September 2023 HomeWorks

You may not realize it, but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy. A WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system taps into the stored solar energy in your own backyard to provide savings of up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. That’s money in the bank and a smart investment in your family’s comfort. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn how to tap into your buried treasure.

LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

Allendale

Allendale Htg & Clg (800)327-1937

allendaleheating.com

Bad Axe/Ubly

Cutting Edge Htg & Clg (989)551-0986

Berrien Springs

Waterfurnace Michiana (269)473-5667 gogreenmichgeo thermal.com

Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231)796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com

Clifford Orton Refrig & Htg (989)761-7691

sanduskygeothermal.com

Hart Adams Htg & Clg (231)873-2665

adamsheating cooling.com

Indian River

M&M Plmb & Htg (231)238-7201 mm-plumbing.com

Lansing Candor Mechanical (517)920-0890 candormechanical.com

Lowell Arctic Inc. Htg. & Clg. (616)897-4213 heatingcoolingonline.com

Mancelona Top Notch Htg, Clg, & Geothermal (231)350-8052 Topnotchheatandair.com

Michigan Center Comfort 1/Air Serv of Southern Michigan (517)764-1500 airserv.com/southernmichigan/

Mt Pleasant Walton Htg & Clg (989)772-4822 waltonheating.com

Muskegon Adams Htg & Clg (231)873-2665 adamsheatingcooling.co

Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517)647-6906 esiheating.com

Sunfield Mark Woodman Plmb & Htg (517)886-1138 mwphonline.com

Traverse City D&W Mechanical (231)941-1251 dwmechanical.com

Geofurnace Htg & Clg (231)943-1000 geofurnace.com

and it isn’t just corn.

YOUR

Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark

EDITOR: Christine Dorr

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird

RECIPE EDITOR: Christin McKamey

COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd

PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association

Michigan Country Lines, USPS-591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933. Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors.

Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS.

Association Officers: Tom Sobeck, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks TriCounty Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; Craig Borr, president and CEO.

CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR: Michigan Country Lines

201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358 editor@countrylines.com

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please notify your electric cooperative. See page 4 for contact information.

The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Michigan Country Lines, Your Communications Partner

For more than 40 years, our co-op members have received Michigan Country Lines because it is the most effective and economical way to share information. Michigan Country Lines keeps members up-to-date about everything going on within their electric co-op. Issues contain news about co-op services, director elections, member meetings, and management decisions that members need to know about as owners of the co-op. The magazine also includes legal notices that would otherwise have to be placed in local media at a substantial cost. Sending Michigan Country Lines helps the co-op fulfill one of its essential principles—to educate and communicate openly with its members. The board of directors authorizes the co-op to subscribe to Michigan Country Lines on behalf of each member at an average cost of $4.15 per year, paid as part of members’ electric bills. The current magazine cost is 52 cents per copy. Michigan Country Lines is published, at cost, by the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association in Lansing. As always, we welcome your comments at editor@meca.coop.

#micoopcommunity

Instagram contest winner Capturing Michigan’s beautiful beach treasures @frankfort_moments (Kathy Smith)

6 HARTWICK PINES STATE PARK: EVADING THE AXE Featuring majestic trees over 160 feet tall, the park is both an inspirational sanctuary and a testament to the transformative power of human industry.

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN

Chocolate Desserts: decadent desserts that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

14 GREAT EDUCATION ON THE GREAT LAKES

The Great Lakes Maritime Academy, one of only six such schools in the country, prepares students for life at sea.

18 GUEST COLUMN Always Do the Right Thing: A GLE member shares his father’s words to live by.

MI Co-op Community

To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community

Instagram Contest

Use #micoopcommunity for a chance to be featured here and on our Instagram account. Win $100 for photos published!

Recipe Contest

See details on page 10. Vegetarian due Nov. 1. Win a $100 bill credit!

Guest Column

Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $200 for stories published. Visit countrylines.com/community to submit. Win $200 for stories published!

Mystery Photo

See details on page 18. Win a $100 bill credit!

homeworks.org

/homeworks.org

tricoenergy@homeworks.org

Portland office/Mail payments to:

7973 E. Grand River Ave.

Portland, MI 48875

Open 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday

Blanchard office:

3681 Costabella Ave. Blanchard, MI 49310

Open 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday

Night deposit box available at both locations.

