Staff Notes

One Year Into the Pandemic, We’re Still Doing Big Things

a note from the managing editor

Tom Giffey |

Sadly, we weren't able to host Best Night this year, but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy. For example, we launched a podcast, hosted by Eric Christenson.
Sadly, we weren't able to host Best Night this year, but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy. For example, we launched a podcast, hosted by Eric Christenson.

Late winter used to mean a flurry of activity here at Volume One. There was our ginormous Best of the Chippewa Valley issue, of course, which for the past few years has come out in early February. That was swiftly followed by our big Best Night awards event-slash-cocktail party-slash-community celebration at the Lismore Hotel. (I actually wore a suit jacket, folks. We’re talking super fancy!) Then there was the Contriby Awards, a fun internal event that honored all the contributing writers, photographers, and artists who make this magazine the fabulous publication it is.

In early 2020, we were able to do all of these things right before COVID-19 hit. Today, although big in-person events are still off the table – would you really want to cram into a room with hundreds of your closest friends? – we at Volume One are still doing big things. Witness our last issue, which celebrated the Best of the Chippewa Valley with more poll categories than ever. In recent months we’ve also completely redesigned our magazine, in print and online, launched not one but two podcasts, and – like all of you! – forged ahead in an uncertain world, masks firmly across our faces. Our recent achievements may not be as high-profile as a swanky party, but we’re still pretty proud of them. Someday we’ll undoubtedly be back to hosting the kind of in-person events that we all love, and hopefully then we’ll look back to appreciate all we’ve accomplished during this very odd, very challenging year.