[Neinvasives-announce]

[Leslie Mehrhoff]

Dear IPANIACS,

By now you have all read (or should have anyway) Chris's email regarding 
his taking another job.  On behalf of the whole IPANE program, I ask you to 
join with us in wishing Chris, Jennifer and their three children and dog 
the best in their new lives in a beautiful part of New Hampshire.  Over the 
years, and from before IPANE was even a Fig Newton of my imagination, Chris 
and I have worked together in plant conservation.  More importantly we have 
become good friends.  I will miss seeing him on the Mass Pike and at rest 
stops as he wolfs down a cheeseburger on the way to his son's soap box 
derby meet.  I will also really miss him at "staff" meetings because of his 
dedication to both IPANE and plant conservation.  Since IPANE started, I 
have relied on Chris in more ways than many of you might realize.  For the 
past 2 years he has been the spark plug of the program.  Truthfully, he has 
amazed me in his abilities to balance everything that he is doing and still 
manage to have a smile, a sense of humor, and a love for plants.  To me he 
epitomizes everything good about plant conservationists.  I have, as I am 
sure many of you have, learned a lot from Chris.  From the moment I was 
asked to be a reference for Chris, I knew this day would come just because 
he is so good.  In fact, half way through the interview, I told the person 
from the forest service that "I would probably hate myself in the 
morning".  There was nothing negative to say about Chris.  The Forest 
Service is truly lucky.

We should however, count our blessings in that New Hampshire is part of New 
England (contrary to what some might try to lead us to believe) and that 
Chris is not only not going terribly far away.  We are fortunate that he 
still wants to be as closely involved with IPANE as his new job will 
allow.  In fact, the ability to stay involved with our program was one of 
his concerns in taking the new job.  How great is that?  I have already 
asked him, and he unhesitatingly agreed, to serve on our advisory 
board.  He has also offered to help in many other ways as time will 
allow.  I am truly appreciative for all his help and for his continued 
deep-seated belief in what we are all doing.  Aside from wishing him the 
best one more time, I will stop before this all gets too maudlin.

Having said all this, however, I wanted to let you know that we all 
(especially Chris) are determined to make things go on to even bigger and 
better levels.  There are always bumps in transitions but we will get over 
them and have many more great and productive years ahead of IPANE.  Please 
bear with us and as Chris said, if you have questions or concerns contact 
me, Nava Tabak, or Bill Brumback.  Stay tuned and we will let you know when 
there is a new person in the job.  Until then, send Chris you best wishes 
and thank him for a job spectacularly well done.  We certainly would not 
gotten to where we are without him.

I hope to see you all at the summit later this week.

Les

                                         ***NO NEW INVASIONS***
IPANE Web site:  http://ipane.org


"To lose by want of action now what will be so precious to the future, 
whether for the delight of men or as a means to study, would be no less 
than 
tragic." 
George B. Dorr 1916

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, Ph.D.
Director, Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
University of Connecticut
Box U-43
75 North Eagleville Road
Storrs, CT  06269-3043

Office phone (860) 486-5708        FAX (860) 486-6364