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December 2022 | |
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 I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. As a lifelong Vermonter, I am very thankful that we have such a diversity of locally owned businesses in the communities we serve. These businesses are owned and operated by your friends and neighbors and truly help make our communities special. Please continue to support these local, Vermont businesses. If you are able, instead of driving to the big box stores or shopping online with an out-of-state merchant, please help to support these businesses and our local economy by shopping locally.All of us at Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season. Thank you for choosing us as your provider, we look forward to continuing to serve you in the future. Happy Holidays! Eric Haskin President and CEO Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom Today's Workforce Has Changed - Is Your Old Phone System up for the Task? 
A lot has changed in today's workforce, and working remotely has become the norm for many companies. Flexibility is key and having a system that can adapt to your changing needs without needing to upgrade hardware is critical. It is also important for your system to be able to seamlessly integrate remote workers.With Hosted IP Service, your remote workforce will have all the tools, features and flexibility necessary to function as a fully integrated part of your team.
To find out more how Hosted IP Service could save your business time and money, contact Kris Merchant, Sales Manager, at 802-496-8554 or kmerchant@corp.wcvt.com.  Is Your Internet "Dropping?" Are You Having Buffering on Your SmartTV? In Many Cases, It's Not Your Internet Connection at All… Might Be Time to Upgrade Your Wi-Fi These days, we are all relying on our internet connections more than ever before. We are also using it for more mission critical applications as well as more bandwidth intensive uses such as streaming video and other real-time video services like Zoom or others. We often get calls from customers reporting "slow speeds," "drops," or "buffering," among other things. The first thing we do is check the internet connection and, in many cases, we find no issues. So, what could it be? Up to 60% of our calls these days are Wi-Fi related and this may just be the case. The good news is we have some great solutions. Our home networks have become more complex than ever before and we are using them more than ever before. At the same time, we've also added more Wi-Fi connected devices to our home networks and are using less hard-wired devices (which are more reliable). Live streaming services and video conferencing have virtually no buffer (like a Netflix service) because of their real time nature and because of this any little blip in your Wi-Fi and you will definitely notice it. Unfortunately, services like Zoom don't have very good error handling and will probably give you an error that says, "Your Internet Connection Is Unstable" which actually isn't the case at all. When it comes to Wi-Fi, the standard Wi-Fi gateways do a pretty good job of covering the average sized home. However, depending on the number of devices and size, layout, and construction of your home, it may be time to look at a new solution to increase your overall Wi-Fi coverage and performance. Whole Home Wi-Fi from Green Mountain Access uses multiple Access Points to expand coverage to every part of your home and cover all of your devices. At Green Mountain Access, we offer a full range of residential and business class Wi-Fi solutions from leading manufacturers including Eero, Calix, and Ubiquiti. Our Whole Home Wi-Fi uses multiple Access Points placed at strategic locations around your home to expand coverage, eliminating dead spots, and providing great performance for all of your streaming devices. Want To Learn More? Visit our website to learn more about our Whole Home Wi-Fi or Business Wi-Fi solutions. You can also give us a call at 800-496-3391 or send us an email and we'd be happy to discuss our solutions with you.  Mad River Valley Recreation District Partners With WCVT to Secure $5,000 Grant for Irrigation System The Mad River Valley Recreation District (MRVRD) has received a $5,000.00 grant from the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS). The MRVRD worked in partnership with Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom to qualify and submit for this grant. These funds will help the MRVRD to install an irrigation system on their recreational fields which are used by thousands of kids and adults each year. The Foundation for Rural Service awards grants to rural communities served by NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association members, of which Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom is a member. These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America. The required matching funds contribution was provided by Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom. "The fields at Mad River Park are known as some of the highest quality recreation fields in Central Vermont," said Laura Arnesen, Executive Director of the Mad River Valley Recreation District. "We're so appreciative of the Foundation for Rural Service for this grant and our partner in this opportunity, Waitsfield and Champlain Telecom. The grant will enable us to keep the fields at Mad River Park in pristine condition so that people of all ages can continue to use this terrific community space well into the future. A special shout out to John Stokes, long time MRVRD board member, who steadfastly promoted this project. In addition to this grant, a number of other major donations, including one in memory of Mary Harris, will allow MRVRD to complete the irrigation system in the spring of 2023." "FRS is proud to support these projects throughout the country to promote health, safety, education and growth in rural communities," said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker. "This year we had an incredible number of applications and we awarded $142,000.00 to 31 grant recipients. Thank you to the NTCA members who partnered with FRS to fund these projects." For more information on FRS and community development grants, please contact Lorraine Keener at 802-496-8379 or lkeener@wcvt.com. 
Is There a High School Senior in Your Family?WCVT is proud to partner with the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) in the 2023 College Scholarship Program. The foundation annually awards scholarships to an exceptional group of rural students for their first year of college or vocational school. FRS has awarded over $1 million in scholarships since its inception, empowering rural students throughout the country to advance their communities with invaluable skill sets and experiences. All applicants require sponsorship by an NTCA — The Rural Broadband Association member company, which includes WCVT. As your local telecommunications service provider, it's our pleasure to offer this national scholarship program in our service area. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior and an active customer or whose parents or legal guardian are active customers of WCVT and reside full-time in the WCVT service area. Application deadline is February 8, 2023. For more information and to apply online, visit the FRS website at www.frs.org or contact Lorraine M. Keener at 802-496-8379 or lkeener@corp.wcvt.com. 
