Letter from Phil
Kirk
Why I'm Away
This Month
 Early
last year Sue Cole, first vice chair of the NCCBI Board of
Directors, called and asked if I had ever considered taking a
sabbatical from work. My quick response was, “No, I don’t have time!”
In March of last year, my NCCBI job performance review committee
awarded me a month sabbatical to be taken once every four years at a
time the legislature is not in session. That has become more difficult
since the legislature met throughout the year in 2001, actually
meeting part of each of the 12 months.
While not mandated by NCCBI leaders, it made no practical sense for me
to be away during the planning and execution of our annual meeting
each March and our 20 area meetings in the fall.
So, largely by the process of elimination, this month — April 2002
— was chosen. I announced this fact in our annual family Christmas
letter and the response has been one of surprise and disbelief. The
suspected reasons for my being awarded a sabbatical have been varied.
Two people asked me if I would be campaigning for Elizabeth Dole
during the month of April. While I am a great admirer of my fellow
Rowan County native, I pledged a practice of bipartisanship when I
took the position of president of NCCBI more than 11 years ago.
Besides that, Erskine Bowles is a valuable member of NCCBI, serving on
our board of directors and as honorary chairman of our Small Business
Advisory Board. Thank goodness the awarding of a sabbatical was done a
year ago!
Others simply do not believe I can or will be away from my NCCBI or
State Board of Education work for a full month. They know the longest
vacation I have ever taken is a week, and I always have my work sent
to me by overnight mail. That is so I can relax more during most of
each day knowing that I am not getting that far behind with my work.
This sabbatical will be different. I am determined to prove that I can
relax for a month. I am committed to answering no mail, to returning
no phone calls, to initiating only a very few phone calls, and to
going into the office not one time in April.
However, I am not going totally “cold turkey.” I may do some
reading just so I won’t get too far behind and so I won’t be
completely “cut off” from what’s going on. Also, since I have
almost mastered e-mail, both sending and receiving, I am beginning to
learn how to use a laptop so I may practice a little bit. I also want
to learn how to access the Internet more efficiently and effectively.
And I will not downgrade my habit of reading several newspapers.
I am able to leave both my jobs for a month without any doubt that the
offices will function smoothly. As I have frequently remarked, I am
moderately successful because I have bright, hard working, committed
staff at both NCCBI and the State Board of Education.
To avoid the temptation of going to the office, I will be out of town
most of the month, visiting friends and family in Edisto Island, S.C.;
Savannah, Ga.; and Clearwater, Destin and Dunedin, Fla. Golf, reading,
exercising, walking and playing with two granddaughters will take most
of my time.
As an enthusiastic booster of the travel and tourism industry in North
Carolina, I do believe in spending time and money in our beautiful
state. Several days will be spent golfing in North Carolina and our
summer family vacation will be at Wrightsville Beach as usual.
The only semi-official event on my April schedule is to preside at the
meeting of the Executives Club in mid-month. I’m doing this out of
guilt because it is the last meeting of my two years as president, and
my work schedule has caused me to miss the last two meetings. Also
I’ll be in Raleigh that week for a daughter’s birthday, personal
appointments, and some golf.
I may also do a limited amount of writing. After all, isn’t a
sabbatical for reading and writing, in addition to resting and
recharging batteries? After all, I do need a “new” commencement
address for May!
In advance, I will thank the NCCBI Executive Committee, the NCCBI
staff, and the State Board of Education staff for making the
sabbatical possible. Perhaps I should hope family and friends do not
have to spend too much time with me in April. Maybe all will be glad
when May 1 arrives. Only time will tell.
Return to magazine index
|
|
