Be a part of Granite Falls history…

On May 22nd, Granite Falls Kiwanis Popcorn Stand will be featured on the KSTP Channel 5 News.

According to the Granite Falls Kiwanis FaceBook page:

The Our Famous Little Popcorn Stand Gets A Little More Love…Read on fellow popcorn lovers!…..
Jason Davis, KSTP Channel 5 News, indicated that he would like to produce an “On the Road Again” segment regarding the Granite Falls Popcorn Stand. Jason was well aware of Boyd Huppert’s “Land of 10,000 Stories” segment from 2012. Please plan to come to the PS and hang-out next Wednesday, May 22nd, as Jason Davis is planning to be at the PS that evening. Spread the word and bring a friend!!

Since the early 20′s, the community of Granite Falls has spent it’s summer evenings enjoying the smell of freshly popped popcorn. This iconic popcorn stand has gained national, and even international notoriety. As reported by the Granite Falls Advocate Tribune:

The popcorn stand was featured in an article that highlighted interesting and notable “Kiwanis properties” in locations at a global level. Included was a mini “Kiwanis train” in Enid, Oklahoma that carries an average of 15,000 passengers a year along a 1.2 mile track and a Kiwanis clubhouse in Kopavogur-Eldey, Iceland that had once been the original store for one of the Icelandic nation’s largest hardware companies. - Scott Tedrick, News Editor

Help keep our community tradition alive by showing your support tomorrow night. …and all summer long.

See you there!

- MVTV Wireless

The Minnesota Gophers are going on a road trip, including SW and Central Minnesota. 

According to MYGOPHERSPORTS.COM, May 16th through June 20th ~

The ‘Gopher Road Trip‘ will start out in Redwood Falls and Jackson on May 16th, then New Ulm and Mankato on May 17th. …Events include photo opportunities, prizes & giveaways, food & beverage provided. Registration is FREE and open to the public. 

For a complete list of dates and locations, visit GOPHER ROAD TRIP 2013 and click on ‘Find an event’.  Remember to pre-register and make sure to check out the list of local business and organization sponsors that have made these events possible. Stop by to tell them ‘THANK YOU’ and show them your picture with ‘Goldy’!

Follow the tour on Twitter #GopherRoadTrip and on FaceBook. What a great way to kick off the summer!

- MVTV Wireless

SW Minnesota communities of New Ulm, Marshall and Worthington will be participating in the May 10th Chick-fil-A Leadercast, from 8AM to 4PM. MVTV Wireless is sponsoring the Worthington host location and there are still a few seats left! REGISTER NOW

• Friday, May 10th, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
• Tuition: $99 (lunch included)
• Location: Worthington Biotechnology Advancement Center - 1527 Prairie Drive, Worthington, MN 56187
• Brought to you by: United Way, Minnesota West Community & Technical College, Worthington Chamber Area Chamber of Commerce.

As we shared back in March, this is a one-day leader development event broadcast LIVE from Atlanta, Georgia to hundreds of sites throughout the nation.

Get ready for an unforgettable day of inspiration, learning, networking, and more. Chick-fil-A Leadercast is one of the largest events of its kind, broadcasting world-renowned content to hundreds of locations around the world.

2013 Theme: Full. Our lives are full of things that we think will grow our businesses and increase our influence. What if there was potential impact in simplifying our lives so our leadership could thrive? Leading in a complex world requires simplicity to cut through the clutter. Join us at Chick-fil-A Leadercast as we learn to Simply Lead.

What to Expect: You can expect to be challenged. Inspired. Encouraged. You will learn how to improve your own leadership skills and also have the opportunity to network with other leaders in your area.

