Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Bay Harbor Parade to Showcase Over
200 GEM Electric Vehicles

Non-profit Bay Harbor Foundation and electric automaker Global Electric Motorcars are set to champion clean driving at the Bay Harbor Vintage Car and Boat Festival on Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m. As an annual fundraising effort that draws 8,000 10,000 spectators, the Bay Harbor Festival focuses on eco-driving this year by featuring old and new electric vehicles in its highly anticipated parade. Predicted to be the worlds longest display of electric vehicles, the parade includes a line-up of over 200 zero-emission GEM cars as well as other electricautomobiles.

The Bay Harbor Festival has themed this years event Electric Atmosphere to celebrate the benefits of green transportation in the community. As the nations first resort community to fully integrate the use of battery-electric vehicles, is a longtime advocate of environmentally sound transportation solutions. Proceeds from the festival will help fund grants for local health and human service programs, as well as environmental, arts, and educational organizations in Northern Michigan. The Bay Harbor Foundation hopes that the parades impressive line-up will set a Guinness World Record for the longest parade of electric vehicles. GEM vehicles are sophisticated yet simple, says former GEM CEO and Bay Harbor resident Lawrence Oswald. They represent a new kind of personal transportation that expands the capacity to have fun.

Posted: Monday, May 4, 2009

Bay Harbor Foundation Annual 5K Run/Walk Announced

The Bay Harbor Foundation will host its annual 5K Run/Walk in the Village at Bay Harbor on Saturday, May 16, 2009 .

The 5K Run/Walk will begin with check-in at 8 am with the Run/Walk to follow at 9 am . The Governors Council for Physical Fitness, Health & Sports, endorses this growing event. Participants will enjoy a scenic course along the shores of Bay Harbor Lake . The entire run is on paved roads. A special childrens race will occur after the event at 10 am .

The Race will be scored using a shoe microchip system timed by Three Disciplines Racing, Inc. The top finishers in each division will receive awards, with best time for overall male and female receiving awards as well.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Bay Harbor Foundation, a 501 (c)(3). The Foundations mission is to provide assistance to nonprofit cultural educational, the environmental and health & human service organizations. Since its inception in 2004, the Foundation has awarded over $642, 000 to local nonprofits. Girls on the Run of Emmet and Charlevoix Counties (www.girlsontherun.org) will be working in collaboration with the Bay Harbor Foundation on this event to promote health and wellness for all.

For registration materials or additional information, please contact the Bay Harbor Foundation at 231-439-2700 or by email info@bayharborfoundation.org

Posted by Susan R. Pollack (The Detroit News) on Fri., Apr. 3, 2009)

Calling all vintage and electric cars: Petoskey parade eyes Guinness world record

Put some spark into your summer travel plans at the Vintage Car & Boat Festival in Bay Harbor, near Petoskey, where organizers will attempt to set a Guinness-worthy world record by staging what they hope will be the world's largest electric vehicle parade.

"Electric Atmosphere" is the theme of the event, June 26 and 27, featuring 80 vintage cars and 40 vintage boats in addition to a fleet of Chrysler-built electric GEM cars owned by resort residents. Headliners at the 11th annual parade will include several vintage electric vehicles from the early 1900s, courtesy of the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn and the Gilmore car Museum in Kalamazoo.

To qualify for the record, the parade needs more than 201 pure electric-powered vehicles and must travel a minimum of two miles.