It's been 6 years since we left NRRI, but we can remember you, your office, and your gentle (usually :0) reminders about getting time sheets and proposals in on time like it was last week. You always seemed like the calm before, or maybe the eye within, the storm on the 4th floor. I would enter your office all stressed out and neurotic and generally leave much calmer (I always wondered if you had hidden sedatives in the candy ...), and with an answer or at least a direction in which to go for one. Thanks for being so helpful and supportive regardless of the crises of the day. We wish you all the best for a happy and healthy retirement, enjoying your family, golf, and whatever else brings you joy!
- Cathy and Tim

Eulie,
Your calm demeanor and efficient manner is already missed on the 4th floor. In addition to always having the answer (or knowing who to ask), you always took a moment to ask how everyone was doing. Thank you for all your help and support.
-Jennifer Olker

We miss you Eulie (and you can take THAT to the bank!)

Picnic on Park Point, Layfayette Club

Yum!

The three muskateers (er... retirees)!!

Thank you Eulie

Eulie - Thanking you for all your efforts over the years is a true understatement. I could not have completed my job without all of your help. I cannot think of a more dedicated person - you were there at work before 8:00 am and so often you were still there after 5:00 pm. Thank you ever so much. I also appreciate all of the help you gave my graduate students over the years. You were always the friendly face in the office and the person they could rely upon to answer their questions .. and by the way many of my own questions. I even recall one time when you really went out of your way to drop off tennis shoes for Jarad when he forgot them and both Bonnie and I were busy. Of course, then there were the many times that you participated in our Crew Meadows ornithology field trips and drove many of the students down there early in the morning - though as I recall you really enjoyed those trips. Those field trips were the highlight for many biology students.

It is hard to believe how fast the past 20 + years have gone. From the perspective of research, we accomplished a lot with millions of research dollars spent, hundreds of research papers published, and presentations given. Most importantly, we have made a difference in improving environmental decision-making and tremendously increased our understanding of Minnesota's natural resources. Eulie - you were a major link and contributor to those accomplishments - we could not have done it without you. Again thank you and keep in touch. Jerry

Eulie,
I don't think ANY of Jerry's graduate students would have made it through without your help. I have to chuckle at the fact that during the past year, you knew what I needed help with before I had time to grab some chocolate. I think I can say this for all the bird graduates - we are going to miss you.
-Anna

P.S. What's that budget number again?... Just kidding. :)

Embarking on new adventures

Eulie, I was really surprised to learn of your impending retirement. I am really happy for you too, because you are embarking on a great new adventure. You will now be able to golf any day of the week you want, not just on Wednesdays; you will be able to take fishing trips any time you want; and you will have far fewer people looking to you to satisfy their chocolate cravings! But probably best of all, you will continue to have many many people who think of you and smile, remembering what a wonderful presence you are in CWE and everywhere else. You really helped make my short stay in CWE a great one.

-Phil Fay

Another shout-out of gratitude!

Those of us who are wet behind the ears in the CWE offices will miss your presence too! I'll attest to you abilty to put newbies at ease with your friendliness, calm under pressures we're not even cognisant of, and knowledge of the inner runnings of the dept., you will be missed, even by those who have only just met you! I've appreciated the help and direction you've offered me in our short overlap of time. Best to you in retirement! I'm excited for you and all that you'll be able to do with your "free" time!
-Andrea B. Crouse (GRA)

Enjoy, Eulie!

As one who "beat you out the door," I'm here to encourage you to enjoy yourself! Retirement is wonderful and I know once you settle in you'll have a wonderful time. Now is your time and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Everyone has been put first, and now, you get to be first for a change! I also want to say how much I have enjoyed working with you over the years. I've always appreciated your insight and problem-solving abilities. Take care and keep in touch!

Nora

Congratulations Eulie!

Although we never had the chance to officially work together, I always enjoyed exchanging greetings with you in passing on the stairwell or in the parking lot. You were always in such a positive mood - I think you made everyone's day better. My occasional trips to the 4th Floor will not be the same without you around. Best wishes for an enjoyable retirement!
Kurt

Congratulations!

