Notice to Members of HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative

September 2010Vol. 30, No. 9EditorGail KnudtsonDesign EditorCindy ZukerAd AssistantJennifer HansenExecutive EditorMichael BudaPublisherMichael PetersMichigan Country Lines, USPS-591-710, is published monthly,except August and December,with periodicals postage paidat Okemos, MI , and additionaloffices. It is the official publicationof the Michigan Electric CooperativeAssociation, 2859 W. Jolly Rd.,Okemos, MI 48864.Subscriptions are authorizedfor members of Alger Delta, Cherryland,Cloverland, Great Lakes,HomeWorks Tri-County, MidwestEnergy, Ontonagon, Presque Isle,and Thumb electric cooperatives bytheir boards of directors. Subscriptionsare $6 per year.Postmaster: send addresschanges to Country Lines, 2859 W.Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864.Letters to the editor should besent to the same address. Phone517-351-6322. Email: knudtson@countrylines.com.Association officers are BrianBurns, PIE&G, chairman; KenSwope, Midwest Energy, 1st vicechairman; Tony Anderson, Cherryland,2nd vice chairman; EricBaker, Wolverine Power, secretarytreasurer;and Louis Wenzlaff,Thumb, past chairman. MichaelPeters is president and CEO.Unsolicited letters, photos andmanuscripts are welcome. CountryLines, however, will not beresponsible for their safe keepingor return.The appearance of advertisingdoes not constitute an endorsementof the products or servicesadvertised.Display ad representatives:Michigan–Al Mateus877-649-5620National–The Weiss Group480-860-5394National Country Market512-441-5200Change of Address: Please notifyyour electric cooperative. Seepage 4 for contact information.September 201010101214columns916222430cover*12Wind and Basic MathGet the facts before buying into wind power.Bob GibsonHollywood Discovers MichiganDirectors are increasingly looking to rural Michigan for their movies.Kim SchneiderMustang MemoriesThe economy doesn’t seem to be in a downturn when it comes to classic cars.Linda KotzianComment Michael Peters30 Years!Our Kids Nick EdsonA lifeline for homeless studentsHouse & Home Jame DulleyThe old switcherooOutdoors* Don IngleLife with a tap-dancing bird dogRamblings Mike BudaLeftovers*Not in all editionsPages specific to your electricutility are: 1, 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32countrylines.comdepartments6182426ourenergy.coopReaders’ PagesLetters, consumer forums, mystery photoHome CookingSandwichesWolverine Power*Wolverine appeals air permit denialCountry Lines MarketplaceClassifieds from readersMichigan’s El e c t r i cCoo p e r a t i v e scountrylines.comGreat Lakes Energy member Pat Broderick of Manistee and his wife, Ellie, in one of hisclassic Mustangs. Photo – Linda Kotzian183

Manager’s MessageMark KapplerBlanchard office:3681 Costabella AvenueOpen 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday-FridayPortland office:7973 E. Grand River AvenuePortland, MI 48875Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-FridayElectric bill/account questions:517-647-7556 or 1-800-562-8232Service questions/outages:517-647-7554 or 1-800-848-9333(24 hours for emergency calls)Tri-County Propane: 1-877-574-2740Rural TV/DIRECTV: 1-800-293-7112WildBlue 1-800-668-8413www.homeworks.orgE-mail: tricoenergy@homeworks.orgBoard of DirectorsDistrict 1 — Philip Conklin5130 W. Gresham Hwy.Charlotte, MI 48813517-726-0127; pconklin@homeworks.orgDistrict 2 — Wayne SwilerVice-Chairman11750 Ainsworth Rd.Lake Odessa, MI 48849616-374-3141; wswiler@homeworks.orgDistrict 3 — Carl MortonChairman11280 Eden TrailEagle, MI 48822517-626-2258; cmorton@homeworks.orgDistrict 4 — Laverne HansenSecretary-Treasurer1190 E. M-46 Hwy.Edmore, MI 48829989-427-5851; lhansen@homeworks.orgDistrict 5 — Cara Evans10180 Roosevelt Rd.Bannister, MI 48807989-862-5590; cevans@homeworks.orgDistrict 6 — Ed Oplinger10890 W. Weidman RoadWeidman, MI 48893989-644-3079; eoplinger@homeworks.orgDistrict 7 — Dean Floria1163 Taft Rd.Remus, MI 49340989-382-5230; dfloria@homeworks.orgA History of ReliabilityIn planning our 73rd Annual Meeting,which took place Aug. 21 in Ionia, westarted adding up the years of servicegiven to the cooperative by its currentboard of directors and employees.When you add in the Tri-County ElectricPeople Fund board, we came up witha grand total of 1,187 years among 88people.That’s a lot of years, and a lot of history.And there’s more history among our members,a few of whom still remember whenthe lights came on in rural mid-Michigan,or heard the stories from their parents andgrandparents.Why is history important? The historyof HomeWorks is also the history of ruralelectrification, and that’s a story of trust.Rural families had to trust their neighborsand REA agents. They had to be willing tomake big changes in their lives and learnto use new technologies, and they had tofind a new way of working together tomake good things happen for everyoneinvolved.And that’s still happening.We have a history of caring, of buildingtrust, of making good things happen, andof working together to meet our memberowners’needs.Through the years, our board of directorshas also supported us in seeking outbetter ways and newer technologies to doour jobs—not to be trendy, but so that wecan continue to improve customer serviceand reliability while keeping your ratesstable.These days, of course, the electric andenergy industries are so complicated andchanging so quickly that the board hasto focus more on strategic issues such aspower supply, an equity management plan,or what services we can offer to you, ourmembers and customers.We also make sure the co-op has theright people in place. Trucks and computersand buildings are important, but ourkey tool is our people.We know our member-owners rely onus to keep your lights on, to keep yourfamily safe and comfortable, and we arehumbled by your trust. Thank-you, andwe look forward to many more years ofserving you reliably.Mark KapplerGeneral ManagerEditor: Jayne Graham, CCCDesign: Doug Snitgen, CKAE4homeworks.orgMichigan Country Lines

Notice to Members of HomeWorks Tri-County Electric CooperativeA Special Member Meeting is set for Sept. 27, 1 p.m., at the cooperative’s Portland officeThe board of directors will consider several changes to the cooperative’s rates and tariffs at its meeting on Sept. 27, 2010, tobe held at the cooperative office at 7973 E. Grand River Avenue, Portland, MI. The meeting will start at 1 p.m. and is open toall members of HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative. Members will have an opportunity to address the board on theproposed changes prior to board action.The following items will be considered:1) Establish the 2011 Power Supply Cost Recovery Factor to be applied to Tri-County Electric Cooperative’s retail membercustomers’monthly kilowatt-hour use. The Power Supply Cost Recovery Factor represents the power supply costs asestablished by the cooperative in conjunction with Wolverine Power Cooperative. The factor is established annually,and reviewed monthly.2) Revise the cooperative’s Aid-to-Construction fee schedule to reflect cost increases since the schedule was last approvedin 1978. If approved, these changes will affect member-customers who have electric service built to a new location, orrequest a change in service at their current location.3) Revise the cooperative’s Requirements for Pole Attachments tariff sheet to change the annual pole attachment rateper pole. Under the tariff, the cooperative may permit a cable television company or other attaching party to makeattachments to its poles, ducts or conduits pursuant to a contract between the cooperative and the attaching party.4) Review the cooperative’s current billing deposit policy, in particular the interest rate paid on billing deposits.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. The location of the board meeting site is accessible,including handicapped parking. Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact HomeWorks Tri-CountyElectric at 800-562-8232 a week in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing or other assistance. Comments may also bemade before the meeting date by calling General Manager Mark Kappler at 517-647-1281, or by email at mkappler@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.Notice to Members ofHomeWorks Tri-County Electric CooperativeTariff and Fee Changes Effective Oct. 10, 2010The HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative Board of Directors adopted the following changes to the cooperative’s tariffsand fees at a Special Open Meeting held July 26, 2010, in accordance with P.A. 167.1) Eligibility requirements for Retail Access Choice (Schedule PSDS-C) were changed so that members with a peak load ofless than 1 megawatt are no longer eligible for choice service.2) A new LED Street Lighting tariff (Schedule SL) with two options was adopted, and the present tariffs were updated toinclude all current lighting options.3) A distribution wheeling rate (Schedule DW) was established, setting requirements and charges for member-consumersusing the cooperative’s distribution system to wheel power for wholesale delivery purposes. This tariff applies to membersinstalling distributed generation projects larger than 100 kilowatts (kWh).4) The Energy Optimization Surcharge for all classes of irrigation was changed from a fixed monthly rate to a per-kWhcharge.5) Miscellaneous fees and charges were updated to reflect actual current costs.For specific details of any HomeWorks tariffs or fees, please call us at 1-800-562-8232 or visit our website at homeworks.org.September 2010 5

