While exploring twitter recently I came across Twitter profile of Scott Westerman.  Being an avid Spartan fan I instantly fell in love with his Twitter background.  I thought it was one of  the most fun, and entertaining backgrounds that I have seen.  On the urging of Scott, I would like to see how creative Michigan can be.  So I am announcing the first WonderMichigan Twitter Background Contest.

Contest Rules:

1. Submissions will be taken from November 10 – November 19, 2011
2. Submissions  can be an existing twitter background or designed just for the contest
3. Please Submit backgrounds on the Contest Page
4. A panel will decide top 5 submission for public vote
5. On November 21 the finalist will be announced and voting will take place for the next 7 days (Nov 28)
6. There will be 3 methods of voting: (1) Tweet Title and #MIbackground to @WonderMichigan (2) Comment at WonderMichigan Facebook page with title of submission (3) Vote contest page at WonderMichigan.com  You may vote once per day per method
7. The background chosen will be displayed on WonderMichigan.com and will get a $100 Visa Gift Card.
8. The theme for the contest is “What makes Michigan Great”
9.  Background must include elements of Michigan
10. Please do not use any copyrighted images
11. Backgrounds must be original
12. To track nominations please use hashtag #MIbackground

Mighty Detroit has done it again.  Just like the rest of the country they have got wrapped up in the amazing story that is the US Women’s Soccer Team.  They are offering a 15% discount on all women’s apparel from Today until Sunday July 17th. All you need to do is use Promo Code Women15.  Cheer on the US Women’s Team and help Support Detroit.

A little about Mighty Detroit:

Through our apparel, we hope to capture and present the love Detroiters feel for their City.  We draw from the City’s culture, grit and hard-work ethic.  We are influenced by our sports teams, our innovative automobile industry and the underlying pride that unites us all.  Our apparel is designed to reflect these influences and to show everyone that Detroit is still Mighty.  Most importantly, a portion of the proceeds from each shirt sold are donated to a local charity.

Over the past year, I have really started to enjoy granola and yogurt for breakfast.  In my continued quest to purchase as much local products as possible, I stumbled across Simply Suzanne Granola (formally Randy’s Granola) at my local grocery store.  My favorite flavors are Lotsa Chocolate and So Very Cherry.  Both are the perfect balance of rich flavor and sweetness that is a true breakfast indulgence.  For a true treat, nothing beats mixing the two flavors together.  I am a sucker for chocolate and cherry.  Simply Suzanne also offers an Original Granola and new as of last month, Dark Chocolate and Coffee.

Each bag of Simply Suzanne Granola is all natural and handcrafted in small batches using whole grain rolled oats. Local farmers and suppliers are used as much as possible in the process, too.  All flavors are all natural and made without preservatives, artificial flavors, trans fat, cholesterol and high fructose corn syrup. Each batch is produced in the Detroit area, but there are also production facilities in West Michigan and a warehouse in Detroit’s New Center area.

Since I first found Simply Suzanne I have been following them on twitter at @SuzanneVier.  As a big supporter of anything that is made in Michigan, I have been very happy to see that 2011 has meant 6 months of growth for the company.  Besides adding the Chocolate & Coffee flavor, they have expanded their distribution to selected Whole Foods and Michigan Meijer’s next week (June 18th), along with being sold at various grocers and restaurants in metro Detroit, Chicago, and New York.  To support all this growth, Simply Suzanne is also hiring many potions.  They are currently looking for:

Kitchen Production Manager
Baking Assistants
Farmers Market Managers
Production Intern (non-paid)
In-store Product Marketing Demonstrators

For more information on these positions please Direct Message @SuzanneVier on twitter.

We hear a lot about Michigan “No Fault” Insurance, but truthfully I am have never really knew what that meant or why it was an advantage or disadvantage for living in Michigan.  This posting was submitted by Michigan Auto Law to help explain what “No Fault” insurance is and the benefits of it. 

Michigan ‘No Fault’ Pays for Victims’ Medical Bills, Wage Loss, Housework Expenses and Attendant Care Regardless of Who Was ‘At Fault’

Michigan’s No Fault Insurance system is one of the state’s true hidden gems, but one that most Michigan residents know very little about. The insurance laws that protect Michigan drivers are considered the nation’s very best.

Described by the Insurance Institute of Michigan as “the Cadillac” of auto insurance systems, Michigan’s No Fault auto insurance system guarantees that seriously injured Michigan auto accident victims will get the care and treatment they need regardless of who was “at fault.”

