RED RIVER COMMUNICATIONS
CONNECT FEATURED STORY:
Holiday Screen time survival Tips Don’t let screen time battles steal your holiday joy
Company News
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TECH THE HALLS Gift Guide
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Grants & Scholarships
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RED RIVER COMMUNICATIONS - VOLUME 7 - ISSUE 4 - HOLIDAY 2022
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RED RIVER
CONTENTS / NEWS
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NOTE FROM CEO
COMPANY NEWS
TECH THE HALLS
HOLIDAY SCREEN TIME
CO-BANK GRANT AWARDS
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSES
A word of thanks from our CEO
New hires and Annual Meeting Notice
Cool 2022 tech gifts for the holidays
Setting healthy screen time limits
Co-Bank Grant Winners & Red River Scholarships
Two chances to celebrate with Red River
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A LETTER FROM
THE GENERAL MANAGER AH, THE HOLIDAYS. TIME WITH FAMILY, GREAT FOOD AND NEW TECHNOLOGY! The holiday season is upon us. It’s the time of the year when we pause to celebrate, reflect, and play with our new “tech toys.” To be prepared for high-powered tech like 8K Smart TVs, internet-connected kitchen gadgets or HD gaming systems, you will want to ensure your Wi-Fi can keep up. If you are one of those homes where the number of occupants in the house balloons from just two people to well over a dozen — you will want to prepare your home network for the extra traffic. You might think, “Tom, I don’t know anything about Wi-Fi, routers or my home network?!?” The good news is the experts at Red River do! With our FiberFAST™ Wi-Fi, you can access our new Red River Connect Wi-Fi App; you can manage your home Wi-Fi network from your smartphone. Set your Wi-Fi password, view connected devices,
run speed tests, set up parental controls, and more. See page 5 to learn how Red River can help you prepare your home for the holidays. GIVING BACK Red River is proud to give back to our communities over the past year, supporting more than 24 organizations through our Common Cents program and other grants. We are also pleased to have awarded 12 $1,000 college scholarships to students within our service territory. None of this would be possible without your support! A SEASON OF THANKS Throughout this year, one thing stood out: I am incredibly thankful for each of you, our customers/members, our employees, and the communities we serve. We thank you for your business over the past year and send our best wishes for good health and happiness in the new year! - Tom Steinolfson, CEO/GM
TOM STEINOLFSON
CEO/ GENERAL MANAGER
“Red River is proud to give back to our communities over the past year, supporting more than 24 organizations through our Common Cents program and other grants.”
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RED RIVER COMMUNICATIONS | HOLIDAY 2022
UPSTREAM @ RED RIVER
COMPANY NEWS WELCOME TO RED RIVER
“As a consultant to Red River in my previous job at Olsen Thielen, it always seemed like a great place to work with great people,” said Anderson. “I look forward to doing my part to ensure that continues. I am also excited to be back in the telecom industry.”
Red River Communications is excited to announce the addition of Josh Anderson as Chief Financial Officer.
Josh Anderson Chief Financial Officer
Josh Anderson joined Red River this September as our CFO. As a Princeton, MN native, Josh graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Accounting and Finance.
Annual Meeting Notice:
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But Josh isn’t just all spreadsheets and numbers. You can find him golfing, snowmobiling, and racing dirt track IMCA modifieds and stock cars in his off time. Josh lives in Barnesville, MN, with his partner Amber and two children, Ayla and Easton. Welcome to the team, Josh! You are a fantastic addition to Red River.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTIONS Anyone interested in being nominated for the Red River Rural Telephone Association (dba Red River Communications) Board of Directors can collect signatures on a petition & submit their completed form by Feb. 21, 2023. Three districts are up for election, with the following incumbent directors seeking re-election:
District 9 - Lidgerwood/Wyndmere - Jan Schmit District 5 - Kent - Gary Boutiette District 2 - Barnesville - Wayne Schindler
Mark your calendars for Red River Rural Telephone Association - DBA Red River Communications’
71 Annual Meeting March 23, 2023 st
Richland 44 Elementary School Gym 106 Broadway, Abercrombie, ND, 58001 Join us for dinner, technology demonstrations, door prize drawings, and an executive annual meeting gift! All members and their families are welcome. No RSVP is needed.
