Hardy Telecommunications recently honored its employees and directors who reached service milestones with the company in 2011.

Special thanks was given to Phyllis Cook for her 19 years as president of the Board of Directors.Phyllis officially stepped down as president of the Hardy Telecommunications board at the group’s regular October meeting after almost two decades in the role.  Greg Zirk was named as the new board president.  Phyllis remains on the board as the representative of South Fork serving area 2.

At a dinner in November to recognize service award recipients, Greg praised Phyllis for her leadership as board president.  Phyllis thanked the other board members and employees of HardyTelecommunications for their support over the years.

Hardy Telecommunications recently honored its employees and directors for service milestones in 2011. From left to right: Board member Phyllis Cook, for 19 years as president of the Hardy Telecommunications board of directors; Board Member Ervin Wilkins Jr., for five years of service; Board Member Greg Zirk, for five years of service; Controller Don Whetzel, for 15 years of service; Service Order Coordinator/Customer Service Representative David Mathias, for 10 years of service; Project Manager Bobby Armistead, for 10 years of service; and Internet and PC Technician Heather Sites, for five years of service. (Not pictured: Board Member Victoria Dyer, for five years of service.)

Hardy Marketing/Human Resource Director Derek Barr said the dinner and ceremony is the company’s opportunity to thank those people who have been integral to Hardy’s success.

“It takes dedicated employees and directors to keep Hardy Telecommunications at the forefront of our industry, which is advancing as rapidly as any industry in the world,” he said.  “We could never accomplish our goals in serving the residents of Hardy County without this talented group of people.”

General Manager Scott Sherman paid tribute to Hardy’s other 2011 service honorees.  Those recognized were Controller Don Whetzel, for 15 years of service; Project Manager Bobby Armistead and Service Order Coordinator/Customer Service Representative David Mathias, for 10 years of service; and Internet and PC Technician Heather Sites, for five years of service.  The employees received plaques celebrating their achievements.

Three other members of the Board of Directors were presented plaques for their service milestones.  Greg, who represents Moorefield serving area 2; Victoria Dyer, who represents Lost River serving area 3; and Ervin Wilkins Jr., who represents Lost River serving area 4, were recognized for five years of service as board members.

HardyNet congratulates Claira Thompson of Maysville, our grand prize winner for the Hardy County Chamber of Commerce’s Reindeer Rampage!

Mrs. Thompson was entered in the drawing for making qualifying purchases from HardyNet during the Reindeer Rampage promotion.  For having the winning ticket, she received a wireless router, wireless mouse, laptop case, 4 gb USB drive and other Hardy accessories such as a mousepad and calendar.

Hardy Fiber-to-the-Home Project Coordinator Becky Kimble (left) presents Claira Thompson with her prizes for winning HardyNet’s Reindeer Rampage.

Graduating high school seniors in Hardy County can apply through Hardy Telecommunications for a college scholarship.

Hardy is again sponsoring the national Foundation for Rural Service 2012 College Scholarship Program for students graduating from East Hardy or Moorefield high school.  The scholarship, open to applicants who receive local telecommunications service (either telephone or Internet) from Hardy, is worth $2,000, and Hardy Telecommunications will contribute an additional $500 to the amount, bringing the total one-time scholarship award to $2,500.  Interested students can contact their guidance counselors at the two schools or download the application at the FRS website at www.frs.org.  Students also can contact Hardy Marketing/Human Resource Director Derek Barr at 304-897-9911 for an application.

Jesse Cook (left) receives a $2,500 check from Hardy Telecommunications Marketing and Human Resource Director Derek Barr. Jesse, a 2011 EHHS graduate who was sponsored by Hardy, was awarded a college scholarship last year by the Foundation for Rural Service.

Completed applications must be sent to FRS postmarked no later than March 1, 2012, and must bear the signature of Hardy General Manager Scott Sherman, so students are asked to return their applications no later than February 10, 2012.  Students should not send their applications directly to yhe Foundation for Rural Service.  Applications should be returned to the guidance counselors at Moorefield and East Hardy high schools or to Barr at one of Hardy’s offices in Moorefield or Lost River.  Derek will ensure that all necessary Hardy signatures are obtained and mail all applications to the FRS.

“Last year Jesse Cook of East Hardy High School won one of the FRS scholarships, so we’re hoping that we can turn that into a trend,” Derek said.  “Hardy doesn’t select winners because that’s done at a national level, so it’s very rewarding when someone we sponsor is honored.

“It’s a great opportunity for area students.  We’re proud to support this program for our graduating seniors,” he said.

