys to former WRT COO Bonnie Krause. Mick Grosz during recent retirement speech Mick began his career at WRT in 1986 serving as a WRT Board Member representing current day District 1, which included his hometown Turtle Lake, ND. He served on the WRT Board of Directors for 15 years, including eight years as Board President. During this time, Mick also served as the District 8 House of Representative from 1990 to His work on the Finance & Taxation Committee and Natural Resources Committee was very benefi cial not only to WRT members, but to those across the state. NDATC Executive David Crothers shared several stories at Grosz s recent retirement party. Noting his involvement on both the legislative and cooperative fronts, as well as his impeccable timing while in the industry. Crothers joked citing how Grosz was leaving just as all the added duties were coming from the National Broadband Plan regulations. In addition to his Board and Legislative duties, Mick worked in a variety of jobs, gaining a better understanding of the people he represented. After leaving the Army, Mick both farmed and went into the construction business with his brothers. David Crothers NDATC Mick also holds the distinction in Turtle Lake-Mercer School history for be- ing the only person to graduate, teach and later served as a school board member. Mick s farming background was also helpful while owning and operating Agri-Business Products in Turtle Lake for 10 years. While living in Turtle Lake, Mick and his wife, Mary, raised two sons, Mike and Marc. When he wasn t busy working or challenging political opponents, Mick kept busy presiding over many local softball games as the umpire. In 2000, Mick went from presiding over the WRT Board of Directors to being named the new General Manager/ CEO. 1986: Mick & Mary Grosz with General Manager Dale Svingen 2 During his time at WRT, Mick worked closely with the cooperative s cellular ownership and helping gain majority share in much of our service area. Over the years, he held several po- sitions on the various cellular boards including President. WRT s interest in Verizon Wireless has made us a viable partner in the statewide network. It has offered WRT members an option for wireless service, as well as contributing to a profi table bottom line. continued on next page...

3 25 Years of Service in Telecommunications During his 25 years at WRT, Mick saw the company almost double in size from 9,000 to over 17,700 lines with the chase of ten former USWest exchanges. WRT also be- purgan offering dial-up internet service and later provided customers with several high speed internet service e options including DSL, WildBlue satellite service and fi xed wireless technology. It was Mick s goal to bring high quality voice and internet service to 100% of WRT s service area. The cooperative also kept a healthy bottom line, including recently recording the best year for margins in WRT s history and continues to pay out capital credits to the WRT membership. Mick took great pride in WRT s many accomplishments but was also quick to praise the hard work of those around him including the staff and employees at WRT, as well as the good decisions made by the WRT Board of Directors. Grosz shared at his retirement party they always say hire good people and get out of the road and I think I did a good job of it. At Mick s recent retirement party he refl ected on his time at WRT saying you always hope to leave it a better place than you found it. 2011: Mick & Mary Grosz with sons Mike (Beth) & Marc Mick and Mary have changed their address from ND to NC - moving to North Carolina to be closer to their sons and enjoy some year-round golfi ng and bike riding. We thank Mick for his years of service to WRT and wish him well on his new adventure... and his golf score! WRT Leadership 1989 to Present Three Eras of WRT Management Former WRT General Manager Bob Barfield (left) joined newly appointed Bonnie Krause (center) at the recent retirement party for Mick Grosz (right). Barfield led WRT from 1989 to 2000; Grosz from 2000 to 2012 and Krause took over leadership in

4 Celebrating 60 Years of Serving You! 1952 West River Mutual Aid Telephone Cooperative formed through a grassroots effort that required a $5.00 show of support per person 4,000 people did not have telephone service out of the est. 5,000 in the five county area 1950s Don Brooks named first manager West River began providing service in New Salem, Beulah, Stanton, Washburn, Turtle Lake, Hazen, Zap, Golden Valley, Center, Mercer, Selfridge, Solen, Shields, St. Anthony, Fort Yates & McLaughlin 1960s Dale Albers named new manager Basin Electric starts first coal fired plant in ND & major growth in West River service area West River starts upgrading to buried lines and rural service to 4-party service The WRT Dial House in Beulah explodes due to a gas leak 1970s West River began providing service to the Pick City Exchange A busy decade for the cooperative upgrading all 17 West River exchanges to one party service 1979 West River installed the 1st computer at its Hazen headquarters Dale Svingen becomes the new manager of West River Telephone Coop. (WRTC)

