The 60 Day Gap - Monday, July 22, 2008

Monday
I can't believe that it has been 60 days - half of my retired life! It has been pretty busy with a week in Portland OR at the A&WMA meeting (celebrated 37 years of consecutive membership!), went on the heralded Alaskan adventure and then to Tennessee for a week (Mom's 87th Birthday). Now I am trying to catch up again. I won't go into all the details on this posting, but just a hint of what is to come.

I left the morning of June 23 for Portland. It was just me. Joan has breathing problems and other sensitivities so can't fly or do much other traveling. I have probably been to about 25 or so Annual conferences, but this was the first one I had to pay for myself. It gives a different perspective! Consequently, by planning ahead and asking the right folks at the right time, I was magically on the Local Committee for Portland assigned to help Terry Nyman (U of W) with the monitor arrangements. Little did I anticipate how "distracting" that could be, but meeting and working with Terry was a great positive and made it worthwhile. Also, Autumn Secrest from A&WMA (a newby) was a great help and resource and took good care of us as we were constrained to our dungeon.

I arrived in Portland a bit after 2:30 and took the train to the hotel- or nearly so. The light rail (MAX) is great and my good vibes for Portland from previous trips were immediately renewed when I went to buy my ticket from the machine. I found out that I was now considered an "honored citizen" (65 or older-I'm now 66+) and only had to pay $0.80 as opposed to the $2.10 for the young folk. That was a minor treat, but took me to a level of euphoria.

Upon arrival at the train stop, about 2 1/2 blocks from my hotel, I started walking up the hill, but did not bother to get out my street address. After a half hour of following instructions of the friendly locals who did not know where it was either, but thought they did, I finally got there. I must have walked about 10 blocks before I got out the address and looked at the map. I guess that is one of the pitfalls of knowing it all and being male - honored at that. It turned out that the hotel is also about 2-3 blocks from the Convention center which I thought was a church with its two glass spires that resemble steeples.

I checked in, put away my things, rested and went down the street to the convention center which was the site fo a 5:30 meeting of the local host committee, of which I was now a member. Since I had not met many of the folks on the committee, I had to look for a few familiar faces and immersed myself in the "howdy's" etc. that accompany such situations, as well as a few nibbles from the table. There I met Terry Nyman, who I had assumed was a professor, but was actually the U of W Health and Safety regulation guy. He and his wife Linda are truly nice folks from north of Seattle, but Terry commutes to Seattle. I also ran into Gwen Eklund (new VP/Pres-elect) and curtsied to her embarrassment. She is probably the most active member of the Association right now and will make a great President. And, she's "real people!"

At the Local "mixer" I also ran into Susan Weirman (MARAMA) who I have known for years (formerly with MD Air Agency, being the Director for a while). She had been there a while and was getting hungry and so we got on the MAX and rode downtown in search of some substantial food. We ended up at a Greek restaurant that was quite good, but a bit odd. Our waiter (not the only one) was also the bar tender and distracted a lot by his other chores and the telephone. We got a good Greek meal (I think Susan had lamb and I had a chicken dish, sort of like a salad). Susan had a couple of good ideas and contacts regarding some small possible consulting jobs and potential training opportunities for me and my new company. It turned out that Susan was also at the Marriott where I was, so we made it back to the hotel, parted at the lobby and went our separate ways. I was pretty tired by then, with 3 hours of time change, so it did not take long to doze off to tomorrow.

Tuesday

This was "work time" so I rose early and made it to the convention center by a little after 6:30 and picked up my registration packet, after waiting for the desk to open. Being such an important volunteer, many of my registration expenses were waived. Then I made my way downstairs and found the door to the monitors room to be locked. Off I went to find the Key person. When I got back about 7:15 Terry was in the room (unlocked) and waiting for me. We discussed our chores and got squared away. I had hoped to hear the opening keynote and critical review (Michael McCracken) and other speeches as well as the business meeting but that was not to be. Dr. McCracken is a renowned speaker/researcher/thinker on climate change and I really wanted to hear him, though I did already hear/meet him at RTI/RTP in the past six months. I have not yet read his written critical review paper which is available.

Our morning was busy meeting and confirming the monitors for the afternoon and the following days. We had several fuzzy areas of who was going to be there when and ended up with several 'no-shows" who did not tell us why they were not there or that they would not be there. That was probably partially because the notices went out so late to confirm that they were approved to monitor and what their slots were. The last week before the meeting Terry really put in a lot of work on that list and I reviewed, critiqued and identified a few errors. Terry had it all down pretty good at the start with the information that we had to work with. The OFFICIAL monitor training sessions were twice a day at 7:15 and after lunch, but monitors needed not attend more than one. So aside from these 15 minute sessions, the whole experience was focused on one or both (usually) being there to make changes to the spreadsheet as people popped through the door and to try to get them to cover sessions where we were not already covered. It really was not that difficult a job, just time consuming and a little frustrating at times. We each went to sessions on a couple of occasions where there were no-shows and we could not get a replacement in time. We also took a couple of quick trips, separately, throught the exhibit hall to check that out. And we did close shop and leave a note on the door when we went to lunch. They gave us a Nextel phone to be in instant contact with Autum, but we really did not need it. On one occasion, we did have a AV question/problem and walked over to the AV contractor, sitting in the next room. They were a bit "over-achievers" if any critique had to be made.

On Tuesday evening, the annual Mixer was held in the convention center. It is always a good time to see those folks you have not seen in a year or perhaps many years. Harry Hovey of NY was there - a member for about 55 years! I saw and greeted several folks who I enjoyed meeting again and talking "good ole days." I met the Director of the environmental agency in Hong Kong, courtesy of my friend Josh Fu of the UT staff who works all over China and other places there. He is originally from Taiwan. I got a couple of "promises" that I would be getting a call when certain jobs came open, etc. but times are tough right now on the consulting front and I just filed them away for future reference and follow up. Several companies are evolving and new ones are being formed. it is all related to the economy and individuals for the most part. After the roast beef/rolls, veggies, Mexican and other snack dishes, there was not much desire to eat more. Went to hotel and dropped.

Wednesday

Back to the 7 AM grind at the computer and monitor central. It was a busy day and some of the report sheets had begun to come back and needed entry into the post-meeting database report. On Tuesday, Beth Hogeson and her husband Neil (from Spokane) came by to report as monitors and Beth asked if we could use some extra help. Terry knew her and said great. Little did I know what an asset Beth would be! She is a whiz at MS Excel and with logic and IT in general. She is one of the most organized and organizing persons I have met. She has her own company is Spokane. A great couple! With Beth's help, we actually could see daylight at the end of the tunnel - if only everyone who said they would showed up. They didn't.

At the lunch hour(s) we took off and closed up so that we could go to the honors and awards banquet. The tables were set up for various groups but the groups did not match the table so I ended up at the Local Committee table as there was no "longevity enhanced" tables for the honored citizens of the Association, as expected. Since the winners of the awards were mostly known in advance, it was not very exciting. The RTP chapter once again won the Chapter of the Year - for so many consecutive years, it is embarrassing. The Fellows committee was very active this year and we had several new Fellow members, a couple of which I suggested be nominated. The South Atlantic States Section has only won the Minesian (Section's) Award once. when yours truly was chair and we had a reporting committee that had lots of memory and imaginative writing skills. We will win it again some day - soon, I hope.

Leo and Linda Stander were also staying at the Marriott where I was. They went on the boat ride and did some other neat things that I have not done. They were so kind as to bring my small Portland bag back to Cary with them when they came and I went on to Anchorage. It was a big help to have one less bag to keep up with in Alaska. Sadly, Linda's dad passed away just after they arrived and they had to go back to Nebraska. I have yet to see them since Portland but will soon.

Thursday

Thursday was another full day. Beth helped again and saved us from self destruction. Terry and I got out for an hour or two each during the day. We had a duplicate save problem with the spreadsheet (probably my error) that caused us to do some re-do) but got all the pieces nearly together again. I saw Bill Riley (former EPA Administrator) on the escalator, being escorted by the obligatory "suits" and chided across the rail "Hey, I used to work for you!," and he returned "Yes, I remember!" That was baloney! I did meet him, I think, but if he could remember me, he has a mind to be feared and much better than I remembered (touche'). It was fun though.

In the evening, the Local Committee had a "thank goodness it is almost over" gathering at a brewery/restaurant down town. I rode down with Terry and Linda as they had their car. It was a pleasant evening getting to meet and know a few more of the Portland folks. They almost treated me as a genuine Portlander. A nice bunch of folks. I also came to appreciate Angie Hanson even more. She was the local host chair, organized the gathering, works for/runs? a stack test company and is Secretary of the Source Evaluation Society, and probably a score of other high energy jobs/activities. She is a reserved but a dynamic go getter!

All in all the experience of being a co-monitor of the monitors was good. I got to meet and work with all these nice folks and spend a fews in the bowels of a nice convention center with a very effective and dynamic meeting going on upstairs.

I had told Terry that I had to change my reservations for Anchorage so that I had to duck out on Friday Morning but he was gracious and Beth was likely to be available to help. After we journeyed back to the hotel (Terry and Linda were also at the Marriott), I got my final packing done (Leo and Linda already had my go home bag) and set the alarm for "early thirty" so that I could rise, ride the train back to the airport and then be on a 8:20 AM flight to Anchorage by way of Dallas. I got to Anchorage about 7:30 PM on Friday and the day was still bright!

Next post - Alaska