March 2023 GLE

COUNTRY LINES

Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR

ACTIONGLOW

Meet Your Director: Shelly Pinkelman

Meters Made Better

People Fund Helps Sandcastles

Children’s Museum Say “¡Hola!”

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Allendale

Allendale Htg & Clg (800) 327-1937

allendaleheating.com

Bad Axe/Ubly

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Berrien Springs

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

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Hart

Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665

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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

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Muskegon Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665

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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

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YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

#micoopcommunity Instagram contest winner

Where the shoreline meets the rainbow @morel_momma (Sherrie Sanville)

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.

6 REDHEAD DUCKS

Counting 25,000 ducks is all in a day’s work for the Straits Area Audubon Society.

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN Seafood Recipes: Healthy options from

14 THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR ACTIONGLOW At first they didn’t succeed ... but then the Porter brothers tried, tried, and tried again with great success!

18 GUEST COLUMN

For one HomeWorks member, tending his garden is a spiritual experience that conjures memories of his father.

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. Polish Favorites due April 1; One-Pan Meals due May 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!

under the sea.

/greatlakesenergy gtlakes.com /jointruestream

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Howard Bowersox, Chairman, District 8 219-670-0977 hbowersox@glenergy.com

Mark Carson, Vice Chairman, District 2 231-675-0561 mcarson@glenergy.com

Paul Byl, Secretary, District 7 231-861-5911 pbyl@glenergy.com

Dale Farrier, Treasurer, District 5 231-564-0853 dfarrier@glenergy.com

Janet Andersen, Director, District 6 231-690-4622 jandersen@glenergy.com

David Coveyou, Director, District 1 231-347-4056 dcoveyou@glenergy.com

Richard Evans, Director, District 3 231-883-3146 revans@glenergy.com

John LaForge, Director, District 9 269-623-2284 jlaforge@glenergy.com

Shelly Pinkelman, Director, District 4 989-390-6222 spinkelman@glenergy.com

PRESIDENT/CEO: Shaun Lamp 888-485-2537

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR/EDITOR: Brett Streby 231-487-1389 • bstreby@glenergy.com

BOYNE CITY HEADQUARTERS

1323 Boyne Ave. Boyne City, MI 49712

Call center hours:: 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m. M–F Phone: 888-485-2537 Email: glenergy@glenergy.com

Reflecting On A Year Of Growth

Shaun Lamp, Great Lakes Energy President/CEO

This month marks my one-year anniversary serving you as Great Lakes Energy’s president/CEO, and much like many of us do around the start of a new year, I wanted to pause for a moment to reflect on the past year and what lies ahead.

When I think about the past 12 months, the one word that keeps coming to mind is “growth.”

On a personal level, I’ve had to grow in many ways as I learned the ropes of my new role in the organization. I owe many thanks to the team here at GLE, our outstanding board of directors, and all of you, our members, for helping make the transition as smooth as possible.

As an organization, GLE also grew in many ways during the past year. We’ve added more members, and celebrated the completion of renovation and expansion work at our Boyne City headquarters. Our Truestream fiber internet network has grown to more than 16,000 Truestreamers enjoying reliable highspeed internet. We’ve also grown in other ways. We’ve begun replacing our outdated electric meters with a new generation of meters. Taking advantage of significant technological advancements, these new meters will improve reliability, streamline outage reporting and restoration efforts, and allow for more flexibility in our billing and rate structures in the future. Our revised energy efficiency program, Energy Wise, also evolved a bit with modifications in some of the incentives offered.

With the organization making so many efforts to grow along with the technology of the times, it seems only fitting that this year we will start offering an online voting option for board of directors elections.

Of course, the past year has also presented us with challenges, such as supply chain issues and many economic uncertainties. From rising prices on just about everything to growing concerns about the reliability of regional power grids, we are working hard to maintain the high level of service our members have come to expect amid an ever-changing business landscape.

Despite these challenges, during the past year, what’s grown most of all is my appreciation and gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our top-notch staff and board of directors, and the opportunity to serve our members.

I’m excited about GLE’s future and look forward to marking many more milestones in the months and years ahead.

Change of Address: 888-485-2537, ext. 8924

TO REPORT AN OUTAGE: Call 888-485-2537 or login to your account at gtlakes.com. Great Lakes Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

“Despite these challenges, during the past year, what’s grown most of all is my appreciation and gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our top-notch staff and board of directors, and the opportunity to serve our members.”