Electric bill/account questions:

517-647-7554 or 1-800-562-8232

Pay by phone, anytime:

1-877-999-3395

Service questions/outages:

517-647-7554 or 1-800-848-9333

(24 hours for emergency calls)

Tri-County Propane:

1-877-574-2740

HomeWorks Connect

1-800-668-8413

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

District 1 — John Lord, Vice-Chairman

2276 Plains Rd., Leslie, MI 49251

517-974-2518 • jlord@homeworks.org

District 2 — Jim Stebbins

7139 Peddler Lake Rd., Clarksville, MI 48815

616-693-2449 • jstebbins@homeworks.org

District 3 — Luke Pohl, Chairman

15560 W. Hanses Rd., Westphalia, MI 48894

989-292-0427 • lpohl@homeworks.org

District 4 — Jake Borton

7543 E. Edgar Rd., Vestaburg, MI 48891

989-506-3404 • jborton@homeworks.org

District 5 — Theresa Sopocy

6996 E. Wilson Rd., Bannister, MI 48807

989-292-0295 • tsopocy@homeworks.org

District 6 — Ed Oplinger, Secretary-Treasurer

10890 W. Weidman Rd., Weidman, MI 48893

989-506-1639 • eoplinger@homeworks.org

District 7 — Shirley Sprague

15563 45th Ave., Barryton, MI 49305

989-382-7535 • ssprague@homeworks.org

Editor: Charly Markwart, CCC

Co-op Difference Starts With Seven Cooperative Principles

By Chris O’Neill, President/CEO

You may have noticed that one topic I often mention here in this column and elsewhere is the “Cooperative Difference.” I’m proud to lead a not-for-profit electric cooperative owned by the members we serve, dedicated solely to serving the needs of our local rural communities.

We saw a great example of the Co-op Difference at our new HomeWorks Park Parties this summer. These grassroots events throughout our local communities gave us the chance to speak directly to you, our memberowners, to get your insight on the matters affecting your Cooperative. As your CEO, I really enjoyed this opportunity, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.

More than 900 electric cooperatives serve over 20 million homes and businesses across rural America, and we’re all linked together by the Seven Cooperative Principles. Since we’re coming up on National Co-op Month in October, I thought this would be a good time to highlight these important principles that guide us in every decision we make and everything we do every day to serve you.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership: Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control: Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively set policies and make decisions. Representatives (directors) are elected from among and accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives like HomeWorks,

members have equal voting rights; every member has a voice and a vote!

3. Members’ Economic Participation: At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative; setting up reserves; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4. Autonomy and Independence: Cooperatives are autonomous, selfhelp organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

5. Education, Training, and Information: Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees to contribute effectively to the development of their organizations. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives: Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

7. Concern for Community: While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

Hartwick Pines State Park

Evading the Axe

By Yvette Pecha

Featuring majestic trees over 160 feet tall, the park is both an inspirational sanctuary and a testament to the transformative power of human industry.

Before being known for automobiles, Michigan was a primary hub in the logging industry. In fact, it was the nation’s leading lumber-producing state from 1860 until 1910. Logging—particularly that of pine trees—played a vital role in developing the country, but it devastated the landscape. It is estimated that less than 1% of the old growth forests that were here when European settlers arrived remain in the eastern U.S. However, there are still places where you can go and see the forest as those settlers did—majestic, towering, and seemingly infinite—and one of them happens to be in Grayling.

Hartwick Pines State Park features roughly 49 acres of old growth forest, which is the largest stand in the Lower Peninsula. Hillary Pine, the park’s historian, says it consists primarily of white/red pine and eastern hemlock trees that are anywhere from 350 to 425 years old. With heights of over 160 feet, the trees are a historic spectacle that have been drawing sightseers for almost 100 years. “We have a lot of generational visitors,” Pine said. “People who used to come here with their grandparents are now bringing grandkids of their own.” A question Pine hears a lot is “Where’s the big tree?”—a reference to the once tallest tree in the forest, the Monarch, which was a 155-foottall white pine that people earnestly hugged for photo ops. Sadly, the Monarch perished after a windstorm, but there are plenty of other old, giant trees waiting to have their pictures taken—and they have Karen Hartwick to thank for it.

Hartwick bought 8,000 acres of property that included the grove of old growth in 1927. She then donated the land to the state with the stipulation that it be a memorial to her late husband, Edward Hartwick, a lumberman who died of illness in World War I. The contract also dictated that no more trees would be cut, there would be a road to the park, a structure would be built in Edward’s memory, and a logging museum would be established. The park opened in

1928 and, with time, met all of Karen’s wishes. There is a museum that depicts life in a late 1800s logging camp, and the Hartwick Pines Memorial Building, a rustic, lodge-style building, pays tribute to Edward.

