InterBel happenings
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: KOOCANUSA BREWERY
CO-OP NEWS LEAVE THE LANDLINE BEHIND TECH TIPS
WHOLE HOME WI-FI & NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
PC: Roberto Caucino
A Message from the General Manager
by JASON MOOTHART
When I joined InterBel in September 2018, I never could have imagined what my first two and a half years with the cooperative would hold.
I couldn’t have predicted that in 2020, a global pandemic would upend our lives, forcing many of us to work from home, cancel gatherings and events, and isolate from our family and friends. It has been a difficult year for all of us, yet through it all, our team has worked day in and day out to continue bringing you the best Internet and voice services possible.
The increased number of our community members relying on their home Internet connection to work, play, and connect with one another during this time has resulted in unprecedented strain on our network, with traffic nearing one petabyte—or one million gigabytes—per month. In the months leading up to the pandemic, our network traffic was roughly two-thirds that size.
In order to meet this ever-increasing demand, we launched a project in September 2020 to equip the entire town of Eureka with fiber. We have already passed approximately 130 homes and businesses, thanks in large part to the mild weather we experienced in December and January, and will continue to build out through the spring and summer. This new fiber network, which will be completed in 2022, will be faster, more reliable, and more scalable than the existing copper network!
The pandemic has also changed the way we communicate with you. One essential principle of a cooperative is member participation, and in order to actively participate in setting policies and making decisions for our cooperative, our members must be aware of the work we are doing to improve and expand our services. Traditionally, our Annual Meeting would be our one opportunity to speak directly with our membership— but after COVID-19 forced us to cancel our 2020 meeting, we sought new ways to get that information in your hands (literally). That’s why we’ve launched InterBel Happenings, a quarterly newsletter where we will share updates from our cooperative along with inspiring stories from our community. I am excited to share this first edition with you.
So much has changed in the years since I joined InterBel, yet one thing remains the same. From day one, my number one priority has been and always will be you—our members. I hope that this newsletter is just the beginning of more communication between our team and our community. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns as we continue navigating this unpredictable time together.
Jason Moothart
Jason Moothart General Manager, InterBel
watersheds. They work to filter and purify the water, and our water that runs through there had lessened dramatically—that’s why it is called Mud Creek,” Barry said. “When the Creek was in this condition, the wetland was impaired from working as it should. My family, friends, and neighbors live downstream from there and I felt it very, very, very important to be a contributing part to good water.”
Over the course of four years, with support from local and national organizations like the Lincoln Conservation District, the US Natural Resource Conservation District, Kootenai River Network, and contractor River Design Group, Barry was able to remove more than 68,000 pounds of steel and restore a portion of Mud Creek to its original, pristine condition.
With the land and water quality revived, Barry could finally move on to permitting and opening his brewery. He submitted his application to the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau in January 2019. Then, the federal government shut down, delaying his application for 100 days.
“We had hoped to be open in the summer of 2019, but because of the federal shutdown, we were postponed until final approval in October of 2019,” Barry said. “Then I had to brew beer and get inventory built up to open.”
The delays didn’t deter Barry. On December 14th, 2019, all of the hard work and patience finally paid off as Koocanusa Brewery opened to the public. With open arms, pizza, and six beers on tap, Barry and his partner Vicki welcomed the community of Eureka into the business they’d fought so hard to build.
Then, Koocanusa Brewery was faced with its greatest hurdle yet: the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were open 60 days and then we had to close for 60 days,” Barry said. “Then we ran the rest of the year at either 50 or 75 percent occupancy.”
Even the most established businesses have struggled to stay afloat throughout the pandemic, especially in the food and drink industry. It would have been all-too easy for a brewery that had hardly had the chance to open before the virus hit to close its doors for good,
but thanks to a supportive community of customers and Barry’s trademark optimism, Koocanusa has prevailed.
“The challenges have been wide and deep, but for the most part, I would just say that entrepreneurial activities come with risks,” Barry said. “When you accept the risk of doing something, you just do it and you don’t worry about the costs. You get up, you go to work, you adapt to change, you do everything you can to make it work. And at the end of the day, you celebrate small successes and build on them.
For Barry, success isn’t measured in the number of barrels he produces or the dollars he brings in every night; it’s measured in the relationships he builds with the people he serves.