eaders’ pagesHeat Pump Water HeatersDon’t Work Here?I read the article on the heatpump water heaters, and alsohappened to see many commercialsfor them during therecent Olympics for those unitsmade by GE.All the warm and fuzzy greenstuff about saving energy needsto be taken cautiously. Theseunits would rarely make sensein Michigan.Heat pumps simply moveheat from one place to another.In the case of the units in question,it is from where the unitis located to the water in thetank. If you put such a unit in“conditioned space,” such asa basement, you will be takingthe heat you generate withother means, and putting itinto the water. The “waste”from the unit is cool air, whichmight not be desirable inyour basement. If you put theunit in your garage, you mustmystery photoDo youknowwherethis is?6© iStockphoto.com/Damian Gadalprotect it from freezing. If youput it outdoors, well—I’ve seena lot of water heaters outdoors.In California, not in Michigan!Our climate is not conducivefor outdoor water heaters.Heat pump efficiency israted by COP—coefficientof performance—and this isa moving target based uponthe ambient temperature. Ifyou are heating, the efficiencygoes up as the ambient temperaturegoes up. In summer,an outdoor mounted heatpump water heater in Michiganwould be very efficient…but that would be from May-September? In colder seasons,and as your ambient temperaturedrops to the 30s, they can’tmake enough heat.Sorry, the units are not forMichigan climates. They don’twork well where WE put ourwater heaters, and people buyingthem would just be usingheat they made with othersources to pump into theirwater.Michael Salemi, Novi, via emailEven with the thingsyou mention taken intoconsideration, heat pumpwater heaters produce hotEveryone who identifies the correct location of the photo below byOct. 10 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 coupon redeemablefor electricity from your electric cooperative.Call in your entry to Country Lines at 517-351-6322, ext. 306, emailjhansen@countrylines.com, or mail it to Country Lines, 2859 W.Jolly Road, Okemos, 48864. Include yourname, address, phone number and co-op. Thewinner will be announced in the November/December 2010 issue.The July contest winner is Julie Traynorof Marion, who correctly identified theold cabin on 20-Mile Road, east of Tustin inJuly photoOsceola County.Consumer Energy Forums SetThe state agency responsiblefor regulating electric andnatural gas utilities, as well ascertain services of telephone,cable and motor carriers, ishosting a series of forums forconsumers in September andOctober.At the Michigan PublicService Commission (MPSC)forums, you can meet withan MPSC commissioner, learnabout electric and natural gasrates, discuss telephone serviceupdates, and voice utilityrelatedconcerns.Local utility service providersand assistance organizationswill be present.To make the most of thisopportunity, customers areasked to bring utility bills, shutoffnotices, tax information andproof of any other assistance.The forums:Southfield, Sept. 20, 1 p.m.Southfield Senior Center,water at half the cost of othermeans. Performance declines inMichigan winters, but ambientheat is adequate for the HPwater heater to operate, and theunit does double duty in summerby dehumidifying. –ed.Car WarsI am retired and live in northernMichigan. Many retireeshave less income now thanwhen we were working andhave to get the most for ourdollar. I recently traded a6-year-old, “foreign-made”car for a 2010 “foreign-made“model. The old car never hadany serious problems, got me38-41 mpg and had 150,000miles. The new car is gettingthe same mileage and cost$14,200, including tax, titleand prep. Show me a car madein America, not Mexico orCanada, that gets that gas mileage,and for that price, and Iwould consider buying it. Untilthen I will spend my moneywhere it gets me the best deal.Before we damn all cars withMcDonnell Towers DiningRoom, 24350 Civic Center Dr.Sault Ste. Marie, Sept. 30,6 p.m., Lake Superior StateUniversity Cisler Center,West Superior Room, 650 W.Easterday Ave.Traverse City, Oct. 6, 6 p.m.Grand Traverse Civic Center,1213 W. Civic Center DriveKalamazoo, Oct. 12, 6 p.m.Kalamazoo Valley CommunityCollege, M-TEC Amphitheater,7107 Elm Valley DriveGreenville, Oct. 21, 6 p.m.Greenville CommunityCenter, 900 E. Kent RoadDetroit, Oct. 25, 4 p.m.Tabernacle Missionary BaptistChurch, 2080 W. GrandBoulevardFlint, Oct. 28, 6 p.m., Univ. ofMichigan-Flint, NorthbankCenter Ballroom,432 N. Saginaw Streeta foreign name, remembermost U.S. cars are not made inthe USA. My car company hasfactories in the southern tier ofstates where most of their carssold in America are made. Thisfact seems to me that they areAmerican-made.Mike Obrigewitsch, via emailI don’t disagree that supportinglocal business is a goodthing, but it is disheartening tolisten to people complainingRecycled PaperMichigan Country Lines isnow printed on recycledpaper from FutureMarkPaper, which taps the “urbanforest” of waste paperthrown out in Chicago everyday. Using recycled paperreduces the carbon emittedin paper production, thepaper deposited in landfills,and water and air pollution.The energy to producerecycled paper is about onehalfthe amount required tomake paper from pulp.Michigan Country Lines

Lettersabout other peoples’ spending habits. Forexample, lecturing about buying automobilesthat are made in the U.S. but ownedby a foreign company from Japan, Chinaor Korea.Honda builds automobiles in the U.S.and generates millions of dollars in taxrevenue for local communities, as well asthousands of jobs for Americans. ThoseAmericans earn good incomes that they,in most cases, spend in the U.S. economy,and they produce a great product.Would you complain if China wanted toopen a new manufacturing plant in Michiganand employ 2, 4 or 6,000 Michigancitizens? And how many foreign-madeproducts can you count in an Americanmadeautomobile?[If] you want everyone else to supportyour job, how about giving up yoursummer home to a homeless family whodoesn’t have a job in northern Michigan?How about jobs, anyway we can get them,foreign or otherwise?H.R. Lee, Howard CityHydroelectric QuestionsI received your [July] Michigan CountryLines and was happy to see you do a featureon Sault Ste. Marie, my home for 10 wonderfulyears.[I have questions about] CloverlandElectric’s hydroelectric power plant. I hopeyou can help; they have been naggingat me for years since I took a tour of thepower plant many years ago. At the timeI toured the power plant only four of theturbines were being used, even thoughthere are over 100 (if my memory servesA record 2,700 visitors attended CloverlandElectric’s hydro plant open house June 25.me) turbines in the powerhouse. Whydoesn’t Cloverland use all the turbines andsell the power and lower our electric bills?I understand the renewable supplyfrom Lake Superior is precisely the outflowof the St. Marys River, (and powercanal), whose 124-year average flow rate(from 1860 to 1984) is 75,500 cubic feetper second. Obviously, one of the benefitsderived from this huge volume of water isthe generation of hydroelectricity.Hydroelectric power is cleaner thancoal or nuclear power, but it seems noneof the “powers that be” even bring uphydroelectricity.Many of my friends and family in theSault area wonder the same—in this timeof massive amounts of oil polluting ouroceans, nuclear power plants leaking spentfuel, and coal polluting our air and land—why isn’t Cloverland Electric using thewhole power plant, and if it needs repairsto its turbines why not repair or rebuildthe turbines instead of building new powerplants using billions of taxpayer dollars?As a former member of Cloverland and a26-year member of Great Lakes Energy—your service and people are fantastic!Priscilla MassieCloverland replies: The amount of wateravailable for hydro power is decided by theInternational Joint Commission (IJC). Theirjob is to regulate all the Great Lakes’ levels tokeep them balanced. Once the IJC decideshow much water to release from Lake Superior,they divide this amount 50/50 betweenthe U.S. and Canada. The 50 percent shareof U.S. water is then divided between U.S.Hydro and Cloverland Hydro.This surplus water is what is availableafter meeting the needs of all the governmentfacilities within the Soo Locks complex, andwater needed to supply the rapids area westof the lock systems. Each month, Cloverlandreceives an allocation of water. This allocationhas been well below average in recentyears, due to the low level of Lake Superior.Cloverland uses the water allocation in themost efficient manner possible to keep theirmembers’ electric bills lower. They do thisby ramping up plant production during thepeak-load hours of the day. This helps offsetthe amount of higher cost power that wouldhave to be purchased from other sources tomeet higher demand. Conversely, plant productionis ramped down during “off peak”hours when demand is lower.The Cloverland plant has 74 turbines. Itseems highly unusual that only four would berunning. A possible explanation: There arefour “buses” in the plant, with each bus havingabout 18 to 19 turbines. There may onlybe one bus running during off-peak hours, orpossibly even on peak, depending on the timeof year and demand levels.During low-water years, when the allocationof water to the U.S. side of the river istoo low to run both U.S. Hydro and CloverlandHydro 24/7, all units would not run.September 2010 countrylines.com 7

Y o u r C o - o pPlan Before You Plant That Tree!There’s a constant conflict between ourappreciation of the beauty and value oftrees and our expectation of low-priced,almost-never-interrupted electric service.Tree limbs brushing against power lines cancause blinks and wreak havoc with computersand digital electronics. Wind and ice cancause limbs to fall and break power lines,causing extended outages.Tri-County’s member-owners don’t likepower outages, but many also don’t like havingtrees cut away from the power lines.Avoid the ConflictOne way to avoid the conflict—and poweroutages—is to plan before you plant.Over 80 percent of the trees under powerlines that have to be trimmed or removedwere planted in the right-of-way after thelines were built.Homeowners don’t consider how largetheir little sapling will ultimately grow, butthat sapling is a potential power outage if it’splanted in the wrong place.Besides staying away from power lines,there are other reasons to plan before youplant. Tree roots can damage sidewalks, drivewaysand foundations. If their roots find amoist spot caused by your sewer lines, they’llgrow right in and set you up for an expensiveplumbing repair.So, ask for help—your local county Extensionservice or the nursery where you buytrees are good sources of information.Know What’s BelowThe greatest danger to underground powerlines occurs during tree planting. Whetheryou do it yourself or hire a professional,smart digging means calling 811 before eachjob. Homeowners often make risky assumptionsabout whether or not they should gettheir utility lines marked, but every diggingjob requires a call—even small projects likeplanting trees and shrubs.The depth of utility lines varies, and theremay be multiple lines in a common area.Digging without calling can disrupt serviceto an entire neighborhood, harm you andthose around you, and result in fines andrepair costs.Calling 811 before every digging job getsyour underground utility lines marked for freeand helps prevent undesired consequences.Timber! Or, Look Out Below...Taking trees down is usually a job for professionals,especially if they’re near power linesor buildings. By trying to do it yourself,you risk power outages or property damage,and you’re also taking a chance on personalinjuries.If the tree appears to be too close to apower line, call us. We will check it out, andif needed, put it on our tree-removal list.Otherwise, if the tree is large, make sure tocall on someone with the proper tools andexperience for that kind of work.HomeWorks Tri-County Safety CoordinatorYour Board In ActionMeeting at Blanchard on June 28, yourboard of directors:u Reviewed recommended rate and tariffchanges in advance of the July 26 OpenMember Meeting.u Authorized staff to extend a low-interestline of credit for one year.u Learned all three incumbent directorswere re-elected to the board in the 2010elections.u Read and approved “Board Policy 117– Privacy and Confidentiality,” and “BoardPolicy 201 – Safety.” Learned there were noidentity theft incidents reported during thepast quarter, in a report required by “BoardPolicy 316 – Identity Theft.”u Reviewed progress from the Portland8construction and renovation project.u Went over preliminary plans for theannual meeting on August 21.u Reviewed May 2010 financial statementsand learned there were 97 new members forthe month.u Acknowledged the May safety report,with two safety meetings listed.Meeting at Blanchard on July 26, yourboard of directors:u Learned staff had met with EnergyOptimization contractors to learn how theprogram is progressing and discuss ways tohelp members save energy.u Reviewed plans for the upcoming annualhomeworks.orgmeeting and a strategic planning session.u Read and approved “Board Policy 202 –Memorials and Illness Remembrances” and“Board Policy 203 – Drug-Free Workplace,”with minor wording changes.u Discussed progress on the Portlandfacility renovation project.u Went over reports from the NationalRural Telecommunications Cooperativeand RESCO, a rural electric supply cooperative,noting capital credit allocationsand refunds made for 2009.u Reviewed preliminary June 2010 financialstatements, and learned there were 104new members for the month.u Acknowledged the June safety report,with two safety meetings listed.Michigan Country Lines

