ncsc-news
July 17, 2024
NCSC Holds Annual Meeting, Elects New Telecom Member to the Board
The NCSC 43rd Annual Membership Meeting, held June 17 in Indianapolis, included telecom members for the first time.
NCSC held its 43rd Annual Membership Meeting June 17 in Indianapolis in conjunction with CFC Forum 2024. NCSC Board President Kathy Cooper-Winters, vice chair for Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative Association, presided over the first NCSC annual meeting since its consolidation last December with the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative.
“Not only is NCSC now a larger organization with more loans outstanding, the consolidation is expected to bring cost-saving efficiencies that will lead to lower expenses as a percentage of loans outstanding,” Cooper-Winters said during the President’s Report. “Since the closing of the consolidation, NCSC has begun issuing financing to its new broadband/telecommunications utility members.”
She shared details of the first NCSC telecom loan that went to Scott County Telephone Cooperative, which, along with lines of credit, will allow the southwest Virginia and northwest Tennessee-based cooperative to match state and federal grants for building fiber broadband infrastructure to underserved communities.
“This is just one example of how the consolidation has expanded NCSC’s reach to make a difference for rural communities with telecommunication needs,” Cooper-Winters said.
She also highlighted in the President’s Report some of the ways NCSC is supporting rural communications through education grants, including a $30,000 donation to the Foundation for Rural Service on behalf of NCSC’s telecom members.
In conclusion, Cooper-Winters said, “I want to thank my fellow board members for their support and unfailing commitment to make NCSC the vital organization it continues to be. All of us at NCSC look forward to meeting the future needs of our membership.”
NCSC members elected Totelcom Communications President and Owner Toney Prather to the District 5 Class T seat.
Election Results
Elections also took place by mail ballot and on-site during the meeting, with NCSC telecom members (Class T) returning two incumbents to the board and electing one newcomer: Toney Prather, president and owner of Totelcom Communications in Texas.
NCSC Class T Election Results
*Indicates an incumbent candidate.
DISTRICT 1
Jason Miller*, General Manager
Delhi Telephone Cooperative (NY)
DISTRICT 3
John Klatt*, President and CEO
Lakeland Communications (WI)
DISTRICT 5
Toney Prather, President and Owner
Totelcom Communications (TX)
Mark Your Calendars
The 44th NCSC Annual Membership Meeting and elections will take place June 30, 2025, in conjunction with CFC Forum. The NCSC Class T District 4 director seat will be up for election. Currently, Allen Hoopes, chairman and CEO of Silver Star Communications in Wyoming, holds the position, but is ineligible to run again due to term limits.