Opinion - New Things on the Horizon

New Things on the Horizon

That’s My Opinion

By Bob Robinson

Nov. 12, 2010

They say retirement is supposed to be a time when you kick back and enjoy all of the things you wanted to do before but never had the time.

In many ways, that’s what I’m doing.

I’m teaching full time at Edison… well, as “full time” as they will allow an adjunct professor to teach: 12 hours.

I’m watching a student group – Greenville High School Key Club – continue its growth and community service beyond my wildest expectations. I can’t help but feel a sense of pride and “ownership,” despite knowing that this would have been impossible without the strong leadership the student-led organization has had.

The Senior Scribes remains active and is on track to hand out another four or five scholarships to deserving students in the spring. I will forever be grateful to this group of seniors… a few of them had to browbeat me into allowing them to start it while I was at the paper, but they have far exceeded my expectations in activities, fundraising, and helping our kids.

While I am strictly forbidden to talk about some areas – my family in Montana is doing well, my family in Darke County is very private – I can say that I’m a proud, happy camper and soon will be celebrating a reunion that hasn’t occurred in decades… Susan and I, my two sisters and my 86-year-old mother will all be together in one place at one time later this year.

I’m particularly proud of a nephew serving in Afghanistan and another nephew playing in the third grade football Super Bowl – Greenville is undefeated – at Welcome Stadium this weekend.

I remain active in a number of community organizations.

The Greenville Eagles is growing and remains a strong force in community service dedicated to Darke County kids and residents. Our Independence Day Celebration next year is going to be a weekend event… bigger and better than ever.

I’ve been privileged to be on the board of Darke County Center for the Arts for several years. We will soon be preparing for a 100-year celebration of the opening of St. Clair Memorial Hall. We’re asking anyone in the community who may have photos or memorabilia of the hall’s history to let us know.

Greenville Kiwanis continues to offer entertaining and meaningful speakers each Wednesday at its regular meetings, and serves kids and the community through a wide variety of events and activities. Next week we will be handing out books to K-2 students to take home and read with their parents. Soon we will be starting our annual Christmas Bell Ringing at JC Penney… stop by and say hi.

We’re always looking for new members at the Senior Scribes, The Eagles and Kiwanis, as well as supporters for DCCA. If you are interested in any of these organizations, let me know.

I’ll be delighted to tell you more than you ever wanted to know.

I’ve recently been taking trips back into time, searching out the music of my youth. It’s been a fascinating journey. I dutifully pay my 99 cents, download the songs to my computer and burn CDs to play on my multiple trips to and from Edison Community College in Piqua.

Some of the memories are pleasant, some not so pleasant, but I hear that’s what us old folks like to do.

Many of you have noticed that since August my name has started appearing in The Daily Advocate again. The weekly column that I wrote for years, In My Opinion, now runs every Wednesday and when I see a story I’d like to write, I get to write it.

To correct some misconceptions, I don’t work at The Advocate. I’m simply a correspondent. In a way it’s the best of two worlds… I get to call my own shots without putting up with the daily grind.

Just between you and me, I’ve noticed some changes over the past few months. Positive changes. While there are still challenges – not all that different from the challenges faced throughout the industry – The Advocate is looking like a community newspaper again.

You might want to check it out.

When someone asks me how I’m doing, I tell them “I’m having a ball!”

And I am. My wonderful, long suffering lady has often told friends and family that she sees me less now than she did when I was “working.”

However something is missing. Something I never would have believed I would miss. A successful political run might have satisfied it, but I doubt it.

I can’t seem to get “politics” and “news” and “reporting” out of my blood any more than I can “ink.” And as successful as all of you have made my blog, “That’s My Opinion,” that’s only a good start.

New things are on the horizon.

Keep watching.

That’s my opinion. What’s yours?

Bob Robinson is the retired editor of The Daily Advocate, Greenville, Ohio. If you wish to receive a daily notification of his comments, opinions and reports, send your email address to: opinionsbybob@gmail.com. Feel free to express your views.