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NAESA International
"In the "Public Interest"

June 30, 2020
Robert (Bob) Shepherd
Executive Director
NAESA International
          A few words about the Forth of July, before I get into the cowboy riding away. Use this link, to see a video of a, “Lone Boy on Omaha Beach”.  This was just sent to me this morning as I was shaving, so I took a look. I couldn’t finish shaving because as I read and watched and heard the music the tears were in my eyes and they were blurring my vision. Too many people today have a blurred vision of the flag and patriotism which shouldn’t give one moments pause to the thanks needed daily for our Founding Fathers. On this coming Independence Day, of course known as July 4th in the United States and July 1st in Canada, let’s be reminded that there are many other Independence days in countries around the world to celebrate and hopefully there will be more coming. I want to celebrate along with each and every one of you regardless of where you pledge your allegiance. It’s true that life is lived in the present, but there is history to remember and cherish. I will say God Bless America and give thanks to the patriots back then and patriots today. It is a Grand old Flag and history worth remembering and protecting. Use this link
 
Now back to; “The Cowboy Rides Away!”
 
          In one week, I will be sixty-nine years old, some will say sixty-nine is young, especially from the older inspectors, which there are many. What a group inspectors are, a unique and uncommon breed for sure. Elevator Inspectors makeup a think tank that makes vertical transportation the safest and best looked after transportation devices in North America. Sad to say, so many inspectors are as old as I am and many are older, what talented people and great people to hang in there for public safety and some extra pocket change. I will admit there are a few young guys out there, but they are the exception not the rule. So, why am I writing all of this about elevators inspectors and age? You will see that the title of this mailing is, “The Cowboy Rides Away”, It’s an amazing George Straight country song, Click this link or the song title or article title to hear the song. I have enjoyed this song from the first time I heard it many years ago and I will keep enjoying it forever, I guess. I have a request that when I leave this earth, I want this song played at a small service before my ashes get spread across the Rocky Mountains and a small bit of those ashes placed in the Atlantic Ocean from the beaches of Cape May, NJ. I’ve had a few loves in my life, my great and loving family, a few women, the mountains, the oceans, people, elevators and of course music. I may sound fatal, but my health is as good as an old sixty-nine year old could expect. I was never really a cowboy, I wasn’t that lucky, but I was rode hard and put away wet a few times, to my delight and dismay at times. I did own several horses over the years when I was younger, My daughter showed horses English style for many years. The horses are all gone now, but this cowboy is still dreaming, and I still have plenty of dreams and goals to grasp. Crazy thing about dreams and goals, they are pretty much the same, except goals usually have self-imposed deadlines. When you have that goal in your grasp, start building the next dream and never stop dreaming.
 
          So, I am not dying at this moment and I have hopes of living to be one hundred, but I am retiring from NAESA on the last day of 2020. Nobody smacked my horse on the ass and made me ride away, it was totally my decision. It is time! I could have stayed on this horse and in the NAESA saddle until I died in that saddle. At this time nobody was going to shoot the horse out from under me.
 
          I was laid off only once for two weeks, early on in my career and only lost one sick day from work during my first forty-three of my forty-eight years, when I suffered my stroke. The elevator industry and a strong work ethic are embedded in my blood, give me a deadline, I will make it!  My family, and the love I have for them kept me driven to succeed and to furnish a better than good life for them and myself. I still possess the same work ethic and the love of my children and their children, but the vessel which holds, maintains, and drives my stamina and the required excellent health which supplies the fuel needed for me to continue, has waned in the past several months. I have been sick for the past few days with a recurring liver and intestinal issue, I am not terminal, for the people who care, please don’t fret. It is more of a nuisance than a serious concern and I can work around it and through it in most cases. I am retiring from the Executive Director’s position at NAESA International as of December 31, 2020, with the total support and to the joy of my family and with the support of the NAESA board members. I have never stepped back from a  fight in my life and I won’t stop now, but it is truly the time to go. I will be staying on in a volunteer position at NAESA as an advisor and I will continue to be part of the QEI Exam creation team. I will stop by hopefully in the spring of 2021 to all the NAESA workshops to say hi and catch up with old friends, if this damn virus lets up, fingers crossed. I will also be the Editor of the PROGRESS so I can add some gibberish to most of the monthly publications. I will try to do what the late great Bob Caporale Sr did for a short time as the editor of the PROGRESS and he was amazing. Bob was my mentor and supported my style of writing. You can be sure I will keep turning up out there, like a bad penny.  
 
