If it is not fun, why do you do it?

If it is not fun, why do you do it? 

An important question for all of us to answer. Katelyn Ohashi caught a lot of folks attention with the perfect 10 in January 2019. While it was an 'overnight' sensation, as usual, it took years to prepare for.

Didn't see the perfect 10? Check out the link  https://youtu.be/4ic7RNS4Dfo




A key part of the preparation was with Miss Val, Katelyn's coach at UCLA who is the real thing. The quick summary of Miss Val's story as she retires this year.

https://youtu.be/gZF6GKzBLQo




The longer (and great version) can be found in the "Laughter Permitted" podcast by Julie Foudy and Lynn Olszowy interview with both Katelyn and Miss Val: 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qShhXbjsxpmFnG27hm9eG

or on ESPN http://www.espn.com/espnradio/podcast/archive/_/id/26092845

Chamber recognition as "Member of the Month"

Catching up to a little self-promotion: "Member of the Month, Steve Sherlock, of Franklin Matters"

"When Steve Sherlock was nominated for URCC Member of the Month, it was said that he “likes and shares all of our posts.” OK. We ask everyone to like and share our posts. But when you or I like and share a post, we are on a completely different level. When Steve likes and shares the chamber’s posts, the word REALLY gets out. The brains behind the website, Franklin Matters, Steve is a one-man digital news powerhouse for the town of Franklin. He has been sharing information to empower the voters and residents of Franklin since 2007.

Steve attends around 60 meetings each year – taking him out of his house at least one night and, sometimes, as many as three nights each week. These meetings include Town Council, School Committee, and the Finance Committee, to ‘follow the money’. He records the meetings and creates posts and podcasts for his audiences. And did we mention that this is a volunteer job?

Seems like a lot and it is, but now newspapers are cutting back more and more and the first thing on the chopping block is local coverage. So, the work Steve does is even more important now than it had been in the past. Franklin Matters has more than 4,000 people in its Facebook group; more than 2,000 Twitter followers, and an email list of over 1,000 that continues to grow. And when Steve posted recent election results, more than 20,000 people viewed the results on his site. Franklin residents count on Franklin Matters and Steve for their news because they know that they can rely on his level head and just reporting.

And the volunteering does not stop there. For several years, Steve also volunteered for the Franklin Food Pantry, where he held the positions of chairman as well as secretary.

In his real life day job, Steve is the Senior Director of Information Protection for John Hancock. He has held this position, which involves security and privacy, for more than four years now. We would guess that he probably logs in more than 60 meetings a year at his day job. Steve and his wife, Dolores, have lived in Franklin since 1995 where they raised their two daughters. He is a fixture in Franklin and the town is oh so lucky to have him. Not many towns or cities can say they have such a dedicated resource.

Chamber recognition as "Member of the Month"

On LinkedIn, Steve says he has a six-word resume – Project delivered, team happy, customer elated. We can say that about Steve not only for his day job, but also for his second job – bringing the news to the people of Franklin.

So, the next time we are watching that baseball game, binge watching our favorite shows, or reading a book, we can be grateful to people like Steve Sherlock who bring our news to us without any bias. And that is more than enough reason for Steve to be the United Regional Chamber of Commerce member of the month.

Join us in congratulating Steve. Franklin Matters has been a member of the chamber since 2008 and we are grateful that he is on board with us – liking and sharing our posts. He certainly helps us get the word out."

This was shared from the Sep 3, 2019 newsletter
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Jobs-on-Our-Job-Board--Executive-Express-O--Ribbon-Cuttings--and-More.html?soid=1100642858535&aid=KCq4Qlk8_Ts

Note: I did retire from John Hancock as of Sep 30 and I am thoroughly enjoying retirement!

Now in the retirement world

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!

To reap that which has been planted. Yes, Pete Seeger, I am about to. I officially retired from the corporate working world effective Monday, Sep 30, 2019. 

I am fortunate to have had a long and successful corporate career. I started in February 1982 with Burroughs which became Unisys, switched to Fidelity in 1995, to Citizens Bank in 2010, and then most recently with John Hancock/Manulife (from 2015-2019).

I did spend the better part of two years during the recession (having been let go by Fidelity) on the job hunt before landing a contract position at Citizens which then converted to a full time position.

Walking out the door on Monday was a different feeling in that it was the first time that I knew I wasn't going to be walking into another corporate office. 

To help celebrate I put together a 'retirement' play list that I shared with my Hancock/Manulife co-workers.

• Come Monday – Jimmy Buffett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGw_hrlaOY
• Homeward Bound – Paul Simon, Willie Nelson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqAJTCk6yHc
• Sound of Silence – Disturbed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4
• Resilient – Rising Appalachia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx17RvPMaQ8
• In Hell I’ll be in good company – The Dead South https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9FzVhw8_bY
• Kiss Me ‘Cause I’m Gone - Ellis Paul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe5wQEq_9Y4
• Kiss of Fire – Hugh Laurie, Gaby Moreno https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQawVOeVOoE
• Ring of Fire – Mingo Saldivar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdTYelvSgOc
• We didn’t Start the Fire – Bully Joel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g
• Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxuThNgl3YA

Bonus: (take it to 11)
End of the Line – The Traveling Wilburys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMVjToYOjbM

If you have a song or two to suggest, please let me know

The former Hancock Tower (now 200 Clarendon St) from the Public Gardens in Boston

PS - while I am retiring from work, I will continue to spend time with Franklin Matters.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/

Rising Appalachia - Resilient (video)

my new 'anthem', that is, a song I turn to for inspiration - there is so much to like about this video and lyrics. I hope you enjoy!

"I am resilient
I trust the movement
I negate the chaos
Uplift the negative
I'll show up at the table
Again and again and again
I'll close my mouth and learn to listen"

https://youtu.be/tx17RvPMaQ8