Electric Capacity Concerns Don’t Take A Holiday

Winter Storm Elliott was a nightmare for millions, causing delayed flights and widespread power outages. Behind the scenes, the energy industry faced an even bigger issue threatening to bring down the power grid: a lack of energy supply.

Since last summer, we have been highlighting the growing risk of rolling blackouts in Michigan. As electric demands continue to grow, and the industry continues to retire many of its workhorse power plants, the electric grid is less able to ride through the peak demand that comes with extreme weather. Winter Storm Elliott was yet another warning of just how vulnerable the grid is becoming.

The storm, although not particularly cold by Michigan’s standards, resulted in record energy demand and caused severe strain on the eastern power grid, particularly in parts of Tennessee and the Carolinas. Regional power grid operators called on customers to voluntarily conserve energy, and in some areas needed to initiate rolling blackouts on Christmas Eve.

In Michigan, our energy supply also was threatened because of the interconnected nature of the electric grid.

At our co-op, the regional grid operator was one step away from requiring us to ask all our members to reduce their energy consumption through measures such as turning down the heat, turning off unnecessary lights, and taking other conservation measures to prevent rolling blackouts. Fortunately, we didn’t have to call on you, but we were uncomfortably close to needing to take this step.

The reality is that while our power supplier, Wolverine, has sufficient generation to meet the needs of our members,

we are connected to a larger grid that is currently operating close to capacity in terms of meeting the demand for electricity. That’s why we continue to advocate for time, transmission, and technology to ensure reliability through the clean energy transition.

We are sharing this information with our members so that you can understand the current state of the grid and the challenges it is facing. If we do have to ask you to conserve electricity in a tight supply situation in the future, we hope this will provide some context and help you understand why it is important. We, as a co-op, will continue to work towards a sustainable and reliable energy future for all our members.

To understand how a cold front can impact electric supply in Michigan, you have to understand how connected our power grid is. Our state is a part of the Eastern Interconnect grid, where electricity may flow from one region to another to balance supply and demand.

Redhead Ducks

Flock To The Straits Of Mackinac

By Emily Haines Lloyd

When a large mass of black suddenly appeared in the Straits of Mackinac, motorists on the bridge called the Mackinac Bridge Authority to report a potential oil spill. But to the bridge personnel and bird lovers who follow such things, they knew it wasn’t an environmental disaster, but rather a natural wonder.

Every winter, masses of birds flock from their northern habitats to seek warmer weather for the cold season ahead. Many of them take a rest in the Straits of Mackinac, including the redhead duck. What is normally a floating group, or raft, of about 7,000 made a bigger splash by topping out at about 25,000 during this year’s annual Christmas bird count.

“We’ve never seen anything like this,” said Straits Area Audubon Society member Steve Baker. “We certainly see peaks some years, but this was an explosion that was really remarkable to witness.”

Redheads are a species of diving duck known for massing in groups that reach thousands to tens of thousands during their early winter migration. Large redhead flocks aren’t necessarily uncommon in the region this time of year, but the shining cinnamon red heads of the males in the sun were a remarkable sight to see.

The numbers collected during the Christmas season are a part of a nationwide effort by conservation groups who identify an area about 15 miles across, congregate into teams for a day, and compile numbers. Baker was in the group escorted across the Mackinac bridge and permitted to count and photograph the ducks for the Christmas Bird Count.

“This goes back to the 1900s when we started seeing birds, like the passenger pigeon, disappear,” said Baker. “Beyond it being a valuable activity that tracks numbers and migration patterns, it’s great fun to be outdoors with people who share your passion.”

The Straits Area Audubon Society actually takes a much broader approach to its interests and activities. While bird lovers flock to the organization, the breadth of what they are involved in reaches beyond their feathered friends.

The focus of the Straits Area Audubon Society is to “educate the community, including its children, about conservation and enjoyment of the natural world with emphasis on the local natural communities of wildlife,” per its mission statement.

A retired veterinarian, Baker came to the organization as many do. “I was a birder who loved being outdoors and really enjoyed being around a good core group of people. But there’s a lot more to the Audubon Society than just birds,” he said.

The society also spawned the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch, a monarch butterfly banding program, and an extensive educational arm.

“Kathy Bricker was a dynamic leader and member of our group who really kicked off the educational part of our programming,” said Baker. “She brought so much energy and information to our schools and community.”

