I plan to step down at the end of the month and am pleased that the Foundation's Board of Trustees has appointed a worthy successor to take my place as staff director.  David Casaletto, for the past decade the executive director of Table Rock Lake Water Quality, Inc. (TRLW), will become president/executive director of Ozarks Water Watch later this month.  I'll be here to assist with the transition process through the end of September.   Later this fall I hope to return to our board which I had a hand in establishing a decade ago.

For the three and a half years I've served on the staff, David Casaletto has been a professional colleague and good friend for whom I have a high regard.  David knows the water quality business, has led some remarkably successful grant projects, is well connected in environmental circles and is well seasoned in this work.  Without question David is a regional expert about on-site wastewater treatment systems. 

Besides his staff leadership for TRLWQ, David Casaletto has been at the helm of Ozark Clean Water Company and Missouri Small Flows, both organizations dealing with wastewater treatment. Although our board has made the decision to appoint David to this position, I've urged them on with my enthusiastic endorsement and strong recommendation.  I'm pleased to have David taking my place here because I know the Foundation's work will proceed in a productive and successful way.

As we work through this transition during September, we have another related change taking place.  Later this week we will be moving the Foundation's office from Branson to Kimberling City to share office space with TRLWQ.  With David's joining the Foundation, we determined that the two organizations could effectively share resources, reducing the overhead operating costs for both organizations.  Our phone, email and website contacts will remain the same, but our new address will be P.O. Box 606, Kimberling City, MO 65686, with actual physical address at 2 Kissee Avenue in Kimberling City.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my work with the Foundation since early 2007 as well as my earlier service on the board from the organization's founding.  At this point I look forward to returning to my role as one of our trustees.  After spending some 40 plus years in education, my work here has enabled me to learn many new things about the technical aspects of water quality, a matter of long interest to me as a fisherman and lover of the Ozarks outdoors, particularly its rivers and streams. 

My plans for retirement don't have me sitting around in a rocking chair, but are filled with projects that will keep me busy.  I expect to be active with the Foundation's projects and other water quality issues, although not on a staff basis.  I'll continue involvement with my bank board and several other civic commitments in Springfield.  And I've already begun spending more time at my cabin on the James River, the subject of a recent article in this newsletter.  My list of projects there will occupy me for several years, besides regular annual chores like mowing and tending our garden.

I also plan to fish and hunt more and look forward to being able, in the middle of the week when the weather is just right and some outdoor imperative moves me, to be afield or afloat.  Additionally I expect to spend ample time watching my grandson, little Leo, now eight months old, grow up.  I already know the child is gifted (grandparents always know these things) and has an inherited affinity for all things outdoors.

As I reflect on my working career covering nearly 46 years, it has truly been a good ride.  I've had outstanding colleagues, mentors and friends and I've enjoyed challenging work with gratifying fulfillment along the way.  Through it all I've learned something new most every day, not the least about water quality in recent years.  Thanks for reading our newsletters.  They're likely to get even better in the months ahead as David Casaletto takes the helm here.