          It has been an honor to serve as the Executive Director of NAESA for the last almost five years, I will finish this year and leave NAESA on December 31st, 2020. When  I accepted the position, I told the NAESA Executive Committee I would give five years to NAESA, which agreement I will be honoring when I leave at the end of this year. I will support vigorously the search for the new, great, and highly qualified Executive Director of NAESA and supply whatever training and mentoring is needed for that person after the hiring to succeed. My replacement will be a well-established person from the elevator industry and not some bean counter. The person who replaces me as the Executive Director will be QEI certified before posting for the position, well known as a prominent leader in the industry, proficient in elevator and building codes and will have a long, rock solid history with elevator technical prowess, the person selected will not be climbing out from under some rock to take the helm of NAESA. So, the good times are not really over for good, more good, and better times are coming.
         
          What will I be doing after December 31st, 2020, I will travel for pleasure more, do a little hunting in Texas and PA, which I haven’t done in twenty years, maybe I’ll even go to South Dakota pheasant hunting, which has always been my first love. For the bird hunters out there, who are well aware of the excitement, there is nothing which stimulates a bird hunter’s heart as much as hearing the cackle of a ring necked pheasant taking flight, the feeling is indescribable. It is also time for me to try and relive a bit of my youth. The most important thing I will do is spend more time with my grandchildren, a chance to catch up with what I missed with my children while working too much on elevators. All those nights and weekends without my children next to me or in an ear shot of my voice, I did just enough with my kids, but I could have honestly done more, and I should have been there for them more often. Instead I was working twelve hundred hours of overtime each year on some elevator which will never miss you, will never give you a hug or say, “I love you.”  I’ve known for many years that I should have attended a few more flute recitals and field hockey games of my daughter Bonnie’s or a few more ball games watching my son Bob Jr. play, lost times you never will recover. For the people reading this, there needs to be a balance of time between family and elevators. Don’t get caught in the overtime money pit, money is not worth missing the precious times and special moments which are too so gone forever! Think the next time that nighttime call comes in or scheduled overtime is offered, think about the price you will  pay and are the few dollars really worth it? I say no now, but hindsight is 20/20. I played a foolish game and lost, find a healthy balance, and put family first. I thought differently then when I was young and dumb.  “Yesterday when I was Young”. Use link or click the song, it’s an eye opener. Now that I am old and wiser, it’s too late, I can’t turn the rolodex back and replay those lost precious moments in time.
          I will be here as Executive Director of NAESA until December 31st, 2020, God willing, and I will still be out here thinking of you all and working for each and every one of you, your success is my success. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay in touch. You folks are part of my family and my life and I have never taken any of you for granted. Each and every day I have worked along with my NAESA staff to keep NAESA the Gold Standard in QEI Certification and Continuing Education. I wanted every NAESA certified QEI inspector, proud to display a NAESA QEI certification card. I am proud of mine!
 
A few may find me nuts or a times a little overboard, but I love you all!  Say hello when you can. You can call me 24/7, this has been true for a lot of years and will not change. Call me, most know I enjoy talking and listening: 609-780-5551
 
I have attached a link to a great song from Merle Haggard  called, “Are the Good Times really over for Good”  Click here or on the song title to hear the song. I think it speaks at great deal to what shape the country is at this time.
The best times are yet to come and not over for good!  
 
I have no control over the Ads YouTube runs before songs, please forgive me if an add is not to your liking.
 
If you know how to love, love harder, if you have a love, love deeper,!
It’s amazing how good love can make you feel and how love makes the world go round!  Click here or on the song title to listen.
 
In closing, let us continue to work together to help save lives by doing whatever it takes, life is worth the effort! I love you all and I want all of you walking and breathing with me for many years to come!
 
Thanks for listening and for your support of me and NAESA over the years, be safe and stay healthy!
 
I’ll be seeing you! Click here or use the song link below. The older members, like me will enjoy this one. There is nothing like music, keep a song in your heart, your days will be brighter.

 

Spend a few quiet minutes and listen to the songs I have suggested, there is nothing like having a song in your heart, a love to cherish and a true friend who supports you!

Sincerely,

          Robert (Bob) Shepherd
          “Stay Safety Pinned”
               609-780-5551

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Phone: 360-292-4968
www.naesai.org
 






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