Consolidated 'Reach' Summer 2023

Important Notes

• Office Closed:

- Monday, September 4th for Labor Day

• Directory Changes Deadline is August 15, 2023. If you have any changes you’d like printed in the next Directory, please call our office at 701.483.4000.

• Check out our “chat” feature on our website at consolidatednd.com. Chat connects you with a live customer service representative during our office hours, Monday- Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

• The 2023 Dickinson Press Women’s Expo: Visit our booth at the West River Ice Center on Saturday, August 26th from 9:00am - 4:00pm.

Calendar Contest

Submit your favorite photos to our website by August 11t h to be entered into Consolidated’s 2024 calendar contest. If your picture(s) is chosen to be featured in the calendar, you will receive a $25 gift certificate. Good luck! For more details, go to www.consolidatednd.com/contests.

Photo by Thomas Krebs

Photo by Austin Stockert

Employee News

Promotions!

Brandi Roshau joined the Consolidated team on March 20th as a Service Center Representative. She is a graduate of Trinity High School and attended DSU and NDSU.

Family time, crocheting, intermural volleyball, and traveling occupy her free time. Brandi loves the team environment at Consolidated and that we are a local company. Welcome Brandi !

Easton Walby was promoted to Network Tech position in June. He has been with Consolidated for three years in a CPE position installing business communications equipment. Congratulations Easton!

Brandi Roshau

Easton Walby

Funds Available

Consolidated Telcom is a member of the Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC). As a result, communities in our service area are eligible to apply for a grant of up to $2,000 for communitybased projects. RDFC is making these funds available in order that more people become aware of their larger loan program that funds community-based projects and nonprofit and with low interest loans.

The Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC) is a nonprofit corporation that encourages economic diversification and community vitality through the generation of funding that supports sustainable asset building.

Funding for RDFC programs comes from fee income generated by Dakotas America LLC, a community development entity providing New Market Tax Credits in economically distressed census tracks across the United States. The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives provides support to RDFC.

For an application, assistance, or questions concerning RDFC, please call Robbin Schwindt at 701.456.5234, or email robbin@consolidatednd.com.

Community Grant Program

Together, We Can Boost Our Community!

As part of its ongoing commitment to rural communities across the country, the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), offers aid for communities served by NTCA members like Consolidated through its annual Community Grants Program. These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America.

The Community Grant application is quick and easy:

1.Go to consolidatednd.com/FRSgrant and review the Application Guide and follow the guidelines on page 2.

2.Send your proposal to Consolidated Telcom before the August 15, 2023 deadline.

MyAccount ® My life, made easy!

Manage your account easily!

•Intuitive design features a user-friendly experience!

•Monitor your account quickly and easily!

•View and pay your bill conveniently!

•Contact Consolidated quickly and easily!

•Download the Consolidated MyAccount App today!

Planting a tree?

Digging a hole for a mailbox?

Installing a fence?

Remember to contact North Dakota One-Call. There are a number of utility lines buried on your property- electric, telephone, gas or propane, water, sewer, cable TV, etc. Damaging an underground facility can cause injury or even death. It’s free, simple, and it’s the law!

To request a locate, call 800-795-0555 or 811, or go online to www.ndonecall.com.

Reboot Your Router for Efficiency

Do you have unusually slow internet? It may be time to reboot your router. Routers need a break sometimes to keep them functioning at their best, much like we do at the end of a busy week.

An internet connection that isn’t working properly can often be fixed by a simple router reboot. Rebooting your managed router from Consolidated is easy. NOTE: DO NOT use a paperclip or any other item to try to press the reset button! Follow these instructions for your router style:

If your router has an on/off button on the lower left side, press that button to power off. Wait 20-30 seconds. Press the button again to power the router on.

If your router doesn’t have an on/off button, remove the power cable from the lower left side by squeezing the sides of the cable and pulling out. Wait 20-30 seconds before reattaching the power cable.

Your router will boot back up in approximately 3 to 5 minutes. The router will have a colored light at the top when the reboot is complete.You will be the hero of your home now that you have restored your lightning fast speed!

If the reboot does not solve your connectivity issues, please call our office at 701.483.4000. Our internet support team is here to help!

Pictured here is a GigaSpire Router from Consolidated.

Note to All Home Cooks!

Send in your favorite recipes by either method listed below and become part of the Cooking Crave TV show! Laverne and Rhonda will share your favorite recipes with their viewers!

1. visit Website at: consolidatednd.com/cookingcrave

2. Mail to:

Consolidated/Rhonda Fitterer PO Box 1408 Dickinson, ND 58602

Corn Salad

3 cans corn (16 oz.) drained

1 red pepper, chopped

1 cup chopped green onion

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 bag chili cheese Fritos, lightly crushed

In a bowl, combine corn, red pepper and green onion. In a separate bowl, blend sour cream and mayonnaise together until combined; stir into corn mixture. Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve; add Fritos just before serving.

FUNERAL SIZE:

1 gallon corn, drained

2 red peppers, chopped

2 bunches green onions sliced

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

3 bags chili cheese Fritos

Tomato Salad

4-5 Roma tomatoes

2-3 green onions, sliced

1 Tbsp. olive oil

2-3 Tbsps. balsamic vinegar

1 ½ - 2 Tbsps. brown sugar

¼ - ½ tsp oregano

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese

Cut tomatoes into bite size chunks and put into a medium bowl with green onions. Combine rest of ingredients except cheese for the dressing and pour over tomatoes; toss salad to coat and sprinkle with cheese.

Avocado-Citrus Salad

2 Tbsps. lime juice

2 Tbsps. olive oil

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint leaves

Romaine Lettuce

2 small avocados, sliced

1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced

1 large orange, peeled and sliced

1 small red onion, chopped (about 1/4 cup)

Mix lime juice, olive oil and mint; set aside. Line 4 salad plates with lettuce. Arrange avocado, grapefruit and orange slices on lettuce. Sprinkle with red onion; drizzle with lime juice mixture; chill until ready to serve.

Cucumber Tomato Salad

2 large cucumbers, peeled & diced

2 large tomatoes, diced

1 medium green pepper, diced

1 medium onion, diced

1 bottle 8 oz. fat-free Italian salad dressing

Sugar substitute equivalent to 2 tsp sugar

In a bowl, combine the cucumbers tomatoes, green pepper and onion. Combine salad dressing and sugar substitute; pour over vegetables. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Honey Fruit Salad

1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained

1 (8 oz.) can pineapple chunks, drained

1 medium firm banana, sliced

1 cup fresh strawberries, halved

3 Tbsps. honey

2 tsp lime juice

Zest from lime

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp poppy seeds

Fresh mint, optional

In a large bowl, combine honey, lime juice, lime zest, vanilla and poppy seeds; mix until blended. Add remaining ingredients, toss lightly. Serve immediately.

Homemade recipes made easy on TV with your chef hosts Laverne & Rhond a !

P.O. Box 1408

Dickinson, ND 58602

Office Hours:

Monday – Friday

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (MST)

Phone Numbers: Local: 701.483.4000

US Toll Free: 888.225.5282 Main Fax: 701.483.0001

Internet Support:

24 hours, Monday – Sunday 701.483.4638 or 701.483.INET

Telephone & TV Support: 701.483.4444 or 800.247.1858

Mailing Address: Consolidated Telcom

PO Box 1408

507 South Main Dickinson, ND 58602

www.consolidatednd.com

A group of telephone cooperatives realized, more than half a century ago, that they could get farther by working together.