Bundles make big news at NHTC’s Annual Meeting

NHTC members register for new service Bundles. Bundles were a big hit at the 2009 Annual Meeting where more than 80 members signed up for service.

Bundles stole the show at New Hope Telephone Cooperative’s 2009 Annual Meeting held on Tuesday, May 19 at New Hope School. Cooperative members from New Hope, Grant and Owens Cross Roads came together to cast their votes in the Board of Directors election and hear a report on the progress of the past year. But the biggest excitement surrounded NHTC’s introduction of service bundles.

“We had a great turnout at our annual meeting this year,” NHTC General Manager Tom Wing says. “This is an exciting time in our cooperative. At the meeting we rolled out our new Bundles plans and our members could not have been more excited to jump on board and take advantage of this great new program.

“Also, in the past year we have made great strides in our fiber deployment project and have made improvements in every service we provide,” Wing continues. “And despite the obvious downturn in our economy, I am proud to say this cooperative remains on solid financial footing.”

In addition to business and voting, NHTC made plenty of time for food, fun and fellowship at the Annual Meeting.

After voting, those in attendance were served snacks and enjoyed the song and dance of the DAR Show Choir, and a performance from local southern rock band, Buckshot before kicking off the business meeting.

State Representative Butch Taylor registers at the NHTC Annual Meeting.

After the entertainment, NHTC Board President Greg Glover welcomed the crowd and began the official business meeting. At this time, Glover also announced to members and the board that while he would remain a best online pokies australia board member, he would not seek re-election as NHTC Board President.

While representatives from each community in the service area counted votes, NHTC General Manager Tom Wing introduced a 20-minute video to highlight the past year’s work to continue to improve service to the members of NHTC.

A large portion of the video updated members on the progress of the NHTC project to deploy fiber technology throughout its service area.
After the video, Glover announced the results of the elections. A quorum of 321 members voted at the meeting.

Two seats on the Board of Directors were up for consideration — Place # 2, New Hope, held by incumbent Jim Duncan, and Place # 3, New Hope, held by incumbent Jeff Cooper. After all the votes were tallied, Glover announced that Duncan and Cooper were both re-elected by a wide margin.

NHTC also used the meeting as an opportunity to introduce members to the highly anticipated service Bundles that allow NHTC members to save money by paying one price for a group of services.

DAR Show Choir (above) warms up before their performance at the Annual Meeting. Members enjoyed entertainment from the DAR Show Choir and local southern rock band, Buckshot.

Bundle packages that were introduced at the meeting and are now available to members are the NHTC Advantage Plan and the NHTC Elite Plan. The NHTC Advantage Plan offers unlimited nationwide calling (local and long distance), five calling features and DSLmax Internet service for $79.95 per month. The NHTC Elite Plan offers unlimited nationwide calling (local and long distance), five calling features, DSLmax Internet service and expanded Cable television service for $119.95 per month.

The Bundles launch was a big hit at the meeting. According to NHTC Marketing Director Misty Williams, 86 members signed up for Bundle
packages.

NHTC members cast their votes for the 2009 Board of Directors election.

“We are very pleased with the launch of our Bundle plans,” Williams says. Bundles are a win-win for our members. By charging a lower fixed monthly amount for a combination of services, we are able to offer more for less money. Based on our opening night at the Annual Meeting, where about one out of every four members who voted also signed up for a bundles package, we believe this will be a very popular new program.”

The Annual Meeting wrapped up with door prizes including two plasma televisions, cash prizes and several other items.