In-person networking: Remote workers gather for BBQ
Remote workers gather for BBQ
CALUMET — A few dozen remote workers gathered to enjoy a barbecue and games Thursday night at Agassiz Park hosted by Main Street Calumet, Calumet and Laurium villages and Remote Workforce Keweenaw.
The event was put on to give remote workers in the region an opportunity to meet fellow remote workers, network and learn a bit more about the area in which they live. Because of the nature of remote work, many of the workers do not have the opportunity to leave their homes for an exceptional amount of time and interact with the community. This is the first year events such as these have been hosted by these groups and have already seen success in this goal with some workers becoming members of various clubs throughout the Keweenaw’s communities.
“The best thing about having an event like this is seeing people light up about their ability to make connections,” said Remote Workforce Keweenaw Director Keith Meyers.
Remote Workforce Keweenaw is an initiative put together in 2018 to encourage remote workers to move to the region as a place to work from home. He was aware of locals not wanting new residents to change the local culture of the area so he promoted five pillars or values for people to consider before moving here. The pillars ask if potential movers embrace winter, value natural environmental beauty, live in a location with no congestion, live in a location with low crime and seek affordable housing. Meyers believes that by asking remote workers if they embrace these values that potential movers will already be compatible with the Yooper population.
Meyers also believes that bringing remote workers to the Keweenaw will benefit the region as these additional residents will be putting money into the local economy and services that the Keweenaw may lack.
“Remote workers coming to this region have a particular diverse set of skills,” Meyers said. He also emphasized that skills that are technology based can be a great benefit to the community for government, faith-based, volunteer and non-profit services. Executive Director of Main Street Calumet Leah Polzien has voiced this point as well.
“We have an aging population and a lot of volunteer based organizations in Calumet,” Polzien said. “Copper Country Firefighters History Museum, Keweenaw Heritage Center, Calumet Theatre, and Main Street… I mean there’s so many of these types of organizations that need bodies and need help. Remote workers are one of the groups that could be helping fill some of that.”
An example of remote workers who have a passion for the Keweenaw and have established themselves within the community are Andrew and Shauna Parrish. They are computer infrastructure engineers from Boise, Idaho, who were seeking a cool climate away from wildfires that were present out west.
“We wanted to be close to nature, be around fewer people, and have access to lots and lots of fresh water,” Andrew said.
The two enjoy hiking with neighbors and have made friends who are professors at Michigan Tech, and Andrew has developed a passion for mountain biking during his time living in the Keweenaw. While from the mountain region of the country, the two believe they have developed a Yooper lifestyle.
Since settling in the Keweenaw, the couple have started an interest group called Plant Based Copper Country which seeks to gain interest in whole food, plant-based eating. Members of the group share their experiences and potential meals for a diet that lacks animal products and processed foods and emphasizes the importance of fruits and vegetables.
The diversity of skills of remote workers in the Keweenaw is expansive. Remote workers mostly come from Information Technology (IT) in divisions such as cyber security and database administration. There are also engineers, attorneys, and state employees that work remotely who live in the Keweenaw. While many types of occupations returned to offices after the pandemic, IT jobs have remained largely at home and have allowed the workers to move wherever they desire.
While many remote workers have chosen the Keweenaw as their home, another goal that Remote Workforce Keweenaw strives for is to keep them here.
“If we don’t have events like this, it becomes ships passing in the night,” Meyers said. “By getting together, we create synergy and we create this opportunity to have an even more significant impact on the community.”
It is not only important for remote workers to reach out to the community, but for the community to reach out to the workers for a compatible environment, according to Polzien.
“If you’ve got a new neighbor, go say hello,” Polzien said. “Get to know them a little bit. I think it’s our nature here to be friendly and welcoming generally and I hope that we can just continue in that same vein. Say hello to your neighbors and get them involved.”
The night passed with the workers playing cornhole and ladder ball with pulled pork sandwiches in hand. Friends were made and connections established as the small world of the remote worker got a little bigger one conversation at a time.