Thursday, August 2, 2007

Practice List Administrator Change


Grace Skibicki, our leader in Practice-w for more than a year and a co-admin for years before that, is leaving her position at the end of this week. She took over the reins from Rheal Nadeau, the moving spirit behind the list since it began years ago. Pat Johnson soon moved on, and Grace found herself teaching two newbie admins how to do the job. She deserves a major tribute as she goes back into "normal" life.

Many of our members have published stories or essays that began as Practice exercises. Grace has said that's one of the major satisfactions she found in her admin work. The exercises inspire people, and sometimes move them in new directions. The list can light a fire that burns bright. Because Grace was there to keep it going, Practice-w was able to do these things.

She's an excellent administrator. When she took the helm as list owner, she listened to her assistants, and then she made decisions. Working for her was a pleasure. She let both of her assistants act up, develop weird notions, play games, be creative; that was fun.

And then, when the time came to lay down the law, she did it. That's the kind of boss we like, and we've had a lot of them who certainly didn't match that ideal the way Grace did.

She encouraged us. Both of us developed new exercises, as did some of our members; she worked with us to make them viable. She came up with ideas for significant ways in which to change the procedures that have been followed in the past, and listened to suggestions we made as she proceeded. Those ideas worked.

We will miss Grace terribly, even though we're delighted to have Bob Sanchez moving into the vacant slot. She has promised to lurk in the background, to help us when we need her, and we greatly value that assurance.

So, Grace, hail and farewell! If you ever need anything from us, ask. We'll never forget you.


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