Williams Family: Retirement Job #4

 

Since this post is about retirement job #4 it may seem like I can't keep a job!  But after serving students, staff, and families for 33 years, I think my employment record still holds true.  And, retirement is a great time to discover other gifts, passions, pleasures, and interests.  

An interest of mine for years has been travel.  I can vaguely recall my first airplane trip as a youngster of 4 with my Uncle John to New Jersey to visit cousins.  It involved a helicopter ride, too, if memory serves.  Throughout the years, there were car trips with family within a 5-6 hour radius to see the sights and spend 1 or more nights in a hotel.  There were two longer road trips to Pennsylvania and Florida, including a visit to the Magic Kingdom and Daytona Beach in the mid 1970's.  By the time I graduated high school I had flown to Colorado with other students for a leadership conference in Estes Park and Florida, again, with a friend.  I had also spent multiple years as a Student Council travel planner. 

As a young educator, I traveled by plane to conferences in New Orleans, which included a plantation tour, swamp tour, and trolley ride during free time, and Phoenix, where an evening dining experience on Camel Back Mountain provided an incredible sunset view.  I'll note that I had more professional opportunities for travel as a teacher in Ankeny, Iowa, than I ever did as a Principal. 

Cancun was a Winter Break destination with a friend my first year as a Principal.  It was my first taste of an all-inclusive resort. 

Life trajectory fast forwarded with the meeting and marriage of my husband and the arrival of our son in short succession.  For our honeymoon, we traveled by train to Chicago and stayed at the Palmer House enjoying Italian, Greek, and Russian food along with theater productions.  And, our son had his first airplane trip when he was three weeks old!  He has been traveling ever since. 

Decades later, we now have over 25 trips to Walt Disney World under our belts, long week-ends to Minneapolis, Kansas City, Omaha, an all-inclusive stay in Cancun, trips to Houston and Galveston, Universal Studios vacations, Disneyland and Legoland in California, an Adventures by Disney Tour to Arizona, Utah, and Colorado, Spring Break stays in Destin along the Emerald Coast, and enough Disney Cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Mexican Riviera as a family to earn us Platinum Castaway Club status.  The husband and I have sailed from Vancouver to Honolulu to Sydney, Australia, with stops in between. And, our son has been fortunate enough to visit the East Coast including Washington D.C. and traveled throughout Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas.  We have experienced more travel than some and less travel than others, although there does seem to be a theme. 

Which brings me to retirement job #4: Travel Advisor for Memories & Moments Travel and licensed seller of travel in the state of Florida for travel worldwide.  Memories & Moments Travel is a company based in Northeast Ohio with a great reputation and long-time operation.  I was fortunate enough to meet the second person hired for the company during a Disney Cruise and was introduced to the owner, who after two virtual meetings, offered me a position with the company.

What about the world of sales?  That's in my background, too: sporting goods, women's clothing, even furniture.  I did a stint at This End Up Furniture in the Lansing Mall one summer and was proficient enough the company sent me to management training in Ann Arbor. And, there is an element of "sales" in education for students to buy in to what they are learning and coming to school, as well as staff, family, and community buy in.  

Training for this new role over the last two months has been a combination of weekly sessions with Laura, the owner of Memories & Moments Travel, along with content modules, quizzes, and final exams from various travel providers.  Memories and Moments Travel is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.  Here are more companies we work with:  Univeral, Royal Caribbean, Sandals, Beaches, Globus, Avalon, Cosmos, Funjet, Apple Vacations, and more! I can find you parking at a port, a stroller or scooter for theme parks, transfers from an airport, rental car, admission tickets to theme parks and beyond, tours ranging from group to private, excursions, all-inclusive vacations packages, and vacation rentals in private homes, villas, and novelty stays worldwide.  We are a Full Service-No Fee Agency.

The cost of a seller of travel license that must be renewed annually is more expensive than a multi-year teaching/administrator license.

Love of the world, curiosity, and service are behind this new endeavor.  Before technology was portable, an Atlas was on my bedside table providing end of day soothing. As a back-seat rider, I was often given the map to get us to our destination.  Geography was an elective for my AA degree and I enrolled in the evening class for more competition from non-traditional students and better discussion, only to be dismissed after the first class and instructed to return for the final exam and assigned the final project. Yes, I do know what two rivers join to form the Ohio River and the location of where they join.  Great sports team come from that location and play along the shores!

