June 2023

		Happy spring, though it sure feels like summer! I hope everyone can get outdoors and enjoy this beautiful weather. As you may know, we are converting to a new billing and account management system through the National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC). NISC specializes in software solutions for telecommunications companies and electric utilities. Thank you for your patience as we work through this upgrade. Also, a big thank you to our dedicated employees who have been working diligently on this project. With our new system, we will have the ability to offer our customers more control over their accounts, better communication, and efficiency in our billing processes. In addition, it is construction season in Vermont and our 2023 fiber construction projects are underway. Again, if you are included in one of our build areas scheduled for this year, we will be reaching out to let you know that fiber is coming to your location as our construction progresses. Also, to help keep you updated on our fiber projects and availability, please visit getfiber.wcvt.com and register your address. The "Service Area" link has our build areas mapped and broken out by status which may be helpful to you. Please know that every single dollar we invest in fiber is benefiting Vermont and the local communities we serve. These are big projects and building fiber to everyone is going to take time, but each and every day, we are making progress and converting more customers to fiber. Sincerely, Eric Haskin President and CEO Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom WCVT Is Upgrading Our Billing System On Monday, June 5th, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom will be transitioning to a new billing system. With our new system, we will have the ability to offer our customers more control over their account, better communication and efficiencies in our billing processes. We are most excited by SmartHub, our new online account management tool. With SmartHub, you will be able to manage your account, view and pay your bill, report service issues, receive customized alerts and more. Important Information: Due to the upgrade, our current online payment system is offline. As a result, no credit or debit card payments can be made online, over the telephone or in our office until June 5th when our upgrade is complete. Payments via check can still be made in our lobby, mailed, or left in our night drop box. On Monday, June 5th - SmartHub is live! It's time to create a new account in SmartHub, download app to your mobile device, sign up for Auto Pay and start taking advantage of all the features SmartHub offers. If you currently have your credit/debit card charged automatically every month, you must create a new account in SmartHub and re-enroll in Auto Pay. Due to security parameters we are not able to transfer credit or debit card information from the old system to the new system. Visit our SmartHub support page at www.wcvt.com/smarthub for detailed instructions and videos. Thank you for your continued support and patience during our billing system conversion. Please contact us if you have any questions. We are here to help! Win a Pair of Day Passes to Any Vermont State Park We have another great prize to raffle off this month. Enter for a chance to win a pair of day passes to any Vermont State Park (day passes valid through 10/21/24). Vermont's 55 state parks offer a boundless range of outdoor recreation and exploration opportunities, from camping to fishing, backpacking to hiking, swimming to boating and just spending a nice long summer day outside. WCVT is proud to be a Business Partner of Vermont Parks Forever. To be entered into the raffle, simply click the link below and leave your name and contact information. The drawing will take place on June 15th, we'll pick four lucky winners. Click here to enter for your chance to win! Senator Welch Joins WCVT on Fiber Install Last week, Senator Peter Welch joined WCVT staff on a fiber installation at a customer location in Panton. It is critically important that our policymakers understand the impacts of their legislation and we appreciate it when our lawmakers want to get out into the field to see firsthand what it takes to build fiber-optic broadband in the rural communities we serve. Senator Welch has been a longtime champion of rural broadband, and we truly appreciate him spending the day with us.

		Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom Announces Scholarship Recipient Champlain Valley Union student Kassidy Jay has been awarded a $2,500.00 scholarship from the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS). Founded in 1994, FRS is the philanthropic arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, of which Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom is a member. The FRS Scholarship Program awards one-time scholarships to students from rural communities for their first year of college, university, or vocational-technical school. Each student is sponsored by an NTCA member company that may also contribute a portion of the scholarship award. This year, FRS awarded a total of $124,000 for 42 scholarships to students across the country. "Providing opportunities for young people in rural communities is a core mission for FRS. We are proud to partner with NTCA member companies and generous individuals in the industry to make these scholarships possible each year. A big congratulations to Kassidy," said Pam Becker, Executive Director of FRS. "Being selected to receive one of this year's FRS scholarships was not an easy accomplishment. This was an extremely competitive process, with over 1,200 applications received. Kassidy's application was stellar and highlighted not only her academic dedication, but pride in her rural community. We wish her the best of luck as she starts her college career this fall at Salve Regina University," said Kurt Gruendling, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for WCVT and FRS board member.

		Local Farmers Markets Richmond Fridays | 3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Volunteers Green in Richmond | Website Waitsfield Saturdays | 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Mad River Green in Waitsfield | Website Pocock Rocks in Bristol - Saturday, June 17 - Downtown Bristol Celebrate Bristol with live musical performances from seven well-known and loved regional bands, and over 30 vendors from microbrews, wine, hard ciders, and spirits, to specialty foods, gifts, and crafts. Activities for the kids, the SunCommon bouncy house, the Vermont National Guard, and, of course, Bristol's own incredible restaurants and shops. For more information, visit bristolcore.org. Music on the Mountain - Saturday, June 24 - Allyn's Lodge at Sugarbush Resort At 3,125 feet, Allyn's Lodge is the perfect setting for an afternoon concert. Ride the Super Bravo Express Quad to Allyn's Lodge for an outdoor concert featuring SOME HOLLOW. A variety of sandwiches, snacks, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Bring your favorite blanket or cam chair, sunscreen, bug spray and water bottles. Lift Ticket purchase is required. IKON and Summer Lift Access passholders ride for free, or you can hike up. For more information, visit sugarbush.com or contact Guest Services at 802-583-6590.

		Toddler Teamwork These kids are on a mission to climb up into the bed, and they don't give up despite the flaw in their master plan.		Power of Pollinators Did you know June is Pollinators Month? You'll "bee" more informed after watching this fascinating PBS video.

		Guide to Adventure It's a great month to enjoy the great outdoors. Get ready with this site's content on gear, hikes, trails, skills, and more. Learn more...		Garage Sale Pointers If you're decluttering and want to sell your old stuff, check out these garage sale tips from Better Homes and Garden. Learn more...		Summer Crafts for Kids Discover lots of fun crafts that your children or grandchildren will love to make — all easy to do using low-cost supplies. Learn more...

		4 Lemon Desserts When life gives you lemons, make dessert — lemon cake, lemon cheesecake, lemon tart, and lemon cookies.		8 Unique BBQ Ideas No boring burgers here! Try Grilled Egg Shish Kabobs, Smoked Watermelon Steak, or Grilled BBQ Swineapple.

		Picture Insect Does it bug you not to know what insects are in your garden? Take a photo and this app will identify the mystery insect. Learn more...		AirBrush Nobody's perfect. But AirBrush makes it easy to look that way by removing imperfections and enhancing your photos. Learn more...		Truist Long Game Work toward your savings goals while you learn and have fun. This app lets you play games for chances to win cash. Learn more...

		Allium Garden Sculpture Turn a foam golf ball, nails, and spray paint into a faux allium flower to add real beauty to your garden this year.		Flip for Flip Flop Crafts Flip flops can be so much more than footwear. Use them to create items including a wreath, banner, or coasters.

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