New position

From: "Beth Cosgriff" bcosgriff at LEHMANN.MOBOT.ORG> on 2000.03.08 at 22:50:31(4185) Hello Aroiders I hope no one minds if I use this forum to make a personal announcement. Beginning March 13, I will no longer be Tom's assistant. I am taking a new position at the Garden as Web Content Developer for the Research Division. I have been interested in web design for a while, but was reluctant to leave the Garden. So, when this position became available in November, I spoke to our HRM guy and told him I would be interested in applying. At first they were going to go with someone in the computer field and not worry if they were a botanist, biologist, etc. But after a short time, they realized that they needed someone with a botany background and they could just train them in the web stuff. My opportunity! +More I have made numerous friends in the past 2 years, especially as a result of being involved in the Aroid Conference last year. They include, but are not limited to: Lynn Hannon, who has become a very good friend as a result of sharing the Lita 'experience'. If not for her distracting me from missing my daughter during this trip, I would have been on a bus back to Quito (then the US) after 3 days; Dick Mansell, an intense, extremely lovable, humorous, and very caring person who held my hand as I tried not to vomit on his shoes as a result of our 'bad soup' in Lita; Peter Boyce, one of the most brilliant, yet humble botanists I have had the honor of corresponding with and who kept it hush from Tom when I told him I wanted to work on the 'more interesting' Asian aroids; Dewey, of course, one of the nicest, most unassuming characters I have had the pleasure of meeting; and finally, my best friend, Cheryl Neuman, my co- conspirator at the garden and sole caretaker of one of the largest aroid collections in the world. Other friends I have made during this time period include Simon Mayo, Donna Atwood, Dorothy Bay, Danny Beath, Tricia Frank, Thomas Mottl, Jane Whitehill, Guanghua Zhu, Julius Boos, and some of the many students who have worked in the herbarium here including Gladys Benevides, Felipe Cardona, Sari Ropenen, Michael Kessler and Jorge Jacome. Oh, the stories I could tell you all about Tom Croat. Like the time when he chased the barking dog through downtown Lita at 2 in the morning with his machete while in his pajamas. But we all have our stories about Tom, and that's what makes him so unique. Working in the same office as his assistant was sometimes difficult. We are both stubborn and opinionated, and we often butted heads about politics, the merits of computers and the value (or disvalue) of Rush Limbaugh to our society! But he never failed to share with me his enthusiasm and knowledge of the plants he worked on, and I will always respect him for this. Thanks, Tom, for sharing so much with me and especially for giving me the opportunity to become a part of the aroid world. I have always looked forward to coming to work and learning more about these beautiful and unique aroids. And I hope, by being able to influence the material on the MoBot web page, that more people will learn about aroids, and grow to admire them as we do. My e-mail will remain the same, and I will continue to work with Tom on an interim basis until a replacement is found. Adios, Beth

From: neal foster nealfost at umich.edu> on 2000.03.09 at 03:38:29(4193) At 04:50 PM 03/08/2000 -0600, you wrote: > I have been interested in web design for a while, >but was reluctant to leave the Garden. So, when this position became >available in November, I spoke to our HRM guy and told him I would be >interested in applying. At first they were going to go with someone in >the computer field and not worry if they were a botanist, biologist, etc. >But after a short time, they realized that they needed someone with a >botany background and they could just train them in the web stuff. My >opportunity! +More Beth, I'm glad MOBOT saw the wisdom of training a botanist to do their website instead of hiring some techno-nerd website designer who knew nothing about botany. The fisheries research lab that I retired from the staff of--about a year and a half ago--made the latter mistake and hired a website designer who knew nothing about fish or fisheries. Consequently, the lab's website is quite lame and unimaginative, to say the least. HTML is not that hard to learn and there are now some very nice software packages to help you. I took a two-week course a few months ago and I'm quite excited about website content and design as the way of the future for communicating both with one's colleagues as well as the general public. However, my personal website is still under construction, so I'll spare you from it. Meanwhile, I think you'll enjoy working in this new, exciting, and rapidly expanding field while at the same time keeping one foot in your botanical interests and pursuits. Best wishes....... Neal R. Foster, Ph.D. Fishery Research Biologist (retired) U.S.Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center Ann Arbor, Michigan

From: plantnut at macconnect.com on 2000.03.09 at 03:51:27(4194) Beth.... You have me crying all over the place... What are we all going to do without you.... We sure will miss you. It was totally delightful finally meeting you in St. Louis and if I ever get there again... will renew the friendship... Of course I am one sided about this.... but what is going to happen to poor Tom now? He is left with only one arm... Love you and will miss you. I wish you the very best in your new job.... only the best for you... Dewey +More Dewey E. Fisk, Plant Nut THE PHILODENDRON PHREAQUE Your Source for Tropical Araceae Go to

From: Betsytrips at aol.com on 2000.03.10 at 00:43:24(4197) I am sure that all of us wish you a wonderful new adventure and each of us will miss you in the Aroid field. For those of us who know Tom, we know of his mental capacities and derangement when it comes to his Aroids and projects, but all of us would have him no other way. I am sure your time at MoBot with Tom has had much joy and much confusion along with overwork and never ending unfinished projects. Guess what, it will not change after you have moved on and a new assistant is found. You have contributed much to our efforts to keep Tom in line. Some things are best admitted, impossible. Very best of luck and joy in your new endeavor ........ Betsy

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