Unemployed again……….
Well I’m without a job! Thank you Lord, it’s been a great run, but I’m ready to start the next one!!!! I will be traveling to Bloomington to visit with Jim and Sue Haverstock and their great club. Will be my first talk in almost eleven years as someone other than “the Nikon guy!” Will be fun. So much fun stuff to come can’t wait to get started, but for now let me tell you guys what will change besides a check every two weeks!
When I took the Nikon job my boss, and friend, Bill Pekala said, “You can never talk off the record because even when you say you are not speaking for Nikon people think you are, you’re the Nikon guy!” Well at 5:o0 p.m. July 1st I’m not! I will still be happy to help anyone I can with camera questions, but I won’t be the Nikon person, I’ll just be a photographer willing to help! Here is a list of things you need to know going forward;
1. I will only be available at my home phone, my cell phone and my email billfortney@earthlink.net. All my numbers are on the Contact space at the top of this page. All other methods to try and reach me will be futile.
2. I will check my email, but not 20 times a day, this is the start of a more “relaxed existence” so if you can’t get a response in 5 minutes don’t panic, text me, or call my cell or home phone! As a tech rep I had to be ready at a moments notice, that’s not so much my description now!
3. Sharing my thoughts, this is a tricky one, as a Nikon employee there were opinions I could not offer, after all I worked for a single camera company. Now I am free to share my thoughts about many product, and equipment from many other manufacturers, and I will!
4. I am committed to be a good, reliable resource about gear, and I will be doing tests, and lots of opinion pieces on the stuff we all love! Unbiased and unpaid for my opinions!
5. I’ve never lied to anyone on this blog, I have withheld information because of my position. I hope to be more open and share information that will be helpful to my readers. * I do not know any inside secrets and even if I did I could not share them, but I do have lots of information that I am free to share and I will! 44 years of doing this has given me a lot of what I hope you will find as valuable insights!
6. The mission of this blog, and my life, will not change, my first mission is always to encourage people to get to know and love my Lord! He already loves you!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
No that is not my new business!
This entry was posted on Monday, July 1st, 2013 at 2:06 am
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Congratulations on the start of your new great adventure! We’ll all be following you and cheering you own. You’re a Proverbs 3 guy……
I would be thrilled if I could live up to 10% of that!
Happy Retirement!!!
Thank you!
Congrats Bill! It’s been a while since I’ve commented on your blog, but I read it each and every day. I really can’t wait to see where this new found existence brings you, but I do know this. . . You will always be that guy I met 5 years ago at Dury’s in Nashville! Once again, congrats!
Hope to see you again Scott!
Happy retirement!!
Thank you very uch!
MUCH!!!!
Congrats Bill! You sound so very excited about this new season.
Go blessed and have fun!
I am David now it’s full time for Him!
I’m a few years behind you Bill, so I’m very interested in how this retirement thing works out. Thank you so much for all the technical advice and spiritual encouragement you have given and I am looking forward to the years to come. Prayers and Thanks!
Hi Bill:
It’s an honor to add my congrats and best wishes as this new chapter in your life unfolds. Have lots of fun as you grow spiritually, technically and creatively. Remember: “It ain’t Rocket Surgery.”
🙂 ~Danny~
p.s. Good call on Cle Elum, WA hamberger joint off I-90. Great cheeseburger and only about an hour from where I live. Hope you tried the potato salad. It, too, was stellar.
Danny I did and I concur!
Thanks Scotty, me too!
Congratulations Bill. Thanks for your faithfulness. You’re a blessing to many. I pray that God will continue to use you powerfully as you continue to serve Him.
Thanks Craig,we will both ray we can continue!
Happy Retirement Dad! Have a safe trip to Bloomington. Remember to check if “Mustards” is still open for business. Love You, Your son.
Thanks son, love you and want to spend more time with you, Rhonda, Elijah and Abigail!
Happy Retirement Brother! Have a safe trip to Bloomington. Remember to check if “Mayonnaises” is still open for business. Love You, Your Brother.
😉
Love how clever my brother is!
How come you didn’t reply to my email?! Just kidding! Happy Retirement!
Didn’t get it?????
I was joking about the email because you said you weren’t going to check it every 20 seconds. 🙂
Congratulations! For my husband and me, it has been absolutely the best time of our lives. When in Louisville, please let us know. We owe you a trip for burgers at W.W. Cousins.
I will take you up on that!
Super excited to hear your talk tomorrow night in Bloomington. You’re a great talent and we a very appreciative of your willingness to share some of your thoughts and insites with us.
Can’t wait!
Congratulations and many thanks for what you have done in getting to this milestone. I pray for His blessings on you as you start your trek towards new milestones.
Thanks David they will be His milestones!
Congrats on your “semi” retirement. Sounds like you’ll still be quite busy. Looking forward to Nashville in a couple of weeks. Praying that God will bless you in your retirement just as you have blessed many by sharing the thoughts He has given you on this blog!
Can’t wait for Nashville! We’ll have a great time!
Bill congrats on your retirement and I look forward to your presentation tomorrow night at our club.
Since I’m just getting to some of these comments, you guys were great!
Best wishes to you in your new journey and adventures!
Thanks Gary!
Well, as I always say, there’s no retirement in the kingdom of God. I think about Corrie ten Boom who had some of her most amazing years serving the Lord in her 70’s and well into her 80’s. The best is yet to come. May the Lord use you mightily for His glory!!!
Thanks Catherine, that is my prayer too!
Congratulations on your retirement !
More time to do what you love, family, personal photo projects and glorifying the lord by spreading the word !
Thats the plan, thanks!
Happy retirement!
Tanks, John!
Thanks. Got to learn to type!
I’m excited for you! Can’t wait to see how God uses you in this new phase of your life.
Hope to see you in Glacier, we’ve missed you!
How exciting to be moving into a new phase of life. I know you are going to make the most of it as you have done with every other phase of your life. I pray you enjoy the slow quiet times, but I know you and while there may be more of them, you are still going to be going at a pace that would wear out most people.
May God bless you in your new phase.
Thanks Richard I’ll have to ifI ever hope to catch you!
Bill,
Congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your insights over these last three years that I’ve gotten to know you. Have a long and happy “retirement” Papa Smurf!
Thanks Tom, was so great to see you again in California!
Enjoy retirement and God Bless! I really appreciate your site.
Thanks Barry!
Bill, Best wishes on your semi-retirement and much appreciation for the class, professionalism, friendship, mentoring, spirituality and collegiality you have demonstrated throughout the years. Those who know you need no further elaboration of what I just said.
I am right behind you — retiring at the end of August and taking on a part-time role as municipal judge in my community.
Best to you.
Here comes the Judge!!! Enjoy!
Bill
Congratulations on your retirement but I don’t see that you will be retiring at your most important tasks, first the “Pilgrim” carrying words of encouragement and direction toward our Lord. I found you through Kelby Training and I checked out your website to find that I had a brother and an instant connection. I too love the Lord and photography and find tremendous encouragement through you in both areas. God bless you.
In Christ
Steve Hurst
Tennessee
Steve, my brother, isn’t a great life!
Bill, a belated congrats on your retirement and the start of your next journey. I’m glad that you will have more time to share with your family and friends, and to stop and smell the rose before you take an exquisite image of it.
Here’s hoping you get a little more flying time in; I bought America from 500 Feet after meeting you at Photoshop World. Must be about time for the sequel to the sequel!
All the best; bless you and yours.