Eulie,

CWE will not be quite the same without you sitting at the front desk, giving the appearance of relative calm in a maelstrom of due dates and the new financial system. For all of us your jar of chocolate was a welcome site. I greatly appreciate the help you provided over the many years we have had with CWE and hope you enjoy your well deserved retirement.

John Ameel

Congratulations!

Hi Eulie,

It has been a pleasure working with you over the past years. While we have not had overlapping areas, you have helped me "learn the system" whenever I had questions - so very important. I wish you a happy and healthy retirement.

Take care,
Brian Brashaw

Congrats and thanks!

Eulie: I do not know you as well as most, as I am much more tangential, but what always impressed me is that even though I may only come into your office a few times a year, you always knew who I was and made me feel like I belonged. Your professionalism, and steadfast confidence was eveident even in those brief meetings. Thanks for 20 years of service, and I regret that I did not come in the office more often. I know there will be a big void when I next stumble through.

Enjoy!

Mike Rentz

Always another way

Eulie
What I'll miss the most (other than the 3:00 chocolate fix) is your attitude that there are always ways to accomplish any goal - we just have to find them! That is such a lifesaver for those of us who sometimes see only the roadblocks in front of them. I've learned a lot from my interactions with you - thanks!

Congratulations on your retirement; take a well deserved rest!

Pat

First stool on the right......of the post, that is

Eulie, Congratulations on your retirement....I only wish I was working at the Blue Heron on a regular basis as I know you will be there for more classes. I have so enjoyed getting to know you over the years during the Thursday night classes. Eulie, your words of encouragement on those Thursday nights always meant so much to me while I was getting through school. I Thank you.
And how about those cooking classes....oh, how we love to have Bob Bennett or Scott Graden whip up a delectable dish or two and then get to eat it!! What could possibly beat that??? Cooking classes aside Eulie, I hope you are able to enjoy all your free time with family (especially those grandkids) and friends! And Eulie, if ever you need someone to be a taste tester for some of the new recipes you are trying....please know that I am always available....Happy retirement and of course, many more hours of cooking, Gayle

Eulie,

It has been wonderful working with you. I have appreciated your willingness to heed my many requests for "more detail" and your occasionally saving me an extra muffin. I will miss you. I think we should officially retire "4292" from our phone system. Now, onto the golf course, the garden and the grandkids! Congratulations,

Sue M.

Congratulations Eulie

From the first day I started at NRRI at the front lobby desk I was told, "Oh Eulie is the resource person, she is the one you can contact if you have any questions" . . . and twelve years later you are still my "go to person" whenever I needed assistance or information. I enjoyed working with you immensely and am very grateful for all your help over the years. We will miss you! ENJOY. Trish

Eulie - Congratulations! It's been a pleasure working with you over the past years. I'm glad you stuck it out to learn the new financial system so you can come back and fill in!

Now you'll have time for all those hobbies of yours, plus the grandkids! Enjoy!

If you ever get a chance, why not stop in for a muffin meeting.


Denise E

Eulie,
Thanks for all of your help over the last two years. It was so nice having someone to go to with all of my questions. I was always impressed that every day you were so pleasant, no matter how basic or redundant my questions were. I hope each day of your retirement is like another day tacked on to a wonderful vacation.
Take care,

Jeremy

thanks and best wishes Eulie!

It's hard to imagine CWE without you, Eulie. I will miss your warm greetings, friendly conversation, endless patience, and wise advice. You always seem to know how to get everything done. Your work is so much appreciated. Thanks for being such a wonderful presence at CWE. I hope you really enjoy your retirement and the change of pace. Best wishes for your next adventures, and thanks again and again.

Carol Reschke

Eulie, Thank You for all that you have done for CWE and NRRI, it won't be the same without you. I hear that the walleyes bite year round on Lake of the Woods - let me know if it is true!

Jerry Henneck
p.s. I'll look for that receipt and get it turned in soon (or maybe not now that you are retired)!