Criteria for nominees:
• Be a member of the exchange they would represent • Lives in exchange they would represent & have lived there for at least 90 days in the last 12 months • Not a current or past employee • No financial conflict of interest in other ventures • Not convicted of a federal or state crime • Not closely related to a board member or current employee • Be willing to attend monthly, state, and national meetings as required
Contact our business office at 701-553-8309 to obtain a petition or for additional information.
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RED RIVER
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
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TECH THE HALLS GETTING SOMEONE THE PERFECT TECH GIFT IS AN EVER-MOVING TARGET.
Between short supply around the holidays and a constant flood of new gadgets, there’s a lot to sort through. That’s why we selected our top picks for this holiday season.
SideTrak Slide Portable Monitor This 12.5-inch portable monitor turns any laptop into a dual-screen computer. It securely attaches to the back of a laptop and it extends, mirrors, and rotates for maximum function. Available on AMAZON.
Sonos Roam Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker weighs less than a pound, yet it produces surprisingly high quality audio. Lasts up to 10 hours per charge. Available at sonos.com.
Cosori Dual Blaze Smart Air Fryer
Connect this sleek looking air fryer to your phone, so you can monitor cooking remotely or scan the barcode of your favorite frozen foods to get the ideal temp and time settings! Plus the basket is dishwasher safe! Available on AMAZON.
KODAK - Mini Pocket Projector
Easily connects to iPhone or Android phone. Watch a movie or the big game with built-in rechargeable battery & speaker. Available at BestBuy.com.
Meta Quest 2
This the most advanced all-in-one VR system yet! Every detail has been engineered to make virtual worlds adapt to your movements, letting you explore awe-inspiring games and experiences with unparalleled freedom. No PC or console is required. Available at BestBuy.com. 4
Rechargeable Hand Warmer
Stay toasty all winter with this lightweight hand warmer, which heats up in a few seconds and stays warm for 4-6 hours. Available on AMAZON. All names, likenesses, and logos are copyright their respective owners.
RED RIVER COMMUNICATIONS | HOLIDAY 2022
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What to know
When adding new technology to your home network. When adding new devices to your home Internet, there are a few things to think about.
INTERNET SPEED MEATER Plus Wireless Meat Thermometer
The Meater Plus is an entirely wireless thermometer that keeps your Traeger wood pellet grill, oven or other cooking appliance free of wires. You can plan and remotely monitor your cook through the MEATER Smart Meat Thermometer App. Now you don’t have to camp out next to the grill the entire cook. Never under or overcook meat again! Available at meater.com.
Bill Nye’s VR Space Lab
Join Bill Nye “The Science Guy” and go into the depths of space and time. Our planet, solar system, galaxy, universe, and more come to life in 128 unique virtual and augmented reality experiences! Available on AMAZON.
The first thing, do you have enough internet speed? The most important things to consider are how many devices you have in your home and what you are using them for. If you have just a couple of devices and are not streaming or gaming, you will probably have a good experience with one of Red River’s starter internet packages. For those with more devices who want to use their internet for streaming and social media, you will probably require the 250M/250M speed. If you have several devices being used at the same time and want to stream on your new 8K TV or HD gaming system, you might want to consider speeds from 500M/500M up to a 1GIG/1GIG.
HOW’S YOUR Wi-Fi?
Another thing to think about is your Wi-Fi. Will you need parental controls for these new devices? Would you feel better if you had more security when it comes to the Internet? FiberFAST™ Wi-Fi, powered by Red River Communications, is a managed Wi-Fi solution that can help you navigate the internet in your household. With our premium router powered by Wi-Fi 6 technology, you get edge-to-edge Wi-Fi coverage and access to the Red River Connect Wi-Fi App which allows you to take command of your connected home. Get the MOST out of your FiberFAST™ Internet with Ultimate FiberFAST™ Wi-Fi which includes our enhanced parental control and network security tools. So, if you are adding connected devices this holiday season, call us! We are happy to find the best solution for your home.
