FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER/CEO
Let us all celebrate a Volunteer spirit
T
ennessee has been known throughout the generations for its volunteer spirit. When numerous residents responded to the call to serve during the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War of 1848, the patriotism displayed by the citizens of Tennessee earned us the lasting title of “The Volunteer State.” Veterans Day — and every day — is the perfect time for us to respect, honor and celebrate our friends and neighbors who have served and defended our great country. Veterans Day celebrations are prevalent in our service territory. They are hosted by school students, thankful citizens, community groups and many others who relish the opportunity to appreciate the dedicated men and women who have protected our freedoms. In the following pages, you will read about another group of volunteers who willingly sacrifice for the betterment of their comLISA COPE munities. In the rural areas that we call home, volunteer fire departGeneral Manager/CEO ments are the norm rather than the exception. Selfless volunteers spend numerous hours in training, fundraising and responding to emergencies on our behalf. Many of these firefighters are willing to conduct classes to further educate residents. These gracious and courageous volunteers routinely make a difference in someone’s life. However, there are as many opportunities to volunteer in our hometowns as there are neighbors in our communities. Local churches and civic organizations could use your talents! Other possibilities include the county fair association, volunteer income tax assistance, neighborhood schools, local historical societies, parks and natural areas. Well, you get the picture. The list is endless, and the rewards are too numerous to count. This is also a time of year for many of us to reflect and to be thankful. I am thankful for our communities and the genuine, hardworking citizens who are the backbone of our hometowns. The scenic beauty of the mountains, valleys, springs and rivers of our area is unparalleled. As we pause to consider thankworthy items, our freedoms should always make the list. I am truly thankful for the team we have at Ben Lomand Connect and the work they do daily to ensure we serve you to the best of our ability. We are truly thankful for YOU, the customers and members who give us this opportunity. Have a blessed Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas from the entire Ben Lomand Connect Family.
Local Veterans Day Celebrations and Programming Grundy and Marion counties: GCTV special Veterans Day programming (BLTV Channel 6 in Grundy and Marion counties) McMinnville: The Park Theater, Nov. 12, 5:30 p.m.
4 | November/December 2018
Sparta: White County High School, Veterans Day parade and program to follow, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. Spencer: Van Buren County High School Gymnasium, Nov. 12, 9 a.m.
The Ben Lomand
CONNECTION NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
VOL. 6, NO. 6
The Ben Lomand Connection is a bimonthly newsletter published by Ben Lomand Connect, © 2018. It is distributed without charge to all member/ owners of the cooperative.
is a member-owned corporation dedicated to delivering advanced telecommunications technology to the people of Middle Tennessee and the Upper Cumberland, including all of Grundy, Warren and White counties, and portions of Coffee, Cumberland, DeKalb, Marion, Bedford, Franklin, Van Buren and Rutherford counties.
Ben Lomand Connect 311 N. Chancery St. • P.O. Box 670 McMinnville, TN 37111 Telephone: 931-668-4131 or 800-974-7779 www.benlomandconnect.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gerald L. Sitz, President, Grundy and Marion counties Roger W. Bynum, Vice President, Coffee County Jeff Flatt, Secretary/Treasurer, Warren County Randall Day, White and DeKalb counties Donald Hillis, Van Buren County Cain Rogers, White and Putnam counties Joe C. Roper, Coffee, Bedford, Rutherford and Franklin counties Bobby A. Thompson, Grundy County Dr. Ray Troop, Warren County
Produced for Ben Lomand Connect by:
On the Cover: Ber Bess, front, and other Collins River Volunteer Fire Department firefighters regularly train and perform equipment checks. See story Page 12.
