PBT News & Events

Paul Bunyan Telephone Cooperative Returns Over $2.1 Million to Members

Checks should arrive within next 2-14 days

Paul Bunyan Telephone began distributing capital credit checks to its members totaling over $2.1 million today.

“We are very proud to return these capital credits to our members this year”, said Paul Freude, Paul Bunyan Telephone Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, “despite the challenges to the national economy, our cooperative has remained strong because of the high quality of services we provide, loyalty of our members, leadership of the Board of Directors, and our dedicated employees.”

On Thursday, Paul Bunyan Telephone Cooperative mailed out capital credit checks totaling over $2,100,000 to its members. This represents the remaining 33% of 1998’s allocation, and 20% of 2009’s allocation. All PBT subscribers who were a member in either of those years and accrued over $10 total in capital credits should receive a check in the next few days. The use of capital credit allocations are the cooperative’s way of individually securing each member’s share of the company’s net margins.

As a cooperative, Paul Bunyan Telephone is owned by the members it serves. Per the Bylaws, membership is established by subscribing to one line of local telephone service. Once a member, other services that apply towards capital credit returns include Paul Bunyan Long Distance, Paul Bunyan Net, Paul Bunyan Television, and Minnesota Gold Yellow Page Advertising.

“You want to talk about a win-win situation. Our members get high quality telecommunication services and they share in our success,” said Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Telephone Marketing Supervisor, “the return a member receives is based on their patronage and our profit margin from that particular year. ”

“It’s rare that a customer gets money back from a service provider,” added Gary Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, “the cooperative structure allows us to give back to those who make us successful. It is truly providing service at cost.”

If you were a member of the cooperative in 1998, and/or 2009 and accrued more than $10 in total capital credit allocations, but do not receive a check by September 24, please contact Paul Bunyan Telephone at (218) 444-1234.

Paul Bunyan Telephone Cooperative has been offering the latest in communication services to Northern Minnesota since 1952. The service area currently spans over 4,500 square miles throughout most of Beltrami County and portions of Itasca, Hubbard, St. Louis, and Koochiching County including Ash River, Blackduck, Cass Lake, Lake George, Laporte, Deer River, Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Puposky, Ponemah, Turtle River, Kelliher, Squaw Lake, Red Lake, Solway, Becida, Inger-Wirt, Cohasset, LaPrairie, and Northome. Paul Bunyan Telephone services include local and long distance phone service, Internet services through Paul Bunyan Net, all-digital television service through Paul Bunyan Television, and more. Certain services are not available in all locations. Capital Credits are distributed whenever economically feasible as determined by the Paul Bunyan Telephone Board of Directors. Past performance of capital credit returns are no guarantee of future payouts.

BSU Sports TV Broadcasts to Air Live on Paul Bunyan Television

Televised broadcasts of Bemidji State University sports will be a part of Paul Bunyan Television service for the 2010-11 season. All BSU men’s hockey home games will be aired by Lakeland Public Television while all home BSU football games along with select men’s and women’s home basketball games will be broadcast on KBSU, PBTV Channel 17. In addition to television broadcasts, radio broadcasts of BSU sports will be available on PBTV through the stations of R.P. Broadcasting.

Football

Home games can be seen on KBSU-TV, PBTV Channel 17. Radio broadcasts of both home and away games can be heard on WMIS-92.1 FM, PBTV Channel 963.

Date	Opponent	Time	PBTV Channel
September 11	Augustana	1 p.m.	17
October 2	Upper Iowa	1 p.m.	17
October 23	University of Mary	1 p.m.	17
October 30	Northern State	1 p.m.	17
November 13	Minnesota Crookston	1 p.m.	17

Men’s Hockey

Home games will be broadcast by Lakeland Public Television on one of their channels available through PBTV. Lakeland’s broadcast schedule of the specific channel a game will b&e on is expected to be released by early October. Radio broadcasts of both home and away games can be heard on Mix 103.7 FM, PBTV Channel 974.

Date	Opponent	Time	PBTV Channel
October 15	North Dakota	7:37 p.m.	9, HD-509
October 16	North Dakota	7:07 p.m.	9, HD-509
October 29	Minnesota Duluth	7:37 p.m.	TBD
October 30	Minnesota Duluth	7:07 p.m.	TBD
November 12	Alaska-Anchorage	7:37 p.m.	TBD
November 13	Alaska-Anchorage	7:07 p.m.	TBD
November 26	Northern Michigan	7:37 p.m.	TBD
November 27	Northern Michigan	7:07 p.m.	TBD
December 3	Nebraska-Omaha	7:37 p.m.	TBD
December 4	Nebraska-Omaha	7:07 p.m.	TBD
January 21	St. Cloud State	7:37 p.m.	TBD
January 22	St. Cloud State	7:07 p.m.	TBD
February 18	Colorado College	7:37 p.m.	TBD
February 19	Colorado College	7:07 p.m.	TBD
February 26	at North Dakota	3:37 p.m.*	64*
February 27	at North Dakota	3:37 p.m.*	64*
March 4	Minnesota	7:37 p.m.	9, HD-509
March 5	Minnesota	7:07 p.m.	9, HD-509

*Games scheduled to be broadcast on Fighting Sioux Sports Network (FSSN), PBTV Channel 64. PBTV customers must subscribe to PBTV Sports to receive FSSN broadcasts.

