-“Hands up everyone here who owns a Stetson!”
Mayor Fred Volcansek of Clifton takes the stage at an up-scale Houston hotel after clearing his throat properly. Of the 200 people present to hear Foreign Minister Gahr Støre speak on industry, trade and innovation in Norwegian foreign policy, at least 150 hands reached for the ceiling. But none of them belonged to Jonas Gahr Støre. The hatless Foreign Minister was outnumbered and far away from home.
Fortunately, a dynamic and savy Mayor of a small Texan town came to his rescue. With a big box under his left arm, and two more right next to him, Volcansek spoke eloquently about the importance of having a hat when being in Texas. –“We can’t have you walking around Texas without owning a hat, Mr. Foreign Minister. Giving you one is the only humane thing to do”. Mr. Volcansek laughs and shouts: –“Get up here!”
And so Mr. Gahr Støre returns to the stage he left just minutes ago to near ear-shattering applause. He is about to become a real ‘Texas Statesman’.
Hat-trick
Make no mistake, Mr. Volcansek meant business. Serious business. The smiling Norwegian Foreign Minister shook his hand, and gladly accepted the gift, while Mayor Volcansek called Ambassador Strømmen and Consul General Mykletun to the stage. They too, were to be equipped to become real Texans. Consent not necessary, as Mr. Volcansek put it.
–“Remember to wear the hat in your next Washington, D.C. meeting, Mr Ambassador”, Mr. Volcensek says while smiling, beaming from ear to ear. The crowd instantly understanding the undertone of Mr. Volcansek’s comment, burst into laughter.
The Honorable Volcansek was himself wearing two hats this Friday morning; not only is he Mayor of Clifton, the ‘Official Norwegian Capital of Texas’, but also the wirepuller behind the Cleng Peerson Institute, a living memorial to Norwegian migration to the Southwest and Cleng Peerson, known as the first architect of organized Norwegian emigration to the U.S.
-“You three are all true Statesmen”, Mr. Volcansek continued, pausing briefly before adding: -“So the hat we just gave you is called ‘The Stateman” and has been worn by several American presidents. And by now, the three of you. You are safe to walk the streets of Houston”.
Heads of State
Mayor Volcansek looks out to an audience where camera phones and laughter have triggered the crowd. Apparently, three Norwegians in real Stetson’s was a sight for sore eyes. Every two seconds, the flash from yet another iPhone blinds your eyes.
After a short minute of playing Chinese checkers with the hats, passing them back and forth to find the best fit, the three finally found the one meant for them. The crowd was still upbeat, perhaps over the thought of how someone was able to figure the head size of these Statesmen.
Luckily, all’s well that ends well. And posing in his brand new ‘Statesman’ hat, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre received the largest applause following his great speech. As Mr. Volcansek proved, a good hat can bring out a lot of enthusiasm in Texas.