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Greetings,
It has been an incredible honor to serve as ASABE's executive director and work with you for the past 14 years. This week at the annual international meeting, in Anaheim, I shared my plans to retire from the stage and was deeply touched to receive a standing ovation. My decision has not been an easy one, and my wife, Beth, and I have been deliberating over for a long time. I will stay on for a transition period, and pledge my assistance to the organization’s new leader once selected.
Some of you are aware that my wife has a medical condition known as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, or EDS. EDS is a rare spectrum disease mainly affecting connective tissue. When you see someone who is incredibly flexible or double jointed (think of individuals who can knot themselves up like a pretzel), odds are they have EDS. It's possible to have EDS and not have complications, symptoms, nor disease progression. Beth has not been so lucky. Since we moved to Saint Joseph, Michigan, 14 years ago, she has had eight surgeries. Most have been on her tendons with her shoulders and elbows. Last year, however, she was diagnosed with EDS having damaged the cartilage in her foot and had surgery to fuse it. About two months ago, she had another surgery on that same foot to remove some of the hardware, and hopefully relieve the daily pain she was experiencing. So far, it looks promising.
What is the prognosis for her future mobility? It's anyone's guess. She and I have debated the expression: "Is the glass half empty, or half full?" She's an optimist, and I'm an engineer . . . the glass is clearly twice as large as it needs to be! And while we are incredibly blessed to be in the position to retire a bit earlier than envisioned, we plan to embrace that glass and enjoy her mobility to the fullest!
This is not my final column and watch for news on the executive director job posting coming soon.
Darrin J. Drollinger
Executive Director
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