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Wifcon.com: My Legacy; My Albatross


robert_antonio

14,110 views

Quote

When I get older, losing my hair

Many years from now . . . .

When I'm Sixty-Four

John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Shortly after we celebrate our country's independence on July 4, 2013, Wifcon.com will end its 15th year on the internet. With much help from the Wifcon.com community, I've raised a growing teenager. When I started, I was 49 and my hair was so thick that I often shouted ouch or some obscenity when I combed it. Wifcon.com has existed in 3 decades and parts of 2 centuries. During that period, I've updated this site for every work day--except for the week or so when I called it quits. I remember the feeling of relief. I thought it was over. However, many of you convinced me to bring it back. Yes, just when I thought I was out, many of you pulled me back in.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, someone once told me that Wifcon.com was my legacy. I once had great hopes for a legacy. Perhaps, a great saxophone player belting out a solo in front of thousands of fans and seeing them enjoying themselves. Instead, here I sit in my solitude looking for news, decisions, etc., to post to the home page. For many years, my dog Ambrose kept me company. Now, my dogs Blue Jay and Lily stare at me and look for attention. With my sights now set realistically, I accept that Wifcon.com is my legacy. It's the best I could do.

Every now and then, I receive an e-mail from someone thanking me for Wifcon.com. They tell me how it helped their careers. These e-mails keep me and Wifcon.com going.

Quote

Send me a postcard, drop me a line,

Stating point of view

Indicate precisely what you mean to say

Yours sincerely, wasting away

Give me your answer, fill in a form

When I'm Sixty-Four

John Lennon, Paul McCartney

The thoughts in these e-mails won't let me quit. I still search each night for something to add to the site in hopes that it will increase your knowledge. If I find something new, I still get excited. Often, it feels like a self-imposed weight around my neck. What started as a release for my imagination has evolved into a continuing and daily addition to the contracting community. In the evenings, it is as if I'm Maillardet's automaton. I head over to my office, sit before the computer, and update. Then I send the updated pages to Virginia where it is accessed from around the world. Maybe I'm addicted to Wifcon.com; maybe I was born with the Wifcon.com gene.

If you haven't added the numbers, I'm 64 now. Wifcon.com and I are showing our age. I can comb the top of my head with my fingers. The ouches and other obscenities caused by my once thick hair are gone. A recent upgrade to the discussion forum requires that I turn the "compatibility mode" off on my browser. In that mode, I realized that Wifcon.com is ugly. I have current software for the needed future redo of this site.

I am Wifcon.com; Wifcon.com is me. It is my legacy and my albatross. As always, thank you for your support.

Quote

You'll be older too,

And if you say the word,

I could stay with you.

When I'm Sixty-Four

John Lennon, Paul McCartney

30 Comments


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Guest Vern Edwards

Posted

Thanks, Bob, for the excellent service that you provide to acquisition practitioners. I don't know how you do it, but we're all glad that you do.

Vern

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Thanks very much Bob, for all your efforts. I visit this site daily -- often much more than once a day -- for the latest news and information. It is indispensible as I try to stay on top of what's happening in this crazy world of government contracting.

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Sir,

Thank you for all that I learn everyday. Since stumbly upon Wifcon many years ago, I've referred dozens of colleagues, subcontractors, and clients to this site to improve their knowledge of our profession.

My thanks to the learned contributers whose opinions, examples, and corrections make this an invaluable resource to those who strive to do our best.

V/R,

Beantown Contracts

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While you may not be able to hear our collective applause every day, I would wager that most of us feel this site is a far more valuable legacy than that of a saxophone player.

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Bob, WIFCON.com has been my home page since you you volunteered to offer a forum after an old DoD forum site disappeared or notified that it was going to disappear. I check the home page every morning, then my email - sometimes the other way around. But WIFCON has always been the first Internet site I go to. Generally scan the Home page for news and good stuff then hit the Forum button. You have ammassed a wealth of daily news, data and contracting knowledge at WIFCON.com. At this point in my life, WIFCON is the primary and one of only a few sites I still go to. I'm addicted.

We haven't always agreed on everything. But this is STILL the best site to keep up with federal contracting news and issues. You are fantastic and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. As another 64 year old, I applaud your continued dedication to WIFCON and your self-less service to our Nation. Thanks again, Bob.