Other buildings on the property include a chapel that can be rented out for weddings and the Visitor’s Center— which is where you’ll find longtime park interpreter Craig Kasmer, who leads presentations and trail tours. Kasmer, who—like his parents before him— once hugged the Monarch, echoes Pine’s statement that the park is about family connection. He says one of his favorite things is meeting visitors who tell him they remember him from a tour they took when they were kids—many of them particularly remember him saying that not everything is a pine cone. “All conifers have cones, but pine cones are only on pine trees. There are also hemlock cones, spruce cones, fir cones, etc.,” he said. Kasmer says it’s important to make this distinction and for people to know the proper names of things. “If you know the name of something, you care for it more. You learn the name of that flower, the name of that bird, and you like it more and want to know more about it.” he said.

The park also features a 21-mile network of all-season trails perfect for walking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Pine says the 1.25mile Old Growth Forest Trail, which is paved and fully accessible, is the most popular, as visitors get to see the old growth trees up close. Other popular activities include birding (the evening grosbeak is one rare bird that can be seen); viewing other wildlife such as bobcats, deer, turkeys, otters, minks, foxes, and the occasional bear; and fishing, canoeing, or kayaking in the four lakes onsite. The two biggest of which—Bright and Glory—are named after Karen Hartwick’s father’s loghauling oxen team. The grounds also house a 100-site seasonal campground.

Whatever you come to the park for, prepare to be awed. Pine, who has been employed at Hartwick Pines for seven years, says she’s still amazed. “As a historian—knowing the effect that the logging era had on Michigan’s forest and the widespread devastation from cutting and fire—the fact that this small section of old growth remained is truly remarkable,” she said. “It’s a wonderful pocket where you can go see what most of northern Michigan used to look like.”

Visitor Center hours: Memorial Day–Labor Day: open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sept.–Oct.: open daily, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Nov.–April: weekends only, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Logging Museum hours: Memorial Day–Labor Day: open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

May, Sept.–Oct.: open daily, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Nov.–April: CLOSED

For more information: /HartwickPinesStatePark/

michigan.gov/dnr/places/ v-centers/hartwick

“It’s a wonderful pocket where you can go see what most of northern Michigan used to look like.”

Electrify Your Home

Whether you’re building new, planning a remodel, or retrofitting in stages, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative is committed to helping our members reduce carbon emissions and save money through home electrification. In addition to saving on energy costs, our Energy Optimization program provides financial incentives for electrification measures. Visit homeworks.org/eo to see the full Residential Electrification Guide.

Electrification and decarbonization

Electrification, the process of replacing appliances and equipment that use fossil fuels with technologies powered by electricity, is a strategy for achieving building decarbonization. Decarbonization is important because buildings are the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, representing 35% of total energy-related emissions (per the National Building Performance Standards Coalition).

While natural gas and propane will always emit carbon, electricity can be produced with renewable sources. HomeWorks serves its members with one of the largest renewable energy portfolios in the state. Over 20% of the Cooperative’s electricity comes from clean, renewable sources, and that percentage continues to grow.

Why go electric?

Lower carbon emissions: Reduce your carbon footprint.

Healthier home: Decrease indoor air pollutants that can cause asthma and other negative health effects.

Safety and peace of mind: Reduce the risk of carbon monoxide from inefficient combustion in your home.

More predictable utility bills: Electric rates are historically more stable than fossil fuel prices.

Lower operating costs: Efficient electric appliances and low-cost electricity add up to long-term savings.

Expand floor plan options: New construction homes have more flexibility due to the absence of gas connections and exhaust venting.

Electrification incentives from HomeWorks’ Energy Optimization program range from $40 to $1,500! For a complete list and to see the Residential Electrification Guide, visit homeworks.org/eo or call 877-296-4319.

Enter to win a $100 energy bill credit!

Submit Your “Celebrations” Photos By Sept. 20!

Each month, members will be able to submit photos on our website for our photo contest. The photo receiving the most votes is published here, along with some other selections from that month. Our September theme is Celebrations. Photos can be submitted through Sept. 20 to be featured in our Nov./Dec. issue.