5 s New technology advancements at WRTC included digital switching equipment, PABX phone systems, paging & fax service, & touchtone service There were several large buried cable projects including taking a 25-pair telephone cable across a 444 foot span of Lake Sakakawea. The first fiber optic cable was buried WRTC partners with CommNet Cellular Monthly telephone rates were between $3.25 & $7.25 for residential & business customers Robert (Bob) Barfield new general manager 1990s WRTC partners with DBS/ DirecTV satellite service West River Long Distance (WRLD) is formed WRTC forms two subsidiaries in preparation for the purchase of former USWest exchanges. WRC/West River Communications and MTC/Mobridge Telecommunications The newly formed WRC included Carson, Elgin, Flasher, Glen Ullin, Goodrich, McClusky, Hebron, New Salem, Riverdale/Coleharbor & Underwood. MTC purchased the Mobridge, SD exchange With the new WRC & MTC customers, WRTC grows from 9,678 to 17,728 lines WRT offers Internet Service 2000s WRTC and the newly acquired exchanges from WRC & MTC merge to form West River Telecommunications Cooperative (WRT) WRT begins a partnership with Verizon Wireless & becomes a Verizon authorized agent in Hazen Albert (Mick) Grosz named new CEO/ general manager WRT begins to offer DSL/High Speed Internet Service as well as WildBlue satellite internet service to remote subscribers WRT launches the first of several fixed wireless towers. WRT becomes the first provider in the region to utilize this new fixed wireless technology to provide quality voice & internet service 2012 WRT begins the new year with 75 employees providing digital voice telephone & high speed internet service throughout the entire service area Bonnie Krause named new CEO (see page 1) WRT is making plans to celebrate 60 years of providing service to YOU - our members Watch for future details on WRT s 60th Annual Meeting on June 8, 2012, plus 60th Anniversary Contests, Trivia and more Congratulations to last month s newsletter trivia winners: Loretta Zinke, McClusky; Mardella Carter, Glen Ullin; & Sharon Dady, Mobridge They will each receive a $10 credit on their WRT billing statement

6 There s Still Time to Apply Apply By Friday, February 3, 2012 for a $500 WRT Scholarship WRT Applications available at: WRT Website: WRT Local Offi ces in Hazen, Beulah & Mobridge WRT Area High Schools Apply by Thursday, March 1, 2012 for a $2,500 FRS Scholarship & $5,000 Staurulakis* Scholarship * Students who submit a FRS Scholarship application and have a focus in science, math, medicine or engineering will be automatically considered for the new FRS Staurulakis Family Scholarships - four will be awarded at $5,000 each. FRS/Staurulakis Applications available at: 6 WRT Local Offi ces Questions? Contact Linda / WRT Member Services at the Hazen Offi ce by calling or send an to: [email protected] WRT MONTHLY SERVICE RATES: Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, universal service means basic telephone service that is available to all consumers. WRT provides basic and enhanced telecommunications services within its service area. Basic services are offered at the following rates: SINGLE PARTY RESIDENCE SERVICE $16.45 SINGLE PARTY BUSINESS SERVICE, KEY SYSTEMS, PBX LINES $19.45 Local residence and business service includes: voice grade access to the public telephone network; single party service; flat-rated local exchange service free of per minute charges; access to directory assistance services; access to other operator services; access to 911 emergency services; access to interexchange (long distance) service; dual tone multi-frequency signaling (touch-tone) service; and toll blocking/toll limitation. TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE: WRT also offers Lifeline and Link Up telephone assistance programs for qualifying lowincome subscribers who are not receiving a Lifeline discount from another provider. Lifeline and Link Up provide for connection and monthly service discounts on telephone service and are available to participants in one or more of the following programs: Medicaid; Food Stamps; Temporary Aid to Need Families (TANF); National School Lunch (NSL) free lunch program; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Federal Public Housing Assistance; or Low Income Housing Energy Assistance. Individuals whose household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are also eligible for Lifeline/Link Up assistance. Toll blocking at no charge and reduced deposits are also available. Additional Lifeline and Link Up support, Enhanced Lifeline/Link Up, is available to those qualifying individuals living on Tribal Lands. Enhanced Lifeline/ Link Up provides for additional telephone services discounts, and in addition to the previously cited programs, for those individuals residing on Tribal Lands, participation in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) general assistance program, Head Start or Tribal TANF qualifies them for this support. NON DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT: West River Telecommunications Cooperative is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA s TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S., STOP 9410 W., Washington, D. C , or call toll free (866) (English) or (800) (TDD) or (866) (English Federal-relay) or (800) (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Additional information available at WRT, PO Box 467, Hazen, ND or call WRT is an equal opportunity provider & employer.