Bricker, who passed away from ovarian cancer last spring, was a former president of the Straits Area Audubon Society, the founder of Earth Week Plus programs, and the creator of the Snakes Alive program that educated kids throughout Northern Michigan about the outdoors. Bricker’s passion and purpose still resonates in the environmental and wildlife community in Michigan. Her efforts show that a single person can impact how generations to come will see, interact, and potentially fall in love with nature.

“Being part of the Audubon Society and seeing new people join for the same reasons I did when I started is encouraging,” said Baker. “We’re one of the largest citizen science programs out there that hope to keep the outdoors an amazing place for exploration and discovery.”

For more information, visit: straitsareaaudubon.com

/StraitsAreaAudubonSociety

“We’ve never seen anything like this. We certainly see peaks some years, but this was an explosion that was really remarkable to witness.”

Meters made better: GLE Rolling Out The Next Generation Of Meters

Q: How do the new meters work?

A: Each meter is equipped with a small, low-power radio transmitter that emits a signal once per hour, securely transmitting usage and other data to a nearby antenna which then sends the data to GLE’s servers using fiber or cellular. On average, the meters will emit an RF signal for less than one minute per day.

Q: What does “low power” mean?

A: For comparison, the RF exposure from a cell phone is 12,677 times greater than from these RF meters.

Q: When will these meters be installed?

In our ongoing effort to ensure the best reliability and service for our members, Great Lakes Energy recently began what will be a years-long effort to replace nearly all the electric meters on our grid with the next generation of high-tech devices.

The new meter rollout began in December, following many months of research and testing.

The new meters use radio frequency, or RF, to communicate information back to your cooperative. These meters will replace existing GLE meters, which use outdated technology to transmit data. The older system is nearing the end of its life expectancy, and the meters and other equipment to support it are being phased out or discontinued in favor of newer technologies.

Beyond the practical need, the new meters offer many other benefits:

• Usage data is broken down into 15-minute increments that will further help members evaluate and adjust their energy usage.

• Automatic outage notification means there won’t be a need for members with the new meters to let GLE know when their power is out.

• More precise outage data, which will help expedite restoration efforts.

• Remote disconnects and reconnects.

• Alarms for high and low voltage and other abnormalities, which will allow problems to be resolved faster.

• Capability for future rate and billing options.

A: GLE plans for all meters in the system to be upgraded to the new RF meters in the coming years. How long this will take will depend on many variables. GLE will use automated phone messages to notify members in advance that crews will be working in their area changing electric meters.

Q: Can I opt out of having an RF meter?

A: Members may opt-out of having an RF meter installed at their home. Members choosing this option will have a nonstandard meter installed and will be assessed a one-time $150 setup fee and then an ongoing $50 monthly fee to help offset the costs of sending a staff member out to read the meter each month.

Modernization efforts such as these new meters are yet another way GLE ensures the best service and value for its members. More information on the RF meter upgrade is available online at gtlakes.com/faq/.

GLE crews install a communications antenna site as part of the new RF meter system upgrade.

Enter to win a $200 energy bill credit!

Submit Your “Bikes” photos By March 20

Each month, members can submit photos on our website for our photo contest. The photo with the most votes is published here, along with other selections. Our March theme is Bikes. Photos can be submitted by March 20 to be featured in the May issue.

How To Enter

Enter the contest at gtlakes.com/photocontest/. Make sure to vote and encourage others to vote for you, too. The photo receiving the most votes will be printed in an issue of Michigan Country Lines along with other favorites. All photos printed in the magazine in 2023 will be entered into a drawing to win a $200 bill credit in December 2023.

MOST VOTES!

1. Sophie, fresh as a daisy, Pam Townsend and Mike Esson, Frederick

2. The abominable whoodle, Mary Kay Kuerth, Montague

3. Morning Lucy kisses, Stacy Liberty, Newaygo

4. Gideon Baby, Tammy Fettig, Petoskey

5. What? Move your feet, lose your seat! Maureen Weatherby, Baldwin

6. Boys just wanna have fun, Elizabeth Coats, Petoskey

SEAFOOD RECIPES

Recipe Contest

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Polish Favorites due April 1; One-Pan Meals due May 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!

