Westelcom Communications recently announced it has joined the fight against Child Pornography with the New York Attorney General  (AG) Andrew Cuomo.  Westelcom has committed to preventing the use of their systems for the trafficking of child pornography and has signed an agreement with the AG setting forth the significant steps to anticipate and prevent the use of its services in such manner.

Westelcom shall create and use a hash-value library to automatically match, filter, and block and/or remove child pornography from all newsgroups made available to Westelcom customers, in addition to other steps to ensure the safety of children. Click here for more...

Westelcom President gets promotion to Watertown Chamber Chair

Paul Barton, Westelcom’s President, has been selected to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce for 2009. Mr. Barton previously served as the Chamber’s 2^nd Vice Chair for 2008.

There are many well-documented benefits to our communities and to each of us to choose local, independently owned businesses. We realize it is not always possible to buy what you need locally and so merely ask you to Think Local FIRST!

Top Ten reasons to Think Local - Buy Local - Be Local

1.    Buy Local -- Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community these include case studies showing that locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.)

2.    Support community groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses.

3.    Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit.  “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust

4.    Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

5.    Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community, provide the most jobs to residents.

6.    Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers. 

7.    Invest in community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

8.    Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.

9.    Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.  A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

10. Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!

JOINING THE TEAM...

Westelcom is proud to welcome Software Developer, Michelle Thomas to the team. Seth Crimmins, Network Operations Manager stated, “With Michelle’s experience and knowledge of software development she is going to be a great asset to the company.” Michelle recently moved to the Plattsburgh area with her husband and 3 children.   

Michelle’s experience will allow her to take software platforms and build applications that integrate functionality, thereby, enhancing overall efficiency throughout the company. By designing and developing product and service software, Michelle will be able to help develop online interfaces for customer order and trouble tracking, as well as stream line access to customer accounts and billing records which will results in greater efficiencies, cost reductions and ultimately savings and convenience to the customer.

 According to Michelle, “Westelcom is a great company! Everyone is friendly and supportive. The position I have is very challenging and I truly love it. I am looking forward to the long term challenges that have been laid out for me, and working for such a great company.”

 Michelle moved to the Plattsburgh area with her husband, Dr. Terrence Thomas. Michelle and Terrence have 3 children, Terrence III, 11, Brianna, 3 and Alexander, 20 months. When Michelle’s not at work she enjoys playing with her children, spending time with her husband, and reading Harry Potter books.