To enter the contest, visit HomeWorks.org/photocontest. Enter your picture, cast your vote, and encourage others to vote for you, too. The photo receiving the most votes will be printed in an issue of Country Lines, along with some other favorites. If your photo is published in Country Lines during 2023, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of four $100 credits on your December 2023 HomeWorks bill!

MOST VOTES

1. Porches bring us together. Wonderful memories from 2009 of our children (now fully grown) and our loving golden (since passed). Heather Balcom, Shepherd

2. Shady spot to enjoy a cup of coffee. Debra Cook, Mt. Pleasant

3. Summer, on the road to Millbrook. Jennifer Lucas, Blanchard

4. Always the best view from here! Mandie Hoppes, Portland

5. Poolside oasis. Mike Veenema, Lakeview

6. Family cookout at the cabin. Patty Esch, Remus

CHOCOLATE DESSERTS

Decadent desserts that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Recipe Contest

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Vegetarian due Nov. 1

Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $100 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com , or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com

WINNING RECIPE!

MARSHMALLOW BROWNIES

Pamela Balcom, Great Lakes Energy

½ cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sugar

¾ cup flour

¼ teaspoon salt

½ bag mini marshmallows

1 cup nuts, optional

Frosting:

¼–¹/³ cup condensed or evaporated milk (can also use whole milk)

2 tablespoons butter

2 cups powdered sugar

¼ cup cocoa powder

¹/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla or mint extract (mint is our fave)

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, add ½ cup melted butter and blend in 2 tablespoons cocoa powder. In a small bowl, beat the eggs, vanilla, and sugar together. Add to the butter/cocoa mixture. Add the flour, salt, and nuts (if using) and mix together (do not add marshmallows).

Bake in greased (or lined with parchment paper)

8x8-inch pan for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and pour marshmallows on top and push down to melt them. To make the frosting, heat evaporated/ condensed milk and butter until melted. Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla/mint extract. Mix well. Pour over baked brownies and marshmallows. Allow to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes. Serve and watch them disappear!

Watch a video of this month’s winning recipe at micoopkitchen.com/recipe_ type/videos/

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER CHIP FUDGE COOKIES

Leslie Brasure, Alger Delta

¾ cup chopped walnuts

½ cup, plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

½ cup sweetened flaked coconut, lightly toasted

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, divided

4 teaspoons instant coffee crystals

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1½ cups sugar

4 large eggs

½ cup peanut butter chips (or butterscotch chips)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 largerimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Combine chopped walnuts, flour, toasted coconut,

baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and stir until well blended. Combine butter, unsweetened chocolate, and half of the chocolate chips in a heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until butter and chocolate are melted and smooth. Remove saucepan from heat. Whisk coffee crystals and vanilla extract in medium bowl until crystals dissolve. Add sugar and eggs. Using electric mixer, beat until mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Beat in melted chocolate mixture, then chopped walnut mixture. Stir in remaining chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Mound 2 tablespoons dough for each cookie onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake cookies until puffed and cracked but still soft in center, about 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 10 minutes. Using spatula, transfer cookies to rack and cool. Can be made 2 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature. Makes 28 cookies.

CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE

Linda Heintz, Great Lakes Energy

1 cup Guinness (dark beer)

½ cup butter, cubed

2 cups sugar

¾ cup baking cocoa

2 eggs, beaten

²/³ cup sour cream

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking soda

Frosting:

1 (8-ounce) package cream

cheese, softened

1½ cups confectioner's (powdered)

sugar

½ cup heavy whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper; set aside. In a small saucepan, heat beer and butter until melted. Remove from heat; whisk

in sugar and cocoa until blended. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla; whisk into beer mixture. In a medium bowl, combine the flour and baking soda; whisk into beer mixture until smooth. Pour batter into prepared 9-inch pan. Bake for 45–50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack, then remove sides of springform pan. To make the frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Add confectioner’s sugar and cream; beat until smooth (do not overbeat). Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Add frosting to the top of cake so that it resembles a frothy pint of beer (frosting dripping over sides). Makes 12 servings. This is a beautiful cake that stays moist for several days. Refrigerate leftovers.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE PIE

Kristine Brenner, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op

2 (3.4-ounce) packages chocolate pudding (NOT instant)

3½ cups milk

½ cup chocolate chips

2 tablespoons butter

1 baked pie shell

8 ounces Cool Whip

• grated chocolate, for garnish

In a medium bowl, combine the pudding mixture, milk, and chocolate chips. Stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil. Stir in butter. Cool 5 minutes, stirring twice. Pour into baked pie shell. Chill in refrigerator for 3 hours or more. Top with Cool Whip and garnish with grated chocolate before serving.

