The Reykjavik Summit
I slowly walked into the room, dressed in a gray suit. Looking at the sheets of paper in front of me, I carefully peeled off the generic name sticker, pressing it softly against the lapel of my jacket, hoping it would stick, but knowing that I would be pushing it back on many times over the course of the night. Glancing around the room, I saw a cross section of our town. The Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting held several hundred people, with representatives from all over the area. Boyne Mountain, Glen Catt Construction, Glen’s, City Hall, Boyne City Schools, The American Legion, Korthase Flinn Insurance, Huntington Bank, and many many more businesses circulated around the room, bidding on silent auction items, socializing, and exchanging ideas. Taking a deep breath I pull out my camera, and jump into the action. “My name is Chris, I’m the Editor of The Boyne City Gazette” begins to roll off my tongue with ease, as I repeat the phrase for the hundredth time, shaking another hand and smiling. While the same phrase got old, the joy of meeting all of these new people certainly did not.
Seeing a face in front of me that I didn’t recognize, I went through the familiar introduction, hearing something unexpected in return: “I’m Jeremy McBain, the Editor for the News Review.” “This could be fun” I thought to myself, as images of The Reykjavik Summit floated into my mind. Unable to decide which of us got to be Ronald Reagan (and likewise, Mikhail Gorbachev) I returned to reality, as the silent auctions began to end, and I went to sit down at my seat, a plate of food in my hand. Looking to my right, I see not only Jeremy McBain (still haven’t decided.. Reagan…Gorbachev… anyway…) but News-Review Reporter Steve Zucker another seat down. As the evening progresses, so do our discussions, finding out that like any two reasonable people, we share a common affection for the writings of Robert Fulghum (the author of Everything I Need to Know, I learned in Kindergarten) and equally dry humor.
The evening progressed, and the awards began. I listened as Chamber Director Jim Bauman recalled the events of the year, and as Chamber Board Past President Rob Swartz spoke, making the way for the current President Jack Laurent. Past Commander Dean Kleinschrodt of the American Legion accepted an award on their behalf for their work on the Veterans Memorial, Tony Williams was recognized for his work in launching Freshwater Studio, Glen Catt received an award for the investment he placed in Boyne City in spearheading One Water Street, and Karen Guzniczak was heralded for her work in Stroll the Streets. As I sat, conversing with my table, I blinked. I wasn’t sure what I just heard, but it sounded like my name.
Looking up, I see Jim Baumann standing at the podium with a plaque. Young Entrepreneur of the Year it said. “Put the camera down, I’ll get a picture for you” several of the people at the table say, as I walk up to the podium, stunned. I’m still surprised, even as the plaque sits on my desk today. All I can say, as cliché as it sounds, is that there are so many people who have helped make this newspaper grow and succeed, and that I wish I could find a way to thank each and every one. Each subscriber, each advertiser, business owner, and even the car that flashes his lights and lets me go at the four-way-stop on Wednesday morning at 5:30 a.m. I am proud to be a part of Boyne City, and just as proud to be the person wandering Boyne City in search of unsuspecting subscribers. We walk into another week. Seeing snow, ice, and sometimes even hardship ahead, all we can do is stick together, help each other out, and keep Boyne City going. I hope you will join me in that goal.