Wind and Basic MathGet the facts before buying intowind power. Bob GibsonThe spinning fan of a windmill pumpingwater from a well was once acommon sight across rural America.When electric co-ops began lightingup the countryside in the late 1930s, farmersand rural residents began replacing thewindmills’ mechanical energy with electricityfrom power lines.Today’s wind turbines are distant cousinsto those windmills. The essential differenceis that today’s systems—generally a threebladerotor connected to a generator andtail and mounted on a tower—convert windenergy into electricity, rather than simplyturning gears to lift water. The most popularresidential-scale wind turbines can generatebetween 2 and 10 kilowatts of power—aboutone-third to one-half of what a typical homeneeds—but actual output can vary drastically.The wind turbine in Midwest Energy Cooperative’srenewable energy park, for example,produces only 4.3 percent of the maximumenergy possible.The Cassopolis co-op developed theirDanny Young Memorial Renewable EnergyPark to help consumers understand what toreally expect, in terms of up-front costs andexpected generation (teammidwest.com).In recent years, small wind turbines havebecome more reliable and, to a degree, priceshave decreased as more are built. More dealersare also offering a better choice of productsand more experienced installers are availableto erect the units.So, is installing a wind turbine at yourhome a good idea? That depends on two basicfactors: your motivation and your location.If your motivation is to save money byspending less on electricity or to make moneyby expecting the small wind turbine to earnyou a profit by selling power back to yourlocal electric co-op—proceed with care.Even though federal tax credits and utilityincentives and rebates have helped lower thecost for some, in most parts of the countryit remains difficult to generate electricity ata price equal to or lower than what you’llobtain from your electric co-op. While thewind that blows through your property maybe free, the equipment needed to capture it isThis small wind turbine stands about 46 feet tall, compared to the 300 feet reached by utilityscalewind turbines.Source: Central Rural Electric Cooperative/Oklahomanot, and wind doesn’t blow all the time.Electric utilities are required by law to buyyour excess power, but in many areas theyare only required to pay the same price theypay any other power generator—known inutility jargon as “avoided cost.” But evenwhere your bill might be credited for windpower at retail rates, called “net metering,”10 Michigan Country Lines

the sale of those kilowatts won’t make yourich. Paying back the cost of installing a windturbine, which runs from several thousanddollars to $50,000, can take several years toseveral decades.You also need to consider your location.In more densely settled areas, local zoninglaws may prohibit construction of a windturbine. But in any location, you must knowjust how much wind you have, day after day.In these calculations, average wind speedbecomes critical.While the federal government has mappedout average wind speeds across the country(nrel.gov/wind), each specific site is unique,affected by factors such as elevation andobstruction from buildings and trees. Betterwind speeds are found higher off the ground,and there can be a huge difference betweenspeeds at the 300-foot height of a large-scalewind turbine and the 80- to 100-feet of asmall one.Before installing a small wind turbine,do your homework. This includes checkingwith your electric co-op well in advance ofmaking a purchase. Being aware of yourco-op’s policies and procedures on interconnectinga wind system to the grid willavoid headaches, disappointments andunexpected costs.The grid is a complex, interrelated machineand some costs may need to be incurred forstudies or upgrades to preserve safety, reliability,or quality of power. Your co-op maybe able to help you estimate what those costsmight be in advance and help you find additionalopportunities for energy efficiency thatcould further reduce your electric bills.To find out what incentives may be availablein your state, go to the Database of StateIncentives for Renewables and Efficiency atdsireusa.org.More and more people are attracted to theidea of generating their own electric powerthrough the use of “backyard” renewableenergy systems. Small wind turbines are oneof the most popular choices, but careful studyand assistance from your co-op can make sureyou know the facts before buying one.Bob Gibson manages research in renewableenergy and energy efficiency for the CooperativeResearch Network, an arm of the NationalRural Electric Cooperative Association.Questions You Should AskInterested in buying a wind turbine? Make sure toask these questions first:1. How reliable is the rated energy output?How do you calculate the output?What wind speeds do you use?Experts advise ignoring the “peak output”and “power curves” provided by vendors.Rather, look for the monthly or annualenergy output (in kilowatt-hours) for the turbine,estimated for the average wind speedyou expect or measured at your site.2. Is the inverter UL ® listed?If the inverter (required to convert directcurrent power from the turbine to alternatingcurrent power of the grid) is not UnderwritersLaboratories, Inc. (UL), listed, findanother vendor. Most electric co-ops requirean inverter to carry a UL 1741 certificationfor interconnection with the grid.3. What is the estimated total installedcost? What do the turbine and tower costeach? How much will installation andinterconnection cost? How much maintenancewill be required, and cost?Budget for labor expenses as well as thecost of equipment rental, concrete andrebar, electrical components, shipping, andsales tax. It adds up fast.Avoid giving a large deposit if you can.This may help protect you if the vendordoesn’t honor what’s promised or service/equipment isn’t up to par.Work with the turbine manufacturerto find reputable installers and pay closeattention to the process. If somethingdoesn’t seem right, don’t accept it justbecause the vendor says so.Visit teammidwest.com to see the economicanalysis used for Midwest Energy’srenewable energy park (shows all costs andcompares them against the generation).4. How long is the warranty and whatdoes it cover—parts? Labor? Can it beextended? If so, what will it cost?Warranties (longer = better) range fromone to five years. Make sure it covers laborand parts. Ask the owners of wind systemsbought from the same vendor about performanceand reliability before deciding onan extended warranty, if available. If you livein a lightning-prone area, strongly considerthe lightning protection option.5. How long has the vendor been in business?How many turbines have they sold?Are their turbines certified? Can theyperform maintenance, or is there anotherlicensed repair technician in the area?Look for vendors that have been in businessfor at least five years or have acquired theproduct line of another vendor. Also researchthe number and types of wind turbines thevendor has installed (don’t just take their wordfor it) and ask for the names of at least twopeople who have installed a similar model.Check with the references and ask them ifthere was anything they wish they had knownbefore investing in a turbine.The Small Wind Certification Council hasbeen conducting a certification process inthe U.S. (smallwindcertification.org). Small turbinescan be certified using the InternationalElectrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard,IEC 61400-2, for testing wind turbine powerperformance. This standard is increasinglyused by U.S. manufacturers.6. What are your electric co-op’s interconnectionpolicies? What will the co-op payfor any excess energy you may produce?Electric co-ops must provide all of their memberswith safe, reliable, affordable electricservice. Most co-ops have interconnectionpolicies designed to permit interested membersto own their own generation withoutimpacting the quality or cost-of-servicereceived by other members. Knowing whatthese policies are before buying a wind turbinewill help you better evaluate the full costsand benefits of the investment.7. What local zoning laws, electrical codes,homeowners’ association requirementsor other local laws and standards applyto wind turbines?Some local zoning ordinances and homeowners’association policies restrict the heightof wind turbines or require that they be setback a specified distance from the propertyline. These restrictions may keep you fromtaking advantage of the best wind resourcesor require extra time to get a waiver or exception.Local electrical or building codes may alsoimpose additional time or expense.September 2010countrylines.com11

Looking For Farm SitesThe Michigan Film Office islooking for farming locationsin the Thumb and southeastregions of the state for apotential movie productionby acclaimed director RaminBahrani. They’re looking forlarge corn/soy farms, elevatorswith corn, dirt roads andboarded-up small towns withmaybe only a Post Office anddiner left. For more aboutfilming in Michigan, go tomichiganfilmoffice.org.Crescent Bakery owner Bob Korten (R), Frankfort, poses with actor Michael Cera and the donuts made famous in the film “Youth in Revolt.”Hollywood Discovers MiDirectors are increasingly looking to rural Michigan for their movies. Kim Schneider12If hats that read “Tom’s Feed Mill” becomeHollywood’s latest fashion statement,thank Lisa VanDenTop. Passing outfree caps to the cast and crew of thefeature film “Touchback” was just one ployto attract the attention of Kurt Russell andcompany as they filmed recently outside herCoopersville shop.It worked. That, or the large sign shepainted that read, “Welcome Kurt Russelland Brian Presley.”“I can’t tell you anything he said when Imet him,” VanDenTop said, “but I knowhe talked. I don’t remember, because it wasKurt Russell!”Russell and co-stars like former DetroitLions running back Barry Sanders werecharming locals and taking the local footballfield with a huge cast of local football players,teachers, coaches and marching band membersfor the movie “Touchback” about thesame time Hope College theater major BenHertel was getting his big screen shot a bitfurther up the Lake Michigan coast.Playing a young Nazi, he shot the leadcharacter in the film “Return to the HidingPlace”—Dutch resistance fighter PietHartog (aka L.A.-based actor Craig RobertYoung)—as the sun sank over a scenicManistee beach.Meanwhile, across the state, nearly 200potential extras were flocking to a castingcall in Bad Axe. Some pulled up in a fourwheeldrive pick-up or brought along a dog,as requested by producers, hoping for a shotat joining Sean Penn in this month’s filmingof “This Must Be the Place.”If anyone doubts that rural Michigan isthe place for filmmaking these days, theyneed only glance at onlocationvacations.com, a traveler’s guide to what’s filmingwhere. Or they can take a gander at theMichigan Film Office’s current list of featuresin production.Nineteen films have been made in Michiganso far this year, 14 currently in production,thanks largely to a generous state filmincentive. Since the program began in April2008, 106 films have been completed, accordingto the Michigan Film Office.The largest filming concentration remainsin the Detroit metropolitan area, home toa large film crew base and other practicalperks. But as trained crews pop up elsewhere,directors are increasingly looking rural to filmfarmland scenes, find lake-front settings, evenmake horror movies, says Ken Droz, the filmoffice communications director.Hugh Jackman shot scenes for his movie“Real Steel” on a Livingston County farmrecently, Droz said, and at the InghamCounty Courthouse in Mason. Ben Stiller’sbeen in Grand Rapids this summer, shootingFilming a scene for “Fitful” inside the car ferry S.S. City of Milwaukee in Manistee.Michigan Country Lines