I have clients; it was too hard to keep this a secret.  I hope you become a client, too!  You can find me on social media and listed as a travel advisor on the Memories & Moments Travel website. 

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

Williams Family: Disney Retirement Job Update--It's Been Three Weeks

 

It has been three weeks since I began employment with the Disney Company.  I have experienced two days of training at Disney University, one day of training at the Magic Kingdom that required business casual dress and comfortable shoes for our four-hour tour.  And, have completed four days of training in costume (uniform) at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  I have two more to go including an assessment day.  

Most of the training days have been early or opening shifts beginning at 5:30, 5:45, or 6:30.  I have a closing shift coming up.

The husband has been dropping me off at the Magic Kingdom Cast Member parking lot bus stop as I take the internal shuttle to the utilidors, then walk to the Frontierland door to get upstairs and "on stage", then walk to the breakroom to store bag, lunch, use the restroom, clock in for my shift, etc.  We leave the house 45 minutes before I am expected to clock in at my station.

The learning curve has been steep.  Many new words, phrases, and procedures to demonstrate in action and/or on an assessment.  The physical part has been challenging, too.  As a morning track walker, it required climbing to the top of the second highest mountain in Florida.  I will say as a guest there would be more walking and standing than I am experiencing as a Cast Member due to the rotations through positions, about 45 minutes in each, and the breaks (two paid 15 minute breaks and a 45 minute unpaid lunch).

Speaking of pay, hourly Cast Members experienced a raise as of December 3.  Either $1.00 more per hour, bringing the hourly rate to $18, or a raise of 4%, whichever was higher.  Automatic deposit of weekly paychecks (EPCOT--Every Paycheck Comes On Thursdays) can be directed to up to four accounts and I am using our account here in Florida as well as a new account at Partners, a credit union for Disney employees, which offered specials for new enrollees. 

Fellow Cast Members have been friendly, welcoming, and helpful.  It is definitely a team endeavor to operate Big Thunder safely and efficiently and offer great service to guests.  The question I get most often is, "Are you new to the company?" I'm sure my age has something to do with it as I am on the older end of the scale for the group.  When I respond with yes, some are curious about what I did before and I say I worked in education.  One of the trainers told me that he could see that as I had a nurturing vibe. 

Serving guests is the best part, for me.  I enjoy interacting with guests and am still amazed when they call me by name as I forget I'm wearing a nametag.  Had a guest from Omaha try to figure out where I was from and Highway 34 sealed the deal. 

There are many positions to rotate through on the mountain and I have done all of them except the specific closing roles. There are some that are easier and more enjoyable for me and interestingly, the opinions vary among the Cast Members as to which positions they prefer. 

As I was riding to work at 5:00 am in the dark, I was thinking that there are guests waking up right now and getting ready to come to the Magic Kingdom.  Some, possibly for the first and/or only time.  And, it is up to me to make sure their visit is magical!

P.S.  No pictures as phones aren't allowed.

Williams Family: Retirement Job #3 Disney!!

 

It all started with a Mouse; and visits to the House of Mouse as a child, as a teen, and many, many times as an adult with our family. Walt Disney World was (and still is) a refuge, a playground, a feast for the senses, an escape, a bubble protected from the real world. Somewhere along the way a dream was hatched about working at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Yesterday, that dream came true as I experienced my first day as a Walt Disney World Cast Member attending Traditions, a training for new Cast Members, at Disney University!  

After moving to the Orlando area in April and getting settled, I browsed the Disney Jobs/Careers website and applied for a couple of roles in June and July with polite decline messages in return.  In August, I applied for a role on the Monorail.  Shortly after submitting my application, I was invited to take a web based virtual interview, which was answering a series of questions in a short period of time.  A few days later, I received an email informing me to stay tuned as I would be scheduled for an interview with a recruiter via Zoom.

The Zoom interview happened in early September.  I was asked "Why the Monorail?"  My response was that it is iconic! I learned that training includes platform and pilot. I was thinking that I had learned how to drive/ride different mowers and vehicles at the golf course, I could learn to drive a monorail.  Then, I learned about the safety assessments that included being on top of the train when it was 80 feet in the air. When asked if I was comfortable doing that, I replied, "No." I now have greater respect for the Monorail operators and platform attendants!  