• Printable 2010-2011 PBTV BSU Schedules

AIM International Walleye Fishing Championship on Lake Winnibigoshish September 1-3

The 2010 AIM Championship returns to Lake Winnie, September 1-3 and is sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Telephone.

The Lake Winnie Area Resort Association welcomes the AIM International Walleye Championship™ back to "Lake Winnie" and is excited to once again showcase this fantastic fishery.

Like ALL AIM tournaments, the 2010 AIM International Walleye Championship™ will be won by the Pro Angler that catches and records the 21 biggest walleyes regardless of the slot restrictions. Lake Winnie is teeming with three to four pound walleyes that have been protected for years by slot limits. Plus there are plenty of illusive eight to ten pounders that can tip the scales in the Pro Angler's favor.

AIM Pro Anglers will qualify for the AIM International Walleye Championship™ by fishing at least one of the three AIM Pro Walleye Series™ events. Also qualifying to fish the AIM Championship event will be top ranked anglers from as many as 50 national/regional/local “Sanctioned” walleye tournament organizations from the U.S. and Canada. Details outlining this qualification process and a list of the “Sanctioned Series” tournament organizations can be found at www.aimfishing.com.
The qualifying field for this Championship is expected to exceed 100 boats. Payouts will be guaranteed to exceed 100% of Pro entry fees.

The AIM International Walleye Championship™ will be a three day event. The full field of boats (Professionals and Co-anglers) will fish the first two days. The Professional provides the boat and all the fishing tackle and bait for the day. Each day the Co-angler will be paired with a different Professional and have the opportunity to fish and learn fish catching techniques from some of the best walleye anglers in the world. The top Pro Anglers - based on cumulative weight over the first two days - will fish the third day of the Championship. The final day Pros will be paired with Co-anglers selected by a random drawing at the pre-event Rules Meeting.

• For more information visit www.lakewinnie.net or http://www.aimfishing.com/event_winnie_10.asp

Shriner’s Weekend at Bemidji State University Sept. 10-11

Paul Bunyan Telephone is a proud supporter of the 13th Annual Shriner’s Weekend at Bemidji State University September 10-11

Activities include a free screening clinic on Friday, along with Beaver Pride Luncheon, 9 hole golf tournament, and Fish Fry. Saturday is the Parade at 11 a.m., Tailgate party at Noon and the Shrine Football game with BSU taking on Augustana at 1 p.m.

For the complete schedule of events, click here.
For more information on the free screening clinic or parade, click here.

• View the complete schedule of events.
• Get more information on the free screening clinic or parade.

2010 Bemidji Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk is September 11

The 2010 Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk is Saturday, September 11 at the Boys & Girls Club in Bemidji. Registration is at 8 a.m. with the walk and program from 9 a.m. - noon. This year’s walk is in memory of Rachel Scott. In honor of loved ones a memory board will be available if you would like to share a picture or comments. All participants are encouraged to wear purple in honor of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Registration forms are available at Neilson Place, Birchaven, Havenwood, GoldPine, North Country Regional Hospital Gift Shop, or the Boys & Girls Club.

The Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk is sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Telephone.

• For more information, call Tammi Hagen at 333-6226.

Paul Bunyan Telephone invites you to the 2010 United Way Chili Cook-Off September 15th

The 19th Annual United Way Chili Cook-Off on Wednesday, September 15th from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Paul Bunyan Mall in Bemidji. Tickets are only $5 in advance or $6 at the door. There will be over 35 different chili’s to sample from local restaurants, businesses, and organizations and this year’s theme is Nursery Rhyme Chili Time. Sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Telephone, all proceeds of the United Way Chili Cook-Off go to the United Way of Bemidji Area.

• For more information, call 444-UWAY or visit the Bemidji United Way's website.

Free Content from MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, Nickelodeon, CMT, and Spike TV added to PBTV On Demand

PBTV On Demand has added more free content for you to enjoy from six different networks. You can now find programs from MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, Nickelodeon, CMT, and Spike TV under the FREE category.

To find PBTV On Demand, hit menu on your remote and go to PBTV On Demand.

If you do not have access to PBTV On Demand, contact us to see if it is available at your location. If it is available, we will install it at no charge to current PBTV customers for a limited time.

*Service is not available in all areas and some restrictions may apply. Call for details.

• PBTV On Demand Online Guide