One model to which U.S. policymakers are looking utilizes European-style “feed-in tariffs.” But what are “feed-in tariffs?” Are they a good idea? Or do we have a better model to follow in our quest for energy independence?

The Summer 2010 issue of Management Quarterly, a publication of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, contains an artcle on feed-in tariffs written by Richard Barclay, Director of Research and Policy Development for the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association.

In the article, Barclay examines European-style “feed-in tariffs,” examining what they are, whether they’re a good idea, and if there is a better model to follow in our quest for energy independence.

The article is linked and reprinted with permission.

To save energy, consumers have wrapped water heaters in blankets or wrapped hot water pipes in insulation. While those practices should continue, a new type of water heating product is entering the market, promising to lower energy consumption and save consumers money.

Heat pump water heaters, while not a new technology, are experiencing a rebirth. A handful of small companies produced units in the 1980s and 1990s. But random failures and other issues (such as the need for utilities to install special electric service to power the devices) soured consumers on the technology.

In addition, many electric co-ops offered (and still offer) load management programs that depended on briefly shutting off standard electric resistance water heaters (which can store hot water for many hours) as a way to cut electric use during times of peak demand when power prices skyrocket. These programs, in turn, helped co-ops keep electric bills affordable. Heat pump water heaters, unfortunately, could not be used in these efforts.

Now, some major water heater manufacturers and other appliance companies have entered the market with a new and improved generation of heat pump water heaters. Many electric cooperatives are currently testing these products for possible deployment in their service territories—a critical step in determining whether they will really help consumers save energy and trim electric bills.

How They Work
Heat pump water heaters come in two types. The more expensive “integrated” model replaces an electric resistance water heater with one that combines a heat pump with a storage tank. The second version adds a heat pump unit to an existing electric tank.

In both versions, a heat pump circulates a refrigerant, which absorbs heat from surrounding air before it passes through a compressor to maximize heat output. Essentially, heat drawn from the air transfers to water in the tank.

While a heat pump water heater can produce most of the hot water a family requires, a backup electric resistance element in the tank takes over when outside air becomes too cold or consumers need extra hot water. In summer, cool exhaust air can be released into the vicinity where the heat pump water heater is located, assisting home cooling, or it can be returned outside through ducts.

Because a heat pump water heater uses electricity to move, rather than generate, heat, it consumes roughly half the electricity of a conventional electric resistance model. This efficiency qualifies integrated heat pump water heaters for an Energy Star® rating, a first for electric water heaters.

But this added efficiency comes with a high price tag. Integrated units sell for $1,400 to $2,000—more than twice the cost of standard electric resistance water heaters. However, depending on your co-op’s electric rate and the installed cost of a heat pump water heater, including any financial incentives, payback for the purchase can take as little as three years. In areas with low electric rates and limited financial incentives, though, the payback period can be much longer.

Heat pump water heaters are most efficient in warm and damp climates. Homes in those regions also benefit from the appliance’s cooling and dehumidifying features.

A heat pump water heater needs space of at least 10 feet square to ensure adequate air exchange. An open basement, a utility room, or—in some areas—a garage, will work.

Noise becomes another consideration when deciding where to place a unit. While conventional electric resistance water heaters operate quietly, most heat pump water heaters boast noise levels similar to window air conditioners.

Heat pump water heaters are not a universal option. Residents in colder climates will see decreased performance during winter. In the Pacific Northwest, for instance, if the heat pump is designed to work at ambient air temperatures of 45° F or higher, the water heater’s electric element will operate whenever air temperatures drop below that level, reducing energy savings.

To learn more, visit energystar.gov, and search for heat pump water heaters.

Alice Clamp is a technology writer for the Cooperative Research Network, a service of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

The couple had vague plans to “do something on our own” when they left Indiana and their careers—his as an engineer, and hers as a special education teacher—in their VW camper in 1973. “We were kind of Hippie-ish,” says Nancy, when they happened upon Houghton and stayed “to see what it was like to live with a lot of snow.” An avid sailor, Bill says, “Big water attracted us.” They also liked being close to Michigan Technological University.