In other words, even if a Michigan auto accident victim was “at fault” in causing the accident that resulted in her injuries, she is still entitled to the many generous benefits promised by Michigan’s No Fault insurance law.

That is why Michigan’s auto insurance system is called “No Fault.”

Michigan No Fault benefits generally come in three varieties:

Medical Expenses

Michigan No Fault will pay for a Michigan auto accident victim’s medical expenses that reasonably necessary to the victim’s accident-related care, recovery or rehabilitation. Medical expenses encompasses many services products, services and accommodations, including, but not limited to, medical treatment, hospitalizations, medical procedures, rehabilitation services, in-home attendant care, home and vehicle modifications, medical equipment and reimbursement for mileage and transportation costs.

Wage Loss

If a Michigan auto accident victim’s injuries prevent him or her from returning to work, Michigan No Fault will reimburse the victim for the wages the victim is losing as a result of being disabled from working.

According to Michigan’s No Fault Insurance Law, a car- or truck-accident victim is entitled to have an insurance company pay him or her work loss benefits consisting of 85 percent of the gross income “from work an injured person would have performed … if he or she had not been injured.” (MCL 500.3107(1)(b))

 Wage loss benefits are payable for three years following the date of the victim’s accident, and they cannot exceed a certain monthly amount set by law.

Replacement services

Michigan No Fault provides that a car- or truck-accident victim’s insurance company may be required to pay for someone (i.e., a “replacement”) to do the “ordinary and necessary services” a victim would have done for himself or herself, or his or her dependents, if he or she had not been seriously injured in the accident. (MCL 500.3107(1)(c))

Common Replacement Services include: housekeeping; lawn and garden maintenance; auto maintenance; meal preparation; baby-sitting/child care; and driving family members to school and appointments.

 “Replacement services” benefits, which are also known as “household services” benefits, are payable up to $20 per day for three years from the date of the accident.

- Steven Gursten is a partner of Michigan Auto Law and one of the most renowned truck accident lawyers in the country. He is past president of the American Association for Justice Truck Litigation Group, and has received the top-reported trial verdict in Michigan for truck accidents. Steve was named a Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leader in the Law for his efforts in promoting national truck safety.

Josh Linkner is the Founder & Chairman of ePrize, a four-time entrepreneur, a professional-level jazz musician, and author of two books.  Josh is also a founding member of Detroit Venture Partners, LLC., a Detroit-based Venture Capital firm whose purpose is to help rebuild the Detroit area through entrepreneurial fire.  Here is why Josh believes Michigan is the place to do business.

As I travel the world and tell people I’m a technology entrepreneur for Michigan, they give me a strange look.  You know the look – the kind a dog makes when she tilts her head sideways and stares as if to say, “you make absolutely zero sense.”  As a self-proclaimed rule-breaker, I love balking conventional wisdom and I’m thrilled to continue to grow entrepreneurial businesses right here in Michigan.  In fact, I think Michigan provides a significant competitive advantage!  So in tribute to David Letterman, here are the top 10 reasons why Michigan is a GREAT place to launch and grow your startup:

10. Amazing Talent – The region is filled with incredible people with diverse perspectives and skillsets.

9. Real Estate – tons of fantastic buildings and facilities, all at a fraction of the cost of either coast.

8. Work Ethic – We Detroiters are street-fighters.  We’re willing to run through brick walls while others are worried about messing up their manicures.

7. Higher Education – U of M, Michigan State, Wayne State, Oakland U, and other amazing institutions continue to mint fantastic talent, ideas, and innovations.

6. Low Costs – overall cost of living is dramatically lower, which has a direct impact on your bottom line.

5. Collaborative Vibe – Folks here want to help each other out, and there are so many people that are passionate about rebuilding the region and want to help you win.

4. Government Support – yep, I said it!  Our new Governor is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist and is ready to do whatever it takes to rebuild the region through entrepreneurship.  My friends at the MEDC, Oakland and Wayne County, and even City officials are all ready to pitch in to help however possible.

3. Mentors – Brilliant leaders like Dan Gilbert, Roger Penske, and Mike Illich are passionate about this region and have provided incredible support to emerging companies.

2. Geography / Quality of Life – We have beautiful lakes, fantastic roads and infrastructure, a world-class airport, outstanding hospitals and schools, and a beautiful city (that just needs a fresh coat of paint).  We’re an easy flight to anywhere in the US, aren’t overcrowded, and offer a great place to raise a family.

