Baumbach: Signing Off

You name the emotion, and it is running wild inside me today. This is my last day at the University of Central Florida, my last day with the SUNLINK project, and the last day of posting to this blog.

I have been at UCF for 29 years and employed as an educator for 39 years! I've been with the SUNLINK project since it started 20 years ago. I've been posting to the SUNLINK Announcements for only about 3 years--but I may miss it the most. It has given me an opportunity to share some of my favorite sites, web tools, discoveries, professional thoughts and ideas, and, of course, information about SUNLINK.

I am retiring today. Tomorrow I'll be thinking of y'all as I begin the next phase of my life. We've have a house in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and now can become a more active part of that community. There was a nice article about the town in the New York Times just last Friday. It will be a great place to grow old(er)! And I think my husband is looking forward to me spending a little less time stressing about work and a little more time enjoying life with him. (Me, too!)

I plan to read, read, read, read, read and read some more for the next few months...until I run out of books or eyesight! I will be watching what happens with SUNLINK and the media program at UCF, with FAME and school library media programs in Florida with great interest. I may "guest lecture" from time to time if asked...and, as part of phased retirement (because I'm not in the Florida Retirement System I can't do DROP), I may be back teaching an online course or two each year for the next few years--or maybe they'll find something else for me to do. We'll have to see how that works out! I love teaching and there is so much happening in our profession for new library media specialists to know about! And I'd love working more closely with Dr. Judy Lee. But I also realize it is time for new blood, and my blood is a wee bit tired!

I already miss Debbie Culp, our office manager, who went on an extended leave-of-absence in January and Linda Miller who retired at the end of June. I'll miss working with Carol McWilliams, John Prevosk and Kathy Katz at SUNLINK, but they have a new director and will be moving in new directions. Dr. Tom Atkinson has been appointed SUNLINK Director by Dean Sandra Robinson.

Change is good.

So this is my last post for SUNLINK Announcements for the foreseeable future. Dr. Atkinson will decide whether or not to continue it....and who knows? I may get itchy to write and blog and share things and I might start a whole new blog from my new home and my new life!! I'm not dead yet!

Thank you for your good wishes and for your many years of support for SUNLINK, for the educational media program at UCF, and for me personally and professionally. I wish you all well as you continue to do your best for the students of Florida!