Let’s sell something!
Two years after arriving in the U.P., the couple launched Einerlei on a lark, “because we had store windows,” says Nancy of the building that had housed a restaurant and barbershop. “Let’s sell something!” they said, and opened shop with handcrafted items and furniture they refurbished.

Gradually, they added inventory to reflect their home and garden interests, renovating the building in phases to make room for the works of local artists and musicians, greeting cards, housewares and apparel. The variety appeals to their clientele, a mix of tourists, locals, and the Michigan Tech and Finlandia University communities. “When I buy for the new year, I try to redefine (the shop). We have to constantly change, and that’s great because it keeps us interested,” Nancy says. “I try to find companies that are doing good on their own,” she adds, preferring those that donate to causes, deal in fair trade, and are conscientious about packaging.

Community Center
The couple is also active with local historical, business improvement and tourism committees, and Humane Society fundraising. Bill was township supervisor for 12 years, and Nancy’s passion for vintage clothing inspired “Friends of Fashion,” a volunteer group that preserves historic apparel and presents pageants depicting those who wore it.

The Leonards also serve as the unofficial Chamber of Commerce, readily sharing tips on what to do in the area. In summer, mountain bikers and hikers hit the Chassell Classic cross-country ski trail, and paddlers enjoy Chassell Bay and the Keweenaw Water Trail. The Chassell General Store carries everything from instant toothache pain relief to extension cords, refurbished computers, Vollwerth’s sausage, fishing lures and fresh fruit. Across the street, Treats and Eats offers ice cream and makes sandwiches for easy picnics at Centennial Park, with its playground, fishing pier and sandy beach on Chassell Bay.

A Berry Good Time
The waterfront was the site of a sawmill built in 1887, and lumbering reigned until the mill closed in 1928. Farmers realized the area was ideal for growing strawberries and Chassell became a major supplier. The story is told in the “Lumber Kings to Strawberry Kings” exhibit at Chassell’s Heritage Center Museum. Housed in a handsome former school, the Center is a Heritage Site of the Keweenaw National Historical Park. It’s open summer Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a variety of Thursday evening programs.

A handful of berry growers, some with U-Pick farms, remain in the area and Chassell celebrates with the annual Copper Country Strawberry Festival (July 9-10). It features parades, entertainment, an arts and crafts sale, whitefish “boil” and famous strawberry shortcake. Folks gather at the park pavilion to clean and prepare 1,200 quarts of strawberries for the signature treat.

Along U.S.-41
Roadside attractions near Chassell include the Bishop Baraga Shrine, a towering monument overlooking Keweenaw Bay, and birders flock to the Sturgeon River Sloughs, a designated wildlife viewing area. Teresa Palosaari’s Country Craft Cabin is filled with soaps, rag rugs and honey, and a bright red sign signals North Entry Road. A giant bear trap at the Bear Trap Iron Works is a can’t-miss photo stop.

Houghton offers a variety of lodging, but for a unique alternative, check into the Ivory Mansion Bed & Breakfast in L’Anse.

“The river defines the town geographically and historically,” says area resident Will Fowler, who wears many hats as an employee of the local bookstore, member of the Chippewa County Theatre Guild, and employee of Sault Historic Sites. “So many groups have had influence on the area—each group has left its mark.”

A Crossroads and a Destination
Sault Ste. Marie, or “the Soo,” has a tradition of being a place to re-stock provisions and relax. This second largest U.P. city is also the oldest European settlement in the Midwest and combines small town friendliness with enough authentic attractions to please the whole family.

“It’s a very friendly city,” says Linda Hoath, lifelong Cloverland Electric Co-op member and director of the Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Sault area is an ideal home base for the numerous day trip destinations located just a short distance away. Traveling time is a few minutes by bicycle, foot or car within the compact downtown waterfront area, and a few minutes to a few hours to the natural beauty, history and fun the eastern U.P. offers.

The International Bridge spans the St. Mary’s to join the U.S. and Canada, and offers easy access to the sister city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (call U.S. Customs at 906-632-2631 for border-crossing rules).

History FUN!
Fun is never separate from history in Sault Ste. Marie. The Tower of History features an amazing panoramic view of 1,200 square miles, including the Canadian side of the river, for those who take the high speed elevator 210 feet up to the observation decks.

