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Well finally….a really good $100 breakfast! Thank you so much for this great honor. However, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed earlier this morning. I was talking with Charlene Gaynor, AEP’s Executive Director. I asked when I would be getting my key or key card to the AEP Hall of fame. She said, “what?” I said, you know, the hall of fame where all the Hall of Fame Inductees hang out. She said, Bill, there isn’t really a hall of fame….it just sort of a “cyber” hall of fame. I had been really looking forward to meeting Dick Spaulding for drinks at the hall of fame after work. I’d talk about the famous things I’d done….he’d talk about the famous things he’d one. We would both discuss the famous things we were going go do tomorrow. Then we might have an adult beverage seasoned with juniper and adorned with olives….perhaps with salty snacks. But NO. No beverages. No snacks. No actual hall of fame. Charlene then said, “But you know Bill, next year, you get a free listing in the program as a previous year’s hall of fame inductee.” As you can imagine…I was over-come with emotion. I had never heard Charlene actually say the work “FREE”. She has said, “Early Bird Discount” and “Discounted Sponsorship” … but never free. Her whole staff has been trained to refer to it as the “F” word. This is a great honor. And I have a number of people I want to thank. I want to thank my mother and father. Although my father
could not be here, my mother is here. Of course you have
already been introduced to her in the video. She has just
celebrated her 90th birthday. She taught me the most important
lessons in life. About: This award is really not so much about me as it is about the Evan-Moor. I
have been lucky to be the front guy…the mouth piece for
the company. But my message could never have been heard if not
for Joy Evans and JoEllen Moore. We brought this company
to life together…as a team. Each brought a distinct
set of talents and abilities. After 26 years of working together,
it is not only a pleasure, but a dream come true. My wife Marilyn joined the company over 17 years ago. She
brought wonderful experience to the company .. and a support, friendship
and love that brought unparalleled joy to my life. Evan-Moor could never have grown without the help, support and energy of all of its employees. We have grown because of all the employees who are dedicated to the task of helping children learn….everyday. To our senior staff who is here with us today and to all the staffers back home, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. Evan-Moor could never have grown without the support and loyalty
of our customers: Catalogers, Book Stores, Teachers and Parents. And finally, Evan-Moor could never have grown without the help and support of our colleagues in educational publishing…. Those of you present today. And one person not present today: Elizabeth Cater. Elizabeth called me in 1979 and ordered 40,000 books from our fledgling company. Over the years that she was in charge of book clubs for MacMillan and NewBridge, she helped guide Evan-Moor with great advice. She kept us in business not just with orders and royalties, but suggestions in content and marketing. I miss Elizabeth. I miss her a lot. Elizabeth, thank you so much. Again, thank you for this honor. Now go to work. Publish something great. And if you have a scooter or a tricycle, I have a great idea for a really fun ride. |
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©2008 The Association of Educational Publishers |
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