“That’s why I do this, because of the people that I get to see and the enjoyment they get from our product,” Barry said. “Being a fourth generation Eurekan and intimately familiar with the area, I love when people come in and say, ‘Well, gee, where can we go hiking, fishing, camping, skiing, waterskiing, tubing?’ Those conversations and being able to share my knowledge with them, that’s probably the most fun part.”
Good Beer and Great People
Barry Roose has overcome countless challenges to get to where he is today: owning a microbrewery that’s popular with locals and tourists alike, located on land that he has worked tirelessly to preserve. But through it all, there’s one thing he says he has never had to worry about: his Internet connection.
“InterBel has some incredible, powerful, wonderful fiber,” Barry said. “Fortunately we’re en route from Seattle to New York, not far off the main grid that runs East to West. So we have tremendously quick response times on the Internet. That infrastructure that InterBel provides is a critical tool for any developing area like ours.”
At Koocanusa, a reliable Internet connection is about more than just processing credit card transactions in a timely manner. Due to the building’s metal walls, customers are unable to access cellular data at the brewery. Instead, they can sign on and enjoy the high speeds of Koocanusa’s Internet connection.
Barry says this is a major draw for many customers, whether they want to watch the Super Bowl or work remotely while enjoying a pint.
“InterBel’s service allows us to provide our customers reliable highspeed Internet access, the likes of which you can’t find too many places in the country,” Barry said.
Starting a business is never easy, and Barry has overcome more obstacles than most. But with high-speed Internet from InterBel, and maybe a little bit of insanity, Barry has built a business that he and his customers can enjoy for many years to come.
“We’ve got great beer, a warm atmosphere, and a country setting. We’re unique, eclectic, funkadelic,” Barry said. “And you know, we’re just a couple local people that enjoy serving and enjoy your company and enjoy providing good beer.”
Koocanusa Brewery is located 5 miles south of Eureka, Montana, on US Highway 93. Stop by for a good beer and great conversation, and visit their website www.koocanusabrewery.com to learn more.
“That infrastructure that InterBel provides is a critical tool for any developing area like ours.”
-Barry Roose
HIGH SPEED INTERNET PACKAGES
DSL
High Speed Internet available through your existing copper phone services. With Speeds up to 20 Mbps - you can take care of your daily activities online such as web browsing or watching Netflix.
FIBER
With Fiber service available to the majority of our rural members, InterBel High Speed Internet with Fiber will connect you at the speed of light. With packages up to 1 Gigabit, InterBel has you covered!
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When you purchase services from InterBel, you aren’t just our customer. You are a member of our cooperative, with a voice in all major decisions.
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Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, setting up reserves, benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative, and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
This principle is the reason InterBel is able to put thousands of dollars back into our community every year through scholarships, event sponsorships, and more.
Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control as well as their unique identity.
young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
By working together through local, national, regional and international structures, cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs.
One powerful example of cooperative cooperation is the relationship between InterBel and Lincoln Electric Cooperative. For more than three decades, our two cooperatives operated jointly under one roof. It was not until 1993 that InterBel became an independent entity, and since then we have continued to find ways to collaborate with Lincoln Electric. We formed Eureka Rural Development Partners in 2002, which has paved the way for many significant projects and contributed millions of dollars in grants over the years.
Because we don’t answer to outside stakeholders, cooperatives like InterBel can focus on what really matters: providing the best possible service for our members at the fairest prices.
Education, Training, and Information
In order to make informed decisions about the future of our cooperative and our community, it’s important for our members to be aware of the work that is going on behind the scenes—that’s why we’ve launched this newsletter!
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, CEOs, and employees to help them effectively contribute to the development of their cooperatives. They also inform the general public, particularly
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“We have so much in common with what we do, which is providing an essential service,” said Telly Stanger, General Manager of Lincoln Electric Cooperative. “I think that partnerships in a small community like this really goes a long way. We can call on each other when we need help with something. I think it builds that comradery and trust.”
Concern for Community
And finally, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership.
While the language of these principles may seem formal, they really aren’t all that different from the simple lessons we learned in kindergarten. At the end of the day, it all comes down to sharing, teamwork, honesty, and making the world a better place—and really, what else do we need to know?
To learn more about the seven cooperative principles and the impact that they can have on our communities, visit ica.coop.
What Is It?
Wi-Fi dead spots can be created by a number of obstacles in your home, including distance from your router and thick walls or doors. A Whole Home Wi-Fi system works with the design of your home, rather than against it, in order to bring you lightning-fast internet in every room.