From the top of the Tower, the Museum Ship Valley Camp can be seen a short distance away. This retired Great Lakes freighter has 20,000 square feet of exhibits and re-creations of the ship’s heyday as an iron ore and taconite carrier. Visitors can wander the crew’s quarters and pilothouse, view recovered artifacts from the Edmund Fitzgerald, and sense the sheer volume of a Great Lakes ship, which is only about one-half the size of freighters cruising today.

The newly-opened River of History Museum beautifully displays information about the diverse cultures and development of the St. Mary’s River system and Sault area. In the same building is the Interpretive Center for the Sault Tribe of Chippewa, a free learning experience featuring native artwork, craft displays and a tribal library.

Money-saving combination tickets are available for the three venues above (visit saulthistoricsites.com or call 888-744-7867).

A national historic site, the American Soo Locks (Visitor’s Center: 906-253-9101) should not be missed. This engineering marvel allows ships that are 1,000 feet long to narrowly negotiate the 21 feet of difference in water levels between lakes Huron and Superior. The Soo Locks Boat Tour (906-632-6301) uses double-decker boats to take visitors along the St. Mary’s and through the Locks.

Rarely open to the public, the block-long former Edison-Sault Hydroelectric Power Plant—now owned by Cloverland Electric Cooperative—is a dazzling work of circa 1898 cut-stone architecture, with “hidden” lighthouse columns.

Other attractions include the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, and St. Mary’s, Michigan’s first Catholic church. The current building is the fifth on this site and dates from 1881.

Local storyteller Jim Couling, also known as “Woodsmoke Jim,” delights in leading his Twilight Walking Tours (twilightwalkingtours.com or 906-440-5910), which offer tales that combine history and mystery.

“Each story is a gem,” Couling says, adding that he loves sharing his enthusiasm for “cool and creepy untold stories.” Some of the untold stories focus on his “Strong Women of the North” tales. “Their [the women’s] stories are compelling,” he says. With his wife Mary, who adds her vocal talents, they offer family-friendly evening strolls that depart appropriately across from the Haunted Depot on Portage Avenue.

Historic Sugar Island is just a hop away by ferry. Be sure to try the funky 1949 Clyde’s Drive-In restaurant near the ferry landing.

Speaking of Food…
Even eating is more fun in the Soo. Try ship-watching at the riverfront while feasting on fresh whitefish, fine dining at the Ramada Inn Ojibway (National Historic Landmark), or tasty Mexican specialties at the renovated 1903 Palace Restaurant and Saloon. Zorba’s serves up Greek, and Cup of the Day boasts great coffer, specialty sandwiches and homemade soups. Owner Anthony Stackpoole keeps a bowl of fresh water just outside the door for passing four-legged friends.

Unforgettable family dining awaits at the award-winning Antler’s Restaurant on Portage Avenue, where about 500 antler racks and animals—real and frankly fake—enliven the atmosphere from their perches on the walls and ceiling. Legend has it that among the names under which it has operated, the “Bucket of Blood Saloon and Ice Cream Parlor” is the most colorful. The Antlers offers homemade hamburger buns, twice-weekly fish fries, and delicious steaks. Their beer-of-the-month feature and traditional Paul Bunyan burgers are in demand by local Lake Superior State University students. (Hint: the steak bites on garlic bread and s’more cheesecake are amazing.)

A Lively Arts Scene
Shopping, theaters and art galleries are scattered throughout the Soo. Sault Realism, an art gallery run by Eric and Kathy Demaray, offers a mix of locally-created paintings, jewelry and photography. Some of the retro prints shown were taken by Eric’s grandmother, nationally known photographer Marion Stahl Boyer.

Nearby is Riverstone Gallery, specializing in Michigan and Sault art. Owners Gregory and Donna Steele, and daughter Allyson Schwartz, shape one-of-a-kind jewelry and clocks from re-purposed materials.

The Alberta House Art Gallery has traveling exhibits and a gift shop. Mahdziwin, on Ashmun St., is owned by the Sault tribe and offers original Native American artworks. Kewadin Casino also has a large gallery and gift shop with Native creations.

A recent “Cool Cities” grant has allowed the local drama community to renovate and use the historic Stars Theatre (906-632-1930), on Ashmun St.