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RED RIVER
HOLIDAY SCREEN TIME
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Holiday Screen time Survival Tips THE HOLIDAYS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER. DON’T LET SCREEN TIME BATTLES GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR KIDS’ GOOD TIMES - OR YOURS EITHER.
Problem is, free time can all too easily translate to screen time. According to studies, a conservative estimate is that screen time increases by 6 hours during the holidays.
Holidays mean freedom. Freedom from schedules, school and sports. Freedom from “get in the car, right now please!” and “have you finished your homework yet?” Holidays should be a time for kids to find their own rhythm instead of marching to the grown-ups’ beat.
It is important to set screen time limits, but having the ability to enforce them is critical. That’s where Red River Communications can help. The holidays are a perfect time to set up healthier internet habits for
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children, grandchildren or guests. With our Red River Connect App and ExperienceIQ, you can create custom settings for each family member, view usage and history, enable safe search features, preset off times, pause the internet and set bedtimes. Learn more and watch how-to videos about Red River Connect App and ExperienceIQ at redrivercomm.com/internet/wifi.
RED RIVER COMMUNICATIONS | HOLIDAY 2022
CONNECT
Direction for your Holiday connection Whether you’re a parent, professional, or someone who needs their internet to function at the highest level, ExperienceIQ helps you to manage your home network with purpose from the Red River Connect app.
Focus
Maximize Your Moments Create work and school hours for your household to limit distractions.
Eliminate distractions and disruptions by using My Priorities to give preference to devices and set schedules for work and play. Adjust at a moment's notice with our easy to use Red River Connect app.
Enjoy uninterrupted and buffer-free quality family time by prioritizing your devices.
Family
Back up your screen goals with downtime hours, screen time schedules, and time limits on certain apps.
Enforce your house rules quickly and easily while maintaining the family peace with the ExperienceIQTM Parental Control features. Create profiles for users to filter inappropriate content, block certain sites and categories, and set time limits and downtime.
Block inappropriate content to devices on your network.
Freedom Remain confident that your connection is working for you and keeping you and your family safe.
Optimize your bandwidth where you need it most.
Ready to Activate ExperienceIQ®? Call us today! ExperienceIQ and ProtectIQ are included with
Ultimate FiberFASTTM Wi-Fi Only $14.95/month
DOWNLOAD RED RIVER CONNECT Wi-Fi App TODAY! Search “Red River Connect” in App Store or Google Play. For full directions: redrivercomm.com/internet/wifi
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RED RIVER
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GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
COBank Grants
Tom Steinolfson, CEO of Red River, presents a $2,000 CoBank grant to Sharon Bladow of the Richland/Wilkin Food Pantry.
Red River is proud to partner with CoBank in its Sharing Success matching grant program. Since Sharing Success was established in 2012, CoBank and its customers have contributed tens of millions of dollars to groups such as volunteer fire departments, local schools, and hunger relief programs. CoBank matches Red River donations to local communities or non-profit organizations. This fall, four $2,000 awards were presented to deserving organizations in Richland County. •
The Richland-Wilkin Food Pantry for building improvements.
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Abercrombie Park Board for replacing the roofs on the park shelter and bathrooms.
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Fairmount Rural Fire Protection District for grain bin extraction equipment.
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Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 Unit for purchasing a new kennel for Officer O’Hara’s patrol car.
Tom Steinolfson, CEO of Red River, presents a $2,000 CoBank grant to Richland County Sheriff Larry Leshovsky 8
Ron German, Fairmount/Hankinson Exchange Director, presents grant to the Fairmount Rural Fire District
Tim Viland, Aber Exchange Director, Presents a check to Jennifer Clark of the Aber Park Board.
K-9 Officer Justin O’Hara & his Partner Bruno
RED RIVER COMMUNICATIONS | HOLIDAY 2022
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TWELVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM $1,000 RED RIVER COMMUNICATIONS At Red River Communications, we are honored to recognize students seeking higher education in vocational fields and general studies.