What’s Happening: On May 10, 2013, you will be empowered with growth insights from world-renowned leaders. This one-of-a-kind event will be broadcast live from Atlanta and simulcast into communities across the globe. Join more than 125,000 leaders from around the world as we learn to Simply Lead. – Chick-fil-A Leadercast

Speakers include:

Jack Welch, Former Chairman and CEO of General Electric

Andy Stanley, Best-selling leadership author and communicator

Mike Krzyzewski, Head men’s basketball coach, Duke University and Team USA

John Maxwell, Best-selling author and leadership expert

Dr. Henry Cloud, Best-selling author and leadership consultant

LCDR Rorke Denver, Navy SEAL and star of the 2012 movie Act of Valor

Sanya Richards-Ross, 2012 London Olympic gold medalist, track & field

David Allen, Best-selling author of Getting Things Done and productivity expert

Condolezza Rice, Secretary of State (2005-2009) , via exclusive Simply Lead video interview

It’s going to be a ‘highway’ kinda day in Worthington, MN, this coming Wednesday, April 24th.

Representative Rod Hamilton invites all residents and businesses in the Worthington area to the Minnesota Department of Transportation open house Wednesday (May 24th from 4:30PM to 6:30PM, at the Nobles County Courthouse Farmer’s Room, 315 10th Street) for updates on the Highway 60 reconstruction project.

According to his Legislative Update,

“the final year of the Highway 60 expansion in Worthington includes multiple detours and varying impacts to area businesses and will resume in late April as soon as weather allows and be complete by late fall.”  - MnDOT

How can area businesses diversify during this construction? Hit the Internet Highway! How can local businesses take advantage of this improved infrastructure? Light it up like the Las Vegas Strip when someone uses their Smartphone to search for coffee, restaurants, entertainment, you name it! Join the Social Media Breakfast Rural Connection club, Wednesday morning (8AM -9AM, BenLee’s Cafe 212 10th Street). This month’s topic is “Learn how to tweet on Twitter!” ALL ARE WELCOME.

Your customers use twitter…  Don’t ignore it, just because you don’t understand it!

We will help you learn the lingo and how to:

• Set up your Twitter account
• Tweet effectively
• Interact with and gain followers
• Track your company and even your competition
• Organize your connections

Thank you to the SMBRC sponsors!

• 2 Smart Women
• Daily Globe
• MVTV Wireless
• Minnesota West Community and Technical College 
• Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF)
• University of MN Extension
• Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce
• Worthington Regional Economic Development Corporation

Back in November, MVTV Wireless was pleased to learn that one of our local communities had been named a Blandin Community. Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services (SMBS) was one of nine rural community organizations that applied for and was granted a 2 year partnership with the Blandin Foundation. Now the fun part… identifying a list of worthy projects, formulating a strategic plan of action and pulling together the teams to make it happen.

The Daily Globe’s interview with SMBS lays out the first phase…

“The focus of the initial funding will allow the 60/90 Technology Corridor to formulate the strategies for working with local economic development associations, educational institutions and other interested parties to market the region as a high-technology destination for business and teleworkers.”

Two of the projects ready for immediate deployment are:

• Creation and support of education programs for late adopter businesses and organizations.
• Creation and marketing of a “tele-work” package for remote workers. 

The article goes on to explain…

“The goal of the 60/90 Technology Corridor is to leverage that technology to bring new businesses and technology workers to the regions.”

A perfect example is Social Media Breakfast Rural Connection’s own Robin McFarland-Henning. Robin works for Cisco Systems and shared her relocation story with the club back in January, as told by the Jackson County Pilot.

“For one area native, the arrival of fiber optic communications services in Lakefield provided an unexpected opportunity to return home.

She had already made the move from California back to Minnesota in 2009, but she stayed in her Twin Cities suburb until realizing Lakefield was receiving fiber before she was.

Robin McFarland-Henning shared about that and the job she brought with her to Lakefield during Friday’s Social Media Breakfast Rural Connection gathering at The Shed.”

MVTV Wireless is excited to be a part of the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast which will be taking place in Worthington, May 10th. Here’s why… Back in February, we wrote about ‘The rural MN ‘picture’ is changing… still healthy, just different.’ 

The communities that have succeeded in this challenge have done so by competing differently, identifying opportunities and diversifying in order to reach new markets.

For over 13 years, Chick-Fil-A Leadercast has been helping communities identify leaders and give them the tools to succeed.

“Chick-fil-A Leadercast is designed to help you use your voice to create positive change in your community and the world at large.” – Chick-fil-A Leadercast Vision statement

All organizations, small business people, entrepreneurs… EVERYONE is welcome to participate. Register now to save your seat!

