SEPTEMBER 25 The NETWORK Cornerstone Group © 2025 Jon Moberg Retires From NCC After 14 years with NCC as a Construction Utility Technician, Jon Moberg retired on June 2nd. Jon lives in Tioga, where he’s also volunteered for many years with Tioga EMS. In retirement, he’s looking forward to spending more time with his daughters and other family and maybe squeezing in a little extra golf. We’re grateful for everything Jon has contributed over the years and wish him all the best. Send Us Your Pics for the NCC Calendar We’re in search of special photographs that depict our area’s beauty for use in the 2026 NCC Calendar. It’s easy to enter our free photo contest. Simply send an email to ncc@nccray.com with the Subject Line: Photo Contest 2025 or mail entries to: NCC ATTN: Stephanie PO Box 38 Ray, ND 58849 The deadline to enter is October 1st. All submitted photos are showcased on our Facebook page: www.facebook. com/northwestcommunications. Like our page today! EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY HELPS STUDENTS LEARN Technology has been in classrooms for decades, but its use has grown dramatically in recent years. Today’s teachers must prepare students for the future, so schools need to stay ahead of the technology curve. The benefits of educational technology (or EdTech) include its ability to support diverse learning styles, foster better communication and collaboration, create an engaging experience, offer enhanced learning, and accommodate students with special needs. Here are classroom examples that are changing the face of education: Tablets – They’re one of the most-used types of technology in the classroom and allow students to work at their own pace and complete independent activities. Smartboards – Chalkboards gave way to dry-erase boards, which were replaced with smartboards. These devices allow teachers to project slides, textbook examples, webpages, and more, offering students a more engaging visual than words on a page. Augmented Reality (AR) – This can be especially effective for more sophisticated educational purposes, such as using in medical school to project a three-dimensional model of the heart or digestive system. Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Teachers can save time by using AI to help them grade objective exams, generate a lesson plan outline in minutes, and detect learning gaps to create personalized learning plans to fill them. AI can also be beneficial to students when it’s used to improve writing skills and simplify complex topics into easier-to-understand material. Digital Field Trips – These are becoming increasingly popular with teachers since they allow classes to “travel” far beyond the usual bounds of nearby towns. By using virtual reality (VR) headsets, these digital field trips can become even more realistic and valuable. Multimedia Lessons – Gone are the days of only chalkboard lessons. Teachers can use technology to create multimedia lessons that apply to different learning styles. They may include podcasts to explore a subject in an innovative way and recorded lectures so students can work at their own pace, rewinding and going slowly through parts they don’t understand. Gamified Learning – Since many students grew up playing online games, gamified learning can be an effective way to tackle a topic and encourage concentration.
this is the Good Life NCC • 1 .800. 245.5884 • nccray.com NCC TO RETIRE $1.2 MILLION IN CAPITAL CREDITS NCC mailed capital credit allocation statements to cooperative members for the year 2024. This statement is sent to each cooperative member after the board of directors approves the previous year’s financials, after expenses are paid, and the remaining funds (margins) are allocated to each member’s capital credit account. The allocation statement you receive is your portion of capital credits assigned to you based on the business you do with the cooperative. These margins are used by the cooperative as capital to operate the business so cooperatives do not retire all of them at the same time. The board of directors’ review on an annual basis if/when/how much the cooperative can retire. At their May board meeting, the NCC board of directors approved a general capital credit retirement in the amount of about $1.2 million. This will consist of $600,000 from the margin allocated in 2000 and $600,000 from the margin allocated in 2024. Checks were mailed in August. Here are some helpful definitions of cooperative terminology: Margins Net income (Revenues minus Expenses) Member Patron of a cooperative who is entitled to service. Patronage Income produced by providing telecommunications services. Capital Credits Income allocated back to members’ capital credit account. Capital Credit Retirement Actual payout of capital credits to members. Allocate The assigned or credited margins to each member ’s capital credit account. For more information about allocation statements and capital credits, please visit our website nccray.com/capital-credits or call us at 1.800.245.5884.
Cornerstone Group © 2025 THANKS TO OUR SUMMER INTERNS! NCC WELCOMES NEW EMPLOYEES Dylan Pittsley joined us as a Communications Specialist Internet this summer. He is a senior at Williston High School. NCC sponsored him at a statewide Telecom Training and Safety mini conference in February where we learned of his interest in our industry. Ryne Skabo joined us for a second year as a Network Intern. He is a junior at MSU majoring in network operations and cyber security. We thank Dylan and Ryne for their hard work, and wish them well as they continue their educations. Stephanie Tangedal joined the NCC team in May as a Marketing Representative. A proud Williston native, she brings over 10 years of marketing experience from her leadership roles at Anytime Fitness, Windsong Contracting, and her own small business ventures. Stephanie lives in Williston with her fiancé and feels lucky to have her three kids, four grandchildren, and her parents close by. When she’s not working, she enjoys crocheting, reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends. Stephanie says she’s excited to be part of a company that’s all about building strong connections — whether it’s through reliable service, community involvement, or simply being there for customers. She’s looking forward to helping share NCC’s story and values in meaningful ways. Angela Brackey recently joined the NCC team and brings a warm, friendly presence to the office. Born and raised in Williston, she continues to call the community home, where she lives with her husband, Leon. Together, they have three children — Stephanie, Jordan, and Kaden — who keep life full and fun. Angela is a graduate of Williston High School and attended Williston State College for 1.5 years. Before coming to NCC, she worked at Lewis & Clark Elementary as a secretary for Williston Basin School District #7 and also spent time with Nemont in Williston. When she’s not at work, Angela enjoys spending time with family and friends and loves to travel whenever she gets the chance. She says her favorite part of NCC so far is how kind and helpful everyone has been, and she’s looking forward to being part of the team! Dylan Pittsley Ryne Skabo
Cornerstone Group © 2025 Ray Location: 111 Railroad Avenue, Ray, ND 58849 Williston Location: 421 Main St, Williston, ND 58801 Mailing Address: PO Box 38, Ray, ND 58849 1.800.245.5884 • nccray.com CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG All kinds of utility lines could be buried underground on your property. So, before you do any project that involves digging, call 811 first and have the utility lines located and marked. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! NCC • 1 .800. 245.5884 • nccray.com NCC is your local provider of internet, telephone, TV, and security monitoring and surveillance services! Business Hours: 8am - 4:30pm NCC Message Center will take calls outside of these hours. Make a payment anytime by using Secure Pay 1.800.245.5884 or SmartHub nccray.com or download the app. Report Trouble: 611 Directory Assistance: 411 Call Before You Dig: 811 Email: ncc@nccray.com Phone: 1.800.245.5884 NL Editor: Angela Schepp We love seeing our team representing NCC in the community. Here’s some of what we’ve been up to, and evidence that “Strong Connections Are Built Here.” STRONG CONNECTIONS, STRONG COMMUNITY STRONG CONNECTIONS ARE Stephanie took part in the Annual Farm to Table event, hosted by theWilliston Area Chamber of Commerce and the Williams County Soil Conservation District. Angie represented NCC at the STEM Discovery Zone held at Ray Public School. Taryn represented NCC at the Broadband Association of North Dakota (BAND) day at the ND Capitol. Leslie, NCC Director, presented a check to Sue at the Powers Lake School. NCC donated toward an updated sound system. We sponsored Molly Wright on the FRS Youth Tour. Bryan and family enjoyed the Epping Buffalo Trails Day parade.
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