Makeup artist Dan Phillips of St. Clair Shores uses makeup to “beat up” L.A.-based actor Craig Robert Young before a culminating scene in“Return to the Hiding Place,” being filmed on a Manistee beach. The City of Milwaukee, a car ferry docked in Manistee, was the inspirationfor the movie “Fitful,” mostly filmed there. (Photo by Rich Brauer Productions)chigan“30 Minutes or Less” about a pizza deliveryman abducted during a delivery and forcedto rob a bank. Newly-released films like“Youth in Revolt” (Michael Cera and JustinLong) and “What If?” (Kevin Sorbo andKristy Swanson) and the upcoming “A Yearin Mooring” (Josh Lucas) were made entirelyin rural northwest Michigan.“We currently have well over 100 leadswe’re working on, feature films looking atfilming in our area,” says Rick Hert, head ofthe West Michigan Film Office. “It’s a veryexciting time.”Once discovered, locations can sell an areaor even inspire a film. Filmmaker Rich Brauersays he wrote the script for the thriller “Fitful”around the S.S. City of Milwaukee, a historiccar ferry docked in Manistee.Similarly, director Lee Storey couldn’t havefound a more perfect setting for her documentary“Smile ‘Til It Hurts: The Up WithPeople Story,” than Mission Point Resort,where the group actually originated. TheDutch-influenced architecture of Holland,MI, also proved fortuitous for the directorsof “Return to the Hiding Place,” a movingaction film about some heroic Dutch resistanceworkers who saved an entire orphanageslated for genocide by the Nazis. A fewscenes will be filmed in the Netherlands, butmost were recently shot in Holland, Zeelandor Manistee, where 10 West Studios builtintricate sets that included a replica madeto exact dimensions of the original “hidingplace.”Dormitory lodging was an unexpectedbenefit of filming on a college campus forthe creators of coming-of-age story “Cherry,”filmed at Kalamazoo College and WesternMichigan University in Kalamazoo andreleased earlier this month.“We had bocce ball tournaments downhalls, had a putt-putt course set up on oneof the floors,” said producer Jeffrey Fine.“There’s even a shout-out in our credits givingspecial thanks to the Fox Hall mattresses.I was pretty happy to get back to my bed atPopular Movie SitesMichigan may not have Iowa’s “field of dreams,” NewZealand’s hobbit-happy scenery or Austrian hillsalive with music, but it does have the Grand Hotel,perhaps the most intact film location in the world.The setting for the time-travel romance “Somewherein Time” is also the state’s biggest movie locationdraw, particularly in mid-October when the annual“Somewhere in Time” weekend is held (Oct. 15-17in 2010). Attendees can mingle with cast, crewand other fans in (optional) period dress over fivecoursedinners, champagne receptions and lectureson everything from cinematography to Victorianunderpinnings (grandhotel.com).Self-guided tours that follow the footsteps ofJimmy Stewart and Lee Remick, stars of the 1959film “Anatomy of a Murder,” remain a populardraw to Marquette and are downloadable atmarquettecountry.org.A growing number of west Michigan locales arealso showing up on the big screen, including theLake Leelanau RV Park and Frankfort’s CrescentBakery (see photo, opposite page), where variousdonuts “auditioned” for directors.home, but that was the only part about FoxHall I didn’t love.”What made an even bigger impression wasMidwestern kindness and generosity, a themeechoed over and over by various producers,filmmakers and cast.“Cell reception was so bad with AT&T inMichigan that I’d be in rural Michigan andpull over to talk on my cell phone,” Fine says.“People would literally pull over to see if Iwas okay. We’d go to film somebody’s house,flip their lights upside down, and they’dbring us cookies. People were so excited thatHollywood was coming to town.”September 2010countrylines.com13

MustangMemoriesThe economydoesn’t seem to be in a downturnwhen it comes to classic cars. Linda KotzianClassic car collecting provides a boostto many a personal pocketbook.Some experts estimate that a classiccar, properly restored and cared for,can appreciate in value an average of over10 percent annually.Great Lakes Energy Co-op member PatBroderick, a classic car collector in Manistee,says that rather than speculating in stocks ora 401(k), auto collectors prefer investing insomething they can see and touch.Following in the footsteps of his fatherand grandfather, Broderick hired into FordMotor Company in Dearborn during 1961,and worked over 30 years in the sales andservice division.In 1966, he bought a brand new ’66 redFord Mustang fastback that he still owns. Thecar now has 39,000 actual miles.Over the following years, he bought fourmore vintage Mustangs, including northwestMichigan’s oldest model—a 1964-1/2 browncoupe known as “Plain Jane.” He exhibitedit at Ford’s world headquarters in Dearbornduring their 100th anniversary in 2003.“The cars are like his children,” Broderick’swife Ellie explains. “I think it’s great that hehas this hobby and was fortunate enough toacquire such nice cars.”Smiling, she says Broderick occasionallylines up his cars in their yard to take picturesbecause he enjoys the memories each onebrings him.The couple’s eight children and 18 grandchildrenenjoy and encourage his hobby.Broderick says that memories account fora lot classic car collecting’s appeal. In general,classic cars are those 25 years or older. Gazingat cars from their younger days often causesa rush of memories for people who visit carshows. For younger fans, the responsibilityof owning, restoring and caring for a classiccar often involves family members and createstogetherness.Classic car shows also boost local economies.Even small shows can draw thousandsof people. Large shows in big cities likeDetroit and Chicago typically attract spectatorsin the hundreds of thousands.Broderick says car collecting also fosters“cottage industry” businesses, such as shopsthat provide detailing or restoration work.Others stock parts or literature, such as ownerand service manuals.He feels retired baby boomers with timeand money are likely behind the currentinterest in this hobby. “They recognize theinvestment potential of classic cars and enjoythe related memories,” he explains.Many car clubs sponsor local charitablegroups, turning club shows and events intofundraisers and providing another economicboost. “Our car shows draw people (to acommunity),” Broderick adds. Meanwhile,car club members donate their time.Broderick has been president of the Customs-n-ClassicsCar Club of Manistee forover eight years.Manistee club members will next bringtheir cars to a show at the Port City StreetFair in Manistee on Sept. 11. In an averageyear, members take their cars to at least 10shows, mostly in western Michigan.Manistee club members are close-knitand passionate about their cars, and enjoysharing car history with the public and actas resources to help each other find, restoreand maintain their vehicles. “We all worktogether, get things done, and know eachother like family,” Broderick says.Wives and significant others are active inthe club, too. They manage event publicityand select suitable local charities to acceptcar show proceeds. Some enjoy working onrestoring, upholstering or detailing cars.Regular club social occasions includemonthly luncheons, an annual steak fry,holiday parties, and a fall color tour.For those who want to join the growingsociety of classic car collectors, Broderick hassome advice: “Don’t be afraid to ask othercollectors for help, attend car shows and swapmeets to learn, and expect to work hard.”Broderick and his fellow collectors get a lotof satisfaction and pride in preserving thesegreat pieces of car history.This herd of classic Mustangs looks ready to ride in Pat and Ellie Broderick’s yard. Shown (L-R) are: “Drop-top”—a 1966 convertible; “Shelby”—a 1965Shelby GT350; Pat’s first Mustang, a 1966 fastback; “Plain Jane” (for its lack of flashy options)—a 1964-1/2 coupe; and “Grandpa’s Car”—a 1965 coupethat was owned by Pat’s father. The Ford toy pedal car shown was a promotional release ($12.95) when the Mustang convertible came out in ‘65.

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OUR KIDSNick EdsonA Lifeline for Homeless StudentsSTEP program helps 800 teens in Grand Traverse area.Heather, Mike and Haley are yourtypical Traverse City high schoolaged students for eight hoursevery day.They look and talk like other teenagers.However, they are part of a group of over 800Grand Travese area students who have onething in common: They are homeless.But they aren’t hopeless because of a programcalled Students in Transition EmpowermentProgram (STEP). It’s been in operationmore than 10 years and is supported througha grant with the Department of Education—plus local donations—and serves 22 publicschool districts in the five-county GrandTraverse area.“We live in a beautiful area, a tourist areawhere there is wealth and many secondhomes,” said Joan Abbott, who coordinatesthe STEP program. “What we tend to overlookare the children, the teens, the familieswho are in homeless situations. They can beinvisible to us.”That’s because, Abbott says, homeless familiesand teens who aren’t living with a parentor legal guardian tend to find shelter withfamily friends, with relatives or share housingwith a friend. There are those, however, wholive in shelters, tents or even in cars.But the Grand Traverse area isn’t alone.According to the Michigan Department ofEducation, there are nearly 15,000 homelessstudents in the state. That number reflects a92 percent increase in the last three years.How do students wind up in these situations?“For two out of three students, it’s becauseof family conflict,” said Abbott. “That canbe because they are abandoned by their parents,abuse or neglect and/or family financialissues.”Some students don’t seek out the STEPprogram, Abbott said. So she trains schoolsecretaries, principals, counselors, socialworkers and teachers to look for tell-talesigns that students need help.“We have to be very sensitive aboutapproaching students,” she said. “We look forsigns like who suddenly stops buying lunchand starts sharing lunch with a friend. Or whogoes to get the free peanutbutter lunch day after day.There are also behavioralissues we watch for.”When a student isapproached, Abbott saidit’s in a very non-confrontationalmanner.“We want the studentsto know that being homelessis a situation, it doesn’tdefine who they are,” shesaid. “In fact, when communicatingwith the students,we don’t use theword homeless. We preferto call them Students inTransition.”Abbott works closelywith liaisons in each areaschool district to ensure that eligible studentsare identified and receive educational services,as required by federal law.Once a student has been identified, thehelp begins. The STEP program ensures afree breakfast and lunch at school, academicassistance, clothing for school purposes, transportationto school via a school bus, BATAor gas card and referrals for everything fromhousing, counseling and job training.“We believe that early identification is thekey to successful intervention,” said Abbott.“Our goal is to reduce dropout rates and providea support system that leads to life skillstraining to the most at-risk teens.”A recent report indicates that 68 percentof all criminal activity in Michigan is committedby high school dropouts. Over 50percent of the inmates in Michigan jails arehigh school dropouts, and it costs the state$30,000 a year to house each one. Also, 40percent of parents on public assistance inMichigan are also drop-outs.So the money spent to fund the STEPprogram is well worth it, said Abbott. Thatmoney comes not only from the StateDepartment of Education, but from privateindividuals and service organizations, suchas Cherryland Cares.The Cherryland Cares program donated© iStockphoto.com/Jordan Chesbrough$5,000 to the STEP program at its Junemeeting. The Cares board is made up offive Cherryland Electric Cooperative members.They decide which 501 3c non-profitgroups will receive monies from Cherryland’sOperation Round-up. It’s a fundthat Cherryland members have fundedby rounding up their electric bills to thenearest dollar.Over the past six months, the Cares boardhas handed out more than $42,000 in assistanceto programs like STEP.“Students experiencing homelessness havediverse needs,” said Abbott. “But it starts witha safe and stable place to live.”The STEP program is making a differencein the lives of homeless teens, Abbottsaid. Many of the students in the programagree.“I needed help to figure out how to managetime between school work, work andthe things I love to do,” said Heather. “Inaddition, I appreciated help in finding waysto return to my home and for conflict resolutionto heal the pain.”There has been an 11 percent increasein family homelessness over the last threeyears, according to the Department of Education,with the largest increases occurringin rural areas.16 Michigan Country Lines