It is amazing how a name can bring out such a strong memory

It has been 14 years since I have worked for NRRI-CWE but when the email announcing Eulie's retirement arrived I did not have to think, who? what? I smiled and remembered the warm friendly face downstairs who took care of everyone and who cared for everyone. Euile - I wish you the best as you enter into the next phase of your life and thank you for being such a wonderful person. Your spirit can warm ones heart after all of these years!

Geri Tesser-Handberg

Another Muffin Meeting

Dear Eulie,

Here at Coleraine, we always received notification of the muffin meetings, but we never received any of those muffins up here! Sorry we missed them! I did not work as closely with you as did the others who have spoken so highly of you, but whenever you and I had any dealings with accounting issues and new procedures/training, you were always very professional and helpful. I could tell that you were very well-respected at NRRI. That message comes through LOUD and CLEAR in this blog, especially in the comments from your family and those who nominated you for your recent well-deserved award/commendation!

I wish you the best in your retirement. Now you will have more time for all of the things that had to wait! CONGRATULATIONS!

Robin Oberton

Congratulations!

Eulie, I always enjoyed touching base with you while waiting for meetings with Lucinda. And I'm grateful for your help in learning how things ran at CWE, and for all the day-to-day help and advice you provided. Thank you very much!

I hope you thoroughly enjoy retirement, and wish you all the best.

John Sandberg

Shoes to Fill

Eulie,
Can you imagine how many UofM staff have been sent to you for 'processing' either as new employees, opening new accounts, or submitting reimbursements, and figuring out budgets and proposals? Just considering the BugLab work-study students that you've had to baby-sit over the years is mind-boggling....Tamara Swanson, Bucky Moore, Wade Watson, Jeff Butwinick, Dan Turpening, Sammy Pohl...............are any of these ringing a bell?..............perhaps these may be more memorable.....Aaron Undeland, Barb Peichel, John Juaire, Jacque Alexander (Pechin)...........and that is just from the mid-90's.

You've been an icon for CWE. I remember my first day filling out paper work in your office on 3rd floor kitty-corner from the Supply Room before the staff offices were completed on 4th.

With all that aside, it is time to relax. Enjoy. I just hope someone continues to fill the candy jar.
dan b.

Hi Eulie

Well, what can I say after working with you all these years? Many proposals, papers, and lots of great discussions behind us. You have made my stay at NRRI very enjoyable and you are an inspiration to all of us.

Best wishes on your retirement. Have fun!

John Pastor

I know life will go on, but not sure quite how!

Eulie,
You have been the the hub around which CWE has revolved for as long as I have been there (since 1993!). You have always been gracious, giving and supportive. You have watch me grown from a brand new master's student, through my Ph.D. and into motherhood. Throughout my journey you have always been a bright spot. Your spirit and love of life will be greatly missed.
We'll have to figure out how to get my farm fresh eggs to you on a regular basis!

My best to you and Al on your new journey!

Cindy

So Long and Happy Retirement!

Dear Eulie,

You really are the Heart and Soul of CWE. You have a way of being calm, graceful, comforting and above all HELPFUL, even when there is chaos all around you. I was always amazed that you were able to locate key people (for instance, Ghost,) when it was next to impossible (especially in the days before cell phones)! It will never be the same at CWE without you.

I will miss chatting with you about kids, your grandkids, travels and all manner of things and of course, the candy bowl! I wish you well in retirement and hope that you enjoy the time with family and the time to golf more. I hope many good things come your way, you are so deserving. Thanks for giving so much. Enjoy the summer and many years beyond!

Connie Host

Goodbye - You'll be missed!!

Congratulations Eulie! It has been my sincere pleasure to have been able to work with you over the years. You have been such an incredible help to our office and I just can't thank you enough! I wish you many happy and rewarding years ahead in retirement, and I hope that you will keep only your fondest memories of the SPA office. :) We have always known that if you were involved in preparing a proposal, it was done right. You made our jobs so much easier. We will certainly miss your expertise, but mostly we'll miss your great sense of humor in dealing with some very stressful situations. It's time for you to relax now and enjoy your retirement to the fullest.... you lucky duck! Take care and I hope to see you around.

