Cornerstone Group © 2026 Start the New Year With New Energy January is all about beginning again. It’s the month of optimism that inspires us to make the most of the other months ahead. As you think about the new year, we encourage you to consider your communications services. Are too-slow internet speeds causing the frustration of buffering? Ask about our ultra-fast fiber internet. Want to make nights at home more entertaining? Ask about our TV and streaming options. Whatever your goals are for 2026, we look forward to helping you achieve them. Happy New Year from West Central. 308 Frontage Road, Sebeka, MN 56477 800-945-2163 • 218-837-5151 wcphone@wcta.net • www.wcta.net Office Hours Mon-Fri, 8AM-4:30PM Customer Service Available 24/7 After Hours Repair 218-837-5151 Call Before You Dig Dial 8-1-1 THIS ISSUE 02 Congratulations to Our Contest Winners 02 Annual Meeting Date and Board Election Announcement 03 Scholarship Opportunities 04 Employee Spotlight: Patty Foley THE LINK JAN/FEB 2026 WE CONN E CT YOU , ON E N EWS L E T T E R AT A T I ME . Go Wireless with West Central Mobile! With West Central Mobile, you can now enjoy dependable mobile service from the same local team you have always trusted to keep you connected —with affordable plans, great coverage, and local support: AFFORDABLE MONTHLY PLANS FOR INTERNET CUSTOMERS • Essential Plan: $15/month per GB of data with unlimited talk and text • Everyday Plan: $35/month for unlimited talk and text and high-speed data with 30 GB Hotspot • All-In Plan: $50/month for unlimited talk and text and high-speed data with 50 GB Hotspot RELIABLE COVERAGE Get access to America’s largest and most reliable wireless network. FLEXIBLE DEVICE OPTIONS Bring your own device or buy a brand-new phone from today’s top brands. SIMPLE SETUP Keep your number and activate quickly with help from our team. SWITCH TODAY AND STAY CONNECTED WHEREVER YOU GO For more information about West Central Mobile, visit us online at www.wcta.net or call 218-837-5151.
Congratulations to Our Contest Winners Like to Join the Nominations and Election Committee? As a member of the West Central Telephone Association, you are eligible to serve on the Nominations and Election Committee. Members of the committee are responsible for: • Appointing qualified candidates to run for directorship • Collecting ballots • Verifying election results at the annual meeting held in May If you are interested in serving as a committee member, please call us at 218-837-5151 before January 19. Valentine’s Day Trivia Valentine’s Day is a time to let your loved ones know how much you care. Here’s a bit of trivia about the holiday: • King Henry VIII declared Valentine’s Day an official holiday in 1537. • The oldest handwritten valentine was made in the 1400s, and is held in the British Museum. • Factory-assembled valentines were first produced in the early 1800s. They were originally black-and-white with hand-painting performed by factory workers. • Approximately 83% of all flowers purchased for Valentine's Day are roses. Enjoy the day! Heidi Wagenman of Wolf Lake submitted the winning photo featured on the cover of the 2026 West Central Directory. Heidi submitted multiple photos, but we chose “Flexing on the Farm,” featuring a beautiful peacock on her Wolf Lake farm. She received $200 for her winning entry. Congratulations, Heidi, and thanks to everyone who entered our photo contest! Eight young creators have claimed first place in their age divisions for the annual West Central Holiday Coloring Contest. Applause goes to Rita Mortenberg, age 2; Eloise Klipping, age 3; Ravyn Laulainen, age 4; Gwen Anderson, age 5; Alison H., age 6; Caden Ylitalo, age 7; Vivian Kent, age 8; and Estelle Schmidt, age 9. We congratulate all of these talented children. You added so much color to the season! Annual Meeting Date and Board Election Announcement The 76th Annual Meeting of the Members of West Central Telephone Association is scheduled for May 11 at the Sebeka High School gymnasium. While the full agenda isn’t yet known, an election for two directors will take place. Members will cast their ballots for representation from District 1 held by Harvey Aho and District 4 held by Annette Adamietz.` If you would like to learn more about running for a seat on the board and representing District 1 or District 4, you are encouraged to contact a Nominations and Election Committee member. The Nominations and Election Committee is appointed by the West Central Telephone Association Board of Directors at the January board meeting and once known, their names will be published.
