Back Row (l to r): Jeff Phelps, Daron Duke, Rich Denny, and Matt Dearwester. Front Row (l to r): Bob Leenerts, Scott Wray, and Bill Scranton
Golden, IL – Adams Telephone Co-Operative held its 67th Annual Meeting of Members on September 11, 2019 at their Cooperative headquarters in Golden. Nearly 1,000 people were in attendance for the evening’s festivities. The night included a meal prepared by the Mendon Lions, business meeting, and drawings for cash prizes totaling $1,850. Plus, there were ten $50 bill credit drawings. Each active membership in attendance also received a $25 bill credit.
During the business meeting, members were updated about Adams’ operations and re-elected Rich Denny to represent Augusta and Mindale exchanges and Robert Leenerts to represent the Golden exchange. Scott Wray was elected to represent Meyer and Ursa exchanges. Dennis Cornwell, who retired from the Board of Directors, was recognized for his 42 years of outstanding and dedicated service to Adams over the past four decades.
Another highlight of the evening was Jim Broemmer, CEO, sharing with the Cooperative that every member, every home, and every business in Adams’ 13 exchanges now has fiber optic connectivity making it one of the first few co-op’s in the entire state to be 100 percent fiber. Only two others currently share this noteworthy accomplishment, and less than 20 percent of Illinois has access to gigabit broadband.
Broemmer noted, “For all the Internet of Things in your life, for all your devices from laptops to tablets, for your smart home technologies, for your streaming and entertainment and more, we’ve got you covered with 100 percent fiber.”
This multi-phase fiber-to-the-home initiative began in 2007 and was made possible through a series of investments by Adams in the affected communities cumulating $49.5M. This process connected members in the exchanges of Augusta, Mindale, Hersman, Chambersburg, Fishhook, Coatsburg-Paloma, Mendon, Golden, Loraine, Lima, Meyer, Ursa, and Plymouth with 1,132 miles of fiber optic technology to be utilized for Internet, phone, and TV services.
Three area youth were recognized for their achievements at the Annual Meeting of Members. Through Adams’ partnership with the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), Southeastern High School graduate, Laney Lantz, received a $500 college scholarship. Winners of Adams “Youth to Washington” program, Riley Whitehead from Unity High School and Faith Boylen from Brown County High School, were also recognized by Adams.
Members enjoyed learning how to save hundreds of dollars by Cutting the Cable Cord and using their Fiber Internet connection to watch TV. They also had the chance to talk with Adams Experts about computer cleanups, custom-built computers, gaming machines, and related accessories. They were able to review a Fiber Timeline outlining the Cooperative’s fiber optic journey that began in 2007 to the present. Now that the Cooperative is constructed with 100% fiber, members could also pin their home’s location on an interactive map to be displayed in the Adams’ office.
In the Cooperative’s Edgeout areas, there are now 79 completed Fiberhoods and over 1,140 miles of fiber in Quincy. Another 6 are scheduling installs currently. Three more Fiberhoods are in the construction queue, including the Kinderhook and Hull communities. Four have entered the pre-construction phase. Five more are in the sign-up phase. Adams’ next expansion focus will be in Quincy’s downtown.