Janice

You will be missed!

Dear Eulie,
NRRI will not be the same without you. You have been an inspiration and guide to me for almost 8 years and I will miss you greatly.

You were one of the first people I met when I came to Duluth for my orientation. This was a week after defending my thesis and a day after moving 1000 miles to a state I had never been to before. This was my first career job and I was scared to death. You were warm, genuine, and welcoming. You gave me a tour of the building, showed pictures and posters, explaining research and interesting tidbits about the institute and the area, answering all my questions, and making it clear that I could contact you anytime. You made me feel welcome and excited about being a part of NRRI.

It was not long after that I developed the opinion that you were responsible for the functioning of CWE. No matter what the question or confusion, you were always able to figure it out, even if I didn't have a clear sense on what I was trying to ask you. Usually, you would include an explanation of how things worked in order for me to understand how to correctly do something. Even more impressively, there was never a note of impatience if the same topic came up soon after (and often again and again). Oh, and you could run away and join a circus with those juggling skills.

I have always looked forward to stopping by your desk when in Duluth. You are the epitome of class and dignity and although I have long been amazed by the work you do, I truly admire you as a person. Your beauty was evident at our first meeting and I deeply appreciate all that you do and the manner in which you do it. Thank you so very much!

I wish you the very best in your retirement and on your next path. I can only imagine what you will accomplish outside of work with all the energy, skills, and talent that have been used for our benefit the past 20 years.


Best wishes, and huge thank yous,
amy

pcards and cats

Eulie,

Congratulations on retirement -- I remember two things about working with you over the years. First, getting called on pcard receipts once, twice and sometimes 3 times. It wasn't nagging, because I was negligent in turning them in. I did try to get them in on time :-). In the end most of them were turned in with a little help from you.

Second, the third year of the lynx project and you got in the field! We were in Isabella and got a call of another lynx in a trap on the gunflint trail but we we did not have another collar. You came up with the big blue station wagon and we got that one done too. Some of your pictures are still on the website (http://www.nrri.umn.edu/lynx/animals/collared/lynx_32.html).

Ron

Thank you Eulie!!

For over 20 years of helping me out and showing me the way when I needed it. From my first contact with you when you sent me a copy of the Duluth Sunday newspaper before I moved to Duluth, to your constant professional attention during my time with CWE, and your help in tracking down Jerry and Lucinda and their wandering ways since then, you’ve been a remarkably effective member and leader in that administrative office. But more importantly, you always accomplished those tasks with a characteristic style and grace that made working with you a pleasure. I’m glad I was able to be a colleague and friend and look forward to continuing that friendship.

Congratulations!
Carl

Job offer

Eulie, I hear you're retiring, congratulations! I have a cabinet post if you're interested, call me.
B. Obama

Next muffin meeting: EGMS for Dummies by E. Markham

Dear Eulie:

I saw firsthand how much you help folks figure out CWE/NRRI by the way you helped me. Coming from EPA, where things are done VERY differently, I was pretty lost my first year here, but you guided me through it. The problem is that you are still guiding me, I haven't learned everything yet, and now you are leaving.

So, to help save us all, perhaps when you get bored next fall you can come back and give a muffin meeting on 'EGMS for Dummies' to help a few more of us join the 21st century of grant proposal writing.

I will also greatly miss your friendship and support through all the adventures that my (and Dan's) families seem to have. But I know that you'll be having fun adventures with your own family, and I also know that if I need a shoulder, I have but to call or email you at home!

My husband greatly endorses retirement; I hope you enjoy yours as much or even more.

Val

Hi Eulie -

Thank you for a million things. Who else would clean the office refrigerator? Or refrain from cursing on the hundredth time I asked for the master key after forgetting my office keys 'in my other jacket pocket'?

But mostly, thank you for your cheery outlook and unending desire to just plain help. Whenever and however.

Now you'll have more time to explore the world on the good (=south) side of the bridge...

