Good-bye from NAU

[D Iberri-Shea]

Dear Debate Community,

I am writing this letter to say thank you and to give a heart-felt good-bye from my post as director here at NAU. When I transferred from community college in California to go become part of a newly established parli squad at NAU, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. A decade later, I can look back at hundreds of tournaments, thousands of debates and miles of road time with a smile on my face. We had good times and even won a ballot once in a while!

To my own debate team, I don't think that I could put into words how I feel about y'all so I won't fully try. You have all been a really cool team to work with and I appreciate you all stepping up during the times when I was overburdened. NAU has always had a tradition of relying on its own organic power structures to produce the "method of the season." To my current team, you have continued this tradition of trying to push boundaries, challenge norms, accept defeat, and best of all, speak what you have wanted to speak about! I have always loved that. Good luck to all of you and no matter what, know that you have been part of something meaningful and life-changing.

To my wife, Gina, I could not have done any of this "director” thing without your constant help. While teaching and coaching have been my strong suit, you are the real "evil genius" behind the logistics of our tournaments and I thank you for that. When you first entered the graduate program at NAU in Teaching English as a Second Language, you were on the circuit, on the ground, going to every tournament and flowing every round. As you progressed on with your PhD, you continued to help me keep this team that I have loved so much together and I thank you for that. Tag. It’s your turn! I love you.

To the rest of my friends and colleagues on the circuit, thanks for the opportunity to attend your various tournaments, institutes, conferences, etc. Most of all, thank you for your friendships. I know that at times, we can all be a little hard on each other but I think that comes with the game of trying to coach a very competitive activity. If anyone feels that I have ever crossed them in my term as director, please know that I never intended any harm. This community is my home and always will be and its OK that sometimes brothers and sisters fight a little (so long as their are hugs in the end). Thank you all for making me a better person.

All right, enough of the sobby stuff! I will have plenty of groundwork to do over the next few weeks regarding our team, the logistics of the NPTE, etc.).

I am deeply looking forward to our future in Colorado Springs and I am hoping to stay involved in parliamentary debate in that region. As a fisherman, well...the Rockies have been calling me for quite some time. So while visions of guiding and/or starting a graduate program dance in my head, I will be working to put closure on what has been a life-changing experience here in Flagstaff.

See you all on the other side! Thank you!

Danny

[Dbuescher]

If anyone feels that I have ever crossed them in my term as director, please know that I never intended any harm.

Danny, you're presence at NAU will be missed there and in the community. I know we all hope you will be traveling and around with the USAFA group. And, the thought of you upsetting/harming anyone is preposterous. :) Honestly, the only other person who might compete with you for nicest person in the community is probably Korry. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I have ever seen you both at the same time...

Derek

[Lowerider]

Danny,

best of luck "constructing" that arizona weather in colorado springs :) :)

seriously though, best of luck.

-Eric Lowe
Willamette 09'

[JackC]

Dear Danny,

Your fish drawings will be remembered.

Love,
Jack




PS: Even in our numerous, short-lived conversations, you have been an f'in' sweet individual. I have never had a reason to be frustrated or angry at you, which, given my constant complaining, is a pretty significant trait. You and Gina are raising some amazing children and I wish you nothing but the best of times during your stay in Colorado.

[korry]

To be considered even close to an equal to Danny in the nice department is indeed an honor!

Danny, my friend, what can I say? It has been a pleasure hangin' with you over the years, and I imagine we've still got many years to come. I love you and your family, and my house is still open to ya'll at absolutely any time (you should come up here some time when the salmon are running...!!!).

I know you will miss Flagstaff (and by the way, Eric, Flagstaff is far closer to Colo Springs than Phoenix in terms of weather ;-), and that the NAU program will miss you, but life is a journey that sometimes takes us in unanticipated directions. I know that you, Gina and the lil' ones will make the most of the opportunity. I know it's not "goodbye", so I'll just say see ya later, amigo.

k

[WWUPhil]

Danny,

The first time I saw you debate, I was immediately impressed. Your worldview, life experiences, personality, and intelligence created one hell of a debater, not to mention an incredible person. I consider myself blessed to call you my friend.

I feel as though you are one of the people in this community I have had the best conversations with. It is nice to turn to you and talk about something non-debate. You have expanded my understanding of the world and debate over the years.

That week in Georgetown will remain one of my best memories in life, even if you guys tried to kill us by locking the keys in the van. At least you had caught some fish so we wouldn't have starved to death before we froze.

Your patience with me can only be an indication of the care you have shown your students at NAU. You carried a torch that needed to be shown to the world and your motives were never more clear than the smile on your face and the passion in your eyes.

I am super excited for the Iberri-Shea family. Your life will continue to be full and happy as long as you have the love of the clan. I hope you can help out these kids who are looking for a coach in Colorado Springs. Follow the stars. View the world through the eyes of the fish. And whatever you do, always hide a spare key!

Peace and Love,
Phil

P.S. The offer stands for you to go steelhead or salmon fishing with my step-dad anytime you are up in Southwest Washington. He is a master of the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers. I also know some folks up in Missoula if you want to try out Rock Creek.

