NAFA Past President Charles A. Gibbens, Jr. (2007-2009) Announces Retirement

"As we used to say in Vietnam – 'I can’t wait for my turtle'," said Past President Charles A. Gibbens, Jr. (2007-2009)."One’s replacement was called a 'turtle' because they were so slow in coming," he explained, using the analogy to announce his impending retirement, effective September 1, 2014. Gibbens is presently Automotive Fleet Manager for Central Automotive Maintenance in Glen Allen, VA.

In a message directed toward NAFA Chief Executive Officer Phil Russo, CAE and Legislative Counsel Pat O'Connor, Gibbens spoke of his time and memories in fleet.

"My time...has been extremely rewarding, and in no small part because of my association with (Phil Russo and Pat O'Connor) over these many years. We’ve put our heads together on many issues and shoved shoulder to shoulder to move them along," Gibbens said. "I never had any thoughts of becoming a Board of Trustees member, let alone the president, until I was nudged in that direction. And what a ride it has been."

"I wanted you to know that it has been my distinct pleasure working with such great colleagues. I’ve had a wonderful 24 years in the fleet profession," Gibbens stated in the message. He closed his letter with the following:

The Three Goals
By David Budbill

The first goal is to see things itself
in and for itself, to see it simply and clearly
for what it is,
               No symbolism please.

The second goal is to see each individual thing
as unified as one, with all other
ten thousand things.
               In this regard, a little wine helps a lot.

The third goal is to grasp the first and second goals,
to see the universal and the particular,
simultaneously.
               Regarding this one, call me when you get it.

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