Jim didn't want a traditional retirement party. "Too many greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention unwanted calories," he said. So instead we are having a Virtual Retirement Party - carbon neutral and heart healthy!

To celebrate, Jim wants all his colleagues and associates to post a good wish, photo or a memory to this blog. You can even ask Jim a question. Jim will reply to every post! (Jim will be the only person able to comment on messages after they are posted).

And while you're at it, Jim hopes you will consider a donation in his honor to his favorite charity, our own Talking Book and Braille Services.

Please submit your message before Jim retires on December 30, 2011. Include your name at the end of your message.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Jim's Posting

December 15, 2011

Jim’s Posting:

I haven’t always agreed with Jim Scheppke or him with me. But if you are coming to the table with a countervailing opinion, buddy…. you better bring your “A” game, because the man you’re going up against is smart, articulate, passionate, and he possesses vision.

Jim has recently referenced past Oregon librarians who have made great contributions to library service in our state. I believe him because he knows more about this than I do. But I know what I know and that is this, in the 28 years I’ve been a working librarian in this state no one has had a greater positive impact on library service in our state than Jim Scheppke. From “bully pulpit” to strategic use of state and federal funds to legislative acumen, he has led, encouraged, supported, cajoled, and “kicked in the ass”, Oregon’s libraries and library staff into the future. He has believed in us and expected us to be better, to do better. And, in no small part, thanks to him, we have.

On more than one occasion he has had the courage to stand before a group of Oregon librarians and tell us to get our collective heads out of our collective ….. well, someplace dark and unenlightened. But on even more occasions there he was encouraging us, inspiring us, leading us to embrace a vision of innovative, high quality, state-wide, library service.

In my own career when I’ve faced difficult times or difficult decisions, Jim has always been there with good and reasoned advice and I know I’m not the only librarian who will say that.

Speaking as an Oregonian, an Oregon Librarian, a colleague, and, hopefully, a friend I can say that I’ve always cared what Jim Scheppke thought and I always will.

Thanks, Jim.

-Rob Everett

1 comment:

  1. Jim ScheppkeDecember 18, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Thank you Rob. You've been a great friend and colleague over the years. I appreciate your stepping up to be President of OLA. Welcome to the ranks of Past Presidents. After a little time out and R&R I'm sure I will be looking for ways to get involved again in Oregon libraries and I hope to work some more with you.

    We both share a love of William Stafford's poetry, so we can both look forward to the Stafford Centennial in 2014 which I hope can be a huge statewide celebration of the man and his work and his ideas (e.g., peace and reconciliation). Oregon is a great place, but I know you'd agree that we could be an even better place if more Oregonians appreciated Stafford's great legacy.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)