Goodbye

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FLL Queens Google Group

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Aug 4, 2011, 12:28:52 PM8/4/11
to FLLQueens, mi...@koumoullos.com, mko...@schools.nyc.gov
Hello everyone,

I am writing to tell you that I will no longer run the Queens FLL
Tournament and that the tournament will no longer take place at
Aviation High School. I do not wish to stop running the tournament
and supporting you but my personal, professional and educational
commitments have made running the tournament impossible.

I wish I was at a point in life where I could continue to run the
tournament until retirement but I’m not. With two little kids, a
degree I hope to finish this May and my role at Aviation High School
changing, running the tournament has become a commitment that I cannot
honor without seriously impacting my other commitments. I am sure
that the teams that have been with us since I started have noticed the
drastic decrease in support that I have been able to provide. Three
years ago you received emails from me daily. Many of you used to see
me at your schools at least a few times a year. This past year I was
not able to visit a single school. A few years ago I hounded every
team to register in May and June.

I would like to thank all those who helped make these past four years
possible: the coaches, Gregory Koumoullos, Les Simmons, Denise Rogers,
Mark Sharfshteyn, Norm Scott, Richard Wong, the administration at
Aviation, all of the judges from Aviation and from everywhere else,
the hangar staff, and all of the other teachers who chipped in along
the way. I didn’t mention the students of Aviation because they
deserve more. Year after year, dozens of students volunteered an
incredible amount of time and effort to build the fields, train as
referees, and organize and prepare everything.

I do not have any information as to who will run the tournament next
year but I can assure you that the NYC FLL Planning Committee is
diligently working on making next year’s event a success. I can still
be reached at all of my email addresses and at my work phone and cell
phone.

Sincerely,

Michael Koumoullos

Mr. Holstein

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Aug 4, 2011, 1:01:44 PM8/4/11
to fllq...@googlegroups.com, mko...@schools.nyc.gov, mi...@koumoullos.com

Sorry to hear that
I hope it all falls into place on your other front
Best regards

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Iffat Mai

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Aug 4, 2011, 1:25:19 PM8/4/11
to fllq...@googlegroups.com
Dear Mike,
 
I am so surprised to hear this news, but at the same time, being a mother of 3 and a full time working parent, I can totally understand your position.
You had graciously thanked all the people that helped you make the tournaments possible, but most of all, we have to thank you for putting in countless hours, going above and beyond in promoting FLL in Queens.
Without all your dedication and efforts, teams in Queens would never have had the chance to enjoy, year after year, the best regional tournaments in the city of New York!
Tounaments at the Aviation High School, have always been the highlight of our season, especially for the years when we didn't make it to the Championship.
Our kids have always been impressed by the big planes in the hangar, the wonderful drum line procession, and the fantastic MC lead dance routines!
Not to mention the perfect scheduling and coordination of herding our teams to get to all their judging rooms and tables on-time.
 
I just want to let you know, that your effort has not gone unnoticed, the tournament experience that you have provided for us has impacted countless children and their future in STEM.
Thank you again, and best wishes in all your future endeavors.
 
Iffat Mai
 
Director of Forest Hills Robotics League

cdu...@aol.com

unread,
Aug 4, 2011, 1:29:28 PM8/4/11
to Koumoullos (FLL)
Thank you for all the work and time you put in the last few years, we certainly will miss the tournaments at Aviation, best of luck on your future
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

R.

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Aug 4, 2011, 3:07:53 PM8/4/11
to fllq...@googlegroups.com
good luck mike, you and aviation did a great job, take of yourself and your family,
rudy


--- On Thu, 8/4/11, FLL Queens Google Group <fllq...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: FLL Queens Google Group <fllq...@gmail.com>
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ESWSG...@aol.com

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Aug 4, 2011, 11:03:26 PM8/4/11
to fllq...@googlegroups.com
Hi Mike,
 
Many thanks to you and all the good people at Aviation H. S. Me and my students have always enjoyed the FLL competitions at your school. Thanks to your efforts the events were well run and my kids always had a great time. Your work on the web site kept us up to date and was a helpful recourse. But most of all I will miss your enthusiasm, your smile, and your calm nature even when things didn't go as planned. 
 
