my resignation

[JOSEPH E. LAFERRIERE]

I received 13 responses to my posting yesterday of a copy of a
letter to my employer. All were supportive except one who
suggested I may have overreacted by sending the note to the
entire Taxacom mailing list. I tend to agree. I was under a
great deal of emotional stress trying to decide how to handle
the situation. After sending the note, I went home and thought
it over. Telling your boss "I dare you to fire me" is not such
a good idea. By morning I thought better of the idea and
submitted my resignation.
   The issue was far more complex than the question of how many
i's to include on a scientific name. This was only one symptom
of a whole pattern of mismanagement, doing things either
wrong or badly. The project was a vegetation survey and had
been going on for years. I was hired on a short-term basis to
clean up the herbarium collection, which had been neglected for
decades. This is the kind of thing I enjoy and am rather good
at, provided I have proper support and equipment. Before hiring
me, this former employer assured me I would have both. I had
neither. Instead, I acquired a boss who would constantly
criticize tiny typos and insist on doing things his way, even
if this violated international conventions. I am relieved to
be free of the mess.
   Thank you for your support, and my apologies to any who
feel I may have overreacted or wasted their time bringing
this to their attention.

Joe Laferriere

--
"There are two secrets to success. The first is not telling
everything you know."

Dr. Joseph E. Laferriere