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Home Cooking© iStockphoto.com/Kelly ClineSandwiches became popular inAmerica when bakeries first startedmaking pre-sliced bread. Here aresome favorite reader recipes. Findmany more at countrylines.com.Nina’s Cheesy Chicken Buns1 15-oz. jar Cheese Whiz ®1 10 3/4-oz. can cream of mushroom soup1/2 c. mayonnaise1/4 t. pepper4 c. chicken, cooked and cubed1 c. chopped celery1/4 c. chopped onion4 boiled eggs, choppedMix Cheese Whiz, soup, mayonnaiseand pepper together. Stir in chicken, celery,onion and eggs. Simmer in a saucepan onstovetop or bake uncovered, at 350° for 20-30minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve on yourfavorite type of bun. To serve more people,add more chicken, eggs, celery and onion,but do not increase the sauce.Joyce Tamminga, JenisonRoast Beef Sandwich1 sheet puff pastry, slightly thawed1 c. thinly sliced roast beef for sandwiches4 oz. cream cheese1 T. Parmesan cheese1/8 c. bleu cheese crumbleskosher saltfreshly cracked pepperPlace puff pastry on a flat surface. Usinga rolling pin, roll it out twice in each direction.Spray a 10x15-inch cookie sheet withnon-stick spray. Place pastry on cookie sheet.Slice cream cheese lengthwise into 1/4-inchthick slices. You will be layering ingredientson half the puff pastry, leaving the other halfto fold over filling layers. Working from left,lengthwise, place first cheese slice 1-inch fromleft edge of pastry. Lay remaining cheese slicesend-to-end on pastry. Sprinkle Parmesancheese on top of cream cheese. Layer roastSandwichesbeef on top of cheeses. Sprinkle bleu cheeseover roast beef. Fold unused half of pastryover filling layers and seal edges. Cut threeslits on top of pastry. Sprinkle with salt andpepper. Bake at 385° for 25 minutes untiltop is golden brown.Danielle Cochran, GraylingMushroom-Cucumber VeggieSandwichbreadfresh mushrooms, sliced and sautéedSwiss cheese slicescucumbers, peeled and slicedradish sproutsItalian dressingPlace cheese and mushrooms on a slice ofbread. Top with another slice and grill bothsides like a grilled cheese sandwich. As soonas sandwich is golden brown, open it and addcucumbers, sprouts and a light sprinkling ofdressing. Replace bread slice and enjoy.Leslie McCrum, Howard CityGreek Burgers2 lbs. ground beef2 T. dried onion2 T. chopped fresh parsley2 t. garlic salt2 t. oreganopita breadsour creamsliced onionsliced cucumberCombine ground beef, dried onion, parsley,garlic salt and oregano; shape into pattiesand refrigerate eight hours or overnight. Frypatties to desired doneness. Warm pita breadin oven or microwave. Cut bread in half.Place a burger in each pita half. Top with sourcream, and sliced onion and cucumber.Cynthia Yingling, WolverineBasil Tomato Grilled Cheese8 slices Italian bread, cut 3/4-inch thick8 slices part-skim mozzarella2 lg. plum tomatoes, sliced2 T. minced fresh basil2 t. balsamic vinegarsalt and pepper to taste1/4 c. olive oil3 T. grated Parmesan cheese1/4 t. garlic powderOn four slices of bread,layer mozzarella cheese and tomatoes.Sprinkle with basil, vinegar, salt and pepper.Top with remaining bread slices. In a smallbowl, combine oil, Parmesan cheese andgarlic powder. Brush over outsides of eachsandwich. Cook sandwiches, on a griddle,over medium heat until golden brown onboth sides.Shannon Powers, MiddlevilleMock Monte Cristo Sandwich2 c. crushed Rice Krispies ® cereal3 eggs3/4 c. milk1/4 t. salt2 T. powdered sugar1/4 t. salt12 slices bread6 oz. thinly sliced cooked ham6 oz. thinly sliced cooked turkey6 oz. sliced cheese, any typepowdered sugarPlace crushed cereal in a shallow dish. Inanother shallow dish, beat eggs slightly; addmilk, powdered sugar and salt, blend well.Assemble sandwiches by layering six slices ofbread with ham, turkey and cheese and toppingeach off with another slice of bread. Dipeach sandwich into the egg mixture, then coateach side of each sandwich with the crushedcereal. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bakeat 425° for 10-15 minutes, until crisp andslightly browned. Sprinkle with powderedsugar before serving.Debbie Coombs, WaylandBananawiches12 T. peanut butter6 hot dog buns, split open6 bananas6 T. strawberry preservesSpread 2 tablespoons peanut butter in eachbun. Place a banana inside each bun. Spread1 tablespoon preserves over each banana.Wrap in colored plastic until ready to serve.Bonnie Bourn, ConstantineMore sandwich recipes on page 20 uSend in your recipes! If published, you’ll receive a free kitchen gadget. Send in:stir fry recipes by Sept. 10, and your all-time favorite previously publishedCountry Lines recipe by Oct. 10 (no gadgets this category). Mail to: Country Lines Recipes,2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864; or email jhansen@countrylines.com.18 Michigan Country Lines

Fund RaisingYour School, Church, Club, Team orYouth Group will work directly with themanufacturer to make 40% profit.Your supporters receive a tremendousvalue on remarkable kitchen knives, utensilsand gift sets (quick mixes, cookbooks, soywax candles and stoneware too)!Rada Cutlery’s reputation for Made inthe USA quality is well known. We havemade and sold over 124,000,000 knivessince 1948!Our proven fund raising system guaranteesyour success.Request your FREE catalog andinformation packet:1-800-311-9691or www.RadaCutlery.comNOTE: Dept A10REMFind out why ourcustomers say that“Rada knives sellthemselves!”Smooth Out Rough Roadswith the DR ®Here’s what makes the DR ® POWER GRADER the fastest,easiest, and best do-it-yourself driveway grooming solution ever —PATENTED DESIGN enables you toloosen and regrade enormous amounts ofmaterial with minimal power.POWERED ACTUATOR allows youto control grading depth from your towingvehicle with a remote control.POWER GRADER!CARBIDE-TIPPED SCARIFYINGTEETH loosen the hardest composite surfaces.FILLS IN POTHOLES and wash-outs,and smoothes washboard on gravel, limestone,dirt, or sand roads without hauling innew material, shoveling, or raking.Call Now! Get a FREE DVD and CatalogTOLLFREE888-206-5291www.DRpowergrader.com70068X © 2010PILOT HOMEPROGRAM10 HOMESWANTEDFREE888-221-1869In the LowerPeninsula888-854-1435In the UpperPeninsulaEarn an Extra $500 in Savingswith our 5 for 5 Program!September 2010countrylines.com19

Sandwich Recipes, continued from page 18MOVE IT.SPECIAL FINANCING OFFER3.9% INTERESTFOR 60 MONTHS*Now with special financing it’s easierand more affordable than ever to own aversatile Steiner tractor. Take advantageof this offer and move snow more wayswith your new Steiner 430 or 235 tractorfeaturing our Quick-Hitch System, andsix productive snow attachments.For more information, visit a Steiner ®dealer near you: www.steinerturf.com*Offer valid subject to credit approval June 1-August 31 and placed on your Yard Card or Yard Card Plus credit cardaccount. During the 18 Month promotional offer period the minimum monthly payment is calculated by dividing thePurchase amount by the length of the promotional offer period. Interest charges accrue from the date of purchase untilthe end of the promotional period. Interest will not accrue during promotional period. The Standard APR will be chargedon any balance remaining after the promotional period. A promotional fee of $125 will be charged on customer’s firstbilling statement and added to your balance. See dealer for details.GET A FREE STEINER ®TRAVEL MUG!Test drive a Steiner®tractor and get a FREESteiner® travel mug. Fillout this form and bringit to a Steiner® dealernear you!Offer valid at participatingdealers, while supplies last.MOW IT BLOW ITNameAddressCityStatePurchase a NEWSTEINER ® 430 OR 235 TRACTOR,A SNOW BLOWER, AND ANYANOTHER ATTACHMENT andreceive an INSTANT REBATE of$1000taken off your invoice attime of purchase.OFFER VALID FROM AUG. 1 - OCT. 31, 2010AT PARTICIPATING DEALERS ONLY.ZipEmailwww.steinerturf.com • 1.866.469.1242© 2010 Schiller Grounds Care, Inc. All Rights Reserved.DO IT.TRENCH IT HAUL IT DRILL IT TILL IT DO IT.Rolled Sandwiches16 slices white or whole wheat bread16 slices bacon16 slices American cheese32 wood toothpicksLay one slice of cheese on each slice ofbread. Roll them up and wrap with a sliceof bacon. Secure each end with a toothpickand place on a lightly greased broilerpan top. Bake at 400° for 10-15 minutes,turning if necessary, until toasty brown andbacon is cooked. Serve with tomato soup orcut rolled sandwiches in half and serve asappetizers. Reheat any leftovers quickly ina microwave.Pat Mooney, South LyonHam and Cheese Sticky Buns1 pkg. dinner rolls1/2 lb. ham, sliced1 lb. cheeseSauce:1/2 c. butter1/3 c. brown sugar2 T. Worcestershire sauce2 T. mustardPut a slice of ham and a slice of cheeseon each bun. Place tops on buns and placethem in a pan or cookie sheet close together.Combine butter, brown sugar, Worcestershiresauce and mustard in a small saucepan. Bringto a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Pour sauceover buns; cover with foil and bake at 350°for 20 minutes.Arlene Yoder, ScottvillePulled Pork Sandwiches withJerry’s BBQ Sauce2 c. ketchup1/4 c. molasses1/2 c. light Karo ® syrup1/2 t. liquid smoke1/4 c. minced onion3 cloves garlic, minced2 T. Worcestershire sauce1/2 t. paprika1 T. lemon juice1/2 t. saltdash of crushed red pepperdash cumin2 t. cornstarchRoast a pork shoulder roast overnight ina slow cooker, remove and discard any fat,then shred pork back into the cooker. Blendsauce ingredients in a saucepan, heat andsimmer for 5-10 minutes. Pour a generousamount of sauce over meat, heat 1-2 hoursuntil the flavors meld. Serve on your favoritetype of bun.Jerry Martin, Sandusky20Michigan Country Lines

