Writing
the rivers
FOR
30 YEARS, Costco member
Doc Fletcher has been canoeing
the rivers of Michigan. After
retiring from his job with
Duracell in late 2006, Fletcher
began collecting and writing
about his experiences. This year
Fletcher’s first book, Weekend
Canoeing in Michigan: The
Rivers, The Towns, The Taverns,
was released by Arbutus Press
(
www.arbutuspress.com).
In the book, Fletcher provides readers with a wealth
of information about 20 of
Michigan’s waterways, from
directions and descriptions of
geological obstacles to local
Doc Fletcher
canoe livery services and old-time taverns. Fletcher also provides historical background for
the locales alongside his own
brand of river wit and wisdom.
“Costco’s value helps me do
well on an author’s income,”
Fletcher says, adding his favorite river snack is a mix of
Costco’s dried cherries and walnuts. Considering the success of
Weekend Canoeing in Michigan,
Fletcher advises, “If you’re honest in your dealings and invest
the time to fully prepare and
execute a project, you will be
successful.”—Roger Marks
A new biz blossoms
Anne Cork loves Costco’s fresh-cut flowers but was frustrated by her inability to arrange flowers in a vase.
She figured out if she put a wire grid at the top of the vase,
it acted as a guide for perfect stem placement. So the longtime
Grand Rapids, Michigan, Costco member designed a tool to
help her easily arrange flowers: a handcrafted,
bloom-shaped, over-the-top vase crown.
Reactions of family and friends
proved she was on to something.
The instant success of Blossom
Crown™ (
www.blossomcrown.com)
allowed Cork to utilize her longtime
hobby of jewelry making and start her
own company, Annabelle Noel Designs.
Launched in 2003, her company now
employs up to 20 women at one time
working from their homes to produce
fun and functional items, most available
for less than $20. The company’s 100-
plus designs are featured in more than
1,400 stores across the U.S. and Canada.
“My attitude has always been [to]
keep taking one step forward,” says the
33-year-old mother of two. “It doesn’t
have to be all or nothing; keep looking
forward and you’ll eventually get to the
place you want to be.”—Shana McNally
DAVID SAILER
BILL GOODYKOONTZ/STEVE TANSLEY ©2008 GOODFENCES.COM.
COSTCO CARTOON CONTEST ENTRANTS:
Christmas in April
“We purchased this beauty the first week in December 2008
for our annual Christmas brunch, and we’re still enjoying it
at the end of April 2009. Talk about ‘unparalleled value for
top-quality products’ [From the Editor’s Desk, May 2009
Connection]. I’m ready to recycle this sturdy, out-of-season
bloom because I’m tired of watering . . . and dusting it.
Thank you, Costco.”—Gwen Sailer
Get featured in The Connection!
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be about Costco or Costco members in some way), you
can send it to “The Member Connection,” The Costco
Connection, P.O. Box 34088, Seattle, WA 98124-1088, or
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connection@costco.com with “The Member
Connection” in the subject line. Submissions cannot be
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