The FRS will award 30 scholarships nationwide – one per geographic region (10) of the NTCA membership and one to a student sponsored by an NTCA associate member company.  The remaining 19 awards will be distributed proportionate to the number of applications received from each NTCA region.  A qualified selection committee of current educators determined by the Foundation for Rural Service will select the winners; Hardy Telecommunications itself has no input in the selection process.

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and graduating high school senior; accepted by an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school; have at least a C grade point average; express an interest in returning to a rural community following graduation; and be sponsored by a contributor to, or supporter of, the Foundation for Rural Service.

The FRS was established in 1994 to promote, educate, and advocate rural telecommunications issues to the public in order to sustain and enhance the quality of life within communities throughout rural America.

Hardy Telecommunications will send two local students on a trip to our nation’s capital, giving them the chance to see our country’s historic sites and meet peers from all over the United States.

One junior each from Moorefield and East Hardy high schools will be selected to attend the 2012 Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., June 2-6.  The trip includes sightseeing as well as educational sessions to teach today’s youth about the telecommunications industry.  Hardy Telecommunications will pay all basic expenses, including travel.

East Hardy High Senior Chelsea Wilson (left) and Moorefield High Senior Tori Burdette pose with W.Va. Democratic Senators John D. Rockefeller IV and Joe Manchin during the 2011 FRS Youth Tour.

The Youth Tour provides students from rural areas with a first-hand look at the telecommunications industry and educates students about the legislative and governmental processes.  Students will visit the U.S. Capitol Building and hear presentations from representatives of Capitol Hill and the Federal Communications Commission.  All of the students are sponsored by rural telecommunications companies like Hardy Telecommunications.

East Hardy High Senior Chelsea Wilson and Moorefield High Senior Tori Burdette participated in the 2011 Youth Tour.  The students were able to meet both U.S. Senators from West Virginia, John D. Rockefeller IV and Joe Manchin.

““Using one word to describe my experience at D.C. would be `amazement,’” Tori wrote after the tour.  “… For me, this was as if I had won the lottery. … Most importantly, this experience will help me grow as a person.”

Chelsea said she valued the chance to meet students from different parts of the country.

“The friendships made will last a lifetime,” she said.  “I am so glad I was able to participate in this experience.”

This year’s preliminary agenda includes visits to the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, Mount Vernon (home of George Washington), the Vietnam War Memorial, the Smithsonian Museums, the Korean War Memorial, the National Zoo, the National Cathedral, and Arlington National Cemetery.  A night tour of Washington and special entertainment are also planned, including a dance the final night complete with professional DJ.

Hardy Marketing and Human Resource Director Derek Barr said the students have visited their state congressional representatives in the past couple of years to stress the importance of rural telecommunications issues.

“The students are concrete examples of the need to expand and maintain affordable telephone and high-speed internet networks in rural America,” he said.  “During last year’s tour we were lucky enough to spend time with both Senator Rockefeller and Senator Manchin.  It was a great experience for Chelsea and Tori.”

Because of the widespread interest in the tour from students around the country, Hardy can only sponsor one student from Moorefield High and one from East Hardy High.  Applications for the tour may be picked up from the guidance counselors at both high schools or by contacting Derek at Hardy’s Lost River Office, telephone 304-897-9911.  To be eligible for the trip, students must be high school juniors of the 2013 graduating class and be either 16 or 17 years old at the time of the tour.  Students must also receive service from either Hardy Telecommunications or HardyNet.

The deadline to return applications is February 10, 2012.  Applications may be returned to either the high school guidance counselors or directly to Derek Barr, Marketing/Human Resource Director, Hardy Telecommunications, 2255 Kimseys Run Road, Lost River, WV  26810.

The Hardy Telecommunications Youth Advisory Board learned at a meeting December 22 that even a few seconds of texting while driving can result in a serious accident.

The students, meeting at the company’s Lost River office, watched a documentary titled “Distracted: The True Story of Ashley Umscheid.”  Ashley Umscheid was a 19-year-old Kansas State University freshman who was killed in May 2009 when her vehicle crashed along a Kansas road. The investigation revealed that she had been sending text messages on her cell phone while driving. The Foundation for Rural Service released the film in an effort to warn teens about the dangers of distracted driving.

Hardy Telecommunications Youth Advisory Board members are shown the battery back-up systems used to keep Hardy services operating in the event of a power outage. (From left): Hardy Technology Director Bill Schmidt, Hardy Marketing/Human Resource Director Derek Barr, EHHS Junior Parker Baranowski, EHHS Freshman Brandon Benjamin, EHHS Sophomore Miranda Cook, MHS Freshman Rebecca Merrill, MHS Junior Brooke Shockey, and MHS Sophomore Jared Beard

Derek, Hardy Public Relations/Business Development Representative Heather Robbins, and the students talked about how easily and how quickly one can veer off course or lose control by texting or talking on the phone while driving.  The board learned through the video that a car traveling 65 mph will travel the length of a football field in three seconds.  If typing and sending an average text message takes only six seconds, the driver still travels the distance of two football fields during that time.