SMOKED STEELHEAD WHITE CHILI

Ronald Andres, Great Lakes Energy

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound smoked steelhead trout (or smoked salmon), skin and bones removed, flaked into ½ -inch pieces

2 (15.5-ounce) cans great northern beans (use liquid)

2 (15.5-ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed

1 (14.5-ounce) can chicken broth

2 Anaheim peppers (braised, then seeds and skin removed), diced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning

1 quart heavy whipping cream

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, celery, and garlic in the hot oil until tender. Add smoked steelhead, great northern beans, cannellini beans, chicken broth, Anaheim peppers, cumin, coriander, oregano, and lemon pepper into the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors have blended, about 30 minutes. Stir in the whipping cream. Simmer until the whipping cream is hot, but do not boil.

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

SLOW COOKER SEAFOOD CIOPPINO

Kathy Shoemaker, Great Lakes Energy

1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

2 medium sweet onions, chopped

3 celery ribs, chopped

8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced

½ green bell pepper, chopped

1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice

1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

½ cup dry white wine

1 cup vegetable broth

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon olive oil

1–2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1 bay leaf

½ teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 pound cod or haddock fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 pound uncooked shrimp (41–50 per pound), peeled and deveined

1 (6-ounce) can chopped clams, undrained

1 (6-ounce) can lump crabmeat, drained

1 pound scallops, optional

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

• sourdough bread slices

• garlic aioli mustard

In a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker, combine the first 16 ingredients (do not add seafood yet). Cook, covered, on low for 4–5 hours. Stir in seafood. Cook, covered, 20–30 minutes longer or until fi sh just begins to flake easily with a fork and shrimp turns pink. Remove bay leaf. Add parsley and stir. Toast slices of sourdough bread. Spread garlic aioli mustard over toasted slices of bread and place in a bowl. Spoon seafood cioppino over the bread. Bon appétit!

SALMON SALAD

Dave Neitzke, Great Lakes Energy

1 bag salad greens

• thinly sliced red onion rings

1 (4-ounce) can sockeye (red)

salmon

1 sliced hardboiled egg

1 tablespoon capers (salt dried, if possible)

Vinaigrette Dressing:

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

(1 large)

1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Layer the lettuce on a plate. To the bed of lettuce, add slices of red onion, salmon pieces, egg slices, and capers. To prepare the dressing, combine all ingredients and whisk to emulsify. Drizzle salad with dressing. Best served with warm crusty garlic bread and a cold lager.

SEAFOOD RUB

Sherry Cole, HomeWorks Tri-County

¹⁄ ³ cup table salt

¹⁄ ³ cup paprika

¼ cup garlic powder

¼ cup freshly ground white or black pepper

3 tablespoons onion powder

2 tablespoons cayenne pepper, or to taste

2 tablespoons dried thyme

2 tablespoons dried basil

2 tablespoons dried oregano or winter savory

Thoroughly combine all ingredients in a blender, food processor, or mixing bowl, and pour the mixture into an airtight container. This spice mix will keep for years. Makes 2 cups. When preparing seafood, liberally sprinkle the seasoning on the entire piece of fi sh, on both sides, and gently rub into fi sh. Then bake at 350 F, broil, or fry in a pan until fi sh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

The Language Of Learning

Sometimes the best inventions and ideas grow out of our everyday experiences.

That’s exactly how the newly opened ¡Hola! Speaking Spanish program at the Sandcastles Children’s Museum in Ludington came to be.

In October, Sandcastles Children’s Museum received a $5,000 grant from Great Lakes Energy’s People Fund that paid for much of the costs for the new program.

Kristin Korendyke, who was the museum’s founding board president until 2012 when she became the executive director, came up with the idea from experiences in her personal life.

Kristin said the idea for the “¡Hola!” program came from watching two family members’ efforts to learn Spanish. She explained that when her teenage daughter struggled to learn Spanish in school, she enlisted some tutoring help from a couple Kristin knows through the museum, Miguel and Ana Quinteros, who are from El Salvador. Around the same time, she saw her niece, who is 3, learning Spanish through programming at her daycare. She noted that for her niece, the process seemed much easier and more relaxed because she’s also still learning English.

“I was making these observations about how, for a teenager, there might be more embarrassment about not saying something right. But for a 3-year-old, they’re still learning English. So, mispronouncing and experimentation is no big deal,” Kristin said. “So, I thought we’ve got to do

some sort of introduction to Spanish while we have these really young children here. They are here to play, but at that age, play is learning.”