!"#"$%&'()$%&*+$,)-.&#)!"#$%&'&!()&*+,-).&/-0-)1&203)&45,+&6&7899,5+&2)1)3:)&(01&1;().89).&-()&/>&?5:@-&A118).&BC&?59.&45,+1&D3):,5819E&()9.&0-&-()&*>/>&F,+-&0-&G)1-&H5,+->&H9)01)&I)&0.:,1).J&!()1)&?5:@-&A118).&?59.&45,+1&03)&I),+K&3)9)01).&5+&0&/>&?5:@-&?59.&,+:)+-53E&D3,;).&0-&BNOP>QR&D)3&;5,+&;589.&:)3E&D511,I9E&1)99&58-S&4099&,LL).,0-)9E&-5&0:5,.&.,10DD5,+-L)+->&!(,1&T0-';51-U&?5:@-&?59.&5==)3&;589.&I)&;0+;)99).&0-&0+E&-,L)>&#5&+5-&.)90E>&4099&0&/3>&?59.&/D);,09,1-&-5.0E>Own Gov’t Issued Gold CoinsDUE TO STRICT LIMITED AVAILABILITY, TELEPHONE ORDERSWILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE BASISACCORDING TO THE TIME AND DATE OF THE ORDER.%&'()*+,'--./'01-.23.4567$139 26!"#$!"# $%&'()# *))+# ,-./.+0# /%#1%()# $%&2# 3-245)-2+)4#1%+)$# .+/%# 62)7.%&8#1)/-98:#/3)#/.1)#.8#+%,#/%#7%+8.4)2# /2-+8")22.+0# $%&2#;%94%94#1-2@)/#.8# %+# /3)# 1%():# &6# 1%2)# /3-+# ABBC# %()2#/3)# 6-8/# DB# $)-28# 5# %&/6-7.+0# /3)# EFG:#HI=EIJ#-+4#=KL#MBB%94# N%.+8# 4.2)7/#"2%1#%&2#O-.+#P-&9/#Q-7.9./$:#R-/57%8/S:#"%2#/3)#-1-T.+0#62.7)#%"#%+9$#UDAV!"#$$!%&$$!'())!*+,!-./01!#!2345!6!2341!#!7889:!1-877-730-0321MASTERCARD • VISA • AMEX • DISCOVER • CHECKN%.+8#)+9-20)4#/%#83%,#4)/-.9

House & HomeJames DulleyThe Old SwitcherooSlide into energy savings by replacing an old, wide window with a sliding glass door.The overall efficiency of an airtightsliding glass door can be better thanan insulated partial wall with a largeinefficient window above it. My doublehorizontal slider window had double-paneglass, but the gap seal failedon one panel and all theweather-stripping was wornout, creating air leaks.Although homes are constructeddifferently, you’llgenerally find a lot of reinforcinglumber framingaround window openings.This is great for structuralstrength, but leads to inefficientthermal bridges andleaves little room for insulation.Once I removed thedrywall, I found the sillplate had not been sealedproperly and air was leakingin at the bottom ofthe wall. Seal as much ofthe sill as possible to thefoundation.I selected a super-highefficiencysliding glass doormade by Thermal Industries(thermalindustries.com). Ituses a steel-reinforced vinylframe and triple-pane glasspanels. Two of the glasspanes have a low-emissivitycoating and dense kryptoninert gas between them. This provides a highinsulation level and cuts down on noise.Always select a door which is Energy Star ® -qualified and meets federal energy tax creditrequirements.Another option is double-swinging Frenchpatio doors. If you have clearance in yourdining room for swinging doors, these aremore efficient. Swinging doors close oncompression weatherstripping, so they sealbetter over the long-term than a seal on slidingglass doors. Also, when you open bothswinging doors, there is more open area fornatural ventilation.Thermal Industries sent along an expertto help me with my installation. Followingare some of the tips he taught me.Spend a few extra dollars and rent a largemasonry saw to cut through the brick wallThis slidingglass door isinstalled withonly interiortrim neededto finish thejob (and theclean-up,of course).in one pass from the outdoors. I bought acheap masonry blade for my circular saw. Itcut through the brick, but I had to make bothoutdoor and indoor cuts to get through thefull width of the wall. This led to an unevencut and an unbelievable amount of dustindoors. Wear a good N95 breathing maskwhenever you cut masonry.With a brick veneer wall, the width of thebrick and the total wall-framing thicknesswill be about twice the width of the slidingglass door frame. The installer recommendedpositioning the door out on the brick tocreate a more stable door base. Indoors, thisalso recesses the door, making it easier toinstall tight thermal drapes during winter.The Warm Company makes good thermaldrapes for this application.For the simplest installation, cut straightdown from the existing windowopening. You will haveto build out the interior openingwith studs to the samewidth as the brick, but thisis still easier than resizing theentire opening. This will leavea gap between the new studsand the brick which must beinsulated.I used Great Stuff ® lowexpansionfoam, but fiberglassis also effective. Once the foamwas sprayed in and expanded,the insulation was coveredwith 3/4-inch pressure treatedplywood. Thermal Industrieshad custom-sized the doorto fit in this final openingsize with about one-half inchoverall clearance. Make sureto use shims for all screws anddon’t over-tighten them. Theframing on a large door caneasily be pulled out of balanceduring installation withoutsupportive shims.My door frame was placedover pressure-treated lumbertrimmed with aluminumflashing to raise it because I mistakenly cutthe brick too low. Whether you’re installinga door over lumber, brick, or a precast sill,liberally apply silicone caulk between thebottom of the door frame and the base toprevent leaks. There are weep vents in thedoor track to prevent water collection.To see all the project photos and details,visit dulley.com/newdoor.Photo – James DulleyHave a question for Jim? Send inquiries to:James Dulley, Michigan Country Lines, 6906Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 orvisit dulley.com.22 Michigan Country Lines

An underground loop system and the constanttemperature of the Earth combine to create acomfortable climate in your home.For deep savings on your energy bills, look no further thanyour own backyard. With a ClimateMaster Heating andCooling System, you get a 30% tax credit and can save morethan half on your energy bill. ClimateMaster uses geothermalenergy to tap the constant temperature of the Earth,keeping your home comfortable year-round. Best of all, anew system usually pays or itself in about five years and is acleaner choice for the environment. If you’re ready touncover extra cash each month, visit climatemaster.com.climatemaster.comAnn ArborJetstream Mechanical734-668-8010CadillacCornwell Mechanical231-429-2996CharlevoixMacGregor Plumbingand Heating231-526-9633Eaton RapidsStahl & Sons, Inc.517-663-4102EvartGeo Connection, LLC231-734-0227Harbor SpringsMacGregor Plumbingand Heating231-526-9633LansingDoty Mechanical517-327-7777LowellCanfield Plumbing& Heating, Inc.616-897-0887Mt. PleasantCustom Heating &Plumbing989-772-5568MuskegonAssured ComfortHeating & Cooling Inc231-744-7571Sault Ste MarieAlbert Heating &Cooling, Inc.906-632-6900SunfieldMark WoodmanPlumbing & Heating517-566-8388Traverse CityTeam Bob’s Heating,Cooling & Plumbing231-941-4064

wolverine Power CooperativeNancy TannerWolverine Appeals Air Permit DenialWolverine Power Cooperativerecently filed a petition inMissaukee County CircuitCourt seeking reversal of thestate’s denial of the air quality permit for itsproposed Wolverine Clean Energy Venture(WCEV) power plant near Rogers City.Wolverine is asking the court to reverse theMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesand Environment’s (MDNRE) denial andreturn the application for reconsideration.“We believe the administration’s denialof the permit was a political decision ratherthan one based on the technical merits of ourapplication,” explains Craig Borr, Wolverine’sexecutive vice president. “We hope the appealprocess will be completed in a timely mannerto allow for further consideration and potentialfuture development of the WCEV.”Wolverine submitted its air permit applicationto the MDNRE in September 2007.The agency issued a draft air permit for theproject in October 2008 and accepted publiccomment in writing and at hearings held inRogers City and Lansing.“We worked closely with MDNRE staffin an effort to keep the permitting processThis is a computer rendering of the proposed Wolverine Clean Energy Venture power plantnear Rogers City.moving forward and expected a decision onour permit in 2009,” Borr adds. “ConsumersEnergy was granted an air permit for a powerplant development near Bay City in December2009, yet we received no word.”The administration acted in May 2010,denying Wolverine’s permit based on theanticipated costs of the project. The statealso cited the plant’s negative impact on theenvironment and said Wolverine failed todemonstrate the need for new generation.Wolverine proposed a state-of-the-art facilitycapable of generating 600 megawatts ofelectricity.“Wolverine and its members should beallowed to evaluate the cost and need aspectsof a project and decide how to best deliverreliable, competitively priced power to thosethey serve,” Borr says. “Through the appealprocess, we hope to be granted the opportunityto further evaluate the WCEV anddetermine our next steps.”Wolverine Members SetNew Energy RecordA team of seven power coordinators,including Mike Anderson, monitorenergy demand around the clock inWolverine’s Energy Control Center.Wolverine’s four electric distributionco-op members—CherrylandElectric Cooperative,Great Lakes Energy, HomeWorksTri-County Electric Cooperativeand Presque Isle Electric & GasCo-op—set a new monthlyenergy use record of 245,901megawatt-hours (MWh) inJuly. The members’ previousmonthly record was 238,506MWh, set in January 2009.“We saw an energy demandincrease of 19 percent for ourtraditional co-op members inJuly 2010, compared to July2009,” said Pete Chase, Wolverine’svice president of powersupply and energy control.“ Theweather has been considerablywarmer than last summer, andenergy demand is up.”24 Michigan Country Lines

