I promised a fellow board member I would post these where she could read them. So here they are:

Hello - and welcome to the Key West Literary Seminar. I’m Nancy Klingener, president of the Seminar board of directors. Even for those of us who have hardly left this island in the last couple years, it’s been quite a journey to get here.

First of all, huge thanks are in order. To our hardworking and endlessly flexible staff, led by executive director Arlo Haskell. To my fellow board members who have been so smart and generous and thoughtful as we navigated this unknown territory. To our patrons circle - without your generosity, we would not have been able to create this event in its new venue. To the writers who are joining us to share your work and ideas, despite the uncertainty of the moment. To the volunteers who make this thing run. And mostly thanks to you, our audience - our readers, people who love literature and join us to create this extraordinary community - ALMOST every year. Whether this is your first Seminar or your thirtieth, you are the most essential part this endeavor. Welcome and thank you.

The Key West Literary Seminar was in a new location this year, at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater. It was glorious. Photo by Nick Doll.

The first seminar I attended was the first year it was held at the San Carlos Institute - and it was the Seminar about Elizabeth Bishop. By the end of that weekend, the Seminar was my favorite Key West event and Bishop was my favorite Key West writer. Now my first Seminar as president is in another new venue - a new chapter in the history of this institution.

Speaking of history - just down the harborfront a bit, 200 years ago this March, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy raised the American flag over Key West for the first time. This of course was NOT the beginning of Key West’s human history - indigenous people lived here. Bahamians and Cubans knew about this island and its deepwater harbor. And so did pirates - which is why that lieutenant commander was in these parts in 1822.

It wasn’t long before Key West became a settlement, and a city - eventually one of the richest cities in Florida. But I don’t think that piratical spirit was ever eradicated from our DNA. And that’s probably why the island has been home to so many writers, especially writers expressing desires that may not have gone over so well in St. Louis or Michigan. And what led a writer named David Kaufelt, almost 40 years ago, to defy those who said Florida had no literary culture. And start the journey that has led to this moment.

Over the next few days we’ll be adding to Key West’s literary history and, I am sure, adding some much-needed joy to the lives of all of us lucky enough to be here.

I have one more person to thank for MY being lucky enough to be here today - my great-grandfather, Gideon Sundback. A little more than 100 years ago, he patented a device we know today as the zipper. Without his work - and obviously desires - I wouldn’t exist today. And to all of you who have used that device in order to write about or execute your desires - on his behalf I’ll say, you’re welcome.