Great - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
Great - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
Great - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
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March 2013<br />
Vol. 33, No. 4<br />
Editor<br />
Gail Knudtson<br />
Associate Editor<br />
Doug Snitgen<br />
Design Editor<br />
Cindy Zuker<br />
Publisher<br />
<strong>Michigan</strong> Electric<br />
Cooperative<br />
Association<br />
DEPARTMENTS<br />
12 15<br />
COLUMNS<br />
features<br />
24<br />
<strong>Michigan</strong> <strong>Country</strong> <strong>Lines</strong>, USPS-<br />
591-710, is published monthly,<br />
except August and December,<br />
with periodicals postage paid<br />
at Okemos, MI, and additional<br />
offices. It is the official publication<br />
of the <strong>Michigan</strong> Electric Cooperative<br />
Association, 2859 W. Jolly Rd.,<br />
Okemos, MI 48864.<br />
Subscriptions are authorized<br />
for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland,<br />
Cloverland, <strong>Great</strong> Lakes,<br />
HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest<br />
Energy, Ontonagon, Presque Isle,<br />
and Thumb electric cooperatives<br />
by their boards of directors. Subscriptions<br />
for nonmembers are<br />
$6 per year.<br />
Postmaster: Send all UAA<br />
to CFS.<br />
Letters to the editor should<br />
be sent to <strong>Country</strong> <strong>Lines</strong>, 2859 W.<br />
Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. Phone<br />
517-913-3531. Email: gknudtson@<br />
meca.coop.<br />
Association officers are Tony<br />
Anderson, Cherryland, chairman;<br />
Ken Swope, Midwest Energy, 1st<br />
vice chairman; Robert Schallip,<br />
Cloverland, 2nd vice chairman; Eric<br />
Baker, Wolverine Power, secretarytreasurer;<br />
and Brian Burns, PIE&G,<br />
past chairman. Craig Borr is president<br />
and CEO.<br />
Unsolicited letters, photos and<br />
manuscripts are welcome. <strong>Country</strong><br />
<strong>Lines</strong>, however, will not be responsible<br />
for their safe keeping or return.<br />
The appearance of advertising<br />
does not constitute an endorsement<br />
of the products or services<br />
advertised.<br />
Change of Address: Please notify<br />
your electric cooperative. See<br />
page 4 for contact information.<br />
4 Readers’ Pages<br />
Letters, mystery photo,<br />
Youth Leadership<br />
Council member<br />
16 Home Cooking<br />
Brunch recipes<br />
Christin McKamey &<br />
Our readers<br />
20 Wolverine Power*<br />
Improving transmission<br />
reliability a priority<br />
Nancy Tanner<br />
22 Safety<br />
Watch out for downed<br />
power lines!<br />
YOUR CO-OP<br />
Pages specific to your<br />
electric cooperative: 1,<br />
2-3, 6-7, 18-19, 22-23,<br />
back cover<br />
*Not in all editions<br />
12 Gardening<br />
The garden “buddy<br />
system”<br />
Kris Wetherbee<br />
14 Family<br />
Networking tips for<br />
college grads<br />
Linda Wacyk<br />
21 House & Home<br />
Get the facts before<br />
installing a solar<br />
water heater<br />
James Dulley<br />
24 Ramblings<br />
Blood and rumors<br />
Mike Buda<br />
On the Cover<br />
Residents from the African village of<br />
Morrumbala carry blackwood, which<br />
is especially valued for making musical<br />
instruments. A Cherryland Electric Co-op<br />
member and her family have boosted the<br />
village’s economy by helping to market<br />
blackwood and starting a sawmill.<br />
Photo Courtesy – Rachel Stivani<br />
<strong>Michigan</strong>’s Electric<br />
Cooperatives<br />
countrylines.com<br />
8 Our Energy<br />
Your grassroots power<br />
Megan McKoy-Noe<br />
10 Cover Story<br />
A co-op member and<br />
her relatives make a<br />
difference in Africa<br />
Kevin Cragg<br />
15 <strong>Michigan</strong>-made<br />
Jewelry with a past<br />
Kath Usitalo<br />
March 2013 | 1
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