PERFECT FUDGE

Linda Roe, Alger Delta

1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips

1 (12-ounce) bag milk chocolate chips

1 (12-ounce) bag white chocolate chips

2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk

2–3 cups coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans, optional

1 (10-ounce) bag miniature marshmallows

Pour all chips and sweetened condensed milk in a large, heavy pot. Melt on low heat. Add nuts (if using) and mix until evenly coated. Cool slightly. Add marshmallows and mix well. Pour into a 9x13-inch pan lined with parchment paper. Smooth out, then cool completely.

Co-op Sends Students To Participate In Electric Cooperative Youth Tour

In June, HomeWorks was proud to send two exceptional high school students from within our service territory to participate in the 2023 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. Samantha Cowan of Stockbridge High School and Reagan Karasek of St. Johns High School represented the Cooperative as a part of the tour’s Michigan cohort, pictured above. This year’s five-day trip included a tour of the White House, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress; a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and the Ford Theater; a Washington Nationals baseball game; a scavenger hunt around the National Mall; and much more. Watch Country Lines for upcoming information on the 2024 Youth Tour; applications will open this winter!

Applications Are Open For 2023-24 Classroom Grants

Teachers, it’s time to apply for our 2023-24 Classroom S.T.E.A.M. Grants of up to $2,000! We’d love to support an innovative project in your classroom, so click the Community tab at HomeWorks.org to apply by Dec. 15!

Notice to Members of HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative

June 26, 2023, Open Member Meeting Results

The HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, at a special open meeting held June 26, 2023, in accordance with P.A. 167 and P.A. 95, unanimously elected for the Co-op to participate in the state of Michigan’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for the 2023-24 heating season.

For specific details of any HomeWorks tariffs or fees, please visit HomeWorks.org or call 800-562-8232.

Notice to Members of HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative

July 31, 2023, Open Member Meeting Results

The HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, at a special open meeting held July 31, 2023, in accordance with P.A. 167 and P.A. 95, unanimously elected to revise the Cooperative’s electric rates to meet the current and future financial needs of the Co-op.

For specific details of any HomeWorks tariffs or fees, please visit HomeWorks.org or call 800-562-8232.

Your Board In Action

Meeting in Portland on June 26, your board of directors:

• Completed an annual review of the Cooperative’s loan portfolio.

• Authorized management to increase the Co-op’s pole attachment fee to $14.75.

• Reviewed the results of an all-member survey that went out in early 2023.

• Reviewed and approved a new member request for petition form to coincide with Cooperative bylaw Section 2.16.

• Discussed and accepted Cooperative bylaw sections 2.17-2.19 and sections 3.1-3.2, as revised.

• Learned there were 116 new members in May.

• Acknowledged the May safety report, listing employee training as well as minor employee and public incidents involving electric, propane, or fiber optic.

• Acknowledged the May physical & cybersecurity report, noting that there were no security breaches or incidents to report for the month.

Meeting in Blanchard on July 31, your board of directors:

• In a special open member meeting, unanimously approved an electric rate adjustment to meet the current and future financial needs of the Cooperative.

• Elected District 1 Director John Lord to represent HomeWorks on the board of directors of the Co-op’s power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative.

• Selected Board Chairman Luke Pohl as the Co-op’s voting delegate for the upcoming annual meetings of

People Fund Grants

$2,000 To Support Local Residents In Need

Meeting remotely on July 6, our People Fund board made two grants totaling $2,000, including:

• $1,500 to Project Starburst in Big Rapids, for food pantry items; and

• $500 to the Community Drawers project in Ionia, to purchase basic needs items for clients.

the Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) and the Rural Electric Supply Cooperative (RESCO).

• Authorized management to revise the Co-op’s Schedule PSDS tariff, Schedule PSDS-C tariff, and Power Supply Cost Recovery Clause to begin billing the cost of power for primary service members as a direct passthrough cost, effective Aug. 1, 2023.

• Acknowledged that a change from contract rate to tariff rate for primary service member Carbon Green Bioenergy resulted in a $339,000 overcollection, and authorized the immediate refund of $170,000 to Carbon Green, with the remainder of the overcollection to be refunded at a future date.

• Discussed and accepted Cooperative bylaw sections 3.3-3.4 and sections 3.7-3.9, as revised.