The river’s special energy, collaboration among diverse cultures, and a strategic location make the Soo area an unforgettable destination with a charm found nowhere else.

“Sault Ste. Marie has found its own,” explains Hoath. “We are not Mackinaw City, we are not Mackinac Island, we are not St. Ignace. We are Sault Ste. Marie.”

To plan your trip to “The Place Where Michigan Was Born,” see saultstemarie.com or call 800-647-2858.

I’m always looking for an excuse to stop at Burdock Farm Greenhouse, in Dafter, to shop for plants and talk to Karen Bartunek, whom I’ve known for years. Now retired from the Sault Area Schools, this Cloverland Electric Co-op member runs a small business in a country setting. She sells plants and gifts to area gardeners. Her business could be described as ‘a passion for gardening that got out of hand.’

“It’s something that evolved,” explains Bartunek. “I grew plants for myself and pretty soon had too many and started selling them to neighbors. So I decided to try it on a bigger scale—this is big enough,” she says with a chuckle.

Bartunek mostly enjoys starting plants from seed, though it isn’t practical, even on a small scale, to start enough plants from seed to supply to area customers. Still, she manages to plant a number of things inside her house long before the snow melts. She germinates most of her seeds over heat tape and sometimes by placing germination trays on a cookie sheet over the pilots of a gas stove.

Assisting her in this endeavor is her 92 year-old mother, Belma. Karen’s mother doesn’t let a little arthritis keep her from her passion, which she obviously passed down to her daughter.

With the help of her daughters, who live on either side of her, Belma is able to continue doing something she loves. Each year she starts plants from seed in a spare bedroom, eventually hardening them off in a small greenhouse not far from her front door. With the help of a ramp and walker, Belma can mosey down to the greenhouse each day to tend to her gardening chores. She uses a chair on wheels and a long-handled water wand to maneuver within reach of the plants in the greenhouse.

Eventually, some of the hundreds of plants Belma raises will be on the retail display racks at Burdock Farms, or they may just get potted up and placed where she can see them from her living room window.

“Oh, I just love it,” said Belma, smiling as bright as the sun. “It keeps me going.”

Bartunek’s rustic garden center is large enough to offer a nice variety of plants, yet small enough for the personal service Karen offers her customers. She says helping her customers is what makes this endeavor worthwhile. “Most people come here in a good mood and leave in a good mood. You’re making people happy.”

My long-time friend and gardener, Brian Howard, of Blanchard, usually calls about the time asparagus is coming on in my garden. We compares notes on the weather and discuss what each of us is going to plant in the coming year. This year was no exception.

This summer, Brian and his wife, Priscilla, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Co-op members, are busy adding to the 17 varieties of apple trees in their small orchard. “I grow a lot of apples for cider,” Brian explains. “I also grow the Ida Reds for eating.” They are also adding another 1,000 strawberry plants to the ones they were already growing for market, and they’re planting another large vegetable garden this year.

Brian understands strawberries—his family has grown them for years in the Remus area. He grows several different varieties, including Jewels, Early Glow, Sparkles (one of his favorites) and a variety that sets flowers a little later in the spring—Ovation—which increases the chances of escaping a late spring frost.

The Howards give away, sell or can what they can’t eat fresh. They’re always on the lookout for the least toxic controls for insects and disease, which he admits is difficult—but perhaps not impossible, even with apples.

Brian has always been involved in gardening and some type of agriculture. The former beekeeper grew up on a farm near Remus. His father sold farm equipment for Ford in the Mt. Pleasant area, and Brian spent summers helping his grandfather garden and eventually gardened with area 4-H kids. “A lot of my interest in gardening came from my grandfather,” Brian says.

Mrs. Hugo (the only name I’ve known her by), is a new Cloverland Electric Co-op customer due to the Co-op’s recent acquisition of Edison Sault Electric. She says she cultivated most of her love for gardening in Germany, where she lived into her late teens.

Her first exposure to gardening was when she was about 14, and wanted to become a hair stylist. To enter this vocation, she was first required to work for a year, either in a home, doing domestic work, or on a farm. She chose a farm, and today is glad she did. On the farm she learned a lot about gardening.