Information For All HomeWorks CustomersYour cooperative offers a programcalled the Tri-County Electric PeopleFund, which is funded through thevoluntary rounding up of your monthlyutility bill to the next whole dollar. An allvolunteerboard of directors appointed bythe member-elected board of HomeWorksTri-County Electric Cooperative is chargedwith distributing the funds throughout theY o u r C o - o pcooperative’s service area to support charitableefforts within the communities we serve.Funds from the People Fund have beendistributed to educational programs, firedepartments, medical emergency groups,recreational organizations, senior organizations,numerous local charities, and manylocal families and individuals. A copy of thePeople Fund’s annual report detailing contributionsis available and has been highlightedin previous issues of Country Lines magazine.All grants made are also listed at our website,homeworks.org.Your participation in the Tri-County ElectricPeople Fund is voluntary. If at any timeyou wish to discontinue participation in thePeople Fund, please let us know and we willbe happy to remove your account.If you are participating, your monthly bill isrounded up to the next whole dollar amount.If your bill is $78.42, it would be roundedup to $79. The 58 cents is then contributedby HomeWorks on your behalf to thePeople Fund, to be used as explained above.A customer’s average annual contribution isapproximately $6. Your annual contributionto the People Fund is tax deductible and isreported on your monthly statement in Januaryof the following year.For additional information regarding theTri-County Electric People Fund, you cancontact the cooperative’s office by mail, orcall 877-466-3957 (menu option one).For applications, boardmeeting dates, or alisting of every PeopleFund grant made sincethe program began in1993, visit homeworks.org.For moreinformationor rebateforms, visithomeworks.orgSeptember 2010 countrylines.com 25

Country Lines MarketBUSINESS OPPORTUNITIESPIANO TUNING PAYS – Learn with AmericanTuning School home-study course. Toolsincluded. 800-497-9793.FINANCIALHOMEOWNERS 62 OR OLDER – With an FHAgovernment-insured “Reverse Mortgage,”can borrow against the equity in their homewith no monthly payments. Call James Harry,231-972-8898.MISCELLANEOUSBECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER – Correspondencestudy. Founded in 1988. Freeinformation. Ministers for Christ Outreach,7549 West Cactus Rd. #104-207, Peoria, AZ85381. ordination.orgCONCEALED PISTOL LICENSE CLASS – Sept. 25,$135. frontierways.com or 231-258-4817.LYMAN OUTBOARD BOAT – 15-foot Merc200 motor, cover, stored inside, excellent, MIregistration, $1,500. 260-758-3471.FREE BOOKS/DVDS – Soon the “Mark of theBeast” will be enforced as church and stateunite. Let the bible reveal. The Bible Says,POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. 888-211-1715.thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.comWORK CLOTHES, GOOD, CLEAN – Rentaltype, 6-pants and 6-shirts, $44.95; lined workjackets, $10.95; denim jeans, $6. Call 800-233-1853. 100% satisfaction guaranteed.usedworkclothing.comOUTDOORSGARY’S STUMP GRINDING – Cheaper by thedozen. 800-870-3871 or 231-587-9296.SAWMILL FOR SALE – $4,995, new portableband saw, saws 36-inch x 16-foot log. 231-288-0066.OUTDOOR WOOD BOILER – Kits and welded,from $1,295. 231-288-0066.CHIPPER-SHREDDER – 5.5 HP, new yardmachines. $375 or best. 248-229-1634.NEW AND USED WOOD BOILERS – 888-825-0808. comfortableheating.comREAL ESTATEISABELLA COUNTY, 163.8 ACRES – Beautifulpiece of hunting property, small older trailer,small barn, well, electric, pond, 20 acres tillableand the rest a mixture of cedar swampand wooded, rolling, high ground, $320,000.616-209-2230.LAKEFRONT CABIN – Near Big Star Lake,Baldwin. 110 feet lake frontage, paved road,one mile to Pere Marquette River, 1.4 acres, garage,bunkhouse, perfect condition, $99,000.616-669-8424.BREVOORT LAKE – Upper Peninsula 3-bedroom,1-bath cabin, stone fireplace, deck,storage shed, on 100 x 740-foot lot. Reduced,phone 906-293-8770.9 ACRES, MASON COUNTY – Well, septic,power, $30,000 or best offer. 231-750-4129.ATLANTA, ELK CAPITAL Of Michigan –3-bedroom home, 4-car garage and workshopattached. Approximately 275 x 125 footlot, $21,000. Call 989-785-4110.ATLANTA, ELK CAPITAL Of Michigan –3-bedroom, sunroom and balcony-top floor.2-bedroom, 1 ½ bath, walk-in guest quarters,20 x 40 foot pole barn, 300-foot stream frontage,bridge crossing, inland lake within 30feet with fishing dock, boat included. Call989-785-4110.HUNTING CABIN AND 70 ACRES – of primehunting land near Hale, MI. 810-441-7623.MOBILE HOME, WEIDMAN – Lakefront, yearround,furnished, $35,000. 517-485-9335 or989-644-3754.1,400 FEET ON MANISTEE River – Fabulous11.5 acres, year-round or vacation destinationReach over 250,000+ households!Country LinesClassified ad rates:s $3 per word ($30 min.), including ALLbusiness, agent and broker adss $1.50 per word ($15 min.) for co-opmembers running nonbusiness adsEach initial, group of figures, phone number,abbreviation, e-mail address and website addresscounts as one word. Hyphenated andslashed words count as two or more words. Adsare subject to editor’s approval and editing. Formember rate, attach your mailing label. To payby credit card, include card number, exp. date,address related to the card and signature withad. M/C or VISA only, please indicate which.Send your printed or typed ad and checkmade payable to MECA (advance paymentrequired) by 15th of month prior to publicationto: Country Lines, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI48864, or email jhansen@countrylines.com. Call517-351-6322, Ext. 201, for more information.No classifieds accepted by telephone.Also, place order online atcountrylines.com, and ads will beposted FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE(Until the next issue of the magazine is published.)in Fife Lake, MI. 3-bedroom, 1-bath, garageand outbuildings, $215,000. 231-879-3109.RIVERFRONT HOME, 7 ACRES – With 1,100feet N. Branch Lincoln River, pole barn, garage,shop. 6 miles north of Scottville, $220,000.231-757-2106.8 ACRES, 8OO FEET – North Branch LincolnRiver, 6 miles north of Scottville, goodbuilding site, hunting, fishing, $45,000.231-757-2106.RECREATIONAL HAVEN – Whitefish Bay.Spacious home, 28 x 40 ft. garage, 179 feetlakefront with 18 acres, can sub-divide.Skiing, hiking, ATV, snowmobile, trails,year-round secluded playground, $399,000.906-440-8276.FOR SALE, RIVERFRONT HOME – Walkout,3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1,700 sq. ft. up, 1,000sq. ft. down. Two-car attached and 24 x 36 ft.matching building, 2.3 acres, huge windowswith a 400-ft. view of the Sauble River. Halfwaybetween Ludington and Manistee. Easyaccess cul-de-sac, privacy, dry, beautifullylandscaped, $229,900. 231-464-5004.$64,900, 3-BEDROOM HOUSE – On 18 acres.Best Kalkaska County deal for a totally remodeledstick-built with garage. Call Realtor Mikeat 231-570-1111 or visit TCarea.comMARTINY LAKES, BARRYTON – Canal front.Furnished mobil home and garage with accessto several good fishing lakes, $56,000.517-626-2046.ONAWAY AREA LEASE – S.E. CheboyganCounty, 100 acres, Black River frontage. Leasenow for turkey, bow and gun seasons. Paytaxes. 248-217-5217.THUNDER BAY RIVER, ALPENA MI – 100feet river frontage, 2-bedroom, 1-bath,newly remodeled home. 989-354-3650,leave message.WEIDMAN, MI, 40 ACRES – Trails, wildlife,3-bedroom, 2-bath house built 1994, coveredporch, 2-car garage, geothermal heat, polebarn, workshop, $299,000. David Zamarron,ERA Central Real Estate, 989-773-6000.BIG SAUBLE RIVERFRONT – Home/retreat.Mason County, 3 large bedrooms, 2 baths,fireplace/heatilator in open plan living area,laundry, patio and covered porch on riverside,2-car attached garage, workshop, manyupdates. 115 feet of trout stream frontage.Beaches, biking, hiking, golf, skiing, incrediblesalmon, trout, steelhead fishing nearby,$199,750. 231-464-7228.26 Michigan Country Lines

VACATIONSMARTINY WATERFRONT COTTAGES – Completelyfurnished, air and boats included.Pontoon rental available. 616-897-5062.SNOW BIRDS – Join us in Raymondville, TexasGolf Vue RV Park. 9-hole golf course acrossthe street, 40 minutes north of Mexico. Call956-690-4008.NEW!WANTEDBUYING OLD WOODEN DUCK – Goose, fish,decoys. 248-877-0210.BUYING GUN RELOADING Equipment –Bullets, ammo, gun parts, back stock andmore. 517-623-0416.WANTED, DIVCO MILK TRUCK – Doodle Bugtractors, pick-up trucks 1930 thru 1975. CallHarold, 231-652-6421.Reach over 250,000+ households!Place your ad online: countrylines.comFREE TREESAMERICA’S LARGEST ONLINE NURSERYOVER 2200 ITEMS AVAILABLEWWW.SUMMERSTONENURSERY.COMFREE CATALOG 931-668-7991Superior vacuumperformance with nearlythree times the debris flowcapacity of six-inch systems.The Cyclone Rake Z-10 featuresa 10-inch diameter vacuum system, 10 HP engine,and Super-Flow Miracle Impeller that devours leavesand other debris. When you’re done, the Cyclone Rake folds flat forstorage. Five models available, with prices starting at just $995.FREE CATALOG & DVD. CALL TOLL-FREE:1-866-293-5997or visit www.CycloneRake.comMention the Discount Code MC910 when you call, or enter it onour web site for a special discount on any Cyclone Rake model.Woodland Power Products, Inc., 72 Acton St., West Haven, CT 06516NEW SELF-FEEDINGDR ® CHIPPER!Just load a DR ® RAPID-FEED CHIPPER, step back,and watch it chip branchesup to 5½" thick!Folds Up Flat!SELF-FEEDING saves time andenergy. Most branches can be droppedinto the hopper and will self-feed,instead of you having to force-feed them.CHIP BRANCHES UP TO5-1/2" THICK with powerfulengines up to 18 HP.PRO-SPEC CHIPPER KNIFEis made of forged alloy tool steel.TRACTOR OWNERS! 3-Point Hitch,tractor-mounted models also available.CALL TODAY! Get a FREE DVD & CatalogTOLLFREE1-888-206-5291www.DRchipper.com70069X © 2010September 2010countrylines.com27