• Learned there were 133 new members in June.

• Acknowledged the June safety report, listing employee training as well as minor employee and public incidents involving electric, propane, or fiber optic.

• Acknowledged the June physical & cybersecurity report, noting that there were no security breaches or incidents to report for the month.

Time Set Aside for Members to Comment Before Cooperative Board Meetings

The first 15 minutes of every board meeting are available for members who wish to address the board of directors on any subject. The next meetings are scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sept. 25 and Oct. 23 at Portland. Members who wish to have items considered on the board agenda should call 517-647-7554 at least a week in advance of the meeting.

How to Apply for a Tri-County Electric People Fund Grant

The Tri-County Electric People Fund provides grants to individuals and organizations in the Co-op’s service area for food, shelter, clothing, health, and other humane needs, or for programs or services that benefit a significant segment of a community. Write to 7973 E. Grand River Ave., Portland, MI 48875, for an application form and grant guidelines, or visit the People Fund page at HomeWorks.org.

Note: Applications must be received by Sept. 19 for the September meeting or by Oct. 24 for the November meeting.

The Great Lakes provide vital fresh water, a place to enjoy watersports or days lounging on the beach, gorgeous views, and a beautiful backdrop to family photos and selfies alike. However, the Great Lakes have an additional utility— as a classroom.

GREAT EDUCATION on the GREAT LAKES

By Emily Haines Lloyd

The Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA), a part of Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) that is located on its Grand Traverse campus in Traverse City, is one of only six maritime academies in the country. The other five, located in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas, are all part of educational programming that prepares individuals for careers as mariners, who are needed to operate large ships that carry steel, stone, agricultural products, sand, salt, oil, and other cargo. Other types of boats they can operate include military ships, research vessels, municipal ferries, tugboats, and dinner cruise ships.

The Great Lakes Maritime Academy began in 1969. It currently enrolls just 60 new cadets each year into its fouryear bachelor’s degree program—36 in the deck program and 24 in the engineering program. The program requires the standard 120 credits to

graduate with a bachelor’s degree— the GLMA coursework includes 80 maritime-related credits and 40 in general education.

Cadets in the deck program take classes in cargo, navigation, and ship business to learn skills like navigating the waters via the stars, calculating the stability of the ship, properly loading a ship, and handling ballast. In the engineer program, cadets take classes in electricity, steam, and diesel power so they can maintain the engines powering the vessels.

“The GLMA program is unique in that our program is about half the size of the other academies, ensuring students get personalized training,” said Admiral Jerry Achenbach, superintendent of GLMA. “Plus the bonus of a cohort system at a community college that has an ethos of working with firstgeneration college students, which means there is a lot of support for our nontraditional students.”

With the benefit of smaller class sizes and less expensive credit hours, the four full-time faculty and two staff members who teach are able to facilitate coursework that prepares students for life at sea. GLMA is also unique because, in conjunction with NMC’s culinary school, it is able to offer a dedicated track that prepares culinary students for galley work on commercial vessels or trade ships. They also earn their Coast Guard credentials alongside the full-time maritime students.

“NMC’s culinary program makes it possible for us to educate a truly unique demographic and prepare them for culinary careers at sea,” said Achenbach. “We’ve gotten feedback from HR departments who say that the food is better, the galley is cleaner, and food costs go down when they hire our graduates. That’s something we’re very proud of.”

Additionally, Achenbach notes they are proud that many veterans join their program after their service. In part, this is a big reason behind recent legislation that was introduced by Sen. Gary Peters, along with senators from the other states that host

maritime academies. The legislation would extend the current age limit on the Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program, which provides up to $32,000 in funding over four years to help offset the cost of tuition, uniforms, books, and living costs in exchange for enlistment in the U.S. Navy Reserve after students graduate.

“The SIP Program not only allows these great Americans to also serve as commissioned officers in the Navy's Strategic Sealift Officer Program upon graduation, but provides much-needed financial support. Senator Peters' initiative will allow nontraditional students from Michigan, as well as any state, to be eligible for this financial support,” Achenbach said. This legislation, known as the CADETS Act, was signed into law by President Biden earlier this summer.

Achenbach adds that sailing for a living does offer well-paying jobs and allows people a chance to see the world, but it’s not like other careers.

“It does have an element of adventure and is the furthest thing from a desk job,” said Achenbach. “But this is a lifestyle choice. It’s not for everyone.”