“It was very fascinating to see a garden grow,” she says of her first experience. She shuns the use of chemicals in her backyard garden, and has instead adapted some of the non-chemical insect control techniques of Jerry Baker (gardening author who coins himself ‘America’s Master Gardener’) to grow her tomatoes, carrots and other veggies.

“There is a personal satisfaction when you see the vegetables grow,” she says in her German accent. “There is so much pleasure.”

Her words of advice? “Start out with a small garden and encourage your children to garden.”

Neil Moran is the author of “North Country Gardening: Simple Secrets to Successful Northern Gardening,” and “From Store to Garden: 101 Ways to Make the Most of Garden Store Purchases.”

Generally, to qualify for the energy tax credit the roof must meet Energy Star® qualification standards. For roofing, this means the TSR (total solar reflectivity) must be greater than 25 percent when new and 15 percent after three years of aging. To be sure the roofing qualifies, ask for the specifications and a manufacturer’s certification statement (MCS). It pays to be diligent these days: I recently got quotes on a roof installation, and several roofers told me their asphalt shingles qualified for the tax credit. In actuality, they did not qualify.

The amount of the tax credit is 30 percent of the roofing materials cost (not installation expenses), up to a maximum of $1,500. Use IRS form 5695 to apply for the tax credit and save the payment receipt and MCS in case of a tax audit.

For my own home, I eventually selected an aluminum roof by Classic Metal Roofing Systems. It is made from 98 percent recycled aluminum, and the one-by-two-foot panels are formed to simulate cedar shakes. It’s attractive and certainly unique: many neighbors were stumped trying to figure out exactly what it is.

To install the aluminum panel roof, a special film underlayment was nailed down with plastic clips and stainless steel fasteners over the existing shingles (which saved the expense of tearing off the old shingles). Each aluminum panel interlocks with the adjacent ones on all four sides. The top of each panel is held down by a stainless steel nail through a hole in the upper corner and an aluminum clip attached midway across the top. It is designed to withstand up to a 120-mph wind.

Although it is more expensive to install than an asphalt shingle roof, my new metal roof will never have to be replaced. From a lifetime cost comparison, it is cheaper than installing an asphalt roof every 20 to 30 years. I also get a 3 percent reduction on my homeowner’s insurance because of the reduced fire hazard.

Most metal roofs reflect more of the sun’s heat than asphalt shingles, particularly black shingles. My Classic metal roof has a TRS of 0.43, whereas a black asphalt shingle roof has a TRS of only 0.05. This keeps the roofing materials cooler so less heat is radiated down through the ceilings to the living area. Also, the underside of the aluminum metal surface has lower “emissivity” (the ability to emit heat) than shingles, so even less heat radiates downward.

It was warm, sunny weather when my metal roof and ridge vent were installed, and the second floor was noticeably cooler than before.

The final energy advantage is that Classic’s aluminum panels are relatively thin, with the contour of shakes formed into them. This contour creates an air gap between most of the roofing and the sheathing or shingles below it. This gap allows some outdoor air to naturally circulate up under the metal roof panels to keep them cooler. I sealed off my gable vents so outdoor air is now drawn in the soffit vents and exhausted out the ridge vent.

One minor drawback to the aluminum shake panels is they can dent if you indiscriminately walk on the high points of the contour. This can be avoided by stepping on the lower nailed area of the panels. Contoured insulating foam pieces were placed under areas of the panels to provide walkways on the roof to clean my skylight and service the ridge vents.

Steel roofing is another option becoming more popular on homes. Painted standing seam or tile steel roofing is very durable. Instead of trying to simulate some type of standard roofing material, their bright colors and unique appearance are signatures of upscale homes. The finish coating on aluminum and steel often uses a Kynar® -based paint with heat reflecting additives in a multistep process.

These companies offer metal roofs: American Metal Roofs, 888-221-1869; Classic Metal Roofing, 800-543-8938; Conklin Metal, 800-282-7386; Follansbee Roofing, 800-624-6906; and Met-Tile, 909-947-0311.

Questions? Send inquiries to: James Dulley, Michigan Country Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit dulley.com.

