Friday, June 10

The deed is done. I turned in my keys and security badges. I
am now retired. Sort of. I committed to teaching a seminar class with a friend
this fall and also to adjunct teaching at Lansing Community College this fall too.
But, pretty low key, something to keep me busy.

On the job in retirement.

Except for some pretty short periods of time, I’ve been in
the workforce since I was 12 years old. Sometimes with multiple jobs simultaneously.
Paper boy, theatre usher, grocery store bagger, U.S. Navy for six years, while
in the Navy I helped at a friend’s deli, a production technician manufacturing intercoms,
worked 17 years as a Technical Representative for Grumman Aerospace, while in
grad school I worked in the SPEA GIS lab and as meteorological tower engineer, did
spatial modeling and grant writing for the Indiana Biodiversity Initiative, a
year of adjunct work at Northern Michigan University, 16 years with Michigan State
University in the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, and while at MSU did more
adjunct work at Northern Michigan University and at Lansing Community College.

Between the U.S. Navy and Grumman Aerospace I have time on
four aircraft carriers; the Ranger, the Enterprise, the Kennedy, and the
America. I have more at sea time as a Grumman Rep than as a sailor. My various jobs
have taken me to eight states, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong,
Brazil, Spain, Diego Garcia, and Israel. I went through the Suez Canal and the
Malaccan Straits and became a trusty shellback when I crossed the equator.  

At one time, while working full time, I helped start a
nonprofit land trust and served as Board President, served as Board President for
another nonprofit, was working on my Physics degree, and earned a brown belt in
Judo.  Now that I’m not working I should
be able to really accomplish something. So it’s on to new adventures!

Just for laughs, following is the Bio that will go in the
retiree newsletter. Not sure where the first few sections came from. My only
input was the last line.

Edward Schools received his A.A.S. from Skagit Valley
College, and his B.S. in physics and M.S. in applied ecology from Indiana
University. Prior to his time with Extension he served in the U. S. Navy and
worked as a defense contractor. He has been with MSU Extension as the
Geographic Information Systems/Information Technology supervisor for the
Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) since October 2000.

Throughout his time at MSU, Mr. Schools’ motivations
consistently focused on the good of MNFI and his work reflected favorably on
MFNI, MSU Extension, and MSU. Mr. Schools met and exceeded expectations time
and time again with his strong leadership skills and high rate of productivity.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Schools was a key component
in accomplishing many goals that led to development in the MNFI program
including testing the Biotics Software, developing the Rare Species Review
program, and completing a major study of bird migration patterns in the Great
Lakes. He played a significant role in securing funding and participated in
multiple projects that made great contributions to the program.

Ed was known to challenge thinking, offer fresh
perspectives, and bring a positive energy to the workplace. This, along with
his willingness to take on leadership and motivate personnel, made him an asset
that was valued immensely by MSU and the MNFI program.

In retirement Ed plans to focus on his photography, travel,
play outside, and produce a CD of Henry Mancini’s greatest hits on the bagpipe.