Meet our Volunteer of the Year, Adam Grammer, a remarkable young man with over 7,000 hours of service.

At age 10, on a cold November night, Adam Grammer witnessed a boat with two fishermen overturn on Elk Lake, where his grandparents live. Adam, of Kewadin, quickly had his grandparents call 911, then took a jet ski out with his grandfather to pull the men to shore. Emergency personnel soon arrived, and both men survived.

This event helped Adam realize that a quick response and a cool head can save lives.

Now 19 years old, this 2009 Michigan Country Lines Volunteer of the Year has logged over 7,000 hours of volunteer service in the past five years. That equates to over three full-time work years—more than most people volunteer during their entire lives.

Grandparents Joyce and Ron Grammer nominated Adam for the award, and explain that even as a child he seemed determined to help people. He often asked his parents to drive him to the sites of accidents and fires, where he offered help with tasks such as cleaning up debris or directing traffic.

“We’ve asked ourselves if this [boating accident] is what got Adam turned on to volunteering,” Joyce says. “It’s the only thing we can think of.”

His formal volunteering activities started when he was a teenager.

At age 14, he began volunteering for three Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce events.

Besides soliciting other volunteers and sponsorships or donations for the events, he coordinated “logistics,” making sure enough tables, tents and other materials and equipment were in place when and where they were needed.

Adam says, “I realize from doing work for the Chamber that without volunteers, we wouldn’t have great community activities like Harbor Days.”

At age 15, he volunteered with the Elk Rapids Fire Department, where he started a Boy Scout Young Explorers program and recruited eight members.

Elk Rapids firefighter Nick Carpenter taught and encouraged Adam in his firefighting skills, and they remain good friends.

At age 16, he patrolled snowmobile trails and waterways as a volunteer for the Antrim County Sheriff’s Department. Citing friends for violations was an unenviable part of that job, and Adam was on the scene of an auto accident where two classmates died.

“That’s hard,” he acknowledges, “but you have to do your job and press forward.”

At age 18, he became a volunteer at the Milton Township Fire Department. Adam credits Brian Howard, fire chief at Milton, for challenging him to take his firefighting skills to a higher level.

“Firefighters have to be willing to exceed their comfort levels if they really want to be effective in their jobs,” Adam explains.

In summer 2007, Adam heard about the Newberry firefighters that were battling wildfires raging in the Upper Peninsula. Not yet a certified firefighter, Adam still found his own way to help.

Tapping into the local Elk Rapids community he serves, he rounded up donations of bottled soft drinks and water, snacks and paper products—anything he felt the firefighters would need. The Chamber of Commerce director offered supplies left over from the last Harbor Days festival, and others brought donated supplies to a cargo trailer Adam parked at the fire station.

He personally hauled the supplies north in two trips with large trailers borrowed from his father’s building business.

While Adam acknowledges that not everyone may want to put as many hours into volunteering as he does, he observes, “I don’t know why people wouldn’t volunteer.”

Finding the right cause to volunteer for makes the effort worthwhile, he advises. While Adam doesn’t expect anything beyond helping people by volunteering, he does appreciates the awards and scholarships he has received from his efforts.

Adam now attends Northwestern Michigan University in Traverse City and plans to make professional firefighting his career. Meanwhile, he’s still a volunteer firefighter with both Milton and Torch Lake townships.

His advice to people who are thinking about volunteering is, “Don’t be afraid to get out there and try to make a difference!”

Other Volunteer Nominees

Sandy Bassett, Caro
“I am nominating my daughter, Sandy Bassett, for her 15 years of work in pet rescue and sterilization. She has organized a nonprofit group of willing workers called “The Cass River Pet Friendz,” and has placed for adoption 1,714 dogs and puppies.
She has received over $70,000 in grants that she put towards controlling over-population and pet abuse in Tuscola County. She works with the animal control people, whose 2001 survey found that only 15 percent of all dogs in the county were ‘fixed.’ She also has a ‘day care’ service for those in need of it.”
– M.J. Bassett, Tustin, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

Carole Campbell, Grayling
“Over the last eight years, Carole has done about 100 luncheons for her church and put on the annual Live Nativity, plus an Ice Cream Social and a rummage sale for the last 10 years, and sings in the chancel choir.
Behind the scenes, she does much to help with church remodeling (painting, carpeting, restoring); takes items to be recycled weekly; and works in the kitchen for groups that need food served, such as funerals.
She does a lot for the community, too, such as service to the Masonic Lodge and as a substitute cafeteria worker for the schools.”
– Lynn Hagon, Grayling, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

