Dear Readers,

This morning an e-newsletter was mistakenly sent out on my behalf from the Senate Republican Caucus staff. My staff and I did not approve of the messaging prior to it being sent.

Below you can find the end-of-the-year e-newsletter that my team and I approved and was supposed to be distributed to readers.

Please forgive this oversight, and I hope you find the materials below helpful.

On behalf of my family and my staff, have a Merry Christmas and happy new year. Please, feel free to contact me if I can help with any state issue!


John Damoose
State Senator
37th District

As we come into the closing days of 2023, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for giving me the honor to represent you in Lansing. This job is a responsibility that I take very seriously, and I am looking forward to continuing the effort to enact good legislation and secure resources for our district in 2024. From my family, my staff, and myself, Merry Christmas to you!

Please take a moment to browse my winter guide at the link below. Winter in Northern Michigan is an incredible time of year, with much to do and see. I have highlighted some important information about free fishing weekend, free snowmobile weekend, and winter activities across the state. You can find it by clicking here or on my website under the “Publications” tab.

With colder temperatures setting in, residents may find themselves in need of help keeping the heat on this winter.

The state of Michigan offers several energy assistance programs to help eligible senior and low-income households keep utilities in service or have service restored. Immediate relief may be available through a network of nonprofit organizations and other financial assistance programs.

The month of December is a busy time for charitable giving as many of us consider our holiday or year-end giving. While there are many legitimate and worthy charities, it is important to be cautious and ask the right questions before making a donation. There are several tools available to help you make safe charitable donations and avoid scams this season:

From holiday open houses to county administration meetings and everything in between, I have been working hard to hear from local leaders, constituents, and business owners about the issues that are going on at home here in Northern Michigan. As 2023 comes to a close, please remember that my staff and I are here to help you. Whether you have a legislative idea or a problem with a state agency, we are glad to hear your concerns and thoughts. As a reminder, my office can be reached by phone at 517-373-2413 or by email at [email protected].

Winter in Michigan is a great time for birding. Not all Michigan birds fly south to warmer climates, many stay in the state year-round. Michigan also welcomes many new visitors from the north, making winter an exciting time to watch birds.

Be on the lookout for snow buntings, horned larks, and dark-eyed juncos. Owls are also exciting to watch for when birding. Snowy owls, great gray owls, northern hawk owls and boreal owls make their way into the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula at this time of year.

Michigan is home to nine birding trails, and our state parks, recreation areas, game areas and wildlife sanctuaries are perfect for winter bird watching. Visit these sites for more information about winter birds in Michigan and even more places to view winter birds.

Michigan’s 37th Senate District includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Leelanau counties and portions of Mackinac and Chippewa counties.