Achenbach acknowledges that many people don’t know about the academy’s existence and its impact on the maritime industry. That’s why he is always willing to speak with colleges or service organizations about both the program and the opportunities. Your organization can reach out to him at gachenbach@nmc.edu to learn more.

October Rate Increase Will Help Cover Rising Cost Of Service

By Chris O’Neill, CEO

As CEO of HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative, one of the things I am most proud of is that we provide our members with electricity that is over 99.95% reliable. As a not-for-profit co-op owned by the members we serve, we also work very hard to keep our electric rates as low as possible. Unfortunately, as with most things in today’s economy, the costs of providing electricity continue to rise. In order to adequately cover those increased costs and maintain the financial stability of the Co-op, while also continuing to provide you with the quality service you have come to expect from us, our board unanimously approved a rate increase at a special open member meeting on July 31. The rate adjustment will take effect Oct. 1.

I can assure you that the decision to increase rates is never taken lightly at your Cooperative. Over the past several months, our board of directors has carefully reviewed extensive financial information, including the results of our most recent third-party cost-of-service study conducted by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation. This data all pointed to the conclusion that a rate adjustment is necessary at this time in order to meet the current financial needs of the Co-op and achieve the long-term objectives laid out in Board Policy 403Long-Range Financial Management. These objectives include maintaining proper equity and the ability to return equity to our members as capital credits on a 25-year rotation.

The main driver behind the October electric distribution rate adjustment is the rising cost of maintaining a reliable electric system, from contractor and material costs to the expenses associated with hardening our system and keeping the rightsof-way around our lines clear of trees. Since these are fixed costs, the board opted to approve Co-op management’s recommendation to implement a portion of the rate increase into our availability charge for some rate classes. This will help us to more adequately cover the fixed expenses of providing electricity to members in those classes. For rate classes where the availability charge is already adequately covering the cost of service, the fixed charge will remain the same.

The remainder of the rate adjustment will go into the kilowatthour charge. The amount of the total adjustment will vary depending on a member’s rate class and how much it costs for us to serve that particular class. For residential members living

What Is An Availability Charge?

When you buy a vehicle, your monthly car payment is fixed, meaning you are required to pay the full amount regardless of how often you drove the vehicle that month. Our availability charge is similar to a car payment in that it is the fixed portion of the HomeWorks electric bill, designed to cover the expenses we must pay to maintain a distribution system to serve you, regardless of how much electricity you use. This includes the costs of operation, maintenance, and upgrade of equipment including poles, wires, and meters in order to ensure power is available whenever you turn your light switch on. The availability charge helps to ensure that all members are paying their fair share to maintain the system that provides them with electricity.

in a single-family dwelling, the monthly availability charge will increase from $31 to $33, and the per/kWh rate will rise from $0.1268 to $0.1337. For the typical residential member (using 835 kWh per month), this will result in an average monthly electric bill increase from $152.29 to $160.36, a 5.3% change.

We understand that this is not an insignificant increase, but it is necessary in order to keep up with rising costs and to continue providing you with reliable electricity. The adjustment also still keeps our monthly rates in line with our neighboring investorowned utilities and fellow Michigan co-ops. As a not-for-profit cooperative, you can rest assured that our rates are structured to align with the cost of serving you as efficiently as possible. You can also rely on the fact that, just as we have for the past 85 years, we will continue to work to make sure that your electricity will remain a great value for years to come. If you have any questions about our October rate adjustment, or if you are struggling to pay your bill, please feel free to give us a call at 800-562-8232. For your convenience, our full rate book is available to download at HomeWorks.org/rates.

Thanks in large part to our investment in the continual improvement of our electric system, your power was 99.95% reliable last year.

How Will The October Rate Adjustment Affect My Bill?

Note: Time-of-day (TOD) kWh rates listed in the chart above reflect the intermediate energy charge, unless otherwise noted. For on-peak and off-peak rate information, please see our rate book at HomeWorks.org/rates. For info on rate classes not listed here, please visit HomeWorks.org/rates.

Notice to Members of HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative

A Special Member Meeting is set for Sept. 25, 9 a.m., at the Cooperative’s Portland office

The board of directors will consider the item(s) listed below at its meeting on Sept. 25, 2023, to be held at the Cooperative office at 7973 E. Grand River Ave., Portland, Michigan. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and is open to all HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative members.