Dale Doepker, Canadian Lakes
“Dale is the most civic person I’ve ever met. He does income tax returns for low-income families and senior citizens, free of charge.
Dale also rings the bell for the Salvation Army, helps out at Gods Helping Hands at St. Michael’s Church in Remus, and works for Habitat for Humanity. He is also the area’s “loon ranger,” as he helps rescue injured loons, rebuilds their nests, and makes reports on them.
Dale also works at his church and helps many other people.”
– Kenneth Coon, Stanwood, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Co-op

Leon Gilbert, Atlanta
“Leon never refuses to help anyone who needs it. In fact, through New Beginnings Ministries (NBM), he has formed a men’s group that meets weekly to divide up work that needs to be done in the area. Following a call to NBM, and free-of-charge, all work is appropriately completed by these men who are mostly not reimbursed for their expenses. This is truly a ‘ministry of love’ as they cut and deliver wood, insulate and fix windows, do yard work and minor plumbing, and other jobs too numerous to mention.”
– Judith & Thomas Brown, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op

Pauline Hancock, Atlanta
“In the past six years, Pauline has worked selflessly to open Montmorency County’s first animal shelter building. With her efforts, our community’s dreams were realized March 30, 2009, when dogs housed at the Sheriffs Department’s outdoor runs were walked to their new, indoor, heated kennels. With 10-hour workdays, she advocates for animals, cleans kennels, schedules spays and neuters, and educates the public on animal welfare issues.
She never takes credit for herself; it is always for the Elk Country Animal Shelter and the county’s homeless pets.
– Margaret Tatum, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op

Clarence Harris, Charlotte
“Fondly known as ‘Butch,’ he is knowledgeable, ready and willing to use his talents to help others.
Butch’s spring project was to trim, cut down trees, clean up the yard, and assist HomeWorks Tri-County Electric tree trimmers. Last fall, he terraced a hilly section and put retaining walls where needed. Butch maintains our mower, cuts the grass, and keeps our driveway clear of snow, which makes it possible for me to visit my husband at the medical facility every winter day.”
– Helen Mack, Charlotte, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative

Tammy Sue Nevel, Baldwin
“Tammy Sue has been a Girl Scout leader for six years. To her girls, she is known as ‘Miss Sue,’ who leads six troops serving 41 girls.
She is a major volunteer at Early Birds for Warmth (free clothing store), and this matriarch works tirelessly to help her family.
‘Miss Sue’ gives and gives every day.”
– Ann Walters, Baldwin, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

Garry Randall, Marion
“We live off the main road, so it takes a few days for the county to plow after a snowstorm. Garry makes sure the widows and our neighbors are always plowed and can get out. He is also very handy and always available if something needs repair, without ever asking for anything in return.
His reward comes every spring when an apple pie and a pan of cinnamon buns always shows up on the doorstep.
Nominated by his wife, Betty – another person he has taken care of for 42 years.”
– Betty Randall, Marion, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

Jim Schmidt, Sault Ste. Marie
“Jim is a long-time financial advisor whose community service includes the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Crime Stoppers, Sault Sheltered Workshop, Sault Theater, and as a Hospice fundraiser and generous sponsor of area athletic teams.
Before going to work, Jim blows out the long driveways of two widows in our rural area when they are out of town or their equipment is out of commission. The neighbors are thankful for Jim and his Kubota.”
– Delores Iser, Sault Ste. Marie, Cloverland Electric Cooperative

Dianne Schmitigal, Goetzville
“Whenever someone is needed for any volunteer job, Dianne is there. She can be found many days working on various projects in her church, or at the Pickford Area Historical Society museum.
For Stalwart Presbyterian Church, she organizes annual sales whose proceeds help local people in need, and she led the building improvement drive that nearly doubled the church’s size without incurring any debt. She also helps distribute food for the local Community Action Agency.”
– Mary Jane Pennington & Carol Storey, Cloverland Electric Cooperative

Estella Stickney, Custer
“My mother spends every Monday at the Scottville Senior Center working with others to make quilts for local fire departments, which give them to all family members that have suffered a fire in their homes. In the evening, she also makes quilts with friends for Hospice raffles, Habitat for Humanity homes, and other local fundraisers.
She also volunteers at the nonprofit Western Michigan Old Engine Club, and is a true athletic booster at Mason County Eastern Schools. At Scottville Methodist Church, she serves on the kitchen committee that makes suppers for the public to enjoy a free meal.
– Sharon McCumber, Branch, Great Lakes Energy Co-op member