The Indiana Humanities Council’s Leadership Summit, the annual gathering of the state’s self-described leaders in business, politics and academe, met at the Columbia Club last week in order to remind each other that the state is constantly changing, even if their personal well-being has been — and remains — remarkably the same. “Yes, it’s true,” remarked Anthony “Bam” Chalmers, president of Chalmers Manufacturing and Financial Services and Real Estate Dot Com, Inc., LLC near Spencer. “Everything changes. Just look at how our company has changed over the years. But having plenty of capital softens the blow, as it were.”

Chalmers and his friends engaged in deep discussions over how they could protect their investments and perpetuate their control of state resources — for the good of the state. “With things changing so much, it’s hard,” said Chalmers, loosening his tie.

At 3:30 in the afternoon, cries of “Eureka!” were heard by pedestrians passing on the Circle outside the Columbia Club. Minutes later, Chalmers and a hundred or so of his closest friends streamed out of the club, their faces contorted with happiness. “We’ve got the answer!” Chalmers cried. “We know how Indiana can deal with change!”

Within a few seconds, Chalmers and his friends were surrounded by a gaggle of curious panhandlers and performance artists. With the fountains of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument spewing behind him, Chalmers spoke to all who would listen: “Change is good,” he declared, “so long as it doesn’t change anything that really matters. And since what really matters never changes, we now understand that Indiana’s leaders can face the future without fear of change. And that is good, real good.”