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This year has been filled with some serious financial hardships for me – which also affected my family. The issues began when I was laid-off from the dealership I was working for in July 2010. Many of you remember Brockton Cycle Center and the insane deals I was able to pass on to my EBC brothers and sisters. When BCC attempted to “restructure” it resulted in my job-loss. With a mortgage hanging over my head, along with all the other bills that a family of 5 accumulates on a monthly basis, things became very difficult, very quickly. I’ve kept no secrets as to how much it costs to keep EBC running – which is now $349 per month in server fees. The price doesn’t change based of how many members log-on on any given day… the bill still has to be paid. I’ve contemplated giving up EBC several times throughout the year; but in my heart I still believe I’m blessed with having a phenomenal Admin Team comprised of some of the closest and dearest friends a man could ask for. And I know that no matter how slow the traffic is, the members that have helped make EBC a home for many people are truly fantastic people.
In early 2011 I was awarded funding from the state for training. And I took advantage of this by getting a few network certifications that I felt would help a 44 year old man get the edge in a difficult job market. After 3-months of school I had those certifications in hand and truly believed I had something important that would help me get back into the field that I’ve worked in for 16+ years. I soon realized that either I didn’t have what employers in my state wanted, or they simply weren’t hiring, or they wanted to pay a poor wage for tons of work. In August, my wife and I decided it was time to leave Massachusetts and relocate our family to Arizona. We worked with a real estate agent and found a great home in a beautiful neighborhood to lease. Then, using available credit from our credit cards, we picked up everything we owned and drove the 2,600+ miles in two moving trucks over the course of 3 ½ days in late September. After a month of settling in I put my resume out in the Arizona job world. The very next day I landed an interview. Then over the course of the next 5-days I had follow-up interviews, and then the offer was on the table for my new job. And I’m happy to say I’m working full-time in IT Security with a Fortune 500 company, and I help maintain a network of 30,000 employees across the U.S.
Although 2011 started off absolutely horrible, it is ending on a positive note for me and my family. I realize that I have been very absent from the day-to-day operations of the forum for the past several months… which includes a lot of missed communications, forum maintenance and upkeep, etc. I’m not proud of this and I’m sorry. I’m dedicated to the forum, both emotionally and financially. We are surrounded by great members, willing to do anything they can to help and guide others. I believe in the forum and I will do everything I can to get us back on track… I promise.
A huge thank you to Brian, Greg, John, Corey, Ralph and Charlie. These guys have reminded me again and again over the past year that I was slacking... letting EBC fall apart. And although I heard them, there really wasn't much I could do.
In closing I want us all to remember our brother BigRod and his family in our prayers. And from my family to all of you, we wish you all the best for a safe and prosperous 2012.
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Originally Posted by BigDiesel
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