Surge Protection 101
A power surge is an unexpected increase in voltage, and it can occur from a variety of sources. Regardless of the cause, power surges...
Power of Co-op Communities: From the REA to Today—the Enduring Power of Connection
When the Rural Electrification Act (REA) passed in 1936, it did more than bring electric lines to farms—it powered a movement. Built by neighbors...
10 Tips For Enjoying Michigan’s Dark Skies
Michigan is surrounded by the Great Lakes, which shroud the state in near-total darkness. This makes it the perfect destination for some of the...
The Reluctant Boy Scout
I never considered Scouting until my father told me I was going to become one. My younger brother decided he wanted to be a...
Rural Michigan Pickleball
By Christopher Mulder, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative Member
My mom was a trendsetter when she picked up and started to share her newfound pickleball game...
Reflections On Our Pond
By Kathy Fila, a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member
Our 24-year-old son came over today with youthful enthusiasm and energy, claiming he would get the pond...
Youth Tour: A Living Example of Cooperative Values
October is National Cooperative Month, a time when we take the opportunity to reflect on the unique role cooperatives play in our communities. A...
Hope On The Slopes
In the winter of 1982, a tenacious kindergartner watching skiers cruise down the slopes of Boyne Mountain grew infatuated with the sport. Chrissy Evans...
A Cub, A Dream, A Legacy: The Story of Dean Oswald’s Bear Ranch
By Allie Brawley | Photos by Abby MoranThis article was originally published in Cloverland Connections, September/October 2025.
When Dean Oswald was 6 years old, he and his...
A North Woods Matriarch
By Janet Horricks, a HomeWorks Tri-County Cooperative member
My great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Leatha and Charles Malinowski, lived in Sigma, Michigan, a small abandoned logging town...
