From late April into early July, spawning time arrives for the sunfish clan. You’ll see round, dish-shaped redds (or nests) beginning to appear around the shoreline shallows; it signals a warm season of sunfish angling in the state’s lakes and warmer streams.

By mid-July, with spawning over, the fishing shifts to deeper water by day and back to the shallows in the early morning and evenings.

Most tackle handles sunfish, but the most fun can come by using ultra-light spinning tackle or a fly rod. Either are top choices.

Most who enjoy fly-fishing for panfish are real familiar with the “rubber-leg spider” or the “small popper”—tempting surface lures used with fly rods, and they are effective once fish are on the redds. Dark, fuzzy, wet flies, cast out and allowed to sink and then twitched back in a slow retrieve underwater, can get sunfish to hear dinner bells during or after the spawn.

On a fly rod’s limber action, a good-sized bluegill or sunfish is as frisky and feisty as a brown trout – given a sunfish’s instinct to turn its body right-angle to the line. This action adds the water’s resistance to its struggles, so a 7- to 8-inch bluegill can feel like a 10- or 12-inch rainbow or brown trout at the other end.

Ultra-light rods, with reels loaded with 2- to 4-pound test line, offer great light-line fishing fun. Like the fly rod, they are a suitable match with these smaller, sprightly gamefish. Cast small spinners, spinner baits, 1/32 or 1/16-ounce jigs with small grub tail worms or live bait, and you’ll be heading for a fish fry.

Into July, after spawning is complete, sunfish go deeper as surface waters warm and they are hungry from their efforts, turning to larger food such as summer insects that fall to the water.

Not just insects, either. Small bait-fish, minnows and small fish of other species also respond to the warming summer waters. Even crayfish begin to get more active; all of these are natural foods that attract larger sunfish like rock bass and black bass. Lures that imitate these, or live bait such as minnows, become very good choices.

A favorite way of exploring for sunfish when they are off the beds is to fish with soft-hackle nymph flies on a fly rod and work them from shore or boat over the depths of 2 to 8 feet. I use dark, fur-bodied nymphs tied with soft hackle, which, when twitched, give the fly a lot of action. I let them sink after the cast, then retrieve slowly with rod-tip action to make the nymph’s hackles flutter and the fly twitch enticingly. It usually gets a notice if the sunfish are in the shoreline shallows.

Some days sunfish just want meat, so grab a spinning rod and cast half a night crawler or red worms on a bait hook with a bobber. Just strike when the bobber goes under and keep the line tight as you retrieve it.

A feisty bulldog of a sunfish digging for freedom on the end of a fly line or bowing over an ultra-light rod tip is a fishing hoot.
I spend quite a few fishing days every summer seeking the black crappie, my favorite of the two crappie species that we have in our state.

The white crappie is common in Lake Erie and connected waters, and in larger, down-state impoundments. But in the cooler northern waters where I cast my lines, the black crappie is more commonly found. It is a handsome fish and where it has good habitat, food and clean waters it can grow to slab sizes.

Crappies love minnows, so live minnows fished under a slip bobber, or a small minnow-imitating lure are sure to get you into action.

Then there is the “goggle-eye” – the “every man’s fish.” Rock bass are delightfully predictable fish—give them a worm and they will take it, often with a bullish pull for their size.

Rock bass are well-distributed around the Great Lakes and these fish are aptly named because they love rocky areas, and so does that sunfish cousin, the smallmouth bass. It is quite common to find a rock bass on your line when fishing for smallmouth and a smallmouth there when fishing for rockies.

Don’t forget that all sunfish make for great eating. Carry a cooler and put your catch on ice as soon as you can to bring home the makings of a fish fry.

Adding motivation for high school students are the Michigan Merit Graduation Requirements. Starting with the class of 2011, these standards require every student to master rigorous subjects like Chemistry, Physics, and Algebra 2.

Since no subject seems to cause more anxiety than math—Algebra 2, to be exact—I asked math experts for some tips.

Starting This Summer
Target your help – Discover where your teen’s strengths and weaknesses were in last year’s math classes. This will uncover areas where you could catch up or get a jump-start on next year.

“Ask for worksheets or assignments for students to work on over the summer,” says Jamie Wernet, a math tutor and high school teacher. “Or explore websites that offer free math games, tutorials, worksheets, and more.

