Summer 2017
SPRING HAS SPRUNG
By Jens Laipenieks CEO/General Manager
It’s that time of the year again when the
days are growing longer and the ice is
melting all around us. For the past few
years, around springtime, I’m reminded
how lucky I am to be part of such a great
team and working at such a great co-op.
Each March we have our books audited
by an outside accounting firm, and in
our recent board meeting we reviewed
the results for 2016. I am proud to say
that our Cooperative is in great shape and ready for all the
opportunities rapidly approaching. Our Cooperative…I can say
that because in the end we are all part it, from the management
team, the vendors and contractors, each and every employee,
Board of Directors and you the individual members…all of us.
We all play a vital role in keeping ASTAC moving forward. It’s
hard to believe it was only a few years ago that our financial
outlook was so uncertain.
Our turnaround was not derived by good luck or random
chance, but rather by planning, years of focus, large amounts
of hard work and a touch of good timing. ASTAC played
a key role in getting the Alaska Plan approved by the FCC
whereby federal support is now secure for the next 10 years
for all of Alaska. Steve Merriam, our former General Manager,
took numerous trips to Washington, DC to correct errors
and misconceptions, educate staff and promote the case for
broadband in rural Alaska. His hard work and strong advocacy
by Senators Murkowski and Sullivan delivered an Alaska Plan
largely as designed. The sustained Alaska Plan support has
allowed ASTAC to secure loans which enabled us to build out
our 4G network and continue delivering new products and
services to the membership.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Summer 2017 | (800) 478-6409 | ASTAC.NET
1
SWOOSH WINNER TRAVELS TO CALIFORNIA
Fred Tagarook, Jr. and his brother Peter Tagarook of Kaktovik had
an incredible time watching Xavier & Gonzaga play in the NCAA
Men’s Regional tournament in San Jose, CA in late March.
WELCOME SUPERINTENDENT MCDONALD
ASTAC extends a warm welcome to
new NSBSD Superintendent Stewart
McDonald. He joins the district from the
Kodiak Island Borough School District,
where he was recognized as Alaska’s
Superintendent of the Year in 2017. He
was also honored as one of four for the
National Superintendent of the Year in the
same year.
EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER
CONGRATULATIONS BOBBIE SEVERN!
CABS Coordinator
Bobbie Severn was
selected as Employee
of the Quarter for the
1st quarter of 2017.
Bobbie always comes
to work with a smile
and great attitude. She
is dependable and
Bobbie Severn,
diligent in completing CABS Coordinator
her work and takes
initiative to seek out and take on tasks with
enthusiasm. She is a pleasure to work with.
2
TIPS FOR TROUBLESHOOTING SLOW
INTERNET CONNECTIONS AT HOME
ASTAC DSL services are currently considered “unlimited bandwidth”,
meaning ASTAC does not charge customers based on the amount of
data they actually transfer. However, residential accounts are meant for
attended use by an individual or family and are not meant for continuous or
automated, high-volume data transfers.
A poorly performing connection can be caused by router configuration
errors, wireless interference, or any number of other reasons. Use these tips
to not only diagnose but also fix the causes of slow Internet connections.
1.Troubleshoot your hardware, power-cycle your modem, router or
handheld device.
2.Keep up-to-date antivirus software running on your computer to catch
and remove viruses, worms or Trojans.
3.Limit the number of devices connected to your Wi-Fi router.
Close unnecessary & hidden processes that may be running in the
background.
4.Keep your Wi-Fi password secure & minimize the number of people
who have access.
5.Isolate your DSL modem from other electronic devices. Ask an ASTAC
technician for a complimentary DSL filter to prevent interference
between devices & DSL service operating on the same line.
6.Did you know ASTAC offers 24/7 DSL Technical Support?
Call 1-888-896-7815 day or night for assistance.
ASTAC DSL service is a best effort service and not a dedicated service.
For more tips go to https://www.astac.net/servlet/content/internet.html.
Summer 2017 | (800) 478-6409 | ASTAC.NET
2017 ASTAC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS SELECTED
Dolly Hank is an honor roll student at Tikiqaq
School and the recipient of the NSBSD
Distinguished Student Award. She plans to attend
the University of Alaska Anchorage to earn a
degree in Biological Sciences and pursue a career
in medicine. Her goal is to one day work in a
hospital in Anchorage or Kotzebue and believes
that the working hours in hospitals are extensive
but as she says, “if you are doing something that
Dolly Hank
you love for a living then you are just having fun
and getting paid for it.” Dolly participated in Volleyball, Basketball and
Cross Country Running throughout high school and is known as a team
player with superb sportsmanship on the court. She is also committed
to her community and is active in her church supporting cooking for the
elders and youth. She helps with her family’s whaling crew during whaling
season and is proud of her Inupiat culture.
