Talk20Hutch will be a new frontier for Tribune founders

I admit it.

I am a little terrified.

Sometimes I am a lot terrified.

Michael and I are going to present at Talk20 Hutch on Friday evening.

For those of you who have not experienced this reverent, wild, touching, and occasionally comic presentation from everyday Reno County residents about their extraordinary experiences, lives, projects and passions, you are truly missing something special.

Talk20 Hutch took flight in the Hutchinson Public Library’s auditorium in January 2014. Kari Mailloux brought the concept from South Carolina, and with the late Patsy Terrell’s assistance, It has since expanded to the main floor. Pre-Covid, around 400 people showed up in January and July to hear remarkable stories from remarkable people, our neighbors. During Covid, the event was held virtually with the assistance of the Wool Market & DIY School. Attendance is returning to pre-pandemic levels, much like we have seen at concerts and movies.

The event will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube for those who prefer to watch virtually.

The concept is simple enough: presenters discuss twenty visuals on slides for 20 seconds each — 400 seconds.

It sounds easy enough, right?

As I agonized over putting together the slide deck two weeks ago, I first thought I didn’t have enough descriptive material before realizing that I either needed to combine pictures or leave them out completely.

This week, I will be writing the accompanying narration.

Michael is a natural at extemporaneous speaking, but I don’t think he has worked within this format before. We will have to practice. And it will be a challenge to balance a light-hearted tone with the serious nature of our journalistic work and the event’s grace and decorum.

Please come and wish us luck, or at least tune in virtually.

Talk20Hutch begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 26, on the main floor at the Hutchinson Public Library, 901 N Main St. Doors open at 6:30. The event will be live-streamed on the Talk20Hutch Facebook page and its YouTube channel.

So, if I seem a little distracted this week, I’ll be thinking about talking in front of a room full of people about The Hutchinson Tribune’s history and future.

Nine more presenters are probably thinking about the same thing tonight as I am writing this editorial.

I hope you will join us.

Gina Long is the editor of The Hutchinson Tribune and can be reached at glong@hutchtribune.com