Unspoiled, Timeless & True...

Speakers & Events

Cottage Living Stage

Our seminar stage features seminars on waterfront design, buying & selling waterfront property, succession planning, cottage lakescaping and more!

Click Here to see the full schedule of Seminars & Events!

Tom Rademacher

Long-time newspaperman Tom Rademacher worked more than 31 years full-time for The Grand Rapids Press as a reporter and columnist before retiring three summers ago. He's the author of three books -- "Splitting Wood," "Knocking At Your Door" and "The Book of CAKE." Signed copies of each will be available throughout the show. Tom also has been a licensed builder for more than 25 years. He's constructed a cottage, remodeled two homes and been hired to build everything from decks to indoor fireplaces. He'll be showcasing a custom-crafted outdoor shower at this weekend's Cottage & Lakeshore Living Show. He and wife Hollie have three sons and live in Rockford. You can e-mail Tom at: rademachertom@gmail.com.

Weekend Project Seminars - Build an Outdoor Shower

Join Tom Rademacher, columnist in the GR Press, as he shows you how to build an outdoor shower!  Comes with an instructional sheet for you to take home.

Days Times Locations
Friday, March 23 5:00PM Weekend Project Area
Friday, March 23 7:00PM Weekend Project Area
Saturday, March 24 11:00AM Weekend Project Area
Saturday, March 24 2:00PM Weekend Project Area
Saturday, March 24 5:00PM Weekend Project Area
Saturday, March 24 7:00PM Weekend Project Area
Sunday, March 25 12:00PM Weekend Project Area
Sunday, March 25 1:00PM Weekend Project Area
Sunday, March 25 3:00PM Weekend Project Area

Janet Schrader - "Sand Pirate"

Janet Schrader is the founder and owner of Fairy Godmother Services: Sand Sculpting, Photography, & Beach Art, started in 2006.

After successfully fighting a severe battle with cancer, Janet found comfort walking the shoreline of Lake Mi. Looking for answers among the beach treasure (beach glass, rocks, fossils, & driftwood) Schrader found more then what she was looking for.  What she found was a new way of life, a new philosophy, and a new career.

Come to the show and see in person, how living by the lake has changed her life.

Sand Sculpting Lessons

Come join the fun, and learn the secrets of sand. Professional sand sculptor Janet Moore Schrader, will teach how to make towers, doors, windows, and stairs.

Click Here to see the full schedule of Seminars & Events!

Days Times Locations
Sunday, March 25 12:00PM The Beach
Sunday, March 25 1:00PM The Beach
Sunday, March 25 2:00PM The Beach

KIDS!! Storm The Castle!

What's the best thing about building a sand castle? DESTROYING IT!! First you'll learn how to make sand cannon balls and throw them at toy soldiers guarding the castle ramparts. Then you'll get to stomp the castle to the ground!

Days Times Locations
Sunday, March 25 3:00PM The Beach

Giant Sandcastle Build!

Watch the fun, as professional sand sculptor Janet Moore Schrader, builds a giant medieval sandcastle!

The castle will be design for audience participation, so just ask Janet how you can help!

When completed the sculpture will become a photo opportunity to pose in, so don't forget your cameras.

Days Times Locations
Friday, March 23 All Day Event The Beach
Saturday, March 24 All Day Event The Beach
Sunday, March 25 All Day Event The Beach

David S. Fry, Esq.

A fourth generation cottage owner, David S. Fry, Esq. is well versed on the issues of cottage succession planning with inherited resources of cottage law research, documents, and background information. David has considerable experience in the field of cottage law, having worked for a number of years with individuals and families to develop plans that meet their needs.  David has also carried on Stuart Hollander's cottage law practice, as well as www.CottageLaw.com, the online source for information on cottage succession planning.

Stuart Hollander's book, Saving the Family Cottage, will be available for sale at David's seminars (visit www.CottageLaw.com for more info)

Keeping the Family in the Family Cottage

Click Here to see the full schedule of Seminars & Events!

Days Times Locations
Saturday, March 24 3:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Dallas Carlson - Nature & Wildlife Photographer

Dallas Carlson had the privilege of being raised by his grandparents who loved to spend time exploring Michigan's great outdoors. As a child he spent summers either in their cabin by the river, or traveling extensively throughout Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Camping and exploring the rugged beauty of the north year after year, he developed a deep love and passion for the wilderness and the animals that call this place home.

His training has not been through formal teaching or institutions, but rather by wildlife biologists how to respectfully fit in with the wild creatures he is photographing.

To see some of Dallas' work, check out www.HisHandiworkPhotography.com

Nature Photography at Your Cottage

Get tips on taking great nature photos around your cottage through the lens of professional photographer Dallas Carlson.

Click Here to see the full schedule of Seminars & Events!

Days Times Locations
Friday, March 23 5:00PM Cottage Living Stage
Saturday, March 24 7:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Cliff Bloom - Michigan Lake & Stream Association

Grand Rapids attorney Cliff Bloom is one of the foremost experts on water and riparian law in Michigan. In addition to his regular column in the Michigan Riparian Magazine, Cliff is also legal counsel for the Michigan Lake & Stream Associations, Inc. (“ML&SA”), as well as co-counsel for the Michigan Waterfront Alliance. Over the years, Cliff Bloom has represented dozens of lake associations and other property owner groups throughout Michigan. He has lectured throughout Michigan on riparian and water law issues, not only for the ML&SA, but also for the Michigan Townships Association and other groups. He has written extensively about lakes, water/riparian law and related issues. Many of his articles can be found at www.riparianexpert.com, www.mymlsa.org or www.mi-riparian.org.