Win a $50 Gift Certificate to Sugarbush ResortWe've got another great prize from a local business to raffle off. This month, we're raffling off a $50.00 gift certificate to Sugarbush Resort. The ski season is already underway and new terrain is opening every day. To be entered into the raffle, simply click the link below and leave your name and contact information. The drawing will take place on December 15th. Click here to enter for your chance to win! Stay Connected with the FCC Affordable Connectivity Program The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households. Here are the ways your household can qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP):
Looking for a Better TV Experience? Try GMA Video Free for 30-Days! GMA Video is a fully-featured, streaming TV service that is a complete replacement for traditional cable or satellite television. With GMA Video, you still get all of your local channels and the option to choose packages with all of your favorite national sports and movie channels. Every GMA Video package also includes access to Cloud DVR so you can easily record your favorite programs. Once you subscribe, you simply download and install the GMA Video app on your favorite streaming device (we support Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and your favorite internet browser or mobile device). You'll also enjoy:
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 Annual Giving Tree Helps Hundreds of Children Each year, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom spreads holiday cheer throughout our service area through the company’s Annual Giving Tree. Tammy Field, Administrative Supervisor, coordinates this program. Tammy works directly with schools, local food shelves and organizations to fulfill the wishes and needs of 400-500 children each holiday season. Gifts are donated by employees, local businesses, customers, and the company’s Contribution Committee. Our thanks to Tammy and to everyone who participated to our Giving Tree Program! |
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Candy Cane Hunt - Friday, December 9th - Bristol Town Green
Bundle up and join in on the fun on December 9th at 5:30 p.m. and help Santa find his lost Candy Canes on the Bristol Town Green! Following the hunt, Santa will arrive with his friends from SD Ireland at 6:00 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to kids who find 10 candy canes and a special prize will be awarded to the person who finds the golden candy cane! This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit: bristolvt.myrec.com. Holiday Gift Bazaar - Saturday, December 17th - Sugarbush Resort Shop local and support our local artisans! Sugarbush Resort will be hosting their 2nd Annual Holiday Craft Bazaar on Saturday, December 17th in the Gate House Lodge, Mountain View Room from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Local crafters and makers will be showcasing their wares. Come shop for last minute holiday gifts and handmade keepsakes. For more information, visit: sugarbush.com. Santa Sunday - Sunday, December 18th - Bolton Valley Resort Get into the spirit of the season on Sunday, December 18th at Bolton Valley Resort. All skiers and riders who arrive dressed head-to-toe in official Santa Claus attire will ski and ride free that day. This challenge is not for the faint at heart—a simple red hat won't cut it. Neither will a just a simple red jacket, red helmet or anything of the like. Guests must be dressed in the complete Santa package to earn this early holiday gift. Arrive at Guest Services prior to 10:00 a.m. to get your complimentary lift ticket for the day to qualify for this giveaway. All the Santas will also gather at 11:00 a.m. for a group photo at the base followed by a few photos of all the Santas skiing and riding. For more information, visit: boltonvalley.com. |
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 On Top of the World A drone captures Mount Everest as never before, giving you a stunning look at the beauty of the highest point on earth. |
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 Queen of Christmas With nearly 250 million views, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" has been a holiday hit for 22 years. |
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 Are You Owed Money? Every state has unclaimed property programs to find owners of forgotten and lost assets. See if there's money waiting for you. Learn more... |
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 How to Remove Stains Life's messy — especially during the busy holiday season. Visit this site to learn how to get all kinds of stains out of clothing. Learn more... |
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 Get Entertaining Tips Stylemakers share advice for stress-free entertaining, including how to prepare your home for guests and plan the menu. Learn more... |
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 10 Christmas Dinner Ideas Impress your guests around the table with these amazing recipes for entrees and side dishes. They're sure to delight! |
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 15 Holiday Desserts Sweeten the season by treating friends and family to these scrumptious — and beautifully decorated — desserts. |
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 Pocket Casts Pocket Casts will introduce you to podcast content you'll fall in love with, and help you manage it all with ease. Learn more... |
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 Bing Get fast and unbiased search results and earn points toward rewards when you search for the info you need. Learn more... |
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 Tripadvisor Whether you're planning ahead or already on a trip, this app offers reviews, guidance, and recommendations. Learn more... |
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 Festive Outdoor Planter Learn to make a gorgeous winter planter to add natural beauty to your front door area during the holidays and beyond. |
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 Unique Gift Wrap Ideas Why settle for gift bags when you can take your gift wrap game to the next level? Follow the video to wrap like a pro. |
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Green Mountain Access Mechanicsville Rd Hinesburg, VT 05461 888-321-0815 (toll-free) 802-496-8598 (local) Click here to unsubscribe. |
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© 2022 Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc. Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |
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