Armed with that inspiration, she set out to develop a program that integrates a Spanish-teaching experience into the museum’s many exhibits and programs. The primary element of the ¡Hola! program is 10 small speakers positioned throughout the building. At the press of a button, each speaker will play a recording of a person speaking a Spanish phrase that is then repeated in English. The recording on each speaker is related to the exhibit where the speaker is located. For example, the speaker located in the art exhibit area might have a recording that says, “¿Cuál es tu color favorito? … What is your favorite color?” Signs placed next to each speaker have the printed transcript of the phrase recorded on the speaker. The program also includes placing Spanish labels on items throughout the museum. Staff is also being trained with various responses to Spanish phrases, which Kristin said is aimed at eventually setting up dialogues.

Kristin also noted that the speaker system is very flexible. The recordings can be changed periodically to integrate with different exhibits. This allows visitors to be exposed to many different sets of phrases over time. Miguel, who lent his voice to the original recordings, has agreed to record more content for the speakers as needed.

The program’s final piece is a First Saturday Spanish Story Time that will take place the first Saturday of each month. For these events, Ana has agreed to come to the museum to read stories in Spanish and lead fun activities celebrating Hispanic culture.

Inspiración inesperada (Unexpected inspiration)

Kristin said an unexpected additional benefit to the program has cropped up as the program was being developed. She explained that as she was doing research for the ¡Hola! program, she reached out to Angie Taylor of Scottville, who works extensively with area Spanishspeaking migrant populations.

“She was so excited about our program, which gave me a whole new way of looking at it,” Kristin said. “Most of the people who come to the museum are English speakers, but Angie sees Spanish speakers who are learning English. It illustrates how wonderfully reversible this program is.”

Based on this exchange, Angie has agreed to donate books to the museum’s program, and in return, Kristin is providing passes to the museum to encourage migrant families to take advantage of the program to help them learn English.

“GLE’s People Fund has been awesome to us from the get-go. We’ve really appreciated that partnership. It’s allowed us to create a lot of very cool exhibits and programs.”

Mucho más (Much more)

Just like the rest of the Sandcastles Children’s Museum, the ¡Hola! program is built around the idea that children learn best by experiencing things through play. The museum has 26 exhibits that range from a baby nursery to 3D printing. Some exhibits focus on creativity, theater, and art, while others focus on life skills and science. Much like the ¡Hola! program, some of the exhibits grew out of local concerns. One example is a water safety exhibit demonstrating how waves work and the importance of wearing life jackets. Kristin said that exhibit, which was developed in the wake of several drownings in nearby Lake Michigan, is another example of an exhibit that will use ¡Hola! program speakers to encourage children to “Usa tu chaleco salvavidas.” (Wear your life jacket.)

Kristin said Sandcastles Children’s Museum also tries to encourage parents to take part in the exhibits and activities with their children. The museum is geared toward children ages 2–10 and offers a volunteer program for teens.

The Sandcastles Children’s Museum has benefitted from several People Fund Grants over the years, which Kristin said has made a big difference for the organization.

“GLE’s People Fund has been awesome to us from the get-go,” she said. "We've really appreciated that partnership. It’s allowed us to create a lot of very cool exhibits and programs.”

Sandcastles Children’s Museum is located at 129 East Ludington Avenue in Ludington. For information about programming, exhibits, hours, how to donate to the organization, and much more, visit sandcastleschildrensmuseum.com.

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR

ACTIONGLOW

By Emily Haines Lloyd

In 2012, Dakota, now 26, and Garret, now 23, Porter shot an application video to appear on ABC’s ”Shark Tank,” a reality TV show that features entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to a panel of potential investors or “sharks.”

The brothers’ product—an aftermarket LED light system for action sports equipment like snowboards, surfboards, and skateboards—ended up beating out the initial 40,000 applicants and they had hopes of ending up on the show with an investment deal. This is where many “small-town dreamers make good” stories begin, but that’s not quite the case for the brothers’ company, ActionGlow.

The Porters’ story actually starts back in 2012 when the two were just 16 and 13 years old. The Cherryland Electric Cooperative members, like many from the Traverse City area, were avid snowboarders and were looking for a way to trick out their boards to stand out on the hill. They imagined an LED light system that could be attached to their boards, making an impact on their evening runs. There wasn’t anything like it on the market, so the Porters ordered parts, tinkered around, and took their lighting systems out for a trial run a couple of weeks later.