Enjoy!
Nick

Eulie,

Patience, poise, humor and always a sense of calmness in the eye of the grant submission storms. Thanks for all of your help on our past projects. You have provided me with a model of how grant support should be done.

I am sure you will enjoy retirement and the extra hours every day where you will have windows on the world. Enjoy!



Bruce Munson

Eulie,
I will miss your always welcoming presence. You were always the first one I introduced our student and other new employees to because you always made them feel welcomed. I'll also miss your calm demeanor during numerous crises over the past years. At least they seemed like crises at the time. I'm a bit concerned about allowing unrestricted access to the chocolate supply once you're gone. Maybe we should install a webcam so you can keep tabs on us remotely.

Enjoy and keep in touch,
Elaine

With heartfelt appreciate for your fantastic service

Eulie:

Tender my kindest compliments to your heart of hearts for the great service that you provided to us over the years at CWE. I have been here since 1987. We have been through some rough times and you have helped us in facing them gracefully. I have probably called you for help from distant shores of least four continents: India, China, Russia, Estonia, Slovenia, Italia, to name just a few. You have always been patient, resourceful, and helpful. I don't know what we will do without you.

Have a great retirement and hope you to see you from time to time.

I thought the following poem by the Nobel Prize winning Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore, may exemplify the service that you provided us :
" Thou have made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again and fillest it ever withf resh life.

This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new.

At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable. Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.”

In: Gitanjali, by Rabindranath Tagore, poem # 1 (Macmillan Publishing Company, 1913)

Subhash Basak

More time for golf!

Eulie,

Finally you've decided that you simply need more time for golf? I don't make it up to the 'toot very often any more, but I always enjoy sitting down to chat with you. I will miss our conversations and your smiling face, but I will be happy knowing you are having a fabulous retirement.

Jane

Fewer numbers, more sleeping in!

I have never been fond of virtual management, but Eulie made it possible for us to ensure we made every deadline, despite the 100-mile distance. I can guarantee that the success of the Ely field station projects would be much diminished without Eulie's constant, unyielding support. I'm not sure how you remained "pleasant" and "seemingly happy to hear from me" and "not smashing things" in the face of the last year's turmoil in the financial system -- between the two of us, at least one could remain calm and make sure proposals got submitted!

As for retirement... learn a foreign language, a musical instrument, or join a book club, but stay away from numbers. So so so many thanks for all your support and friendship.

- Euan.

Happy Retirement

Eulie, I fondly remember all of your help and good humor when I worked at NRRI and later when I invaded with my horde of students and technicians from Notre Dame. You've been a mainstay at CWE that has made the wheels turn, the grants get turned in on time, and the research done. Those who remain must be quaking in their boots when they consider getting anything done after you leave. I hope that you have a fun-filled retirement--you have earned it.

Scott Bridgham

Eulie,

What can I say, we will miss your humor and wit most of all, and "WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITHOUT YOU!" Enjoy your time of not "working", ha ha, be sure and come back to visit, often.

Sue S

Congratulations, Mom!

Wow, you really are as important and well-liked as you always say!

(Just kidding, of course!!)

I can't believe you're retiring. I remember while growing up, whenever I hit a big milestone , you would say something like, "My baby's turning 18!...it makes me feel old." Well, now I get to say, "My mom is retiring...wow, I'm getting old!"

On the positive side - more time for babysitting!!

It's been fun to read all the posts from your friends and associates. I'm sure you'll be missed deeply. Enjoy your last two weeks!

Love, Dan

Congratulations Eulie on a well deserved retirement. Our jobs at CWE were made easier because you took the responsibility to make sure all the details were covered- budgets, paperwork. scheduling etc. All of those things that most of us did not want to deal with. Also, thanks for being there to answer questions and be the go to person for the many folks on our field crews over the years and all the students that passed through CWE over the years. I know that your golf game will get the attention that it deserves now-- Enjoy. JoAnn Hanowski (enjoying being mostly retired in Vermont).

Dear Eulie,

All the best in your retirement! I don't get up Duluth-way often enough these days, but, whenever I think of NRRI, you're always present in the picture. What a big change this will be! Thanks for all the help you gave me and taking interest in my life all those years ago when I was a wee-young master's student. You will be missed!

Lisa Schulte
Ames, Iowa

Ten thousand flowers in spring
the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer,
snow in winter.
If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.
— Wu-men

Don't you stay at home of evenings?
Don't you love a cushioned seat
In a corner, by the fireside, with your slippers on your feet?
— Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
— Irish Retirement Blessing

Eulie,

I must re-iterate some of the above/below sentiment: Now what am I going to do? Who will be my companion on my budget number journey through the Netherworlds?

Most important, did we mention "patience"? Your heroic effort dealing with pesky 'ol GIS lab billing, etc. will be forever recorded in the "Patient Leaders of The Last Two Decades" (2nd revision) report currently under review.

Good luck in retirement. You will be missed.










Paul M.

Eulie:

I can't even imagine NRRI without your smiling face! We both arrived here in 1988 to begin our journey. The 4th floor was a vast, mostly empty space. Remember the CPT computer system with it's huge dual-floppy drives?? ARGH..... Well, you are on your way to another journey, into retirement. Please know that you WILL be missed, and how much we all appreciated working with you! Enjoy your new ventures, and come back to visit us now and again!

Sue Hendrickson

Congratulations!

Eulie,

Its hard to image CWE without you. You will be greatly missed. I've always appreciated your help, professionalism, good humor, and of course the candy bowl on your desk. Is that still there?

Best wishes for a well deserved retirement,

Mark White

ps-maybe you could do a revised edition of the single-malt scotch muffin meeting?

Eulie,

The time I have had to work with you has been a pleasure. I greatly appreciate your willingness to help me while I was learning who everyone was on the 4th floor. You were always so willing to help with everything from conference rooms to EFS questions, thank you, I will miss your bright personality! Hopefully we will still see you from time to time when you come to visit?

Enjoy your retirement!

~Melissa Goodreau

Eulie,
Congratulations on your retirement! I had no idea you were even close to retirement. Probably because you brought such a youthful enthusiasm to NRRI. The institute will miss you in so many ways. But don't let that stop you from enjoying yourself in the coming years. It was a pleasure...
Nathan De Jager

Congratulations and Thanks!

Dear Eulie:
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. I know you will be missed within NRRI, but I will miss you too. Thanks for your help to me in various interactions with the NRRI staff. You have really been a professional voice (to me) on the phone, but more importantly, you have been interested, understanding, kind and so very very helpful. I have enjoyed knowing you from afar. And I know that you have been very helpful to my husband, Glenn, as well. To me, you have been the voice and soul of NRRI!

Best wishes for health, happiness, and adventure in your new career. When I see you next, I hope you are going to relate some fun activities and happy experience in retirement!

Best wishes always,
Jan Keough

Eulie:

I can't imagine coming up to NRRI in a complete panic and NOT having you there to give me candy, tell me stories, commiserate about this and that, and calmly work your way through all the paperwork involved in submitting those crazy grants - and all at the last minute as well! At least I can probably count on bumping into you walking in Bagley now and then. I hope you have a very relaxing time AWAY from the big concrete box! 

You WILL be missed.

Cindy Hagley

Who will calm the graduate students and lead them through the bureaucratic maze?

I would have been lost without you Eulie, and I watched you help many other young scientist navigate the university system. I know they all appreciated your help.

Thanks very very much. Happy gardening and golfing !!!!

- Tom H.

Now what are we going to do?

Eulie's graceful professionalism has made the crazed world of SPA manageable for so many of us - she's always on top of everything that's going on.

It was before my time, but just in case no one else brings it up - how can you replace someone that would present a muffin meeting on single-malt scotch?

-Terry

Long Ago and Far Away...

Jedi Master of EGMS, Eulie is. Miss her, we will.

Your friend,
Yoda

It's not really happening is it?

