Cornerstone Group © 2025 A NEWSLETTER FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT VENTURE COMMUNICATIONS In Touch OC TOBER 2 0 2 5 CONNECTIONS CO-ops WE’RE PROUD TO CELEBRATE CO-OP MONTH Venture Communications P.O. Box 157 218 Commercial Avenue S.E. Highmore, SD 57345-0157 Phone: 605-852-2224 – 24/7 Support Office Hours: M-F 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST Office Closure November 11th for Veterans Day Email: venture@venturecomm.net Text to Chat: 605-852-2428 (Available during Office Hours) Website: www.venturecomm.net Follow Us on Facebook & Instagram Check Out Our eBill Mobile App! It’s available for download in the App Store and Google Play. Local Events on Venture TV State Soccer Championships Oct. 18th – Events Channel 399 State Cheer & Dance Championships Oct. 24th and 25th – Venture Special Events Channel 399 All State Chorus & Orchestra Nov. 1st – Venture Special Events Channel 399 All Nations Football Nov. 7th – Venture Special Events Channel 399 State Football Championships Nov. 13-15th – Venture Special Events Channel 399 October is Co-op Month and a time to recognize the many accomplishments of member-owned companies. As a co-op in rural America, Venture Communications invests in fiber networks to meet the high-speed internet needs of areas that national providers have left behind. We also roll up our sleeves and lend a hand to local events, programs, and organizations. THANKS FOR CHOOSING US FORYOUR COMMUNICATIONSSERVICES! It makes you a member of our co-op and part of our communities’ continued growth.
Venture Commun i cat ions • 605-852-2224 • www. venturecomm.net Members of Venture Communications convened in Highmore, SD on Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, to observe the cooperative’s 68th Annual Meeting. President John Langer welcomed members and guests. He extended thanks to the Company Cowboys for providing lively entertainment and expressed appreciation to the Venture team for serving a delicious meal. President Langer officially called the 2025 Annual Meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. He opened the meeting with a prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The membership then approved the meeting notices as printed in the annual meeting booklet, along with the minutes from the 2024 Annual Meeting. President Langer seated Tracy Wientjes of Onida, TomWagner of Rosholt, and Marlin Jenner of Sisseton to three-year terms on the Venture Communications Board of Directors. President Langer provided an update on the 2025 general retirement and explained the purpose and impact of the Venture Communications donation program. He also expressed appreciation to the membership for their continued dedication and support. Venture Communications Manager Fay Jandreau addressed the membership with an overview of the company’s mission statement and highlighted the significant goals achieved by the team in 2025. ShelbyMyers from the Accounting Department introducedmembers to the new e-commerce platform, which empowers customers to easily change, add, or request new services online. Marketing Manager Mary Knox provided a hands-on demonstration of artificial intelligence, showcasing how these technologies are being used to simplify everyday life for individuals. To round out the presentation, Manager Jandreau offered valuable insights into Venture Communications featured products, including Uview+, Venture Voice, and Rushnet Upgrades. Controller Janelle Jessen presented the 2024 financial report, noting that Venture Communications experienced another successful year. Attorney Pollman Rogers delivered the cooperative’s legal report, providing members with key updates and insights on rules and regulations. No old or new business was brought before the membership during the meeting. Discussion topics included the future accessibility of college sports programming and strategies for managing spam. After opening the floor for additional comments and receiving none, the meeting was adjourned. After adjournment, bingo was played for prizes. Bill Floyd was the grand prize bingo winner of $350.00 cash. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month National Cybersecurity Awareness Month spotlights cybersecurity as a shared responsibility that affects all Americans. It’s a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its public and private partners, including the National Cyber Security Alliance. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity to help individuals stay safe and secure online. As threats to technology and confidential data become more common, it’s important to take steps to reduce your chances of being affected. Here's what the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency recommends: • Turn on Multifactor Authentication – This makes it significantly less likely your accounts will get hacked. • Update Your Software – It’s best to turn on automatic updates. • Think Before You Click – More than 90% of successful cyberattacks start with a phishing email. • Use Strong Passwords – A password manager allows you to generate and store unique passwords. Venture Communications encourages you to focus on cybersecurity not just in October, but all year long. 68th Cooperative Annual Meeting Held