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Mr Bob,

Sir, I have spent many years reading, researching, reading, referencing, and researching some more and most importantly referring and sharing your website information as a mentor and contracting geek to my fellow acquisition professionals. When you called it quits that time, I was pounding away on my keyboard to get you an email of how much I/we appreciated what you did for the career field with the website. Whenever I send out information to my contracting “peeps”, I include the link to WIFCON.com so they know I’m sharing what I’ve learned in hopes that will start searching the website too.

Your hard work and dedication, and the input by the other contracting professionals in your “year group”, are wholeheartedly appreciated by me and I hope those I share the information with. We sure didn’t have anything like this ‘back in the day’ when I began this contracting career life chapter. We were lucky to have some experienced folks around to share with us by word of mouth, or through the networking accomplished at a far & in-between acquisition class. So its ‘cool’ we have it today. You’re ‘cool’ for taking it on and maintaining it. Not 64 but appreciate you all the same. Thank you and I’m addicted as well.

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In Oct 2003 I entered the 1102 field. The very first thing my first mentor told me was to get a WIFCON account and to check the site multiple times each day - even on the weekends. I do still do this. I remember when the site went down - I felt like a fish floundering on shore - no where to go and sure to die a slow death. Word travelled fast when it came back up and I scrambled to establish my new account. I was in San Diego at CON 360 at that time. It was WIFCON that introduced me to American Graduate University where I earned by Master of Acquisition Management in April 2007. It was WIFCON that introduced me to the vast knowledge provided by Vern, Joel, Don, Navy Contracting, and countless others. It is still WIFCON where I go first to research a contracting issue - the library of Discussion Forums is like a time capsule of information. It is WIFCON that encourages me to independently seek professional growth. WIFCON wishes me happy birthday when no one else in my office remembers to do so. I am continuously inspired by the knowledgeable contributors to this site. When I moved from place to place, I told each new set of co-workers about the site. While I enjoy a good sax solo, WIFCON and the thousands of people influenced by this site are a far more impressive and lasting legacy. Please accept my most heartfelt THANK YOU.

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Thanks for Wifcon, Bob.

I have leaned on this site for information and insight, for many years.

Wifcon has allowed me to interact with others in ways that have helped me keep my acquisition senses about me, when others who sit nearby, seem to have lost theirs.

And I always appreciate your comments in discussions. You offer levelheaded, non-judgmental wisdom.

Wifcon is no small legacy, Bob. It's bigger than you will ever be able to know.

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Quite simply the best site for federal contracting...period...the end. Don't sell yourself short...this is an AMAZING LEGACY. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

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Bob -

I too want to add my thanks for the efforts you have expended. I find the WiFCON forum to be very informative and helpful. It has answered some of my questions even before I knew I had the questions!

Your efforts in establishing and keeping the site up and running are appreciated by many people, and I offer my heartfelt thanks..

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Bob: Sorry to be late to the party, but I wanted to add my congratulations for creating what is truly a brilliant website. I use it all the time. There is no parallel. Outside of the excellent content, it provides a way for those struggling with complicated issues to get the unvarnished views of experienced contracting professionals. This site provides a critially important arena in which contracting folks can get ask honest questions and get meaninful/helpful responses. In a government contracting culture where folks are often mortified to confess a lack of knowledge or experience in the office, your site provides a public service. Congratulations on the 15 year milestone. My hat is off to you.

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WIFCON is the ONLY decent source of federal procurement insight. If Uncle Sam was ever looking for someone to train its current crop of contracting officers, he only has to direct them to WIFCON

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Bob - I missed this post last year, so Happy 16th to Wifcon! Thank you VERY much for running this site - I echo what has been said above, this site is invaluable to the federal contracting community.

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WIFCON is an incredibly valuable resource. I was told early in my career to check this site daily and I have since given that same recommendation to every 1102 I encounter, whether they be my employees or just fellow contracting professionals.  I enjoy reading the protests (sick, I know) and I learn from them on a daily basis. The value of the discussion board is immeasurable (not that I'm looking to pay a lot for it, but I would pay some if the site had to go that way in the future). Having the input of people like yourself, Vern, Joel, H2H and many others on various contracting topics is amazing.  Thank you for all that you do!

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Mr. Antonio I am a wildland firefighter at Merritt Island NWR and currently conducting a lessons learned review of the Ranson Rd Fatality for in June 1981 on Merritt Island NWR.   I notice your blog and was hoping to discuss the fire investigation with you if possible.  Could you please contact me .

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