One way of illustrating Eulie's importance to CWE and NRRI is that I think we all really know how much she has done to make this sealed concrete box a warm, caring, friendly, productive, and respected place to spend so many hours of our lives. It really makes me chuckle to think of all the shared experiences I have with Eulie - the last minute deadlines, the 4th floor hot and cold flashes, the odors, the elevator, the vetoes, the awards, the "we regret to .... not-fundeds", field vehicles, CUFS, EGMS, Fastlane, PeopleSoft, SPA, WOW proposals, Apprise, service contracts, vouchers, effort, budgets, computers, software, my FAX-dyslexia, caring for students and staff, parenting advice over my entire life as a parent, ... It's been a pleasure.

Rich Axler

Who will supply the chocolate?

Well folks, we have a desperate situation to deal with once Eulie retires.... When I am having a choco-holic attack, I can always count on Eulie's candy dish to have something! And, I just have to ask.... Is anyone else impressed (and slightly frightened) by the fact that Eulie ALWAYS has an answer for everything? She sure made my job easier.

I'll miss you, Eulie! ~ June

Your Outstanding Service Award Nomination Letter

Dear Eulie;

I thought I would post the text of the nomination letter for the Outstanding Service Award that you received this week. This letter was composed by the scientists in CWE.


Re: Nomination of Eulalie (Eulie) Markham for Outstanding Service Award

Dear Committee:

It is with great pleasure that we in the Center for Water and Environment at the Natural Resources Research Institute nominate Eulie Markham for a Distinguished Service Award.

Eulie has been a central figure in the Center for Water and the Environment since she began working with us in 1988. As the first face and voice that our guests encounter, Eulie presents a professional and competent attitude with unfailing courtesy that never fails to impress and reassure. But beyond that first impression Eulie also fills many essential roles for our Center and does so with incredible dedication. Former staff and especially students remark that Eulie was as much a sounding board and good listener as she was a competent and efficient staff member. (One former student remarked that she thought that “Eulie ran the place”, having never had contact with CWE Administrators!). Eulie makes new students and staff feels welcome as she efficiently helps them settle in. Her calming influence has played an important role in reassuring many a student in the throes of preparing for their thesis defense and seminar. Many of these students still maintain contact with Eulie - a tribute to her kindness. Staff comment that she cares about (and takes care of) us professionally, but she also cares about our families and our lives outside of work. But Eulie is best known over the years for her ability to multi-task with ease and efficiency.

Let us give you an impression of “a day in her life”: Eulie is at her desk by 7:30 am, if not earlier, each day. In a typical busy day she prepares one or more proposal budgets for the 10 principal investigators (PIs) in the Center, working with Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) and the PI to sort out the details of budget forms, which differ for each of the dozen or so funding agencies with whom we work. Typical budgets take three to five iterations to ensure that the total is within the agency’s limit, the appropriate match requirements are met and calculated correctly, and the PI follows SPA regulations for allowable expenses. In between these budget revisions, Eulie answers the phone, directs callers to the appropriate person or department (no mean feat, given the breadth of CWE’s scientific and technical reach), catches up on e-card documents, reassures a student that their time sheet was signed and they will indeed be paid on time, schedules a seminar, processes a travel document, answers a PI’s questions about effort, demonstrates a procedure in the new accounting system for a staff member from another department, and on and on... Oh, and we forgot to mention that she arranged parties for staff retiring and leaving for other positions, and arranged for a card and gift for a staff member who lost a parent. That’s just another day or two for Eulie.

