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THE SURPRISE!

     I slogged through the winter as I traveled the highways and byways of three states visiting great and small schools with my packages. My stint as the "Acting Director" came to an end as the Board thanked me and hired a new executive director.   

     In our first conversation, I mainly learned how to pronounce words like a native of his hometown - Nu Or-lins!  And over the next months I would be corrected on the words cra-ole, pray-leans and crawfish - he was constantly wrestling with my words and his as he took days to write and rewrite simple memos - this became very aggravating and within two months I was polishing my resume' - our relationship was a strained but professional and 180 degrees opposite of what Bob and I had.  Bob was Bob to me.  But I never once called my new boss by his first name.  

But correcting me did give my new boss something to do as he did very little else except collect a salary much smaller than he was accustomed to - he left most of my job decisions up to me and most of the work of the office to me too - that was fine.  (I leave a lot out here = boring then, more boring now)

    In summary my new boss was a southern gentleman transplant who didn't quite fit and who always seemed slightly "confused".  

   Years later after Tri-State was no more he asked me for a freelance TV directing job - and I was tempted to remark about several of his pronunciations during the session.  But I didn’t and I didn't hire him!

Months passed and spring was springing - and one evening I got a call from Bob in DC.  "Cal I've got too much on my plate here and I want you to come and work for me at the NAEB.  It's a great position.  You will travel the country.  Meet the leaders in the TV biz...blah...blah.  Let me know ASAP when you can start?"  I was bowled over to say the least.  

   My wife and I discussed the if's and but's - almost all night that night.  And we agreed that even though it would take me even farther away from my goal of producing television programs - it would give me a national reputation and it was a dramatic step forward so early in my career - plus I would double my salary!

The next evening after much angst I made up my mind - I was going to Washington!  I called Bob's to tell him my positive decision.  His roommate answered, the fairly famous builder of TV stations, Mr. B - I had met him briefly at a dinner when Bob recently invited me as his guest to a national conference he produced in NYC.  "Cal, Bob's out and I'm glad I caught you my friend as I suspect you are going to accept his offer?  Don't do it! (I was shocked and speechless)  He continued, "My young friend, take my advice, working at a national association is for old farts like Bob and me, we have had our careers and now just want to start on the glide path to retirement.  This is not for you.  Maybe in 20 years, yes.  My friend go and get a job doing anything in television production.  But Please don't retire to a national association job.  You will regret it. Take another day, call Bob tomorrow and make the right decision" (click)

 I was totally shocked.  But came to the conclusion that he was so right.  I was not cut out to carry other people's briefcases.  I wanted to be a doer - not an observer watching others.  The next day I called Bob: "Thanks...but no thanks".  And we never talked again about my rejection of his opportunity.  Later I learned that Bob lasted only two years in that job when the NAEB was absorbed into the parent NAB organization - and I would have been out of a job with a lease on a very expensive apartment in a dangerous and ruthless city.)   

But as they say - things seem to happen for a reason...



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