“We went to Mt. Holiday for the first run,” said Dakota. “It felt like everyone on the whole mountain stopped to look. When we hit the bottom, a group gathered, asking where they could buy one.”

That would have been enough for many teens, just the look of approval and high-fives from their friends, but it wasn’t for the Porters.

“ We tell young people that if they have an idea—to go ahead and do it now. There’s so much to learn and so much less to lose. Take the risk because being young is the perfect time to fail.” —Garret Porter

Owners of ActionGlow, Dakota (left) and Garret Porter (right).

The former Eagle Scouts took their fundraising skills and raised just enough to apply for an LLC and begin the process of patenting their idea. In 2013, the teens took their revised design online. Within 48 hours, the entire stock they’d built sold out.

In the meantime, ”Shark Tank” was gaining popularity, and the brothers made their first audition tape in 2012 for Season 4. They didn’t make it onto the show, but a year and a half later, a producer checked in on the brothers, who were busy taking their product to trade shows and filling orders. They were asked to apply again for Season 6. The brothers obliged, only to get the call that they wouldn’t be moving forward.

“It was disappointing,” said Garret. “But we knew this wasn’t the end of our business, just this particular opportunity.”

In 2016, a familiar ring from Shark Tank producers came with a request to apply a third time for Season 8. And you know what they say about the third time being the charm?

“We were so excited. We knew this was it. We even took our parents to dinner to celebrate,” Garret said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t.”

This kind of disappointment might plant more than a seed of doubt for many entrepreneurs, let alone two young people getting their feet wet in the business waters, but not the Porters.

“We watched our dad and mom work hard their entire lives,” said Dakota. “We never thought this would be easy. We just knew to keep working.”

As the brothers made connections in the business community and with local investors, their business continued to grow. Their product was being refined, allowing them to network with professional athletes and brand sponsors.

After high school, ActionGlow became the brothers’ full-time focus. But Garret hadn’t forgotten about the Shark Tank dream. In 2022, he filled out the application again without telling his brother. A couple of months later, a familiar email came from the show. Garret had to come clean to Dakota, and the two decided—this would be their last try. But much like the grit that comes with action sports—they gave it one big, final shot. That’s what landed the Porters on Season 14 of Shark Tank, eventually leading to the backing from “shark” Robert Herjavec, who made a $200,000 investment and took a 30% stake in the company. This was 10 years after their first audition tape.

“We don’t know what was different this time. Maybe we paid our dues,” said Garret. “But for sure, we tell young people that if they have an idea—to go ahead and do it now. There’s so much to learn and so much less to lose. Take the risk because being young is the perfect time to fail.”

more products and information, visit actionglow.com

Let The Savings Flow

Energy Wise program can help cut your water heating costs

Did you know that water heating is the second-highest energy use in most homes? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating water accounts for about 15–20% of a typical home’s energy use. Fortunately, more efficient products are now available that can help cut those costs and many are eligible for rebates through Great Lakes Energy’s energy efficiency program, Energy Wise.

Heat pump water heaters

Heat pump water heaters work just like traditional electric resistance or gas-fueled tank water heaters, except that they use heat extracted from the air or ground outside to heat the water. Most are hybrid units, which means they also have a typical electric heating element to help heat water during high-demand periods.

Heat pump water heaters, which can be stand-alone units or integrated as part of a home heating and cooling heat pump system, can be two to three times more energy efficient than

standard electric resistance water heaters. The Energy Wise program offers a rebate of up to $1,200 for the purchase and installation of a qualified heat pump water heater.

Heat pump water heaters aren’t right for all situations, so consult your plumbing contractor to see if one is right for your home. The Energy Wise program also offers a $100 rebate for the purchase of a qualified new electric water heater.

For more information about rebates available through the Energy Wise program, including links to download and submit forms, visit: gtlakes.com/ energy-wise/

Statement of Nondiscrimination

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877- 8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_ filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Shelly Pinkelman, Community Builder

Whether it’s structures or communities, for decades, Shelly Pinkelman’s life has centered around building things.

Shelly represents GLE members in Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties as the District 4 representative on the GLE Board of Directors. In January of 2021, the board appointed Shelly to serve the remainder of the term left vacant with the December 2020 passing of board member Larry Monshor. That term expires in 2023. Shelly is planning to seek reelection.