1. Soul – Simply put, Detroit is a City with a soul.  We come from a rich heritage of entrepreneurship and have an incredibly bright future despite our current challenges.  Passion put us on the map, and it will be the driving force of revitalization.

As you launch your company, you have a choice.  You can follow the herd to New York, Chicago, or San Francisco and get lost in the pack.  Or you can stay right here and make a real difference.  If there was ever a time in history for you to be part of transformational change, this is it!  Seize it, embrace it, and go for it!

David Murray is Director, Social Web Communications for @regroupinc. Speaker. Co-chair for @FutureMidwest.  He also eat food with @thehungrydudes. 
This is David’s story, of  why he loves Michigan

2008 was the year it all happened. The great recession. The perfect time to return to Michigan, right? Well, that was when my wife and I decided to pack up our things and move back home. I’d like to say this decision was based on some sort of great ambition or motivation, but that simply isn’t true. I had no great insight as to what I wanted to do once I got back to Michigan.

Truth be told, I moved back because I missed my family.  It is as simple as that.

Back in 1998 I packed up my mini-van and headed out west. Drifting between projects and jobs, I collected what others may call, life experience. And after 10 years of living between Arizona and Minnesota, I sensed distance between myself and my parents and sister. We were becoming strangers, and it wasn’t until a visit from them early in 2008 that I realized just how much I missed them.

Moving back to Michigan was one of the best decisions I ever made. It is one of the few times in my life where I can claim something like that without hesitation or doubt.  Though, it wasn’t easy. Both my wife and I didn’t have any real job prospects, and we both had to swallow our pride and move back in with the folks.  But with some perseverance and dedication we began to find employment, stability, and most importantly, we discovered the amazing community that exists here in our state.

The people of Michigan are our greatest asset.  I’ve met amazingly talented and determined individuals like T.J List, Adrian Pittman, Brandon Chesnutt, Shannon Paul, Charlie Wolberg, Terry Bean, Eric Brown, Steven Clark, Chris Barger, Scott Monty, and Ryan Knott.  Connecting with others here in Michigan has led to participating in some incredible opportunities and experiences including Social Media Club Detroit, FutureMidwest, Ignite Detroit and Ignite Lansing, #TweetTea, Tedx Lansing, Word Camp Detroit, GM Chevy’s SXSW Road Trip Challenge, The Hungry Dudes, and more.

I highlight these events and people not to brag, but to make a point. And that is none of this would have happened if I hadn’t taken a chance. A chance to move back home.  Back to the state where you hear of only unemployment, crime, and depravity.  It’s funny how one can only hear the things they want when they only experience a thin margin of the whole story.

Michigan is my home. The people I’ve met here are my family. The experiences I’ve participated in have made me who I am. We still have work to do. But great things don’t happen when there isn’t something to prove. We have much to prove to others and to ourselves. I am very proud to play a very small part in this great change of Michigan.

Probably, the greatest example of when I knew I was home was earlier this year. I was on my way to a conference in Milwaukee (another great city full of great people), and my wife and I met at my parent’s house to trade cars.  My mom had made supper, and my sister was there with her twin boys. I was dividing my time between my parent’s puppy and my nephews climbing all over me. Knowing that I had to quickly eat and hit the road made me a bit sad.  And I suddenly realized that I didn’t need anything else, other than my family. Right then and there, I knew I had made the right decision to move back to Michigan.   I knew I was home.

This summer, I got addicted to “The Great Food Truck Race” on the Food Network.  It was amazing to me that some much amazing food could come out of a truck.  I had always imagined a food truck like the ones in the movies on a construction site, where all the food comes in plastic.  I have been told that in Los Angeles their are great food trucks, and the food is worth searching for.  I found out about a month ago that Michigan has it’s first food truck, compliments of Chef Wes, who has worked in Las Vegas has returned home to start Jacques Tacos.

I had been searching for last two weeks, checking http://www.jacquestacos.comto see where the truck was going to be, and if I was going to be able to make it out to check out the food.  Well finally on Saturday, I hunted the truck down on 13 mile and Woodward at Varsity Automotive, to try what a food truck was all about.  I ordered two beef (D-Town) and two chicken tacos (Bulldog).  They were really good, fresh and very tasty.  The tacos were $2.50 a piece and for a snack where on the money.  Each taco comes with your choice of meat (pork, beef, chicken, avocado) corn salsa, cheese and guacamole. If you are around an area where Jacques Taco Truck is, it is well worth your time to stop in and try the food.