Plan and practice – All too often the summer can slip away, regardless of the best intentions. Schedule study sessions and follow it. Take advantage of summer schools if one is offered.

“Summer schools often offer smaller classes or a different approach to the material,” says Wernet.

Study the standards – Review local and state standards, which explain what your child will be expected to learn each year.

“What does it mean to ‘pass Algebra’? List the topics found in the standards and make sure your child is learning them.” urges W. Michael Kelley, author of a series of math guides for people who don’t “speak math.”

After School Starts
Be visible and accessible – Introduce yourself to teachers early on. Let them know you’re interested in your child’s progress. Ask if there is a class website or other way to track when assignments are due.

“Send an email early so that the teacher has easy access to your email address,” says Wernet. 

Learn what to expect – Ask about the textbook or curriculum used. Does the teacher use a traditional approach, or one that emphasizes group work, problem solving, and investigations? What will a typical lesson look like? How much homework should you expect?

“Math instruction doesn’t always look the same as when parents were in school, and that’s okay!” Wernet says.

Keep students on track – Have a set time to work or study a little every day. Often, success hinges on just keeping up with daily assignments.

Motivating Reluctant Learners
Uncover the root – Is it boredom? Discouragement? Confusion? Then match the remedy to the cause.

Create a can-do attitude – Kelley says some parents believe their children will fail math because they, themselves, failed the subject. Never give any child the idea that it’s okay to give up on math.

“Avoid comments like ‘I was never good at this stuff’ or ‘I never use this math,’” Wernet says. “If you need to, study the material yourself!”

Use positive peer pressure – Find a compatible study buddy who challenges your teen, and arrange regular homework sessions together. It gets students talking about math, and each might take different things from the lesson.

“It’s easier to do anything if you’re not alone,” says Kelley. Plus, a little healthy competition can motivate them to complete work well and on time.

Time for a Tutor?
Don’t wait – Once a student falls behind—for any reason—or feels discouraged, both Kelley and Wernet urge families to seek help right away—especially if you know your own math skills are rusty.

Look for quality and passion – Ideally, families should look for a certified math teacher, but there are other options: college students, retired or unemployed teachers, tutoring centers, or online tutoring. Look for one that fits your budget and your child’s personality—and who is passionate about math.

Don’t sell yourself short – According to Kelley, parents are willing to help out with just about everything except math and science, especially in higher grades. His series of “Humungous” guides provide very detailed answers to math problems, showing you how to work out every problem, and they don’t skip steps.

“A surprisingly large share of my readers are adults determined to master what they never understood in school,” Kelley says. “Parents are using my books to learn the material so they can help their own children.”

So enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer, and allow kids time to dance to their own music. But do what it takes to start September on a strong note.

“There is no shame in asking for help,” Kelley says. “Asking for help when you’re already hopelessly lost is too late.”

Resources
The Humongous Book series of math study guides by W. Michael Kelley makes the intricacies of math perfectly clear. Look for The Humungous Guide to Algebra, and similar titles for Geometry, Statistics and Calculus.

Online math sites like aaamath.com and hotmath.com offer worksheets, games and more.

Michigan’s High School Content Expectations (HSCE) describe what students need to master before they graduate. Review them for math and other subjects at Michigan.gov/mde (select “parents and family” at left).

I recall one occasion where the scouts headed off down a path the adult leaders knew was incorrect. We were tired and really didn’t want to wait too long to see how far they would go before figuring out we were “lost.” In our minds, we were recalling a hike we took five years earlier where we walked 10 miles on a five-mile trail as we dutifully kept following behind a scout who was obviously lost. We didn’t want to needlessly add to our trek, but we also didn’t want to squash the enthusiasm of the leader. So instead of shouting out that he was wrong or lost, or taking over, we slowed the pace and gave him a chance to figure out we were not heading down the right trail. Fortunately, it only took him about 10 minutes to figure it out. This led to a conversation about the need to stop every so often, look around, and reconfirm that you are on the right trail.

As cooperatives, we follow a more general road map: the seven cooperative principles. These principles have been around for hundreds of years and have guided all types of cooperatives. As we hit our 75th year, it makes sense for us to pause, take a look around, and reconfirm that we are still on the right trail.