Buying & Selling Waterfront Property in Michigan

Cliff Bloom is also the author of the new book entitled Buying and Selling Waterfront Property in Michigan, published by ML&SA. In addition, a few years ago, he authored the publication entitled Michigan Lake Associations—The Nuts and Bolts. At the 2012 Cottage & Lakefront Living Show, Cliff will be presenting a seminar regarding his new book Buying and Selling Waterfront Property in Michigan. This new book is a “must” for anyone who is interested in waterfront property in Michigan. The list of people who could benefit from the book includes not only riparians (and would be riparians) but also realtors and real estate agents, attorneys, government officials, surveyors and teachers. This book is a “how to” publication that deals with numerous real estate and waterfront issues, including:

Riparian issues Due diligence procedures The purchase/sales agreement
Contingencies Inspections and inspectors Financing
Surveys The closing Title insurance
Deeds and land contracts Buildability Real estate forms
Zoning and local ordinances Property taxes Realtors, real estate agents and lawyers
Lake access devices Easements Warranties
Liability and flood insurance Useful definitions Lake associations
Additional resources


Click Here to see the full schedule of Seminars & Events!

Days Times Locations
Saturday, March 24 4:00PM Cottage Living Stage
Sunday, March 25 3:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Marty Bledsoe - Blue Sword Vulnerability Advisors

Marty Bledsoe has spent a lifetime keeping people safe and helping them feel safe. He is the founder of Blue Sword Vulnerability Advisors, LLC, a company he established to help people protect themselves from crime and prepare for emergencies. Marty works with clients individually and conducts presentations for groups to help them achieve their safety goals.

Marty’s many years in crime prevention, detection, investigation and critical incident management as both a police professional and an emergency manager make him keenly qualified to educate groups on safety best practices. Despite the seriousness of the topics, Marty engages his audiences with his folksy, entertaining style. “I appreciate comments that people make about my light-hearted nature and interesting anecdotes,” Marty remarks. “I regularly hear that I’m not the stereotypical crusty career cop.”

Marty is passionate about helping people reduce their risk of being victimized by crime, particularly violent crime, and educating them on how to handle both natural and man-made disasters. Through his captivating stories, Marty gives his audiences a subtle wake-up call about the need for preparedness both at home and at work. Companies and organizations that understand the value of employee wellness and business continuity issues bring Marty to their events to share interesting, practical tips participants can implement immediately. Read more about Marty Bledsoe and his company on the Web at BlueSwordAdvisors.com

Carefree Cottage: No Crime Time

Seasonal homes are wonderful places where choosing between solitude and adventure should be the only competition for our time, the only choice in our day. The reality is that crime takes no vacation. The great news is that with just a bit of planning and good practice we can reduce the opportunity for crime to actually victimize us or for crime matters to worry us at all.

Days Times Locations
Sunday, March 25 2:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Maury DeYoung, Ex. Dir. of Sportspersons Ministries Int'l, Grandparent & Cottage Owner

Family Fishing: How to Have Fun and Create Memories

What's better than getting the family together on the dock or out in the boat for a day of family fishing fun?  Let Maury DeYoung show you how to get the most out of your family fishing time at the cottage.

Days Times Locations
Friday, March 23 6:00PM Cottage Living Stage
Saturday, March 24 6:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Grand Rapids Audubon Society

Birds of Lake Michigan

Take a seat with Steve Minard of the Grand Rapids Audubon Club and enjoy learning about all the great birds our Lake Michigan shoreline has to offer!

Days Times Locations
Friday, March 23 7:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Creating a Backyard Bird Sanctuary

Ed Bolt from the Grand Rapids Audubon Society shows you how to create a bird sanctuary at your cottage, so you can enjoy watching all sorts of birds right from your window!

Days Times Locations
Saturday, March 24 5:00PM Cottage Living Stage

The Secret Lives of Michigan Birds

Take a behind the scenes look of the lives Michigan Birds with Bill Sweetman from the Grand Rapids Audubon Society

Days Times Locations
Sunday, March 25 1:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Esther Dunwald, MI Wildflower Farm

Smart Cottage Landscaping: Restoring Your Shoreline with Native Plants

Spend more time enjoying your landscaping than keeping it up!  After all, the cottage is for relaxing, not weeding!

Click Here to see the full schedule of Seminars & Events!

Days Times Locations
Saturday, March 24 1:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Sam Bugg, Shedd Aquarium

Great Lakes Invasive Species

Learn how invasive species affect our Great Lakes!

Click Here to see the full schedule of Seminars & Events!

Days Times Locations
Saturday, March 24 12:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Wayne Visbeen - Visbeen & Associates

Waterfront Design: Challenges & Opportunities

Thinking of building or remodeling a waterfront home?  Visbeen & Associates can help you do it the right way the first time with this informative seminar on special precautions you need to take, and great opportunites associated with waterfront design.

Days Times Locations
Saturday, March 24 2:00PM Cottage Living Stage

Kurt Hall - Land Tech WMI

Be Prepared! Site Planning for New & Existing Builds

Land Tech shows you the importance of proper site planning when building or adding on to your lakefront cottage!

Days Times Locations
Sunday, March 25 12:00PM Cottage Living Stage