Christmas season tops my list of favorite holidays. I love the lights, the music, the food, family gatherings and memories of Christmases past. Most of all, I love that Christmas means giving.

Back in the 70’s, my sister and I would brave cold and snow to walk to downtown Cadillac from our house up near the courthouse. We could snag a free cider and donut hole out in front of the old Cadillac State Bank as we listened to Christmas carols playing on the snowy streets. We would cruise the few retail stores and look for gifts we could buy for our family from the meager dollars we saved from doing lawn chores for neighbors. If we had $20 between us, we felt like millionaires!

I see your giving spirit on full display at Wolverine. For example, employee contributions will yield over $17,000 toward the Cadillac Area Backpack program this year! During the Christmas season, I like watching the box fill for the Toys for Tots program, and throughout the year, I saw you give the gift of life as more than 125 employees donated blood in 2017. You also give the gift of your time to local charities, Boards, coaching and mentoring programs, and to your families.

Wolverine offers us a lot for which we can be thankful. We have engaged Board members, supportive member management teams, and the financial support necessary to accomplish some amazing things. We can invest in modern facilities, tools, equipment and the talents required to be leaders in generation and transmission. Perhaps even more importantly, we get the privilege of working for a company dedicated to service – another kind of giving.

Merry Christmas to all of you. I wish you all a happy and safe Christmas season, and I hope your hearts fill with the spirit of giving.