This is a one-day leader development event broadcast LIVE from Atlanta, Georgia to hundreds of sites throughout the nation, including Worthington on May 10th, 2013 at the Biotechnology Advancement Center from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The cost is $99.00. Speakers for this year’s event include: Jack Welch, Andy Stanley, Mike Krzyzewski, John Maxwell, Dr. Henrey Cloud, LCDR Rorke Denver, Sanya Richards-Ross, David Allen and Condolezza Rice. For more information or to register contact Roxanne Hayenga at 507-372-3468, by email at roxanne.hayenga@mnwest.edu or online. Brought to you by United Way of Nobles County, Minnesota West Community & Technical College and Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce.

As our membership and service area continues to grow… so does the MVTV Wireless family. Please join us in welcoming Pam Rosenau! Pam brings a wealth of telecommunications experience to the MVTV Market Development and Customer Service Team. She will be based out of our Granite Falls office.

Here’s a little bit about Pam:

After graduating from high school in southern Minnesota I moved to the Willmar area. I have lived in the area for about ten years with my husband, Shaun.

I spent over six years working as a cellular sales consultant and have enjoyed working with technology. While working as a sales consultant I took time to make sure the customers had the best experience and made that my number one focus.

When my husband and I are not working we enjoy spending time outdoors with our two dogs Apollo and Gabby. We enjoy long walks, fishing, camping, and just spending time with friends and family. During late fall and early winter we enjoy watching football every Sunday! We have 11 nieces and nephews that we enjoy spending time with on the weekends.

I am very excited to be a part of the MVTV Wireless team and look forward to meeting all of our customers!

-MVTV Wireless, Granite Falls, MN

Spring is coming! That means farm & home shows, ag events, fairs and much more. Keep an eye out for the MVTV Wireless booth. Better yet, visit our Events page.

March 9th – Windom Farm and Home Show, Windom High School

March 12th & 13th – Willmar Ag Show, Willmar Civic Center

March 13th – Farmer Spring Break Brochure MN West 2013, MN West Community and Technical College (Worthington Campus)

March 16th - Jackson Co Farm and Home show 2013, JCC High School

Now is a great time to check out one (or all) of the Social Media Breakfast Club events:

Social Media Breakfast Rural Connection Events, Sponsored by MVTV Wireless! Register by emailing Julie Foote at jfoote@mvtvwireless.com or calling (507) 360-9651

Lakefield, MN –  Every 3rd Friday of the month at “The Shed” (719 North Hwy 86) from 8AM to 9AM.                                                   March 15th: SMBS to present on Blandin Community Broadband Program (BCBP) grant opportunities for our area. Time permitting, wrap up on Pinterest content.

Worthington, MN – Every 4th Wed of the month at MN West Community & Technical College Worthington Campus, 8AM to 9AM         March 27th: Neil Linscheid (University of Minnesota Extension’s Educator) will present on Google Tools.

Hutchinson, MN -  4th Thursday of the month at “Crow River Winery” (14848 Hwy 7 E) 7:30AM to 9AM                                            March 28th: Understanding Twitter.

Redwood Falls, MN -  (No March Event) April 15th, 8AM to 9AM, Location to be determined - Katherine Brozek, Communications Manager at Redwood Area Hospital will be presenting to our group! Morgan’s Deli Catering & Pizza will be our breakfast sponsor too (come hungry)!

See you out and about!

MVTV Wireless

The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband will be gathering at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center, Room 107, 2001 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

After a review of the February meeting minutes, the committee will spend time reflecting on past accomplishments and challenges.  According to the meeting agenda, it seems they will also concentrate on the more specific needs of our state’s late adopters and diverse cultures.

MVTV Wireless has gone paperless with our new E-statements!

Starting with the March 1st billing, you can now receive your monthly MVTV Wireless bill via email. The statement will be a pdf attachment sent from MVTV Wireless<EMAILONLY>. Just fill out the form below and we’d be happy to get you set up for e-statements.

**Note – all customers signed up for auto-pay through MVTV Wireless are automatically enrolled in e-statements. If you would like to sign up for auto-pay, please download our auto-pay form and mail it in.