The 54th Annual Meeting of Members for Tri-County Telephone Association, Inc. (TCT) was held Tuesday, March 28th at the Herington Community Building. 330 people were in attendance, with 227 of those being voting members.
Following the meal members viewed a video presentation by Council Grove High School student, Makayla Stone, about her participation in the Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour of Washington D.C., in June 2016.
After the presentation, Board Vice-President Shawn Tiffany presented the 2017 TCT Scholarship awards to area students. Scholarship winners were: District #1 – Kaitlin Maas, a senior at Council Grove High School, the daughter of Greg Maas; District #2 – Adree Honas, a senior at Council Grove High School, daughter of Heather and Gallan Honas; District #3 – Kade Elliott, a senior at Hope High School, son of Blake Elliott; District #4 – Breanna Prater, a senior at Abilene High School, daughter of Christie Prater; District #5 – Kelsey Bane, a senior at Council Grove High School, daughter of Sandy Bane, and District At Large- Taylee Adams, a senior at Council Grove High School, daughter of Shelby Adams. Scholarships are given to graduating high school seniors, who maintain a 2.5 GPA and have a parent or legal guardian with TCT local telephone access. A $1,000 scholarship is awarded for each of the five TCT voting districts in addition to one “District At Large” scholarship from all remaining applications.
TCT Board of Directors President, Dan Reiff opened the business meeting and Rob Bresnahan, of BKD, LLP gave the financial report. Reiff then gave the President’s report. Following the President’s report was the manager’s report, given by TCT C.E.O.; Dale Jones. In his presentation Mr. Jones updated members on TCTTV programing costs and the 2016 copyright infringement numbers. Jones also updated the members on TCT’s partnership with Nex-Tech Wireless. Jones ended his presentation by recognizing two retiring Board Directors, Jan Oleen- District At Large and Dan Reiff – District #3.
The Board election results were then announced by Mr. Bresnahan. The Members re-elected Alona Hedstom to represent District #2. New to the Board will be Carrie Shippy, elected to represent District #3, Chris Thomas, elected to represent District #5, and Chad Tischhauser elected to represent the District At Large. Elections were held by mail in ballot, 950 valid ballots were received. Following the announcement of the election results President Reiff called for any unfinished business and new business, but there was none.
TCT Marketing Director, Scott Bankes, announced the winners of the prize drawings. Cash prizes totaling $1,150.00 were awarded, along with a 40 inch LED TV, donated by Alan Meier of Meier & Meier, LLC. The TV winner was Gloria Martin. $20 cash prize winners were, Leona Anderson, Virgina Bentz, Ruth Moses, Gerald Riffel, Jim Peterson, Mary Jean Laudemann, Richard Gustason, Donna Berner, Lea Walker and Dan Falen. $50 cash prize winners were, Leonard Meyer, Lonnie Nickel, Betty Wilmore, Pam Diepenbrock, Susie Dorr, Robert Neuwirth, Barbara Adams, Jewell Starburg, Ramona Beisel and Gerald Shippy. $100 cash prize winners were, Raymond Lueth and Elaine Kickhaefer. The $200 cash prize winner was Duane Carlson.
Board President Dan Reiff adjourned the meeting and thanked everyone for coming.