Reporter's Notebook: Unpacking Random Notes

June busted out all over. Believe me, it did…

One of the duties I felt needed for the magazine was the need for a presence by the head of editorial – ahem, me. Aside from Twin Cities Pride, I attended five other pride events as of publication…with one more on the immediate horizon. 

Why do I attend these Pride events? Networking, perhaps. I want to feel out future stories for the magazine to ensure we have more than enough editorial heading in to the second half of the year. That meant going to booths, overcoming shyness, presenting business cards, and having a conversation with the right people – without making a fool out of myself. 

That does not mean that I avoided my duties in putting out this website. George is doing a great job with the videos – and, there’s more to come!

However, my Reporter’s Notebook is flowing with notes – lots of notes. I better parse them out for you…

OVERCOMING RANGE ANXIETY: By the time you’re reading this, I worked with three electric vehicles on a regular rotation so far. Before I get into the differences between the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Volvo XC40 Recharge, there was one through lien I must address – range. Not just the difference in range between the three, but the experience of dealing with the feeling that I’ll never see an EV with the same amount of range as a gasoline-fueled vehicle. Maybe in the future I will, but I’m lamenting for the fact that the maximum range experienced in these vehicles are not up there with the other vehicles I have worked with. 

NOT ALL EVS ARE EQUAL: While not every EV shares a common set of standards that are measurable on a larger scale, I have to approach each vehicle on its own merits. This is not an easy task, because of some deficiencies in terms of the charging infrastructure and the lack of a common measurement on efficiency for EVs. One such measurement I wished all EVs would share is the level of recharge at public DC Fast Charging statements. Because an EV can recharge quicker than the other, the consumer would be swayed to owning one over the other without considering the benefits of the EV they passed up in the showroom. 

PLUS, NOT ALL EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS ARE THE SAME: Part of the journeys to these various Pride celebrations in Minnesota and Wisconsin is to mine for stories for future issues and a new column I will start working on later this year in the magazine. Along with published stories of employee resource groups through today, I found that while the concept is the same, the execution will be different. This is what will drive the new column I will roll out later in 2022 – to see how each company’s LGBTQ ERG operates within its own corporate ecosystem.

THERE SHOULD BE NO FOOD ADVENTURES! When you get into a position where public appearances are requested – if not mandatory – you are subjected to being wined and dined. Since I am sober, that means simply being dined. I love food. I love good food that meets my palate and satisfies the soul. I had a few new places I tried that neither were met with a satisfactory reception. If you’re going to a destination restaurant, make food that tastes great – not be some sort of taste adventure that ruins your evening with one twist on a simple ingredient or recipe! However, I found that Korean fried chicken done right is a lovely thing to behold! 

MISSING MY CAR PEOPLE: I know that my journey over the past four-and-a-half month have kept me away from the people who helped build this site up. Yet, I made a few appearances that kept me somewhat connected with these good folks. There had been some mixed reactions by me – some events were well done, and I had plenty of my car friends there to make it more comfortable. The cars also make the difference, too. Then, there were some shit shows…not going to get into them right now…

MISSING MY COLLEAGUES? As happy as I am to see George attend the Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally back in May, I wished I was there. Plain and simple. One of the challenges in my new position is to fulfill the magazine’s mission and guide the creation of content for each issue. That also include fulfilling my end of the bargain with related content for my columns – including the automotive-related articles. I should not have to remind my colleagues and industry contacts that I have not lessened my concentrate on automotive topics because I write about a cat furniture place or some musician on tour. For every one of those stories, there’s an electric vehicle on the horizon – or, a sports coupe. You get the idea. 

One more thing, we created a YouTube Short on our charging experience with Electrify America and the Hyundai IONIQ 5. Check it out! We love getting views, you know.

All photos by Randy Stern