[Maryann Corbett]

Today is the fifth anniversary of my join date at the Sphere, so it seems to me a good day to announce that I'll be leaving the staff and becoming once again a plain old Spherean. I don't know how soon Alex will toggle the switches that take away my extra powers and stars, but I'm handing back the associated duties to Alex as of this morning.

This step isn't related to anything happening on the board now. I decided to take it over a year ago but put it off until the board got back to stability. I made firm plans for it back in December. I'd like to reclaim some time for writing and for rethinking what I want my writing to be.

I'll genuinely miss being able to stick a hand in the works, toggle a switch, and make some member's experience of the Sphere more pleasant. I'll also miss working closely with the staff, whose help and company are dear to me. I've already exchanged my thanks with them.

I thank all the rest of you, too, for your help and support. And though I shuffle my feet and look at the ground while saying it, thanks for the times you poked and prodded and whacked and challenged. I think I learned. I hope.

I'm not going anywhere, so there's no need for a lengthy valedictory. The important thing is to keep talking about poetry. Let's do that.

[Tim Love]

Thanks for all your help. As a moderator I know more than other members know about the work involved, but even so, I doubt I know the half of it. Good luck with the writing ("O: An Erato Sonnet"?).

[Andrew Frisardi]

No one could do the job with more grace and equanimity than you’ve done it, Maryann. I’ll miss that. But I’m awfully glad you’re sticking around to talk poetry. Thanks for all you have done in your woman-at-the-switches role!

[Janice D. Soderling]

Are all of you leaving? There has got to be more than one of you, because you are always there when needed, whether US time, Europe time or Australian time.

Speaking seriously now, Maryann, you have put an amazing amount of time and diplomacy into your administership, wiping tears, stuffing cabbage leaves into your ears to protect from the curses, rocking the babies till they stop sobbing and whining, standing firm when the boat rocks, adjusting the sails and much much more. Den mother, house mother, handholder and all of it exercised with dignity and diplomacy.

Thank you for all the work you have put into it, and I'm looking forward to reading your new poems again. I've missed that perk for quite some time.

[Chris Childers]

Yes, you've been great, one of the very best. No idea who's going to fill your shoes, but good luck to the Sphere in figuring that one out.

[Laura Heidy-Halberstein]

[Rory Waterman]

You're probably the main reason I stuck around when half of my favourite members vanished (and you had a lot to do with me slowly returning, too, when things got a bit unfortunate a few months later). And you're capable of being a truly outstanding, moving poet. I almost never say that. Good luck.

[Ed Shacklee]

Cally mentioned a few weeks ago that we needed an additional emoticon here, one that combined weeping and smiling. I see she was prescient. Thank you, Maryann.

Ed

[Marcia Karp]

Thank you for all your kind deeds,
Marcia

[Patti McCarty]

Thank you, Maryann, for your years of service. I look forward to reading some of the fruit of your reclaimed time! :)