My "No" did not end the interview and the recruiter and I talked about other possibilities.  When was I available to begin?  Immediately.  BUT I was going to be gone for the month of October, traveling with Disney.  

Unable to guarantee the needed time off, my name was added to a "wait list" with a potential Nov. 6 start date.  I would receive an email with an offer and have 48 hours to respond.  Please, please, please have that email arrive before we set sail!!!  No such luck.

While we were on board the Disney Wonder, I played time travel tricks.  If I purchase a 24 hour data package at 10:00 am on a Tuesday in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and we turn the clock back an hour tonight, it will be 5:00 pm in Orlando and I can check for an email sent on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.  I can do that twice and then we'll be on land and I can check email. . .  This plan worked and the email came!  An offer for Part Time Attractions.  No indication of which park, which attraction(s).  I'll take it! More emails arrived to give permission for background check and drug testing.

We were on the second leg of our cruise, neigh on to Sydney, when the email arrived and I bit the bullet for a data package to cover the remaining portion of the sailing.  Good thing, too, as there were multiple email exchanges to arrange a phone call.  I did need that to be once we returned to the state.  The AI scheduler could tell the location of my phone and was offering up AEST times--Eastern Australia Times!! I was now googling "If it is 4:00 am AEST on Nov. 1, what time is it in Orlando?"  Answer: 1:00 pm on Oct. 31.  I'll take it!  

During the call I was given more directions.  Drug test within 48 hours, appointment at Casting near Disney Springs on Friday, and Traditions on November 15.  More information and tasks would come via email.  And, they did--multiple emails to fill out pre-employment paperwork, scan documents, indicate knowledge of policy and procedure manuals, etc.

The drug testing was a hoot!  This was the second time for me as it was required when I was hired at the hospital.  Everyone was so nice and as a prospective Disney employee, there is a special back door.  My first attempt was not as productive as needed.  I was escorted to a special area to wait--I could wait only 2 hours--and was given 2 bottles of water, but could only have 2.  Also, the clock was ticking on the 48 hour timeline.  I drank the 2 bottles and walked laps in the waiting area.  Then I pulled up YouTube videos of streams, waterfalls, rain.  I did discover a white noise machine on a table that produced similar sounds.  The waiting area was near the special back door and a clinic employee asked if I was going to get the door when the doorbell rang since I was nearby.  Happy to, if you would like.  After 40 minutes, I was ready to try again.  Facing performance anxiety, production anxiety, and time constraint anxiety, I was ready.  I told the nurse that I had been listening to water (you can't have the sink on in the bathroom) and asked if she could play that outside the door.  She did!!! And, it worked!   

The appointment at Casting was for fingerprinting, which I have never had done before.  Taking an ID photo was also a part of the appointment and ensuring that all required paperwork was completed.  While I had already scanned my ID, Social Security Card, and Passport, I brought all of those with to the appointment, which was a good thing as both my ID and Passport were scanned again.  I was told that I would receive my employee ID, name badge, assignment and training schedule at Traditions.

The Friday before the Wednesday Traditions, the email came with my assignment, costume requirements, and schedule for November. Magic Kingdom!!  Frontierland!! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!!

When the boy was little, he would have some hesitation to ride Big Thunder and we would tell him that we picked the "slow side" when walking down the incline and the queue divides in two to get to the trains. He eventually figured it out and it has been a Williams Family inside joke since.  Fitting that this attraction would be the beginning of my journey with the Company.

There may have been some tearful moments at Traditions yesterday.  Isn't storytelling supposed to be emotionally compelling? 

I also learned that my blue employee ID would allow me to enter any of the 6 Disney Parks World-wide!  I'm sure there are more perks that I will learn about.  In the meantime, a dream has come true!  I am a Walt Disney World Cast Member!

Williams Family: Retirement Job #2

"Switchboard Operator" can conjure many images, including the one above.  My second retirement job is manning the switchboard at the local hospital.   It doesn't look exactly like the picture above, but there are multiple cords and a headset!  There are also multiple computer monitors and phones. I'm heading into my third month in the part time position.