I can’t believe that Wonder Michigan is turning  1 year old.  Did Wonder Michigan live up to everything that I wanted it too?  I started this journey with A Marathon is Won with the First Stepand have tried to experience all that Michigan has to offer.  Just as the state that we love, we are not perfect, but am really working to be better.  It took a little bit of time to find our voice, we did not post as much as we would have liked.  Although on average we did post about once a week, there still where many lags in our post.  The passion is still here.  We have encountered many new Michigan businesses that we did not know exist a year ago.   There have been many proud moments for the Great Lakes State in the past year.  We have enjoyed Wonderful Michigan wines and beers, eaten at some amazing Michigan restaurants, made delecious food from Michigan products, and met some amazing people who are working to make this a better state. 

I am so excited to see what the next year has in store.  I am looking forward to exploring more of the Wonder of Michigan.  There are many things that I look forward to trying out, and also many new businesses that are opening in Michigan every week, that are going to help rebuild our beloved state.  Michigan is a little better, the auto companies are looking healthier, but there are still too many people out of work.  2010-11 will be a big year for Michigan, we have an election coming up, many other exciting events coming to the state.  Hopefully you will come a long for the ride with me to see the Great State of Michigan.

After attending the Future Midwest Conference in Royal Oak last weekend, I have more confidence that Michigan will rebound from recent issues.  This first time event attracted over 600 attendees, and showcased some really cool companies that are located here in Michigan.  The biggest surprise for me, was what is going on in Dearborn at Ford Motor Company.  I have never been a huge fan of the auto companies.  I was under the belief that they had become fat and not set in their ways, not adapting to a new business world.  With one presentation, by Scott Monty, the Global Digital and Multimedia Manager at Ford, changed my whole perception.  What got me so excited was on two folds of what Ford is doing. 

The most impresive was how they have incorporated technology into their cars.  They started with the Sync system, and have evolved that into the Ford Touch.  These systems are letting the driver stay connected to the world through their phone like no other time.  For more information on the Sync Technology, see the April edition of Fast Company article.  My second surprise was how Ford has used social media and the web to connect to their customers.  The best example of this is the Ford Feista Movement, were they gave 100 people a car that has never been in the US, to drive for a year.  The 100 were asked to talk about the car.  They even started to produce their own videos on the car.  The results of the movement was Ford received 10,000 pre-orders for a car that most have never seen.  Don’t get me wrong, Ford still has a long way to go, but they are moving in the correct direction. 

General Motors also had a very impressive presentation, and are doing some really cool things with social media.  Check out the SXSW Chevy Road Trip.  One last company that I would like to recognize is Current Motor Company, out of Ann Arbor.  They just launched their first Electric Scooter.  These bikes have a top speed of 70 mph and can go up to 80 miles on one charge.  This is a great example of Michigan Company being in front of the trend and working to make our world a better place.  Michigan will come out of our recent problems a better, leaner, and more humble state, that will again be one of the hubs of innovation and invention.  I am proud to be here to be part of it.

In December of 2008, when it seemed that the whole country was against the state of Michigan, a pride in Michigan made products began to pop up.  One of the reasons that I start WonderMichigan was because of what I experienced at a wedding in Washington DC during this time period.  There were radio commercials asking the people of Michigan to write the President and to buy Michigan products.  I have challenged you my reader to work harder to buy Michigan made products and to shop at Michigan owned stores.  Over the last few months I have started to become concerned that as we emerge from the recession that people are going to forget what got us into this mess.  One organization that has been working very hard to make sure that buy Michigan stays in front of our minds is Made in Michigan Movement. 

The Made in Michigan Movement is an action-oriented grassroots network of businesses producing high quality goods and services in the state of Michigan and consumers who feel purchasing from those companies is in the best interest of the state’s economic future. With more than 14,000 members, the organization’s motto for Michigan consumers is “Earn it here. Spend it here. Keep it here!”  One way that the Made in Michigan Movement is making sure that we continue to buy Michigan products is their first statewide celebration of Michigan products and services.  They will be takin over the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi on October 16 and 17, 2010.  Designed to provide a boost to the Michigan economy, the event will be a two-day celebration of the wide variety of high quality consumer products, services and foods produced by companies across all Michigan geographies  They are expecting   10,000 consumers and 300 + businesses ranging from small to large from across the state.  For further updates Made In Michigan can be followed on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/madeinmich and found on Facebook.