Our group is largely funded through external grants, and as a result, we write and submit more proposals per capita than any other department on campus. In the last two months, for example, our group has submitted 1 major grant to the US EPA STAR program (~$500K), 1 to US EPA Region 5 ($~350K), 4 proposals to LCCMR ($500K + ), 1 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (~$226K), 1 to MPCA (~$358K), 2 to Minnesota DNR (~$60K), 3 to Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program ($46K + ~$100K + $60K), 1 to Minnesota Sea Grant (~$200K), 1 to the Northeast-Midwest Institute (~$65K)... you get the picture. We have never added up the total number of grant proposals Eulie has helped to process, but the total dollar value of those grants over her 20 years of service likely exceeds $50-60M! Members of the SPA team that work with her say “It's wonderful working with Eulie. She always tries to make our job easier - and thanks to her knowledge, skill, attention to detail, and great judgment, she succeeds. She is responsive, patient, and gracious. Plus, her sense of humor stays intact under deadline pressure.” And “From a NRRI Central Administration financial standpoint, Eulie is and has been a very much needed and appreciated resource. Whether it be on proposals, budgets, procurement cards, travel, etc., she has been our go-to person within CWE. For the amount of staff that she prepares documents for, she has a memory like a "steel trap". The scientists in CWE seem to get involved in "unique situations" whereby different avenues need to be explored on how to process, yet stay compliant, documentation. Eulie seems to have a sense about her of recognizing issues that could be problematic and works to get these resolved in the beginning of the task on hand. Her willingness to go the extra mile is always apparent. She is a joy to work with on a daily basis!”

It is no exaggeration to say that our Center’s success is dependent upon the hard work and dedication that Eulie and her colleagues in the office do collectively to ensure that the submitted product is accurate, professionally packaged, and submitted on time. When, despite everyone’s best intentions, the final disposition of a proposal gets “down to the wire”, Eulie’s calm attitude and her refusal to become flustered ensures that the package gets “in the mail”, even if it means staying late. Her supervisor, Lucinda Johnson, has received numerous comments voicing gratitude for Eulie’s dedication in assisting with this difficult and stressful process. In fact, a former researcher who moved to campus continues to ask for assistance from our office staff, especially Eulie, when it comes to submitting grant proposals. Dr. Gerald Niemi, the former Director of the Center for Water and the Environment said “Eulie Markham is one of the most dedicated, dependable, and hard working individuals that I have ever worked with – inside or outside the University. She is a real gem and has been an essential person in helping me effectively and efficiently manage millions of research dollars at NRRI. If she retires, I am breathless on how she can be replaced.”

As we begin to consider what our lives will be like following Eulie’s retirement this coming June (a very scary thought, indeed), we are beginning to mentally draft the job description. The ad might read something like ”Seeking an professional, courteous, dedicated, and highly experienced individual willing to work long hours under stress and still maintain a smile; must be able to multi-task and respond to at least two dozen ‘bosses’ at once; must be a sympathetic and good listener; excellent organizational skills required.” In other words, we need a Mary Poppins with computer and accounting skills who believes as whole-heartedly in our mission (economically and environmentally sustainable resource development) as she does. Eulie will be a very difficult employee to replace, and we will miss her sorely. To that end, we collectively wish to endorse her nomination for a Distinguished Service Award for 2008. We feel there is no more deserving individual than Eulie Markham; further, this would be a fitting reward for her 20+ years of service to NRRI and UMD.

Respectfully submitted,


Center for Water and the Environment Researchers and Staff

Dear Eulie;

Congratulations on your retirement!!! You've been such as huge part of CWE's "family" for so long. It's hard to imagine what it will be like to arrive at the office and not see you at your desk. We have been through ups and downs--- I know that I have come out the other end as a wiser and better human being for having had you as a colleague. I hope you feel the same.

Thank you so much for your long and dedicated service to CWE. I can say without a shred of doubt that had it not been for your dedication, CWE would not gotten out many of the grants we managed to squeek through! Thank you for hanging on through those tense times!

I will miss you sorely, and hope your life in retirement will be full of walks with friends and dogs, golf, and fulfilling time with your grandchildren. I hope you stay in touch.

Lucinda

Congratulations, Eulie!

Eulie, congratulations on your retirement! I was thinking back to when I started here - that was 1989, CWE lived on the 3rd floor, and I was really excited to get an 80386-based computer! We've sure come a long way since then, even though that computer is probably sitting in the CWE storeroom somewhere...

It's been such a pleasure working with you all these years - I appreciate your patience, and your good humor, and ...did I say patience? Thanks, and best wishes in your retirement - enjoy!

George