Although Shelly may be a relative newcomer to GLE’s board, attending board meetings of many other types is nothing new to her. She has served on the Crawford County Board of Commissioners for 24 years. For a portion of that time, she served as the board chairperson. She has also been active in the Michigan Association of Counties, serving in the past as a board member and president. She has also served on her local health department board and several other boards and committees.

Shelly owned and operated a residential and commercial construction company for more than 20 years before her recent retirement from the business. Since 2014, she has served as the building and zoning administrator and master planner for Crawford County’s Frederic Township.

Although Shelly has been a GLE member for more than 40 years, her interest in serving on GLE’s board grew out of discussions taking place in the township about the availability of electric capacity to support potential business operations.

A little more than a year after joining the board, Shelly had completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Director Gold Program. The designation represents the highest level of training that can be earned through the organization’s director education program.

“The dynamics of a co-op are very different from a government agency,” Shelly said. “But they both have the same goal—helping people in their communities.”

Community building

About five years ago, Shelly was one of the founding members of the Friends of Frederic, a nonprofit organization which raises money to support community projects. The group does most of its fundraising through an annual golf outing, euchre tournaments, and other events sprinkled throughout the year. To date, the group has helped with fundraising for a Frederic Township pavilion project, a children’s splash pad, a music stage, and a local senior center building project, among other projects.

Shelly said she’s enjoyed serving on the board, especially the camaraderie among the board members. She also said she’s excited about the new technologies and growth GLE is seeing, especially with the Truestream fiber internet service.

In her free time, Shelly enjoys spending time with family and her pets. She especially enjoys regular visits with her two grandchildren in Maryland—the younger of whom was just born in December.

Mystery Photo

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Where In

Michigan Is This?

Identify the correct location of the photo above by March 24 and be entered into a drawing to win a $100 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community

Nature Memories

By John Haas, a HomeWorks Tri-County Cooperative member

January 2023 Winner! Our Mystery Photo winner is Jason DeLille, a Midwest Energy & Communications Cooperative member, who correctly identified the photo as Michigan State University Beaumont Tower in East Lansing. Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/ August, September, and November/December.

G

rowing up, our family always kept a flower garden. It was filled with roses, dahlias, and peonies. The Peace rose was my dad’s favorite. He was a WWII veteran, and that rose was named for the celebration of the war ending.

He often traveled for his job and asked me to be the keeper of the garden. I mixed the soil with peat and fertilizer and sprayed the insecticides. I sang to those plants; a chorus of colors sang back. Dusk stepped up the deep-root water soaking. Birds danced in the mist. This garden gave me inspiration for my studies in art and design.

We lived in central Michigan at the edge of the hardwood tree line made by glacier—glaciers over a thousand feet in height. It is a vast land of smooth stones and forest that stops abruptly and then turns to flat, fertile, sandy lands, where sugar beets and potatoes are grown and processed. Evening breezes send the perfume of the potatoes, the beets, and the sulphur of the oil wells. There is a calming rhythm of a well’s pumping, “haw hee...pap pap pap.” A small sludge pond shimmers with a film of blue-green iridescence. Raccoon tracks a hint of last night’s activities.

Come spring, a few abandoned apple trees open their soft, white blossoms. The summer brings sunflowers, purple thistles, and cattails, and intricate colored geometries to our beloved landscape. These forms were the models for my botanical sketch studies. Memories became companions.

This evening I will be tending my garden. Dusk blends its forms and colors. From the corner of my eye, I might catch a flutter and hear the barred owl high in the pines, “whoo choo ha whoo.” The songbirds and purple martins will flit about in the spray of the sprinklers. Later the bats will take over the landscape. Spiders will reweave their webs in the glistening wet grass. My dad, rest in peace, will have a presence there.

About the Author: John is a retired architect and designed prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan for 12 years in the war. He enjoys painting watercolors and cooking with his wife, Mary Louise.

to submit.

“There is no better designer than nature”

Alexander McQueen

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A little change for the better

Sometimes a little change can make a big difference. That same philosophy is at the heart of Great Lakes Energy’s People Fund program.

At an average cost of about 50 cents per month, GLE members who round up their monthly electric bill are making a little change go a long way.

In 2022, the People Fund awarded nearly 100 grants worth more than $258,000 to local nonprofit organizations throughout the cooperative’s 26-county service area.

To enroll in the People Fund:

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