Although I suspect that folks here have hardly noticed, I thought it appropriate to provide an explanation for both my abrupt disappearance a while back, and my recent reappearance here.

As for the former, suffice it to say that there was a difference of opinion between me and our beneficent site owner which resulted in my speaking rather rudely and abruptly resigning from the forum. It was dumb and self-centered on my part, and I apologize both to Marc and to others in the moderators' forum who had to see it.

I came back because:

There is nowhere else anywhere where such a confluence of international quality professionals may be accessed for help and information. The closest to an equivalent (and it's not very close) would be the ASQ forums, which are populated--not surprisingly--by an excess of pedantic ASQ-types and my sporadic lurking visits to the public forums there always remind me why I'm not a member.
I like the people here. There's a great bunch of personalities, above and beyond the technical side of things. Those of us with more experience share similar battle scars and take pride in the same sorts of small victories.
The forums embody the idea of prevention, which is more important than anything else we do, outside of putting food on the table. There would be no Elsmar Cove if people didn't want to avoid making mistakes.I could go on, but you get the idea. A cove is a place where, to paraphrase an old Shel Silverstein song, crippled ships can find a quiet shore, and this Cove provides that service, plus the opportunity to share our knowledge and make the world a better place. It's a lot bigger than my personal issues, and in the future if my shorts get all knotted up, I'll just retreat to a quiet corner and get them comfortable again before making an arse of myself.

:thanx:

While no explanation was needed, or even expected, it speaks to the high quality individual you are. Thank you.

I believe I can speak for the majority when I say that your re-appearance has been greeted with joy and relief.

Your input is most helpful for it is clear and insightful.

Welcome home Jim.

James

Could not have said it better myself!:applause:

Welcome back :applause: and I am sure this site will benefit from your contribution...from what you wrote, you are THE MAN with courage and conviction (which is a rare quality in these days)...I wonder how many have quit but lurkes behind the scene, instead of coming clean and start over. :notme:

While no explanation was needed, or even expected, it speaks to the high quality individual you are. Thank you.

I believe I can speak for the majority when I say that your re-appearance has been greeted with joy and relief.

Your input is most helpful for it is clear and insightful.

Welcome home Jim.

James

Same feeling here.

Were that everyone was always happy and there were never any quarrels. I'll ditto JRKH.

I am glad to see you back Jim you are an inspiration and have always helped.

Time heals - afterall we choose to be a part of this big international grouping/family.

Welcome back Jim!!!!! :applause:

Nice to see you back, Jim.

Although I suspect that folks here have hardly noticed,Oh, we noticed... No worries in that respect.

It is only natural that people have their differences, and sometimes get angry. It happens... I'm just glad you didn't stay angry.

Welcome back :agree: /Claes

Welcome back, your posts are great!:agree1:

Yes, wlecome back Jim! I did miss your input and had to catch myself several times while waiting for your response to an interesting post!

Interesting...................

Reminds me of an individual from years gone by who was an active member of this forum.

Boy...he was a bundle of energy:notme:

Glad that you had the courage to see the light and turn it on. We need each individuals input to make this site work and grow. It is a better place because of your return.

Thanks for all that you do.:cool:

Let me echo the relief and thanks expressed by others here. I immediately noticed when you came back, and avoided bringing it up, lest old wounds be reopened.

It takes a big person to post what you did here. I don't mean physically large, but big of heart and character. Add to that your knowledge, experience, and willingness to help, and you impact here is huge.

Indeed, welcome home!

Let me echo the relief and thanks expressed by others here. I immediately noticed when you came back, and avoided bringing it up, lest old wounds be reopened.

It takes a big person to post what you did here. I don't mean physically large, but big of heart and character. Add to that your knowledge, experience, and willingness to help, and you impact here is huge.

Indeed, welcome home!



DITTO, DITTO fellow senior quality professional:bigwave:

+1 to all previous responses. Thanks for re-joining the group. Your input is highly valued. :agree1:

Oh, we noticed... No worries in that respect.

It is only natural that people have their differences, and sometimes get angry. It happens... I'm just glad you didn't stay angry.

Welcome back :agree: /Claes

Claes got it right - we noticed. Welcome back! :applause:

I love the cove. You have all been very helpful to me.

Welcome back Jim.


carmen

Claes got it right - we noticed. Welcome back! :applause:Yes, me too. I didn't say anything, not wanting to raise any dust but I am awfully glad to see you back here Jim.

I feel the same way about what a rare community we have here. Can't be beat!
:applause: Besides, where else can I pontificate and people think it's okay? :D

Whatever:agree1:

:cool:It's good to see you back.

Hey Jim,

It's not whether you have professional differences.....it's whether you can have a beer at the same bar afterward and toast each other!

Takes a lot of character to put it on the table.

Hershal

Welcome back!

hey, welcome back , and folks take those big smiles :D,

yes, you were definitely missed. I want to add my appreciation that you returned.

sometimes a beer or two, and a few weeks help to sort things out.

The Cove is a worthwhile forum. I tell my clients about it frequently...(but now they won't tell me their member names.

...Marc, maybe they should all be required to use their real names...then I can keep an eye on them...:D

Thank you all for your kind words. Suddenly, none of my hats fit anymore.:lol:

For some more insight into why I think what we're doing here is important, and have a look here. (http://jswynne.typepad.com/csq/2006/09/beyond_beyond_p.html#more)

Jim, I believe that you personify what the Cove is supposed to be: Knowledge, wits, experience, helpfulness, assertiveness, sense of humour, maturity, etc...Your absence was profoundly felt.

Maybe Marc should start an annual poll, at the end of each Calendar year for THE COVER OF THE YEAR. You would have my vote, hands down.

Other categories could also be created, such as the
The rookie Cover of the year
The best Thread of the year

Maybe Marc should start an annual poll, at the end of each Calendar year for THE COVER OF THE YEAR.
We tried that a few years back and it became a popularity poll which didn't necessarily reflect people helping people in the forums. The 'winner' mostly posted in the Coffee break forum. While that is not the case with Jim, I prefer not to go through a 'Popularity Contest' route through a Poll again.

There are three options to thank a forum participant for helping with an informative, helpful post:

1. The 'Karma' http://elsmar.com/Forums/images/buttons/reputation.gif button.
2. The 'Thanks' http://elsmar.com/Forums/images/buttons/post_thanks.gif button.
NOTE: Not available in the Coffee Break and Humour threads because these posts are not related to the main thrust of the forums.

3. Post a follow-up and thank the person in a post in the thread.

These tallies are shown on each user's posts, as well as the number of posts the user has posted. These are good indicators as to the 'popularity' of every registered visitor.

http://elsmar.com/gif/post_example_small.gif

:cool:It's good to see you back.

Yeah - I did not laugh right out loud, nor did I go running to my dictionary, nearly as much while you were gone.:yes:

Yeah - I did not laugh right out loud, nor did I go running to my dictionary, nearly as much while you were gone.:yes:

Yeah...what Cari said. Welcome back.

Although I suspect that folks here have hardly noticed,

You are right I didn't notice, not because your input is not valued but because you provide so much. There have been very few posts I have been involved in that you have not controbuted to!

Although at times I don't agree with you on some points I have learnt a great deal from you. I read your blog on a regular basis which is also a very interesting read.

Thanks Jim:agree1:

The responses from everyone speaks volumes as to the character of the people within the Cove that makes it great!!!!! :applause: