No Truth To The Rumored Departure Of Scott English!

Don --

Thank you for the very thoughtful note. My father passed away unexpectedly in November, and my mother had a serious health episode in March, and we almost lost her. She's on the slow road to recovery, but not there yet. The weekend this thread started, I was home to represent our family at an event honoring my father, a dedicated lifelong volunteer firefighter who impacted the lives of many first responders throughout Maryland. He was as proud of that as he was of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I was, to put it mildly, somewhat put off by the timing of the thread.

My curiosity comes from the need to bump the thread with a countdown to GASS. As much as I appreciate the promotion of the show, it's not the most positive way to get the word out. As an aside, I hope folks are planning to attend the show in Cleveland. It's going to be an excellent show.

So I'll provide a little transparency: my appointment, as it is called in the bylaws, runs through August 30, 2024. From my very first agreement with the APS, I am allowed to leave with two months' notice to the APS Board. At no point have I come close to exercising this option, including and not limited to this very day (read: I haven't been job hunting). I have been offered a number of positions and debated the merits, but never elected to pursue another job.

But what if it happens? Through each president of the APS, I have offered the same assurance that I would assist the Board with a search and stay until new leadership can take over the organization unless told to leave beforehand. I feel like that is the most appropriate course of action, even if it's not a great career move (it's not).

Just a quick review of my career will tell anyone that I have not really spent eight years in one place - save the South Carolina Governor's Office where I held four different positions of increasing responsibility over that time, ending with the Chief of Staff. Even then, I was prepared to leave in 2009, basically because the governor and I had diverged - he was more focused on running for president and, apparently, a mistress, while I was running the administration.

So what should we make of this thread? That's a great question, and I don't have an answer for you. I'm still not job hunting, and there is no offer I'm deliberating as we speak. Each time my renewal comes up, I have to answer two questions: Is staying good for me? and Is staying good for the APS?

I have been contemplating both of those critical questions, and well before it's time to decide, I will have an answer. The certainty of anything spoken in this thread or anywhere is more information than I have in my own head. You're right Don, I am used to other people "knowing things about me" before I know the answer. Most people have no idea what that's like or how isolating it gets, but getting used to it makes you cynical too. Sorry, that's just true.

These are conversations that my wife typically has to endure on her own. Makes you wonder how I managed to hold onto her for 30 years (in another week anyway). I wonder that, too.




Thank you for this, it is gratifying to hear I have made a difference. Many predicted I wouldn't last when I got hired. With few exceptions, the APS members have been incredibly kind, patient, and eager to educate me on everything from the APS to stamp collecting and everything in between.

I know I am far from perfect, but I have not stayed this long because I don't have other options or because of all the benefits, but because I genuinely admire the people I serve.

I hope that helps.

Scott

The title I selected as OP (since updated) was based solely upon the flat out open (public) statement of an individual who did not hedge at all naming names, locations, players and announcement location (GASS). It was not a wiggle-room statement, the carved in stone tablet nearly broke the meeting table when the 'Source' threw it out at the table. The APS Executive Director reads and posts in the APS area of SCF. That allowed me to ask the horse's mouth about the "rumor" as well provide information to the APS Executive Director that if true, there has been a public leak. We, the APS Executive Director and I both know the source has been to dinners with the APS Director a number of times. I was and am just the messenger plus I well understand that messengers get targeted for the message carried, often over the person who started (wrote/spoke) the message. Now the "source" may have spoken out of turn or conveyed a self-created fantasy, and if the APS Executive Director knows who that was as was implied, I hope the source received a message loud and clear. That said the source is a known teller of tall tales, but even tall tales can cross a line and here, in my opinion, a line was crossed which needed to be addressed.

We each make, or should make, the best choice we can with the information we have at the time while trying to best run our and or our family's life. If one does that, one should be respected for one's choice. Additionally, I stand by my statement that it is better to celebrate what we have when we have it rather to only bemoan the lost after it is gone.

ParcelPost,
In my opinion you could have easily contacted Scott privately in any number of ways and made him 'aware' to what you heard.

I think that Scott has offer additional clarity and see no need to keep this thread open. If anything changes in the future, we can reopen it.
Don

I have re-opened this thread since there is new news as of this morning. According to those attending the Joint APS/APRL Board Meeting...


Don

That sounds like a good move, all around.

He's looking pretty well set here in Cleveburgh

Retire is Foster's word. I'm 53 so retirement isn't in the cards yet.

I did inform the Board in March that I planned to live out the end of my agreement in December. After Cheryl became president I agreed to stretch it out. A number of folks asked me to stay and after a number of long conversations with my wife, I agreed to stay for another three years.

I've been honored and humbled by those who have reached out here and elsewhere to encourage me to remain a part of the community.

If you're in Cleveland this weekend, please stop by to see the great APS staff and I hope we get a chance to say hello.

Scott