-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Retirement-This is no April Fools Joke
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 16:15:34 -0500
From: HelenJane Armstrong <[log in to unmask]>
To: MAPS-L (E-mail) <[log in to unmask]>

As some of you know March 31st is a red letter day for those of us who know
John Sutherland.  Today he is retiring as the Map Librarian at the
University of Georgia and the moderator of MAPS-L.  I am happy for John that
he is retiring in good health with lots of interesting plans for his
retirement.  However, he will be sorely missed by his friends and members of
the map community.

Thank you Johnnie for all the contributions you have made to the Map
Librarian profession and to all those who use, make or simply love maps.
Those of us in Special Libraries Association, NACIS and COSMAL know how many
offices and committees you served on to make these successful organizations
with great conferences.  However, your shining contribution has to be the
excellent way you set up and maintained MAPS-L.  It has been an invaluable
tool, which has brought together people from all over the World.  Before
MAPS-L, so many of us worked almost in vacuums just waiting for the next
convention when we could discuss problems with people of similar concerns.
I know you have left the running of MAPS-L in good hands but hope you will
still contribute some of your pithy remarks.

You thought you could slip away quietly but that is not going to happen!
Congratulations on your retirement  May your future be full of fun and
happiness.
Helen

HelenJane Armstrong PhD
Head, Map & Imagery Library
George Smathers Libraries
University of Florida
PO Box 117011
Gainesville, FL 7011