Whole Home Wi-Fi, or “Mesh Wi-Fi,” consists of a series of access points, often called nodes. One access point either replaces your traditional router or directly connects to it using an Ethernet cable, and then shares your signal with the other access points in its range. These nodes are strategically placed around your house and share the same SSID and password, creating a single, uninterrupted Wi-Fi network that covers your entire home.
How Does It Work?
Luckily, Whole Home Wi-Fi systems are flexible, scalable, and easy to install. You can choose where to place each node, based on where your signal typically drops off. Whole Home Wi-Fi systems are often sold in sets of three nodes, which is enough access points for a typical home, but you can purchase additional nodes if and when you need them.
Additionally, most mesh systems use a mobile app to make set-up a breeze. The app walks you through the set-up process, including where to place nodes for optimal coverage. These mobile apps also come with built-in features to help you manage your Wi-Fi, like parental controls, guest access, and more.
Not all Whole Home Wi-Fi systems are created equal, and it’s important to examine the technology that each brand uses. Give us a call today to find a Whole Home Wi-Fi system that’s right for you, and never step into a dead zone again.
That’s it for this edition of Tech Tips! Check back soon for another tip to make your technology work for you.
New Year, New App, New You
It’s that time of year again! The presents have been opened, the Christmas lights have been packed away, and New Year’s resolutions have been made...and probably forgotten.
The failure rate for New Year’s resolutions is said to be about 80 percent, and most people lose their resolve by mid-February. But what if we told you that the key to keeping your resolutions was right at your fingertips?
Whether you want to exercise more, break a bad habit, or balance your budget, today, we are going to share five apps that will help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions (and FYI, we are not paid by or affiliated with these apps in any way).
If you are more of a visual learner, watch our latest Tech Tip video to follow along with tech expert Riley. Let’s get started.
Resolution: Get In Shape App: FitOn
One of the most common resolutions is to “get in shape.” If that’s on your list, then FitOn is the app for you. FitOn offers free workouts that you can do at home, at the gym, or outside. And with courses as short as five minutes, FitOn makes it easy to fit exercise into your busy schedule.
Resolution: Save Money App: Mint
If you’ve decided that 2021 is the year that you’re finally going to start a real budget (no, saving the change in your couch cushions to buy pizza does not count), Mint may be your new best friend. Just plug in some basic banking info, make a few decisions about how much you want to spend on what, and Mint will keep you in line.
Resolution: Be More Productive App: Todoist
With so many Zoom meetings to attend, projects to finish, and errands to run, it’s almost impossible to keep track of everything. Enter: Todoist. Todoist allows you to easily organize and prioritize your tasks and projects so you’ll always know exactly what to work on next.
Resolution: Break A Bad Habit App: Strides
If you’re ready to kick your caffeine habit or stop hitting snooze every morning, Strides will help you keep your eyes on the prize. Strides helps you break down your goals into doable chunks, and
lets you easily track your progress. It’s like your own personal pocket cheerleader, sending encouraging notifications when you achieve your goals.
Resolution: Be More Mindful App: Headspace
Finally, even if you are aware of the benefits of meditation—like lowering stress, improving sleep, increasing focus—the idea of sitting alone with your thoughts can be pretty daunting. Headspace makes it easier by providing a full library of themed meditation courses, expert guidance from a former monk, and Sleep Sounds to ease you into a good night’s rest.
TOTAL WI-FI
Did you know that many “Internet” related problems come from the lack of a quality wireless connection in your home? Congestion, interference and bandwidth availability issues due to dated wireless equipment are some of the key factors that can cause your internet to run poorly.
InterBel has the solution to help you overcome these obstacles! With InterBel Total Wi-Fi, we will come and evaluate your specific conditions by heat-mapping your home. Then we will provide the solution for your individual requirement.
This could be as simple as moving your modem or router to a more ideal position in the home, providing an extender to boost signals to weak areas of your home, or in very tough conditions we can provide you with a mesh wireless network to cover your entire home.
In order to correct these issues, all Total Wi-Fi customers will receive, at minimum, a Dual Band Wireless AC modem or router. These devices will come with an extended warranty, giving you peace of mind the equipment will be covered for the life of the product.
https://interbel.smarthub.coop/Login.html or visit Interbel.com and click on Smarthub Bill Pay/Usage