2007

A Johnny K Production

Not even Cecil B. DeMille could take what would one presume would be an insipid discussion about moving coal and ore from here to there, while the audience, no less the panelists are imbibing, and make it a major media event. Of course, Johnny K is not your ordinary spinmeister. He began by wrapping the discussion in a mystery that can only be solved if you have an English public school background. Thankfully, Lorraine was here to explain the allusion, which refers to a series of novels by Enid Blyton. Who you might ask and does it matter? The answers to which are: don’t know and no. Fortunately, these were not the same takeaways from the panel discussion.

In the spotlight on the red carpet were the panelists: Detlef Joerss of LB Chartering; Robert Dillon of John F. Dillon & Co.; John Bamford of Simpson Spence & Young and Phillip Syrrist of Skaarup Shipbrokers. Mike Robson of Navios moderated the discussion that was intended to attribute responsibility for the disappearance of the long lunch, a shipping institution. Of course, it is rather incongruous that this discussion took place at a 3 hour Connecticut Maritime Association luncheon attended by 125 members and guests.

We thought we were in for a serious day as there were no dancing girls to greet us. Marriage is a good thing. Unfortunately nothing could prepare us for the party atmosphere inside or the vaudeville routine that followed.

This is only an excerpt of People & Places – 09/20/2007

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