Gregory Kleinholz is an honor roll student at
Barrow High School and plans to attend Western
Washington University to earn a degree in
Psychology and minor in Political Science. His goal
is to become a clinical psychologist or therapist, he
says “that to make a positive difference in people’s
lives would provide the greatest satisfaction to
him, because you are the reason that someone has
one less worry or is able to express themselves.”
Gregory Kleinholz
Gregory participated in Band, Science Olympiad,
and Student Government and was a Varsity Cheerleader. He also gives
back to his community through participation in the Mayor’s Youth Advisor
Council that requires 50 volunteer hours each semester.
NEW ANNUAL MEETING VOTING PROCESS
ASTAC has revised its voting process so
members who are traveling or physically unable
to attend a village meeting can still have a
voice. This change is required by Alaska law and
ASTAC must comply. In order to comply, we
must change our bylaws.
Your mail-in ballot and return envelope will be
mailed June 1, 2017 and must be received by
ASTAC no later than July 3, 2017 to be counted.
If your ballot is not returned you are still eligible
to vote in-person at the annual meeting. You
must be present and have active service the day
of the meeting to be eligible for door prizes.
When you return your ballot, make sure to
include the following information on the back
of the envelope: print & sign your name and
include your ASTAC cell or landline number.
In addition, ASTAC will no longer accept board
nominations from the annual meeting floor.
To qualify as a board candidate, you must be
in good standing on the date of the district
election and your petition needs to have been
received by ASTAC no later than May 15, 2017.
To review more details on the ASTAC Annual
Meeting process changes, visit:
www.astac.net/servlet/content/bylaws.html.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Speaking of new products, some of the exciting things you will see in
the near future include new home and business Internet products with
integrated WiFi. Thanks to the Alaska Plan, we can continue to invest
in all aspects of our network to ensure that your end-to-end broadband
experience is optimized for peak performance.
As a member of the Cooperative, ASTAC is a company you own. As
long as you are a customer, a portion of our annual margins become
your ownership, via capital credits, which will be retired in the future
and pay you dividends, aka patronage. Earlier this year after evaluating
the financial condition of the Cooperative, the ASTAC Board of
Directors approved the patronage retirement of over $500,000 for the
year 1987. Patronage checks will be mailed to members this November.
This patronage amount was set at a level that maintains the financial
integrity of the co-op.
ASTAC RESPECTS YOUR PRIVACY
ASTAC does not track or monitor its
subscribers’ internet usage, nor does it sell
customer’s sensitive personal information.
Thank you for being an ASTAC member and I look forward to the future
seasons and the continued growth of our Cooperative.
3
TOP OF THE WORLD GOLF TOURNAMENT
Another great time was had by all that
played in this year’s Top of the World Golf
Tournament. Ten teams of three players
played nine holes around the Middle
Lagoon. The event was part of the 34th
Annual Piuraagiaqta Festival held April
7-10, 2017 in Utqiagvik.
This year’s tournament resulted in a twoway tie between 1st place and 2nd place!
To break the tie, officials referred to the
lowest score on the 9th hole.
1st place team Iniupiks: Frances Gangwer, Entre Varner and Tavia Barr
ANNUAL MEETINGS: JULY
D AT E
ASTAC crew that participated in the parade, from
left to right: Brian Hoffman, Mike Phillips,
Paula Kangis, Kassie Anderson, Emma Tukle,
George Hopson III & Lee Van Horn
911 EMERGENCY NUMBERS,
ALL LOCATIONS
For police and fire, call 911.
Notice: The 911 emergency
number has been developed to
quickly respond to crisis situations.
Call 911 only when human life
or property is in jeopardy.
VILLAGE
TIME
Monday, July 10, 2017
Anaktuvuk
Pass
Nunamiut Gym
2:30 p.m.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Kaktovik
Harold
Kaveolook Gym
7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Nuiqsut
Community Center
1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Deadhorse
NSB SA10
Conference Room
7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Atqasuk
Community Center
2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Wainwright
Alak Gym
7:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Utqiagvik
Inupiat Heritage
Center
7:00 p.m.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Point Lay
Kali Gym
11:00 a.m.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Point Hope
Qalgi Center
2:00 p.m.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
4
L O C AT I O N
ASTAC OFFICE
Paul Bodfish Sr.
Vacant
Noreen Kaleak
PRESIDENT, ATQASUK
DIRECTOR, NUIQSUT
DIRECTOR, KAKTOVIK
Marietta Aiken
Patrick Mekiana
Terry L Tagarook
VICE PRESIDENT, UTQIAGVIK
DIRECTOR, ANAKTUVUK PASS
DIRECTOR, WAINWRIGHT
Ella Kowunna
Marjorie Long
Tim Tyler
SECRETARY/TREASURER, POINT HOPE
DIRECTOR, POINT LAY
DIRECTOR, PRUDHOE BAY
Summer 2017 | (800) 478-6409 | ASTAC.NET
4300 B St. Suite 501,
Anchorage AK 99503
907-563-3989 Anchorage
907-852-7100 Utqiagvik
800-478-6409 Toll-free
E-mail: [email protected]