Best of luck with your studies and your new responsibilities at Aviation, but most of all be the best dad you can be. If you can please stop by this years Queens FLL tournament so we can all say hello and wish you well. Take care.
 
Eric Greene
RMS / I. S. 192 Q  
 

Lois Harris

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Aug 5, 2011, 8:19:23 PM8/5/11
to fllq...@googlegroups.com, mi...@koumoullos.com

Mike,
Bitter sweet to say the least! Your presence will be missed. I'm sure you have heard it but I'm also sure you have no idea the impact your passion had on so many  children and their coaches. Thanks for bringing robotics to our little side of Queens at PS52 where our kids never dreamed they could participate in such an event and for giving our children a spark and glimmer in their eyes and boost in their self concept. ( So many times I think the kids were wondering " Do they even know how much we enjoy this!") The very best wishes Mike. Thank you is inadequate.
 
Lois Harris and Audrey Fowler
From: R. <redk...@yahoo.com>
To: fllq...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 4, 2011 3:07 PM
Subject: Re: Goodbye
good luck mike, you and aviation did a great job, take of yourself and your family,
rudy--- On Thu, 8/4/11, FLL Queens Google Group <fllq...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: FLL Queens Google Group <fllq...@gmail.com>
Subject: Goodbye
To: "FLLQueens" <fllq...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: mi...@koumoullos.com, mko...@schools.nyc.gov
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2011, 4:28 PM

Hello everyone,I am writing to tell you that I will no longer run the Queens FLLTournament and that the tournament will no longer take place atAviation High School.  I do not wish to stop running the tournamentand supporting you but my personal, professional and educationalcommitments have made running the tournament impossible.I wish I was at a point in life where I could continue to run thetournament until retirement but I’m not.  With two little kids, adegree I hope to finish this May and my role at Aviation High Schoolchanging, running the tournament has become a commitment that I cannothonor without seriously impacting my other commitments.  I am surethat the teams that have been with us since I started have noticed thedrastic decrease in support that I have been able to provide.  Threeyears ago you received emails from me daily.  Many of you used to seeme at your schools at least a few times a year.  This past year I wasnot able to visit a single school.  A few years ago I hounded everyteam to register in May and June.I would like to thank all those who helped make these past four yearspossible: the coaches, Gregory Koumoullos, Les Simmons, Denise Rogers,Mark Sharfshteyn, Norm Scott, Richard Wong, the administration atAviation, all of the judges from Aviation and from everywhere else,the hangar staff, and all of the other teachers who chipped in alongthe way.  I didn’t mention the students of Aviation because theydeserve more.  Year after year, dozens of students volunteered anincredible amount of time and effort to build the fields, train asreferees, and organize and prepare everything.I do not have any information as to who will run the tournament nextyear but I can assure you that the NYC FLL Planning Committee isdiligently working on making next year’s event a success.  I can stillbe reached at all of my email addresses and at my work phone and cellphone.Sincerely,Michael Koumoullos-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "FLLQueens" group.To post to this group, send email to fllq...@googlegroups.com.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to fllqueens+unsub...@googlegroups.com.For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/fllqueens?hl=en.
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "FLLQueens" group.To post to this group, send email to fllq...@googlegroups.com.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to fllqueens+...@googlegroups.com.For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/fllqueens?hl=en.

Mabrey David (30Q227)

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Aug 18, 2011, 10:19:19 PM8/18/11
to fllq...@googlegroups.com
Mike,

I finally checked my DOE mail, and find out that you are not running the tournament in Queens anymore. You have kept Queens alive in FLL since our good friend Steve Shapinsky left. You've done a great job with all the things you did to keep things rolling. I understand that personal, professional and educational commitments are a strain on the extra things we try
to accomplish. Speaking of the things we try to accomplish, I tried to say this on the 4th of August. It is now the 18th. Mike, I hope to be able to speak to you personally about a situation that developed during the year. I really want to say that I hope that things get better for the coming times for FLL. It will take a lot of work. I wish you the best! I also hope that your successors are up to the task. I'll talk to you soon.

Later,

David

P.S. Note that that I said "successors", plural!

________________________________

Hello everyone,

Sincerely,

Michael Koumoullos

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