The More Devices You Have, the More Speed You Need How many internet-connected devices do you have in your home? It might be more than you think! Start by counting your own personal devices—such as your laptop, tablet, and cell phone —and do the same for all family members living there. Next, count the number of smart TVs and streaming devices, followed by the number of smart home devices including smart speakers, smart doorbells, smart security video cameras, smart appliances, and smart thermostats. What was your total? Research released in 2025 by Parks Associates indicates that the average U.S. household has 17 internet-connected devices. This much simultaneous internet use can “eat up” the bandwidth you have and lead to slowdowns and buffering. The solution is to upgrade to an internet plan with greater bandwidth and faster speeds. Venture Communications offers a variety of plans with speeds of up to 1 Gig. For help determining which one would be best for the number of devices in your home, contact us at 605-852-2224 or venture@venturecomm.net. TAKE A FIBER INTERNET Joyride There’s something so freeing about exploring life without a care in the world, taking in all the sights and sounds at an exhilarating pace. That’s exactly why Venture Communications provides fiber internet to our customers. Here’s how it works: You can enjoy a higher speed tier for 3 months while continuing to pay the same monthly rate you are now. If you currently have a 100 Mbps plan, try 250 Mbps. If you currently have a 250 Mbps plan, try 500 Mbps or 1 Gig. The only way to see what a difference much faster internet makes is to experience it first-hand in your home! You have nothing to lose—except annoying buffering! Call 605-852-2224 TO TEST DRIVE A NewFiber Plan EXPERIENCE THE FUN OF FASTER SPEEDS WITH A 3-MONTH TRIAL Your 3-month trial begins on the date of your residential internet speed upgrade. After 3 months, Venture Communications will automatically begin charging you the new price of the faster internet plan unless you contact us to revert to your original plan. Cornerstone Group © 2025
Learn the Three Golden Rules to Thwart Scammers Google and the Cybercrime Support Network are working together to stop scammers in their tracks. At www.scamspotter.org, they share how to spot the most common tricks used by scammers. They also recommend three golden rules to follow to avoid becoming a victim: 1. Slow it down. Scammers often create a sense of urgency. For example, they might say, “You need to act fast. If you don’t make a payment now, we’ll be forced to take legal action.” Avoid being rushed into a bad situation. 2. Spot check. Do your research to double check the details. If you get an unexpected phone call, hang up. Then look up the bank, agency, or organization that’s supposedly calling and get in touch directly. 3. Stop! Don't send. No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment on the spot. Often, scammers tell you to go buy gift cards—which are meant only to be given as a gift, not as payment under threat. So, if you think the payment feels fishy, you’re probably right. Test your knowledge by taking the quiz at www.scamspotter. org/quiz. Is each scenario safe or a scam? Venture Commun i cat ions • 605-852-2224 • www. venturecomm.net Know the Proper Way to Display the Flag Many people like to display the American flag but aren’t aware of the rules associated with this activity. For reference, here are guidelines from the United States Flag Code: • It’s the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. • The flag should only be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use. • When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the observer’s left. • The flag should never be displayed with the union down. • The flag should never touch anything beneath it such as the ground or the floor. • When a flag is in such condition that it’s no longer a fitting emblem, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. As you display the flag this Veterans Day, know that our Venture Communications team is doing the same. Our office will be closed on November 11th. We Salute POWERFUL CONNECTIONS A fast and reliable internet connection is what most of us need to stay informed and entertained. For military families, however, video chats over such a connection also make faraway loved ones seem not quite so far away. Venture Communications is honored to help keep families connected with internet speeds up to 1 Gig. If you have questions or would like to arrange an upgrade, let us know. Contact us at 605-852-2224 or venture@venturecomm.net Cornerstone Group © 2025
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