The training for the job took multiple days and included specific, hands-on training, online training, and general hospital orientation.  There were also background checks and medical tests prior to employment.  

Benefits:  Great people and working conditions.  The pay isn't bad, either, with a "shift 2" bonus on weekends and there is an employer contribution to a 401K.  The hours also fit with retirement job #1 when I was working both jobs.  Sadly, the golf course is no longer in need of me as the season winds down.  There have also been opportunities to work more shifts/hours.  

Another benefit is helping people.  On the end of every phone call is someone needing something.  And, I am able to help the team I work with, too.  

My supervisors are appreciative and are in disbelief that I will be working for 4 more months.  I was upfront about the timeline and future plans during the interview process.  As one supervisor put it, "I was hoping you would change your mind."  Hmmm. . . nope. 

Wasn't it Mary Poppins who said, "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun"?  That is what it is like to learn and perform retirement job #2.  I'm grateful for the investment the hospital made in me and for the opportunity to serve.

I wonder what retirement job #3 will be.  In the meantime, collecting experiences and building the resume for Disney!

Williams Family: Retirement Job #1

Retirement, schmirement!  For the first time in a long time, I can try new jobs, roles, experiences, like Jennifer Lopez' character in 'Monster-in-Law' without worry of "losing the farm" so to speak.  And, as a friend said, "Build my resume for Disney."

On day two of retirement, I applied for three part-time, non-IPERS employer, jobs.  Two applications were online. The third application required an in-person pick-up and I decided to complete the application right there and had a brief interview when submitting the application.  

By the end of the day, I had an email exchange for one of the online applications to set up a time for a phone interview the next day.  The phone interview seemed to go well, and I was told that an in-person interview would be next but there would be a week's delay due to a vacation. 

On the fourth day of retirement, I had a call with an offer of employment. "Yes", was my reply.  

Retirement job #1 is being a member of the grounds crew at a local golf course.  It means reporting early in the morning, learning the course, golf terms, and learning how to operate a zero-turn mower. 

The benefits: outside, beautiful scenery, can wear earplugs or earbuds to listen to music or books, early start on the day, and very friendly people! Even a few familiar faces!  The stress is minimal--not running out of gas and keeping the line are the biggest worries. That and being mindful of golfers!   

Why do I want to work?  Trying new things is at the top of the list.  Then there's keeping busy.  Pay is nice. I can make up for some rewards, bonuses, and incentives that I wasn't eligible or didn't qualify for. 

There has been no response to the third application, submitted online.  

Stay-tuned!

Williams Family: I'm Officially Retired

 

It's a wrap!

After 33 years as a public school educator, the keys are turned in and I am retired.

What a ride!  3 school districts:  Ballard Huxley, Ankeny, and Ottumwa--all in Iowa.  8 schools:  Slater Elementary in Slater, Iowa; Southeast and Northeast Elementaries in Ankeny, Iowa; and Wildwood, Lincoln, James, Wilson, and Horace Mann Elementaries in Ottumwa, Iowa.  A classroom teacher for 9 years: 3 years teaching kindergarten students, 4 years teaching third grade students, and 2 years teaching fourth grade students.  An elementary principal both K-6 and K-5 for 24 years.  Thousands of students and parents, hundreds of staff. 

I've seen programs and initiatives come, go, and come again.  I've been subpoenaed, threatened, hit, bit, kicked, tripped, and hugged.  Oh, so many hugs! 

I've hired and fired. Transported students and staff to the emergency room. Managed water main breaks, gas leaks, and power outages. 

I've weathered extreme heat and cold to make sure students departed safely. And, ridden in the back seat of the police SUV in the middle of the night to look for a lost child. 

I've pulled teeth, stopped nose bleeds, stabilized potential broken bones with magazines, book bags, garbage bags, and duct tape, and transported students home to get personal care products when parents couldn't be reached.  I've held and hugged distraught students, staff, and parents. 

I've experienced an Amber Alert for a student who didn't make it to school, needed a Notice of Injunction for a supervisor, and have been called names by parents both in person and on social media.

I've responded to late night and week-end vandalism, playground fires, alarms, and break-ins.  My favorite story was the night the police had me lead them into a school with a sounding alarm armed with flashlights.  I flipped switches and turned on all the lights, reducing the suspense significantly. 

