Investing In Our Youth
Dear Members,
I think we would all agree that investing in our community’s future means investing in our youth. Organizations
like 4H and FFA teach kids about hard work, leadership, public speaking, and community service. We see these
skills on full display at the many county fairs where these hardworking individuals auction off their livestock
and display the projects they worked so hard on. The Callaway Youth Expo is a shining example of how our
community comes together to support and nurture the talents and ambitions of our young people.
This event provides a valuable platform for students to showcase their skills in areas like agriculture, crafts, and various other endeavors. By participating in and supporting the Callaway Youth Expo, we are all playing a role in encouraging the personal growth and development of our future leaders. It’s this collective effort that fosters a sense of pride and unity within our community. This year Kingdom Telephone, on behalf of our members, employees and the board of directors, donated $20,000 towards the construction of a new building for use at the expo. Milestones like this are important, but the true strength lies in the combined support and involvement from everyone in our community. Together, we are
creating an environment where our youth can thrive and succeed.
We also participated in the livestock sale at the Callaway, Audrain, and Montgomery County youth auctions.
We are excited to witness the achievements of our young people and look forward to continuing this journey of
building a brighter future for Callaway County.
FRS WASHINGTON D.C. YOUTH TOUR MAKES MEMORIES THAT LAST A LIFETIME
Every year the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) offers rural students a unique opportunity to visit our nation’s capital on the FRS Youth Tour. This year Kingdom sponsored Lia Bondurant and Savannah Barker, both of North Callaway High School.
FRS welcomed 130 students and chaperones from 25 states across the country to Washington, DC for the 2024 FRS Youth Tour.
Participants toured the Capitol, met their Member of Congress, heard from two commissioners and other leaders at the Federal Communications Commission, explored Mt. Vernon and Smithsonian Museums, watched the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, saw a hilarious whodunit play at the Kennedy Center, and connected with peers from other rural communities.
USDA Reconnect 2 Fiber to the Home Project
We are pleased to report the successful completion of our USDA Reconnect 2 fiber to the home project in
Audrain County. Many residents are now enjoying our high-speed broadband service. This initiative has
brought first-class fiber connectivity to numerous previously unserved homes, significantly enhancing their
access to reliable internet. This project covers over 80 square miles and services more than 750 homes. We
are proud of this achievement and the positive impact it has on our community.
USDA Reconnect 3 Grant Update
I am happy to announce that we have reached a milestone in our USDA Reconnect 3 project by completing our
environmental study. We have already begun field engineering the first areas and will hopefully break ground
before the year is out. This project will serve over 2,200 homes and will expand our service territory by
approximately 600 square miles.
CAPITAL CREDITS TO BE ISSUED THIS MONTH
For the thirty-first consecutive year, Kingdom Telephone will distribute capital credits to its member/owners.
The payout formula for this year is 18.29% of the outstanding capital credits for 1987 and 4.10% of 2022.
Active members will see a bill credit if the amount is $65 or less, otherwise members will receive a check.
Patronage is accumulated when you purchase our telephone, internet, and other telecommunication services.
Based on the Cooperatives’ year end profits, the patronage is used to determine a member’s share of capital
credits for that calendar year.
Privacy Control/Do Not Disturb
Did you know you can take control of the calls coming into your home? Kingdom offers a service where you
can do just that through your home phone or by a web portal.
The Privacy Control service selectively intercepts telemarketers, unknown callers and callers who have their
number blocked from displaying on Caller ID. The Do Not Disturb service is great if you work late hours and
want to avoid calls while you are trying to sleep. It will let you designate quiet times where callers will be
blocked unless they have a 4 digit PIN to override.
More information can be found at kingdomtelco.com/telephone-features/
Thank you for being a valued member of Kingdom Telephone Cooperative. I am proud of the work we have
done this quarter and am especially grateful for such a great group of staff members at Kingdom who work
hard for the members every day. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate
to contact us.
Warm regards,
Caleb Pashia
CEO/General Manager
Kingdom Telephone Company