Y o u r C o - o pMember Satisfaction SurveyedHow do you feel about the way wedo business? What do you thinkabout energy efficiency or renewableenergy issues? How can we continueto improve our service to you?These questions and more were coveredon a recent survey commissioned byHomeWorks to determine the overall satisfactionour members have with our service.“We try to do these surveys aboutonce every two to three years,” saysDoug Snitgen, marketing coordinatorfor HomeWorks. For the project,HomeWorks hired Inside Information,Inc., a professional research team thathas done similar studies for other electricco-ops across the nation.Comparing Changes or TrendsWith Previous Surveys“We’ve worked with Inside Informationin the past and were really impressed withthe quality of what they do. Working withthem again this year allowed us to alsomeasure any changes or trends from previoussurveys,” Snitgen says.The survey was conducted in May, wheninterviewers collected telephone surveyresponses from 303 randomly selectedHomeWorks members from throughoutthe service area.“The study was designed to bestatistically accurate,” Snitgen continues,“so even if you weren’t one of the membersselected to take the survey, chances arewe still have a pretty good idea what youthink based on the responses of yourneighbors.”For you statistics buffs out there, Snitgenadds, the results of the survey have a marginof error of plus or minus 5.6 percent ata 95 percent degree of probability.High Overall SatisfactionContinuesThe survey shows HomeWorks memberscontinue to have very high overall satisfactionwith the co-op.“We were very encouraged by the resultsof the survey,” said Snitgen. “Our ACSI(American Consumer Satisfaction Index)score came back well above the nationalaverages for other industries.” (See chartbelow.)Among the drivers of overall satisfaction,respondents gave the highest ratings forhaving courteous, knowledgeable employees;a professional business manner; andquality customer service. Respondents alsogive higher satisfaction ratings for reliablepower and prompt outage response.HomeWorks will continue to sharemore findings from this survey in upcomingissues of Country Lines.HomeWorks’ ACSI compared to other utilities and industries:Your TimeIs ImportantSpend less of it paying your bill.HomeWorks offers several convenientoptions for paying your energy bills:Automatic Payments: No more writingchecks, buying stamps, orracing to catch the mail—there is no charge for ourconvenient auto-pay service!Your payment willbe withdrawn automaticallyeach month from your preferredaccount. You will still receive a billingstatement at least 10 days before it’s duethat indicates the amount owed.Online Payments: To make a paymentat any time, log-on toebill.homeworks.org.You can also use eBillto review your monthlyHomeWorks energy billsand account history.HomeWorks Tri-County membershave used Co-op Connections ®Card pharmacy benefits2,133 times, saving$47,379.56This graph shows how HomeWorks Tri-County Propane and HomeWorks Tri-CountyElectric stack up in overall customer satisfaction ratings against other Touchstone Energyelectric cooperatives and electric utilities in general, as well as several other servicespopular with customers across the U.S.Visit connections.coop to search forConnections Card deals in Michiganor with national companies. Offers areupdated frequently, so check often.If your local business would like tooffer HomeWorks members a discounton your products or services, call JayneGraham at 517-647-1252 or emailjayne@homeworks.org.28homeworks.orgMichigan Country Lines

If You're Looking for Price, Look CloselyWe want to keep your trust, and your business.What if you decide to order a value meal forlunch? You see one restaurant advertisinga cheeseburger value meal at $1.99. Theone across the street charges $2.99.You pull into the drive-through lane for the oneadvertised at $1.99 and place your order.The voice comes back through the intercom sayingyour total is $3.49, and “please pull ahead.”“But wait, the sign says $1.99,” you protest.“Yes, but that price is just for the burger,” youhear. “Then we added all the condiments youwanted, and your total is $3.49.”You’re hungry and out of time, so you have achoice: pay the inflated price or do without.Ever have this happen to you? Well, propanepricing is getting to be nearly as bad. The goodnews however, is that as a HomeWorks Tri-CountyPropane customer you have never had to pay anyadditional fees for our price protection, or chargessuch as hazmat fees and fuel surcharges for eachdelivery. When we tell you our price-per-gallon,there are no add-ons!You can see the value of being a HomeWorks Tri-County Propane customer. Plus, you are enrolled inour price protection automatically—at no charge—from the day you become our propane customer.Our goal is to be your propane supplier for thelong term, and we believe by building trust withhonest pricing you will find value in being ourcustomer.Visit homeworks.org/9questions for a copy of ourfree report, “The 9 Crucial Questions You Need ToAsk Your Propane Company,” and a comparisonshopping worksheet.Randy HalsteadPropane ManagerTo learn more about propaneservice from HomeWorks,call 877-574-2740 or visithomeworks.orgHomeWorks Tri-CountyPropane is a wholly-ownedsubsidiary of HomeWorksTri-County ElectricCooperative.Your Electric Cooperativewants to give you9 FREE ENERGY-SAVING LIGHT BULBSORDER TODAY. QUANTITIES LIMITED.Here’s how to obtain your free bulbs:• Visit www.michigan-energy.org• Click on your electric cooperative• Click the free light bulb icon• Type in Promotional Code: PC90Make sure you have your account number available.Offer valid through 11/30/2010 or while supplies last. Limit one 9-pack per residential account.You must be a co-op member and the bulbs must be installed in your co-op served home . Otherrestrictions may apply.Order now at michigan-energy.org • Questions? 877.296.4319September 2010 countrylines.com 29

RAMBLINGSMike BudaLeftoversI’m cleaning out my office. Retirementis just two days away. There’s 30 yearsworth of ‘leftovers’ here that I neverhad the good sense to toss.Most of it will end up in the trash. Dozensof folders filled with agendas, notesand reports that will never be read againand probably didn’t need to be saved atall. I’ve just realized that most of these filesend in the mid ’90s, when we started usingcomputers and email to move documentsaround. It was supposed to be a paperlessrevolution, but we still make paper copiesof important things. Knowing that anoriginal is still on the computer, though,we usually throw out the copy, which justadds to our pile of paper trash.Some of these leftovers are interesting.A bookcase is filled with books and notebooksabout energy conservation, remnantsof the early ’80s, when, once again, wewere going to ‘get off of foreign oil.’A camera bag holds a couple of Canoncamera bodies and several lenses, whichno one here remembers how to use. Everythingis digital now, and so much easier.Boxes of slides, photos and black-andwhitecontact sheets fill drawers and shelves.We took dozens of photos to make sure wegot a few useable ones. A co-op director,worried we were spending too much moneyon photography, once asked why we didn’tpublish all the photos we took.There’s also a gadget for viewing thoseslides. It’s bigger than a laptop computer.One cupboard contains stacks of3 ½ -inch computer floppy disks and ZIPdisks. (ZIP disks once cost $25 a pop, nowonder it’s hard to throw them out.) Wedon’t have equipment that will read themanymore.There are rubber-banded bundles ofbusiness cards collected over decades frompeople I haven’t seen or heard from in years,from businesses no longer in existence. Allthe ‘keepers’ have long since been transferredto a computer address book.There’s a folder of old job performanceevaluations. I don’t even want to look.They were a painful exercise for both sides.There are notes from Ray Kuhl, who30(thankfully) hired me in 1980 andfathered this magazine, although notwithout complications: There are formsdated 1980 from co-op managers whosaid they wouldn’t subscribe to CountryLines because it was an unnecessaryexpense. So we started with six out of 13co-ops; within a year, all had subscribedfor their members.There’s a folder with columns and ideasfrom Harold ‘Doc’ McCaughrin, one ofthe sharpest directors the co-ops ever had.He died in February at age 99.If there ever was a role model for retirement,it was Doc. He managed to createa whole new life after he retired as a dentistand moved to northern Michigan. Heread every day for three hours, learningnew things and staying informed aboutthe energy industry. He became a directorfor Great Lakes Energy Co-op at 78 andserved until 90. His questions were alwaysthe best and most informed.My father is another model. Frank’sbody is 93, but his mind is 25. He stillwatches the news and Charlie Rose, readsthe newspaper every day, helps my mother,does the laundry, and cooks. He combatsthe indignity of failing strength with hisown quiet dignity and acceptance. Whenhe retired at 61 after years of tough, physicaloutdoor labor on the Soo Line Railroadin Upper Michigan and northern Wisconsin,he didn’t just sit back with a beer andwatch the sunsets. He reinvented himselfas a carpenter, rebuilding, with my mother,an abandoned, run-down farmhouse onPump Station Road north of Ironwood. Itbecame his job, something to do every day.“What are you going to do?” friends askwhen we tell them we are “retiring.”“We don’t know yet,” we say, realizingthat sounds pretty lame, like the kid whoanswers ‘nothin’ when his mother askshim what he’s doing. Obviously, we’ll bedoing something. We just haven’t decidedexactly what.Retirement is not a simple thing. Oneday you’re working, the next you’re not.We feel fortunate to have had careers weenjoyed—Barbara teaching, me publishingthis magazine and working with and forthe best businesses in the state: the coops,and co-workers we enjoyed spendingtime with (you’d better like them, youspend more waking time with them thanat home). We knew it was coming, but wenever really thought about the days afterretirement. Oh sure, we say, we want totravel, see new places, do new things, meetnew people, visit family and friends. Andwe will, but the structure of the days afterthat is up in the air.We’ve had structure for 40 years. Thedaily, weekly and yearly schedules werefairly predictable and those schedulespropped us up. Daily events changed, butour lives had a pattern; we knew what wascoming, what was expected of us.Now, we’re free to do what we want,when we want. That’s exciting and intimidatingat the same time. And we’re mindfulthat not everyone is as fortunate as weare. The bad economy has ruined retirementfor many.We’ve watched others go through this.Some chuck everything at once—the job,the house, the spouse—and move on.Others are more measured, making elaborateplans for golf and fishing and secondhomes in the sunny south.I asked my dad for advice on retiring.“Just take it as it comes,” he said.So the formula might go like this: Stayphysically active and mentally engaged,watch Charlie Rose—and have a beer andwatch the sunsets.Thanks for joining us. It’s been fun.Mike Buda, the foundingeditor of Country Lines,will continue to write thiscolumn and help out onthe magazine as he triesto figure out the rest ofhis life.Email Mike at mbuda@countrylines.com.Michigan Country Lines