7 CLIP & SAVE WRT PHONEBOOK UPDATES The following listings came into service after our 2011 directory was printed. They do not appear in the phone book. BEULAH Dewees, Amanda Doney, Allorah Fletcher, Garett & Sarah Guy Haats Construction Jordan, Ken & Rachel Lind, Stacy Ortloff, Bill Turndup Trucking CENTER Crown Agro Green, John ELGIN Heil Experience Works Heupel, Jordan & Elisha Sprenger, Luke & Betty Zeller, Reuben FORT YATES Cannon Ball & Solen Circle Of Life Kola Makoche Wowapi SRST Adult Detention Center Yellow Hammer, Kerrily GLEN ULLIN Hellman, Shane & Jenny Just,Viola Ungerecht, Sherill Western Cooperative Credit Union GOLDEN VALLEY Allen, Stacie Decker, Darryl & Joann HAZEN Cinema Flix Hazen Fitness Hazen Towing Hood, John & Lauren Hopper, Ann Lee, Terence & Kendra Willison Leilani Haack Massage Profl oor Inc Swartz, Tyler U-Haul HEBRON A&A Heating & Air Hometown Wellness Walth, Milton & Violet Walth s Shop McCLUSKY Old School Construction McLAUGHLIN, SD Little Eagle & Kenel Jones, Myles & Carla Little Bear, Nelson Martinez, Renelle Steele, Chenoa Verbanac, Robert & Sharon WIC SR Sioux Tribe MERCER Lacount, John Sr MOBRIDGE, SD Frailing, Jerry & Janice Gayton, Lexi Marron, Travis Sitting Bull College Takes The Gun, Haley Traxinger, Catherine NEW SALEM - ALMONT Judson Brusven, Joseph & Malissa Eggers Shop Maertens-Brenny Construction Rardin, Diane Road Warrior Express St Joseph s Hospital & Health Center PICK CITY Sunga, Conrado & Sandra SELFRIDGE Iron Shield, Corrine Ironshield, Daisy Schell, Bradley & Lisa STANTON CG Power Rentals Inc Lemer, William TURTLE LAKE Town & Country Insurance Agency Turtle Lake Ag Repair UNDERWOOD Coleharbor Corner Express of Underwood McLean Sheridan Small Business Dev Pochant, Josh Reed, Allen WASHBURN Care-A-Lot Daycare U-Haul Neighborhood Dealers Unlimited Excavating Washburn Apartments Bob Hughes Frank Mattox Mary Peterson WRT Phonebook Advertising Watch for these helpful faces from Pinnacle Publishing (the printers of your WRT phonebook) to offer you ways to make the most of your advertising dollar in WRT s Telephone Book and Online Advertising with WRT CAN HELP CUSTOMERS FIND YOUR BUSINESS! WRT s phonebook covers both WRT & BEK service areas in central North Dakota & South Dakota. Advertise your business in our directory listings, yellow pages &/or directory display ads. By listing your business number in our phone book, your number is also included in our online directory, directory assistance and the online search platform - com. Your free listing on can provide customers with your phone number and location using Bing maps. You can even opt to include a link to your website, photos, print ads and more. It s an awesome addition for businesses looking to make the most of their 7 advertising dollar and a way for customers to easily fi nd you!

8 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. Hazen, ND West River Telecom PO Box 467, Hazen, ND phone: fax: web: Visit our Local Offices: 101 W. Main, Hazen 114 1st Ave NW, Beulah 114 4th St W, Mobridge ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER Offices Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm CT with 24/7 Repair Service & Internet Tech Support WRT is an Equal Opportunity Employer Still Begging for High Speed Internet? HURRY! OFFER ENDS JANUARY 31ST 3 FREE Months of Internet FREE Wireless Modem FREE Installation FREE Wi-fi Activation...and much more!! SAVE CLOSE TO $400!!