I’m so impressed by the many NTCA members who got out there in the hot summer weather to complete the FRS Rural Run virtual 5K! Almost 850 of you logged more than 2,625 miles, across 21 states and Washington, D.C. I loved seeing photos of families and friends from work getting together to enjoy the outdoors and celebrate healthy habits. Cassie, my furry canine walking partner, needed some extra motivation (okay, maybe a few extra treats!) but we were proud to be part of this event that raised more than $45,000 for FRS programs and activities. A huge thanks to all of you who participated and/or sponsored the Rural Run. It is time well spent and a cause worth supporting with a little sweat. I will say after 16 months of pandemic eating, it was good to have an excuse to move.
But wait, there’s more!
After a two-year hiatus, the FRS Congressional Broadband Tour is returning in August, this time to central Montana. Twenty House and Senate staff members from key congressional offices signed up to participate in this three-day trip that includes visits with NTCA members, a fiber construction tour, seeing “smart ag” in action on a broadband-enabled farm, learning about how broadband makes telehealth possible, and even a visit to tribal lands where 100% of residents have FTTH. It will be a unique experience for the Hill staffers from DC to see the importance of rural broadband first-hand, especially for many of them who have never experienced a rural location. I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to get these Hill staffers out of Washington and into rural America. Many thanks to RTFC for their continued support of the Congressional Broadband Tour.
Have you heard about the wonderful FRS Community Grant program? This is one of my favorite programs because it really allows NTCA members to find additional ways to support the communities where they live and work. These grants of up to $5,000 are available to non-profit organizations in your area, but the competition for limited funds is fierce. The deadline to submit applications through the NTCA member portal is September 15 and FRS staff are always happy to answer your questions. These grants are a win-win for NTCA members and your community, so I encourage you to check them out. My mother always used to tell me, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” The same applies here and there’s nothing to lose.
FRS programs including the Congressional Broadband Tour and Community Grants are made possible by donations to FRS, and by attending their fundraising events. We are excited about seeing each other in person in Nashville at the NTCA Fall Conference and FRS has two events you don’t want to miss: a Honky Tonk Party on September 20 (what better way to spend time in Music City?), and a golf tournament to close the meeting on September 22. You can find more information about these events on the FRS website. The wonderful FRS board and staff are looking forward to seeing you in Nashville, but even if you can’t make it, you can still support the Foundation for Rural Service in any way you can.
