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Farmers Mutual301 2nd Street SouthBellingham, MN 56212320-568-2105farmers@farmerstel.netwww.farmerstel.net

Federated TelephoneMain Office:PO Box 156405 2nd Street EastChokio, MN 56221320-324-7111emailftc@fedtel.netwww.fedtel.net

Satellite Office:PO Box 107508 Atlantic Ave.Morris, MN 56267320-585-4875morrisftc@fedtel.netwww.fedtel.net

Office Hours:Monday - Friday8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Inside This Issue• Youth Opportunities• Upcoming Events• Tech Gadget Giveaway• Pinnacle Reps in the Area• Capital Credit Info• Credit & Disconnect Guidelines• Directory Additions

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDCHOKIO, MNPERMIT NO. 4

PO Box 156Chokio, MN 56221

Local Commitment. Global Solutions.

February 2015

Bellingham Gary & Debbie Hoffman ........ 568-2599 Jeffrey Mazique ..................... 568-2017 The Meraki Diner ................... 568-2122 Chokio/Alberta Matt & Anna Dorweiler ........... 324-7734 K. Kubera............................... 324-7735 Matt Ritter .............................. 324-7732 Dawson Pat & Evie Joyce ................... 769-2236 Clint Schindler ....................... 312-2254 Trig Viessman ........................ 312-2296 Will & Tammy Wiebe .............. 769-2110 Hancock Justin Malland........................ 392-7416 Holloway Revicka Dawson .................... 394-2523

Milan Milan Beach Resort ............... 734-4400 Moses Auto Repair ................ 734-0517 Moses Patina ......................... 734-4939 Marco A. Ramos .................... 734-4910 Morris Kay Behm .............................. 585-2696 Jacob M. Bibeau .................... 585-5126 D. Demetriou ......................... 585-0016 Brian Harstad......................... 585-6744 Kristin Krusemark .................. 589-3039 Travis & Rita Moser ............... 585-6894 Tamara Retzlaff ..................... 585-6410 Delores Rose ......................... 585-5339 Dusty & Kim Schroeder ......... 585-2357 Matt Smith ............................. 585-0017 John Spohr ............................ 585-6806 Ortonville M & K Ninneman ................... 305-5011

Feb 2: Ground Hog Day

Feb 14: Valentine’s Day

Feb 16: President’s Day

Feb 28: Deadline for: FRS Tour FRS Scholarship MTA Scholarship

Tech GadGeTGiveaway

Congrats Danelle Dehne!

Winner of our 1st Tech Gadget Giveaway. Danelle won a Google Chromecast.

* See page 2 for info on how you can enter to win our next Tech Gadget Giveaway Prize.

Experience History in the Making Frs Youth Tour 2015

FRS Youth Tour: Farmers Mutual and Federated Telephone will each sponsor one student from their cooperative to attend the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) 2015 Youth Tour. Farmers Mutual and Federated Telephone will be responsible for payment of the student’s registration fees and airline transportation. Visit www.frs.org for more information.

The Youth Tour offers rural students an inside look at the telecommu-nications industry and educates students about the legislative and governmental process. It gives students the opportunity to experience the nation’s capital and allows students to meet other youth from rural communities across the country. Darby Beyer, pictured at right, was sponsored by Federated Telephone to attend the 2014 Youth Tour. (Farmers Mutual did not have any applicants in 2014.) Applications for the trip to Washington, D.C. are due February 28, 2015. FMTC & FTC will each sponsor one high school student from their respective service areas to attend. Student must be age 16 or 17 at the time of the Youth Tour and must have at least one parent who is a Farmers Mutual or Federated Telephone customer at the time they submit their application and at the time of the trip. Student must submit a 500 word essay detailing their interest in the telecommunications industry, how their future career plans could benefit from this trip, and why they would like to visit Washington, D.C. The essay must include the student’s name, address and the student must be able to travel May 30 - June 3, 2015.

Scholarship Deadlines Approaching!

FRS Scholarship ~ $2,000 to be awarded

FRS Scholarship Applications must be postmarked no later than February 28, 2015. Interested seniors may obtain an application from their high school or download an application from the FRS website at www.frs.org. The Application needs to be signed by Kevin Beyer, General Manager of FMTC & FTC. Please plan to obtain this signature in advance of the deadline since his schedule does not allow him to be in the office at all times.

MTA Scholarship ~ (30) $2,500 to be awardedApplications must be postmarked no later than February 28, 2015. Interested seniors may obtain an application from their high school counselor or download an application from the MTA website at www.mnta.org.

Check out our NEW Website! www.aciracoop.net

Acira’s Upcoming Events

Visit the Acira booth at these upcoming events in your area. The Acira team will be there to answer questions, provide

information and greet our members.

Acira = Advanced Communications in Rural America

Great Western MN Get Together Farm, Home & Trade Show

Saturday, February 14th 10am-4pmSunday, February 15th Noon-4pm

Lac qui Parle Valley High School ~ Madison, MN

KMRS/KKOK Spring ExpoHome & Trade ShowFriday, March 20th

Saturday, March 21stLee Community Center ~ Morris, MN

Customers who received a capital credit refund check from Farmers Mutual Telephone Company or Federated Telephone Cooperative in 2014 may be wondering if they will need to include it when completing their Federal Income Tax Forms.

