In less than 24 hours, Mackinac Island will become more than Michigan’s primo Pure Michigan destination – it will be the nexus for Michigan’s business leaders, policy makers, reporters and editors – and, of course, lobbyists and flacks like me.

Yes, it’s the Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual “Mackinac Policy Conference” – where networking and political fundraising are taken to high art form and lobbyists, staff and reporters steer people – politicians and the business mucky-mucks – either to or away from each other.

Some people hate it.  I, on the other hand, love it – with a passion.  I can’t wait to see who becomes the story.  After all, this is where the Free Press broke the first big front page story about a relatively unknown Jennifer Granholm.  It’s where Senator Mike Bishop got bopped in the jaw by some inebriated guy who just didn’t feel like sharing his carriage.  (Yes, it was 2 a.m. outside the entrance to Horn’s and it was Mike Bishop, making it almost defensible.)  It’s where Brooks Patterson, in one of his finest moments, strolled into the Grand Hotel’s Theatre for the annual Paul W. Smith Big 4 interview wearing rhinestone stud earrings and flanked by body guards, ala Kwame Kilpatrick (who most likely was texting a loved one at the time).

It’s where a clearly steamed candidate Rick Snyder took fellow candidate Mike Cox to task last year for failing the ethics test – at least on the home front.  And it’s whereGovernor Rick Snyder will address the group with his Tigger-like optimism.  I love his favorite phrase “we’re doing this in dog years” because, as a dog owner, I know what dogs do in the backyard, in the front yard and sometimes, occasionally, on the carpet.  I also love his “kick the can down the road” – because you never know whose can is being kicked when he says that. (Oh wait … the Democrats.)

So here’s to dog years, kicked cans, and what reportedly will not just be a vehicle-free but, in honor of our Governor, a tie-free Island.