New West Celebrates Bozeman in Style

By Courtney Lowery, 4-21-06

	Caption: Bozeman Editor Todd Wilkinson and Seonaid Campbell at the sign-in table.

Our party last night in Bozeman at the 317 Pub was a verifiable hit. We're guessing 250 folks came out to say hello, grab a free Bozeman Brewing Company beer and talk about New West the publication and New West the region. A quick eavesdropping wander around the room (which I love to do) gave me some indication of what kind of crowd we were hosting. Conversations ranged from conservation easements and open-space bonds to high-tech industry growth to Butte becoming the new Bozeman, Helena becoming the new Bozeman, Bozeman becoming the new Jackson Hole ... you get the idea.

Bozeman Editor Todd Wilkinson, who enjoys a well-earned following as one the region's most perceptive journalists, kicked off the night with a heartfelt, rousing speech about the evolution of journalism and how New West.Net embodies the new frontier of community-based media. Jonathan Weber followed up with thanks to Bozeman for providing much of the fodder, support and spirit New West was founded upon.

From the New West family, Travel & Outdoors Bill Schneider and his wife Marnie were on hand to celebrate the occasion, as were Books & Writers Editor extraordinare Allen Jones, Bozeman columnist Marjorie Smith, Bozeman-page founders Nancy Mahoney and Ian Van Coller, New West artist in residence Parks Reece, New West contributor and Off the Beaten Path travel planner Mike Wolfe, columnist Pete Talbot, filmmaker and New West friend Seonaid Campbell and of course, party coordinator and marketing director Ingrid Lovitt. TechRanch honcho and New West board member John O'Donnell and New West investor Lance Trebesch livened the party, as did O'Berry | Cavanaugh's dynamic duo Toni O'Berry and Bridget Cavanaugh.

Some of the Bozeman notables who came to hoist a beer to New West included FREE's John Baden and Pete Geddes, PERC's Jane Shaw and Richard Stroup, Bozeman Mayor and New West columnist Jeff Krauss, former mayor Steve Kirchoff, Big Sky Journal's new Managing Editor Greg Thomas, the Cook Center's Bill Yellowtail, Off the Beaten Path Co-Founder and Chairman Bill Bryan, Ray Rasker (formerly of the Sonoran Institute), Trout Unlimited's Laura Ziemer, High Country News' Ray Ring, Bozeman Chronicle City Editor (and long-time friend of mine) Kellyn Brown and HatcHfest's Yarrow Kraner and Emma Lynn.

U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester stopped by to say hello after a fundraiser in town and Legislative candidate Mike Phillips made an appearance as well.

Many thanks to our sponsors: HatcHfest, Ruby Slippers, Bozeman Brewing Company, Refuge Sustainable Building Center and Moonlight Basin for our door prizes; TechRanch and O'Berry | Cavanaugh for the support and big kudos to the excellent band Sticky Fingers and the 317 Pub. It was a perfect venue for a fun night!


Parks, with Sharpie.


Allen and Jonathan catch up.


Sticky Fingers takes the stage.


The crowd and a happy New West Founder.


Ryan, our gracious host at 317 Pub.


Lance mingles in the crowd.


Bill and Marnie were quite pleased with the band.


Me and HatcHfest's Emma Lynn getting acquainted.
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