[D Iberri-Shea]

Thank you very much y'all. Those were very kind words, Korry, Jack, Eric, and Phil! Oh, yeah, the "van incident!" There is nothing like getting locked out of life-saving warmth as the sun goes down in already freezing temperatures in the Rockies! I remember Brandan Whearty trying to start a fire near the van while we walked to get help. Those trout were tasty--I remember your brown sugar recipe, Phil! Those fish went straight from the snow to the BBQ grill that night :).

I have really enjoyed our conversations too, Phil. In particular, I enjoyed our talk about the "salmon culture of the northwest." I am still trying to figure out the meaning of what you were describing. "Seeing through the eyes of a fish?" No problem! I am there, man! Much love.

If you ever want to hear some more good stories about me bringing people deep into the wilderness and almost "killing them," ask: my wife, my father, Mike Middleton, Joey Washburn, the principal of Sitka High School, and a few other NAU cats! Apparently people need water to sustain long hikes in the North Rim area of the Grand Canyon (not just beer) and casting lures directly at duck hunters armed with shotguns is probably not the "healthiest choice" one can make! Who knew? Oh yeah, and tipping canoes in fresh glacier-melt lakes in Alaska while trying to boat your salmon is also not recommended. Seriously, Phil...I really can't be trusted to return anybody home safe! There goes my fishing guide dream...

Yeah, those Rocky Mountain fish are already haunting my dreams! At least the water gets hard enough in the winter safely drill through the ice. YEAR ROUND FISHING!!! I should learn how to pull a fish or two out of these local lakes and I would love to take anyone out during upcoming tournments in the Springs! YEAR ROUND FISHING!!! This will not help my obsession at all!

Thanks for the housing offer, again, Korry! Your family is welcome with us as well (where ever we are living). You are a true Aires, a true friend and you never hesitate to put anything out there! Thanks for putting us up in Bellingham for the CASCAID conferences and sorry to hear about the passing of your wolf! Good to talk with you at nats.

Peace and a whole frick'n lot of love...

Danny

[skibum]

Danny, since I'm no longer in the Springs area, I can let you in on one of the best lesser known fishing spots is. You won't catch trophy trout here, but you can catch decent trout all day long, any time of year. (For the bigger fish, hit the stretch of the South Platte between Antero and Spinney Reservoirs - it is, IMO better fishing that the South Platte between Cheeseman and Chatfield reservoirs that most anglers go for). Anway, for all day brown trout and the occassional rainbow: Take Hwy 24 west out of the springs until you get to Lake George, just past Lake George, turn right on Tarryall road, then take the first road that turns right off of that (basically follow the signs to Happy Meadows campground). Stay on the road past the campground, keep on until the locked gate (about 1.5 miles), at the gate, turn around, and go back about 100 yards, there will be a trailhead on the right (on the left as you come in - it's pretty difficult to give directions as to how to stop at the trailhead on the way in, it's basically far easier to say "go to the gate and turn around" - and once you do that one time, you'll never have to do it again). Ok, here's the tricky part, you have to set aside the urge to fish the river right by where you park, it looks tempting, and occassionaly people catch fish there, but the best fishing is about a 2.5 mile hike away. Take the trail at the trail head, it goes around a little mountain subdivision filled with nice fishing cabins. Once the trail deposits you at the river again, you can start fishing, and just work your way down the canyon.

Good luck to you and Gina, I'm sure you will find the Springs a surprisingly enjoyable city in which to live. If you ever find yourself wanting "X" in the Springs (a nice local coffee shop, a cute, inexpensive italian restaurant, a nice bike path, non-chain restaurants (contrary to legend, they do in fact exist in the Springs) etc), shoot me a message, and I will do my best to help.

J

[D Iberri-Shea]

Awesome! Thanks Jacob! I can trade you secret spots if you are ever in So. Cal or Arizona! Are there any smaller pike or summertime catfish spots around Co. Springs?

Danny

[skibum]

Awesome! Thanks Jacob! I can trade you secret spots if you are ever in So. Cal or Arizona! Are there any smaller pike or summertime catfish spots around Co. Springs?

Danny
Someone caught a ridiculous channel cat (it was in the 70+ pound range - the 2nd largest fish ever caught in the state) out of Memorial lake right in the center of Colorado Springs a few years ago. For pike (and some catfish), head to 11-Mile Reservoir. Other places for lake fish nearby: Pueblo, Chatfield and Cherry Creek Reservoirs (the latter two are both in/around Denver), all three have wipers, catfish, lake trout, rainbows, perch, and occasional walleye, and striped, white, & small mouth bass. Closer to the Springs, Palmer Lake (near Monument) tends to have a few catfish too.

J

[D Iberri-Shea]

Awesome, thanks again, Jacob! I have to laugh at myself because as much as I brag that I will never use a facebook, myspace, or other virtual community forum (aside from net b of course) :), I have found that I spend a great deal of time on Coloradofishexplorer. This is the craziest, most detailed collection of local fishing data in the Colorado area.

At the moment, I am beefing up my boat/trailer and absorbing mass quantitites of Rocky mountain fishing info...

There seems to be water in every direction!

Life is good!