As we enter the last month of the first quarter of 2019, we have a few changes coming, the end of winter, the beginning of spring and with that because of all the rain, perhaps another Super Bloom event in California, and the beginning of MLB (Major League Baseball). I love wild flowers and it is predicted that this year’s Super Bloom may rival the one we had a couple of years ago. I love baseball, especially Dodgers’ baseball, I definitely am looking forward to the new season. And, one more change, me, adding to a change to the VCCCDRA Blog.
So, … who is “me”, or who am I, to be grammatically correct? Rene Rodriguez invited me, Carmen Guerrero, to a volunteer position as your new Blogmaster (well the ‘master’ part is open for debate, LOL).
As a way of introduction for those of you who do not know me, I retired from Oxnard College in 2015 as Dean of Career and Technical Education. I began my career in VCCCD as a student worker at Moorpark College working for Cheri Ziegler in the Technology Division. Thru the years I worked through many levels, as a classified employee, secretary for Bill Lawson, Voc Ed Dean at Moorpark; a non-tenure track full-time faculty working at the Fillmore-Piru Vocational Center, reporting to Carlos Ramirez, that transitioned into a part-time teaching position in the Bilingual Vocational Education Program at Ventura College where I reported to Rene Rodriguez; then a full-time tenure track faculty position at Oxnard College reporting to Tanya Burke. After a few years as a tenured professor in Business, I accepted the dean position; then finally, retirement. Because some of these faculty positions were part-time, I also worked in the aerospace industry until I was hired at Oxnard College. Altogether, this was a 47-year journey, yet it seems like only yesterday that in 1968 Moorpark College was still, sort of, brand new and I registered as a student in its second year of existence. Time does fly!
As retirees, this blog belongs to us. I would love to know what items of interest you would like to see included in the blog, such as happenings (events, performances, etc.) around the college district as well as happenings around the county. What about items regarding retirees themselves, such as significant birthday and other celebrations; hobbies, etc.?
I hope to hear your thoughts.
To visit the VCCCDRA website click here.
Carmen,
Some of the names you mention trigger memories, like Cheri and hubby Neil Ziegler, who became good friends but rarely get to see nowadays. Isn’t it true of so many friends? Carlos Ramirez, founder of the Santa Paula Vocational Center, which Ventura College inherited with new coordinator, Carlos Ornelas, an activist professor from UCSB, whom I succeeded as coordinator of the Bilingual Vocational Arts Center, a program that brought in new faculty, counselors and classified staff. Perhaps they can comment on their participation and history with the district. Carlos Ramirez went on to become a university president. And in the year 1968 when you became a student at Moorpark College, in its second year of existence, I was one year from getting my masters, and one year from getting married, and one year from getting my first fulltime job at Ventura College as a long term substitute in Spanish. Carmen, it’s nice to think back on those times. Keep bloggin’ and let’s see where else you plan to take us as the new Blogmaster for the VCCCD Retirees’ Association blog.vcccdra.org.
Rene,
Thank you for reminding us of Carlos Ornelas, I should have mentioned him. I have memories of the staff at the Fillmore Bilingual Center surprising him (his wife was in on the surprise) when we all showed up at his home in Santa Barbara for his birthday. It definitely is nice to reminisce, there are so many colleagues who crossed our paths.
I hope we hear from our retiree colleagues with their memories.
~Carmen
Interesting. Thanks to you both.
Interesting. Thanks to you both. My first job at O.C. was as a secretary to Dr. Robert Renger. No one could have had a nicer boss. He was so understanding of my having two young children and one step-son about 5 years older who I call son, only. Can you imagine today? He loaned my two sons and myself his rifle so when we flew back east we could do target practice in my Mom and Dad’s large back yard near a creek that ran past her property. Think of getting on a plane today with that? Those were the days. We had a great time. I worked for him for 6-1/2 years until Oxnard pulled apart the Division. He went to VC and I went to the District Office in the Information Systems Dept. – I who had never used a computer at that point. LOL. After 3-1/2 years I returned to OC and began working with international students and had other duties until Ron Jackson created the first Int’l. Student Liaison position in the District. There’s more to say but this is already long.
Hi Linda, Those were different times for sure. Your son Rafael, was in a couple of my business classes. Please give him my regards.
Thanks, Carmen. Will do. Are you aware of where he went from OC? He got his Masters from CSUCI, but think officially, at that time, it was Northridge before the change. He’s been teaching a third grade bilingual class at Larson School in the Port Hueneme School District ever since.
Thank you Linda. I was not aware. Congratulations to Rafael for his accomplishments and for returning to his community to make a difference. This is wonderful.
Thank you. I will pass your comment on to him.
I will give Rafael, my son, your regards. I may have written that to you before but right now am going thru and deleting old emails and keeping some so I just came across what you wrote and wanted to be sure I had responded. Take care.