Tom,

I hope you have my new email address, which is

[log in to unmask]

Absolutely, you can write me any time, and for that matter, if you ever want
to talk by phone, SKYPE, or on the air, just let me know, and we'll schedule
it.

As for our university positions, I was actually offered the department chair
position at Western Kentucky University, from which I retired, six times
over the years I was on the faculty, but I turned it down each time because
I had been there, done that, as the expression goes, and I'm glad to have
the experience, but I didn't want back in that type of pressure cooker
again! <lol> That sounds like your reactions as well. 

73,
Ron, K8HSY
 


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Tom Behler
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 9:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Update From KB8TYJ

Ron:

Well, from one former Department Head to another, I have to say that the
situation you describe mirrors my experience exactly.

Far too many demands from all sides, with very limited resources and/or
power to do what's truly needed.

Actually, I received excellent performance evaluations from both my faculty,
and the administrative side, but you just get to a point where you seriously
have to ask the question:  "At what cost should I keep doing this?"

Teaching clearly is my real passion in academia, and it will be a pleasure
to be back in the classroom starting in the Spring semester.

I now have your personal e-mail address, and would like to share more with
you off list at some point if you are interested.

73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dr. Ronald E. Milliman" <    [log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 11:49 PM
Subject: Re: Update From KB8TYJ


> Tom, as the former Chair of the Marketing Department at Loyola 
> University, I fully understand and support your decision to take a 
> break from the position at the university. I think being a department 
> chair is one of the most stressful jobs in academia. You are caught in 
> a kind of sandwich; i.e. you hear complaints from all sides, and in my 
> case, I had limited resources to remedy the issues about which 
> students, faculty, and administration were concerned about.
>
> I retired a year ago, and I have not missed the publish or perish 
> pressure for one nanosecond! <lol>
>
> Kick back for a while, and enjoy ham radio, and you'll be a new man 
> before you know it!
>
> Ron, K8HSY
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators 
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Tom Behler
> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 7:00 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Update From KB8TYJ
>
> Hello, everyone.
>
> For a time, I debated sending this post, but have decided to go ahead 
> with it, because I consider the folks on this list to be part of a 
> great family that I have come to know over the past 12 years or so.
>
> If this is felt to be too "off topic" for some, please hit the good 
> old delete button, and I promise I will not be offended.
>
> As many of you know, about a year and a half ago, I took the Acting 
> Department Head position in the Department Of Social Sciences at 
> Ferris State University.  When I took the position, I knew going in 
> that it was going to be extremely demanding.  Not only would it be a 
> 12-month position, and would involve 50 to 60-hour work weeks, but it 
> would involve running all administrative functions for a department 
> with approximately 30 faculty members, and 5 major University 
> programs.
>
> By all counts from both administration and faculty members, I was a 
> great success in the position, and met or exceeded all initial 
> performance expectations.
>
> However, beginning in the late Spring of this year, I began 
> experiencing some significant stress-related medical symptoms, and 
> those symptoms steadily grew worse over the Summer.  Fortunately, the 
> symptoms didn't seem to aggravate my already-existing heart condition, 
> but they became important warning signs that I simply couldn't ignore.
>
> As a result, I have officially stepped down from the administrative 
> position, and, with the authorization of my doctor, have taken a 
> medical leave for the Fall 2013 semester.  Fortunately, I have ample 
> accumulated sick time, so that this will not create a financial burden 
> for my wife and I.  The plan is for me to take the Fall off, work on 
> some other professional projects, and then resume my full-time 
> teaching in the Spring of 2014.
>
> I am nearing 60 years old, now, and still need to work a few more 
> years before getting serious about retirement, so hopefully, this 
> little hiatus will carry me through.
>
> I also am hoping that the time off will allow me to get more back into 
> ham radio than I have been lately.  So, look for an increased presence 
> from me on the list, and also on our week-end nets over the coming months.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>