The session will begin with an opportunity for members to provide direct input to the board of directors without filing a formal request under the Cooperative policy. Interested members are asked to come to the lobby by 9 a.m. and request to speak to the board; staff will direct members to the meeting room. Time constraints on each member’s comments will be at the discretion of the board president, but members are asked to keep comments to less than five minutes.

The following item(s) will be discussed and considered:

1. Establishing the Cooperative’s Power Supply Cost Recovery (PSCR) factor for 2024. The PSCR factor refers to the rate to be charged to reflect power supply costs incurred but not included in the base rate. The PSCR factor, to be applied to the Cooperative’s retail membercustomers’ monthly kilowatt-hour use, represents the power supply costs established by the Cooperative in conjunction with Wolverine Power Cooperative. The factor is established annually and reviewed monthly.

Notice of changes or additions to the Cooperative’s rates or service rules shall be sent to all members, as required by P.A. 167, by publication in Michigan Country Lines at least 30 days prior to their effective date.

Participation: Any interested member may attend and participate in the meeting. The location of the board meeting site is accessible, including accessible parking. Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact HomeWorks Tri-County Electric at 800-5628232 at least a week in advance of the meeting to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance. Comments may also be made prior to the meeting date by calling CEO Chris O’Neill at 517-647-1284 or contacting him via email at coneill@homeworks.org.

Notice of the board meeting shall be sent to all members, as required by P.A. 167, by publication in Michigan Country Lines.

Mystery Photo

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Where In Michigan Is This?

Identify the correct location of the photo above by Sept. 20 and be entered into a drawing to win a $100 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community

July/Aug. 2023

in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/ August, September, and November/December.

By David Van Horn, a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member

M Always Do the Right Thing

y father, James Van Horn, was a very quiet man. I have no memory of ever having that one-on-one talk between father and son, as you see being depicted in the Hallmark-type movies. I do, however, have many memories of him setting the perfect example of what your fellow man should be doing on a daily basis.

On May 12, 1970, my grandfather, William Van Horn, died of a heart attack. I was 12 years old, the third in line of seven grandchildren. Dad was devastated at the loss of his father.

Two days later, May 14, Mom, Dad, and seven kids loaded up the station wagon and we were on the way to the funeral home when, two blocks away from our home, dad suddenly stopped the car. He got out of the car, walked to a newspaper box, put in a shiny dime, and took out one paper. He closed the box and repeated the process. We asked Mom what he was doing. She responded with, “I'm not sure, but whatever it is, it is important to him.” He did this seven more times, dropping a dime in the box each time. He came back to the car with nine newspapers.

Mom asked, “What are you going to do with all those newspapers?” He responded with, “I wanted you and each of the kids to have a copy of Dad’s obituary listed in the Indianapolis Star.“

I remember saying, “Why didn't you just drop one dime and take nine papers?” He responded with, “That box is part of a man's business. If I did that, I would be stealing from a man. Always do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do. If you live by this rule, the walk on the road of life will always be a much smoother one.”

I remember it like it was yesterday. Yes, I was only 12 years old, but it stuck, and it made a terrific impact on my life. Today, I am 65 years old and have always done my best to do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do.

I just finished my 28th year of teaching, 23 in Indianapolis and five in Walkerville, Michigan. For 28 years, my classroom motto has been those prophetic words that were spoken to me by my father 53 years ago, “Do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do.”

My father was a quiet man, but his actions always spoke louder than any words he could ever have spoken. James Van Horn was a great example to anyone who may have been watching.

Still today, students reach out to me, and make mention of the words I taught them years ago and say thank you for making the walk on the road of life a much more enjoyable one. I remind them to thank James Van Horn, my father.

About the author: David is an elementary teacher at Walkerville Public Schools. He taught for 23 years in Indianapolis, retired and moved to Bitely, Michigan. He got bored and went back to the classroom. He enjoys the outdoors——fishing, hunting, canoeing, kayaking, boating, riding his side by side, and much more. Spending time with his grandkids is the best.

Winner! Our Mystery Photo winner is Gloria Zalewski, a Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op member, who correctly identified the photo as the Holz-Brucke covered wooded bridge

HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK?

•Attaches to your home’s existing heating system, it does not replace it.

•Delivers 90% on average of your home’s heating needs and 100% of your home’s cooling needs.

• If you have a well and are heating with propane, fuel oil, electric, or wood, your current heating and cooling cost is likely greater than it would be to fully finance and heat & cool with a Well-Connect.

•Installs in one day, any time of year. No drilling or excavation is required.