Cornerstone Group © 2026 Scholarship Opportunities As an investment in our youth, West Central is committed to the future of rural Minnesota. We are pleased to announce the following scholarship opportunities and invite all high school seniors to apply. FRS College Scholarship Program The FRS College Scholarship program provides $2,000 and the sponsoring NTCA member company provides $500 for a total of $2,500. In addition to the FRS general scholarships, FRS has the following named scholarships: • Common Ground Scholarship • JSI Scholarships • Everett Kneece Scholarship • Sarah Tyree Good Neighbor Scholarship • Herbert and Isabel Bitz Memorial Scholarship • Diana Jo Meyer Memorial Scholarship • Cronin Communications Scholarship • V+C Trust Scholarship • Tim Owens—Ron Laudner Scholarship • The Nontraditional Student Scholarship (for adult learners who will be enrolled at an accredited college, university, or vocational school for undergraduate studies) *Submitting one application is sufficient for eligibility for all available scholarships. Scholarships are completed online and must be submitted no later than February 14, 2026. For applications and guidelines, see your high school guidance counselor or visit https://www.frs.org/programs/youth-programs/scholarships. West Central Telephone Association Scholarship Program High school seniors whose parents are cooperative members are encouraged to apply for one of eight scholarships for $1,000 each. The application deadline is March 27, 2026. Our cooperative status allows us to fund our scholarship program in part through unclaimed capital credits. Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation Scholarships The MTA Foundation will award six general scholarships and one Jon Tollefson Technology Scholarship to high school seniors graduating in 2026. There are two types of scholarships this year: • One $3,000 Telecom Scholarship: To be eligible, applicants must be majoring in either Telecommunications or Information Technology (IT) at a university, college, or technical college and be a Minnesota resident. • One of five $2,000 General Scholarships: To be eligible, applicants must be a high school senior with plans on attending post-secondary education at a university, college, or technical college, be a Minnesota resident, and the applicant’s family must subscribe to at least one service from an MTA member company. Note: The Bud Morrow Scholarship will be awarded to the highest-scoring applicant in this category and receives an additional $1,000. Once completed, the application must be printed and submitted to West Central by February 13, 2026. One of three $1,000 MTA Network and Plant Operations Peer Group Scholarships: To be eligible, applicants must be a high school senior with plans to major in either Tele-communications or Information Technology (IT) at a university, college, or technical college and be a Minnesota resident. They must also either be employed by an MTA member company or their parents employed by an MTA member company. 2nd Year or Beyond Scholarship Current college students are urged to apply for a $1,000 scholarship through the 2nd Year or Beyond Scholarship. Students who graduated from high school and are from any of the telephone exchanges of West Central currently attending 2nd year or beyond higher education are eligible. Past scholarship winners are also eligible. The application deadline is May 29, 2026. Links to all scholarships are found on www.wcta.net under the Scholarships tab.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Mielke, Basil. .............................................................................................. 218-564-8793 Building Maintenance Systems................................................................ 218-631-3555 Kemper, Vernon.......................................................................................... 218-631-2520 RJ Hunt Seed Company............................................................................. 218-631-4190 Tichy, Ryan. ................................................................................................ 218-632-5130 Worden, Andrew......................................................................................... 218-632-5222 Howes, Linda.............................................................................................. 218-837-5935 Patty Foley joined West Central in February 2024, bringing a fresh spark of curiosity and a desire to grow in a whole new field. After working in the dental world and earning a degree in dental assisting with expanded functions, she was ready for a change. A company with a strong reputation and room to learn felt like the perfect fit, and she quickly found her place on our team. As a Customer Support Specialist, Patty helps members navigate phone, internet and TV services, answers incoming calls and troubleshoots issues with a friendly, steady approach. She takes pride in making sure every customer feels supported. What she enjoys most is the teamwork behind the scenes. She describes her coworkers as supportive and hardworking and says the group’s commitment to one another is what makes each day rewarding. Patty’s creativity and can-do spirit trace back to her childhood on Blueberry Lake in Menahga. With no TV and a dad who encouraged her to “find her own fun,” she built rafts, forts, teepees and even ice rinks. She joked that it was the “worst childhood” at the time but later realized it was the best one possible. She passed along that sense of adventure through state park trips and wildlife cruises. Eventually they agreed it was a childhood to be proud of. Outside of work, Patty loves concerts, football games, time with her kids and a plate of prime rib with fresh horseradish. Someday she hopes to take her family to Ireland to explore their heritage together. Patty brings heart, humor and genuine care to everything she does, and we are proud to have her as part of the West Central team. EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Patty Foley Is Finding Fun, Building Connections EDITOR Thalen Zimmerman BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Bruce Kinnunen, Sebeka MANAGER/CEO Jon Loeffen, Sebeka VICE PRESIDENT Dave Pulju, Nimrod SECRETARY Robert Weaver, Menahga DIRECTOR Harvey Aho, Wolf Lake DIRECTOR Annette Adamietz, Verndale
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