The Red River Communications College Scholarship Program recognizes and encourages the student’s academic achievements within our service territory by helping defray the costs of furthering their education. Starting December 1st, students can apply for one of twelve $1,000 scholarships. Take some time this holiday season to help a student graduating high school in the spring of 2023 fill out a Red River scholarship application. It’s a gift that will last them a lifetime.
Applications OPEN: December 1, 2022 Application Deadline: March 15, 2023 Learn more and Apply | redrivercomm.com/scholarships
Scholarships Available: General Membership Scholarships
Eight scholarships will be awarded to students within our service territory of the cooperative. Parent/legal guardian of the applicant must be a member of the cooperative.
General Scholarship
One scholarship will be awarded to a student within our service territory. Does NOT need to be a member of the cooperative.
Vocational Scholarship
Awarded to one student pursuing an associate degree, credit-bearing certificate, or an industry-recognized credential at a vocational-technical school, trade school, two-year community college or state college.
Technical Scholarship
One scholarship awarded to a student interested in the fields of telecommunications and technology.
Agricultural Scholarship
One scholarship awarded to a student who plans to study for a career in some way connected to the agricultural industry.
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RED RIVER
HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS
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Please join Red River Communication in celebrating the holiday season. Enjoy Christmas treats and refreshments, door prizes and more.
Abercrombie Office 510 Broadway December 20th 2-5 PM
Wahpeton Office 522 Dakota Ave December 1st 2-5 PM
Please bring a non-perishable food item to support the Richland/Wilkin Food Pantry. 10
RED RIVER COMMUNICATIONS | HOLIDAY 2022
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Holiday 2022 Volume 7, Issue 4 The Red River Communications CONNECT newsletter is published quarterly for our members. It is distributed freeof-charge to our members in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
New Directory Coming soon
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The 2023 telephone directory will be mailed in January to those members who have phone service. If you need an additional copy, please stop by our office in Abercrombie during normal business hours.
Harlan Deike President District 4 - Great Bend Rhonda Erbes Vice-President District 3 - Colfax
If you do not wish to receive a directory in the future, please contact our office.
Gary Boutiette Secretary/Treasurer District 5 - Kent
Access the online directory at redrivercomm.com and clicking the E-Directory link in the top menu.
Tim Viland District 1 - Abercrombie
Directory Recycling
Wayne Schindler District 2 - Barnesville
Recycle your old phone book at the following locations:
Joe Pikarski District 6 - Mooreton
BARNESVILLE, MN - 205 Front St N Tue. & Thurs. - Noon - 8:00 PM & Sat. 8:00 AM - Noon
Jerry Janssen District 7 - Rollag
HAWLEY, MN - 716 Front St Monday - Sunday - 8:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Ron German District 8 - Fairmount/Hankinson
RRC OFFICE | ABERCROMBIE & WAHPETON Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Jan Schmit District 9 - Lidgerwood/ Wyndmere
Directory Updates NAME PHONE NUMBER EXCHANGE
JAKE TIEGS 701-242-7087 HANKINSON THE SASSY COW 701-538-9108 LIDGERWOOD COUNTRYSIDE MEATS 218-493-4290 BARNESVILLE
Produced by the team at Red River Communications
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522 Dakota Ave Wahpeton, ND 58075 Questions? Service issues? Call 866-553-8309
Follow us On Social Media @redrivercommunications
Red River Communications 510 Broadway | PO Box 136 Abercrombie, ND 58001
We are now on YouTube! @redrivercommunications
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
PO Box 136 | 510 Broadway Abercrombie, ND 58001
A Holiday Gift For You!
$10 OFF
YOUR BILL!
Call 701-553-8309 or scan the QR code to claim this limited time offer.
SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA Some restrictions apply. Offer valid through 12/21/2022.
Happy Holidays!
Thank you for being a loyal customer!
LOCATIONS & OFFICE HOURS
HELP DESK
BILL PAY
510 Broadway, Abercrombie 522 Dakota Ave, Wahpeton Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Need assistance? We’re here 24/7 to help you! 866-553-8309
No added fees! Online or by phone. 855-386-9905 redrivercomm.com
(Wahpeton closed Noon - 1pm)
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