In all cases, please consult a tax accountant for your specific requirements.

For General Refunds of Capital Credits, you do not need to report the income you received from your capital credit refund check if you use your telephone only for non-business purposes. The refund is subject to taxation if all or a portion of your telephone bill was deducted as a business expense the year the credit was allocated. The amount reported would be proportionate to the amount that was previously deducted as a business expense for the corresponding year.

For Estate Refunds of Capital Credits, please consult with a tax accountant for your specific requirements.

Farmers Mutual Telephone Company and Federated Telephone Cooperative are required to provide 1099 forms based on Internal Revenue Service regulations.

Capital Credit Refunds and Income Tax Forms

• These guidelines may be modified as necessary to comply with Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and/or public law.

• Monthly bills are mailed each month and are due upon receipt. Payment in full is expected in our business office by the due date each and every month.

• A deposit is required from any subscriber who has not estab-lished satisfactory credit/payment history with a utility compa-ny in the last six months, including Farmers or Federated. The deposit is held until the subscriber has established a satisfactory credit/payment history with Farmers or Federated, at which time the deposit is applied as a credit to the subscriber’s account with interest.

• Satisfactory credit/payment history is defined as one year of consistent and complete monthly payments.

• If payment has not been received, a FINAL NOTICE will be sent advising the subscriber that unless payment in full is received on the past due balance or other suitable arrangements are made with our office before the time of disconnection, the subscriber’s services will all be subject to disconnection. This will be the only notice sent before disconnection of some or all services.

• Farmers and Federated are willing to work with our subscrib-ers to establish suitable payment arrangements, who because of an emergency, cannot pay their bill in full. Suitable payment arrangements are not intended to exceed a 60-day time period or be allowed more than 2 times in a calendar year. The account will become subject to disconnection if scheduled payments are not received.

• Disconnection may also occur when a subscriber issues a NSF check. The subscriber will be mailed a notice of the receipt of the NSF check. The subscriber will have 5 business days to cover the check and NSF check charge with cash or money order. If payment has not been received, the subscriber’s account will be subject to disconnection.

• Disconnection will not occur on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, but will occur on the next business day.

• Once service is disconnected, payment in full along with the reconnect and late fees must be paid before service is recon-nected.

• If the disconnected nonpay account has not been reconnected or paid after 10 days, it becomes a permanent disconnect, removing the telephone number from the directory, closing the account, and turning the bill over to a collection agency.

• If the subscriber wishes to reconnect after 10 days, a new application must be completed, the old bill paid in full along with the service charges for a new subscriber and a deposit before service will be reinstated.

• Service charges, as listed in the Cooperative’s tariff and approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, are assessed for reconnection of each service and/or upon the receipt of a NSF check.

• Subscribers must have established a satisfactory credit/ payment history before additional services or features are provided.

Farmers Mutual Telephone (Farmers) and Federated Telephone (Federated) value our subscribers. Your business is important to us. As with any business, NSF checks and non-payment accounts are difficult situations and must be carefully monitored so

that all subscribers are treated fairly and consistently, Farmers and Federated have adopted the following guidelines:

CREDIT & DISCONNECT GUIDELINES

REMINDER: SecureIT Subscribers

If you use SecureIT Plus for your antivirus protection, remember to call

SecureIT Plus FIRST before you take your computer to a repair office.

SecureIT Plus Contact #:1-877-373-3320

Acira Tech Gadget Giveaway

We are giving our Facebook Fans the chance to win fun tech gadgets through April 1, 2015.

Visit our Facebook Page at: www.facebook.com/aciracoop to enter.

Like our Facebook page for great tips and information about our services.

Upcoming Prizes:

March 1, 2015: Nest Protect Smoke & CO Alarm ($99 Value)

April 1, 2015: Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router ($125 Value)

Pinnacle Publishing Representatives

The following representatives will be visiting local businesses regarding their yellow page advertising

for the 2015-2016 Area-Wide Directory. Rod Wentzel Ron Halbakken

Ingredients:

1 c. butter, room temperature2 c. white sugar2 eggs2 tsp vanilla3 3/4 c. flour1/4 c. cocoa1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp baking powder1 fl oz red food coloring2 oz Chocolate Candiquik

Fudge:

1 1/2 c. white chocolate chips1/2 of a 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies

For more great recipes visit: www.JuliesEatsAndTreats.com

1. In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Mix in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix until combined. Add cocoa, salt, baking soda, baking powder and flour. Mix until combined. Add food coloring and mix until combined. 2. Roll dough into 1 in. balls. Place on greased baking sheet or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press thumb into center of cookie to make a well.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. If the “thumbprint” disap-pear while cooking press center of cookie down again with the back of a wooden spoon or spatula. Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes. Remove to wire rack to finish cooling. 4. For the fudge, melt together white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring continuously. Spoon into center of cookies. 5. Melt chocolate Candiquik according to package directions. Drizzle over cookies. Let the chocolate set and serve immediately or store in an air tight container.