Following are the principles that guide cooperatives:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership.

2. Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.

3. Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative.

4. Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members.

5. Education, Training, and Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives.

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together.

7. Concern for Community
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities.

I can think of numerous examples of cooperatives that have stayed true to these principles and are walking the right path.

You’ve probably noticed there are a lot of people running in Michigan these days. And I don’t mean politicians running for everything from sheriff to governor. (There’s even a sheriff running for governor.) I’m talking about the fit-and-trim grandmothers, school track teams and just-out-of-rehab heart bypassers who are lacing up running shoes and hitting pavement and trail to run—or walk—in hundreds of 5K, 10K, half-marathon and full-marathon races this summer and fall.

Let’s be honest, most of us who participate in these races aren’t in them to win. We’re in them to get a little exercise, certainly, but mostly we run on weekends to join friends, get a t-shirt and a snack, and help out a cause we believe in.

Sometimes, it’s personal. Cherryland Electric Co-op CEO Tony Anderson has pledged to run a marathon in every state to raise money for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan because he wants to give back for all the help he got as a kid after his father died. marathon4kids.com

Charity runs have become a big deal. The top 30 “thon” fundraising programs generated more than $1.62 billion in gross revenue for charity in the U.S. last year, according to the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council, which keeps track of such things. The big winners are Relay for Life (American Cancer Society), $405 million; Race for the Cure (Susan G. Komen for the Cure), $120.3 million; March for Babies (March of Dimes), $100 million; Start! Heart Walk (American Heart Association), $100 million; and Team in Training (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society), $98.9 million.

If you’re interested in participating and contributing, you’ll find 430 big and small run/walk events through the rest of this year on runmichigan.com.

I’ve run and walked through a few 5K races, and I probably should push myself to actually ‘run’ longer and more often, but, like many of us, I haven’t yet experienced the runner’s high that devoted runners say feeds their desire to keep running.

No doubt Dorothy Johnson has experienced that high. She’s had fast feet since 1986, when, at 41, she ran the 10-mile Crim race in Flint, where she continues to run every year, and where she and her first husband, Jim, were teachers. (Jim French died in 1997; they’d been married 31 years.)

She must be in constant motion. Even before she started running, she was a “serious” biker in the ’70s and ’80s, riding in extended events in Michigan and elsewhere. She recorded her longest bike day trip in 1987: 176 miles for the “One Day Ride Across Michigan.” In 1995, she biked 100 miles each day for three consecutive days with her sister, Barbara.

But her love now is running, for both the health and fun of it. “I do race to win, but I don’t,” she says. “It’s really a social thing for me.”

She retired in 2004, married John and moved to their vacation home on Burt Lake. She runs with her friends in the Indian River Striders club, which she started in 1999 so she would have someone to walk and run with in her future retirement community. She runs an average of 30 miles a week and walks 12.

She’s completed 25 marathons since her first, the Flying Pig in Cincinnati, in 1999. She ran the Boston Marathon for the first time this year and counts the Great Wall of China Marathon as her most interesting. (She’s traveled all over the world.) Over the last few years, she’s run 1,400 miles annually and ‘briskly’ walked 600 miles more.

She will be running in this fall’s Chicago Marathon—in her first charity run—to raise money for a daycare center in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she and her husband have volunteered for four years through the Cross in the Woods Shrine, their parish in Indian River. (marathon.casadelosangeles.org)

The center provides a healthy, safe place for children of low-income, single, working parents. It operates solely on volunteers and donations, Dorothy says. “Not a penny is wasted, and it helps a lot of people.”

Given Michigan’s problems, maybe the politicians should team up with Dorothy. They could put together a charity run for the state. We could make a dent in the deficit and all lose a few pounds to boot. I think she could pull it off. She may not win all her races, but she finishes what she starts. She was a teacher, after all.

“If they can do it, so can I,” she said in the beginning, always the motivator.

“If I can do it, so can they,” she says now.

Mike Buda is the founding editor of Country Lines and continues to work on the magazine, as well as other activities of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association. He’s going to run more. Email him at mbuda at countrylines.com.