“That’s more than enough time and distance to find yourself heading into a ditch off the side of the road or crossing the center line into oncoming traffic,” Derek said.  He advised students to pull off the road or use a hands-free device if they need to take a telephone call while they’re driving.

The board also talked about the back-up systems that Hardy uses to keep services going in the event of a power outage.  In addition to a generator, the Lost River office, which is Hardy’s central office, has a room containing batteries that kick in when the electrical power fails.

Hardy Technology Director Bill Schmidt told the students that the equipment in the battery room becomes so hot on its own that two air conditioning units run 24 hours a day, even throughout winter.  Otherwise, the batteries, which contain jellied acid, would overheat and the acid would seep out.

The back-up power systems are why a person’s landline telephone will continue to work even if there is no electrical power available.  Each of Hardy’s remote units around the county has battery back-up power.  While the batteries would be drained quickly and cannot power Hardy Telecommunications’ entire system indefinitely, the back-up power provides enough time for electrical power to be restored or other power sources, such as a generator, to be set up.

The purpose of the Youth Board is to educate the students about Hardy Telecommunications and its operations as well as to get information from the students as to what uses of technology are most important to them. The group discusses different Hardy services, including telephone and Internet, with the goal of offering services that today’s youth most value.  This year’s board is comprised of six students, three each from East Hardy and Moorefield high schools, representing grades 9-11.  Each student will serve a one-year term.  The board meets four to five times throughout the school year.

This year’s board is comprised of East Hardy High Junior Parker Baranowski, Moorefield High Junior Brooke Shockey, EHHS Sophomore Miranda Cook, MHS Sophomore Jared Beard, EHHS Freshman Brandon Benjamin, and MHS Freshman Rebecca Merrill.

Hardy Telecommunications is aware that some customers experienced delays in receiving their recent bills.

We are trying to determine the cause of the delay and apologize for any inconvenience.  Hardy Telecommunications contracts with a third-party billing service to handle that portion of our business, so all of our customer bills are printed and mailed from a facility in North Carolina.  At this time we do not know whether the delay occurred at our third-party billing service or with the U.S. Postal Service.

We do know that Hardy had submitted in a timely manner all of the necessary information for the printing and mailing of the bills.  We will continue to try to find the cause of the delay and will strive to ensure that bills arrive to our customers as quickly as possible.  Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Our Lost River, Moorefield, and Wardensville offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25, in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Anyone requiring emergency telephone repair can call either 304-897-9913 in Lost River or 304-530-HELP (4357) in Moorefield. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Our Lost River, Moorefield, and Wardensville offices will be closed on Friday, December 23, 2011, and Monday, December 26, 2011, in honor of the Christmas holidays.

Anyone requiring emergency telephone repair can call either 304-897-9913 in Lost River or 304-530-HELP (4357) in Moorefield.  Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Our Lost River, Moorefield, and Wardensville offices will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2012, in honor of the New Year’s Day holiday.

Anyone requiring emergency telephone repair can call either 304-897-9913 in Lost River or 304-530-HELP (4357) in Moorefield. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Two directors were re-elected to new three-year terms at Hardy Telecommunications’  Annual Meeting of Members on October 7.

Those directors re-elected were Loring E. Barr, representing South Fork serving area 1; and Victoria O. Dyer, representing Lost River serving area 3.  Both were unopposed in their bids for re-election.

At our October 7 annual meeting, Loring E. Barr (left) was re-elected to Hardy’s Board of Directors to represent South Fork serving area 1, and Victoria O. Dyer was re-elected to represent Lost River serving area 3.

Also, during a board meeting immediately following the annual meeting, Moorefield serving area 2 representative Greg Zirk was elected as the new board president.  Phyllis Cook, representing South Fork serving area 2, chose not to remain as board president after serving in that capacity for two decades.  Phyllis is still a member of the board.

Controller Don Whetzel gave a presentation on the finances of Hardy Telecommunications and HardyNet for 2010.  General Manager Scott Sherman reported on various company projects in the past year, including Hardy’s OneNet Fiber-to-the-Home project, which will enable Hardy for the first time to offer high-definition digital television, much faster Internet speeds and digital voice services.  Hardy OneNet is a three-year project for the entire county, but Scott said he hoped the first residents would begin receiving service in summer 2012.

The meeting was held at the East Hardy High School gymnasium.  About 500 people attended the meeting and enjoyed a meal featuring barbecue pork, prepared and served by the East Hardy High Band Boosters and FFA.  We sincerely appreciate their help in making our annual meeting a success.  Thanks to all who attended!