I've listened and heard about affairs, marriages, divorces, babies, lost babies, deaths, illnesses, and medical procedures.  Helping when I could and if needed.  The principal's office is sometimes a confessional.   

There was a year of running two schools.  There was a year of being the adjunct principal at preschool while managing another elementary.  There were years of coordinating guidance counselors, talented and gifted program, and mentor teacher program. 

As a teacher, I attended two National Conferences--in New Orleans and Phoenix. As a principal, I attended one National Conference--in St. Louis--as a presenter with a great team of teachers. 

A B.A. and two advanced degrees and I worked two, sometimes three jobs for many years.  There were the Wal-Mart years and the years of teaching graduate classes to teachers. 

Will I miss it?  

I'll miss the connections with students, families, and colleagues, the people.  Well, most of the people.  I'll miss the routine and purpose. I'll miss the challenge of solving new problems, the feel of a smooth-running school, the anticipation of what needs to happen next, and serving people well.

The list of what I won't miss is long. 

A third of a century in service. Over half my life so far. Grateful for the opportunity. 

It's time for new adventures! 

Williams Family: Transitions

 

I'm transitioning today from full time working gal to retired individual, not just summer vacation.  The plan to make this transition has been in the works for a while, several months.   Therefore, I have had a lot of time to process.  There have been some surprises along the way.

I was surprised by how comforting it felt to be replaced.  As soon as there was an announcement of who would be taking the position as our school principal, I felt pleased and relieved.  

I was surprised by parent reactions.  There were congratulations, cards, and one extremely touching email.  There were also social media posts calling me "useless" or was it "worthless" and the parent who said to me, "I'm so glad you aren't going to be here next year."  I kept the touching email and forwarded it to my personal email. 

I was surprised by our students and staff on the last day of school.  Yep, they got me. I was speechless and emotional as the signs appeared when it was time for the Pledge of Allegiance and circle of love and well wishes on the playground.  Do you hear that?  You got me!

I was surprised by how quiet I was in meetings and in general as the school year progressed.  I remember standing in a school office several years ago proclaiming about not being able to wait until the year I retired as I was going to tell it like it was.  One staff person inquired a bit puzzled, "How much are you holding back now?"  My response, "A lot!" which surprised them.  As the school year progressed, I grew quiet, and I was told by a superior, who has moved on from the district, that my questions at meetings were seen as "gotcha questions."  Interestingly, when I told that to a teacher colleague they said, "When you ask a question, I say to myself 'finally' because you are asking what the rest of us are thinking." 

I was surprised by how hard it has been to say good-bye to so many quality educators.  I know those folks will carry the torch!

Williams Family: When Will We Be Floridians?

 When will we be Floridians?

It has been our dream to live in the middle of the magic, near the "house of mouse."  With each passing day, we get closer to the dream! 

Distance from our condo to The Magic Kingdom

In August, 2021, we closed on a 3 bedroom/2 bath ground floor condo in Windermere, Florida. We had spent May and June searching for a property with the help of Paul Donovan, our realtor in Orlando.  Many hours were spent watching videos, searching for listings, and touring properties with Paul, each on our phones.  When we purchased the condo, it had a tenant.  The HOA for the complex allows for 12 month leases and we renewed the lease in March 2022 for another year. 

Our ground floor condo in Windermere

Then, there were work considerations. In October 2021, our local school board approved an early retirement package for employees that met the requirements of age and years of service.  Voila!  Once the paperwork was sent to the husband and I, we were the first ones to submit our intention to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.  

Being a public school employee retiring in Iowa, allows for payments from the pension program.  Both the husband and I qualify to receive those payments.  Once payments are received, there are time limits for returning to any type of employment and the payments are determined by pay scales, etc.  The husband is deferring payments from the pension program, so he can be a substitute employee without having to wait for the "bona fide retirement" window. 

My last day with students May 2022

What will I do?  That's the beauty.  I don't know.  Nor do I have to know.  

Then, there's the boy.  He may decide to move with us to work and go to school.  In the meantime, he has another year of community college.

The boy is in college now

When will be Floridians?  Sometime after March 2023.  

Each day, our dream gets a little closer!