Yes. The rumours are true. I will star in the next Marvel film! Alright, alright. That’s a lie, but it is true that I am leaving my Marketing Specialist position at the Eclipse Foundation after nearly 6 years.
The beginning
To be honest, I don’t remember applying for the job. I got an email from someone named Ian Skerrett saying I had an interview. I was like… “What’s the Eclipse Foundation?”. I even had to Google what a “committer” was. To top it off, I got to the headquarters in Ottawa for my interview and the door said to go around the back, but I went the wrong way. I came to a dead end: face-to-face with a fence. I looked at the clock, 2 minutes left. I looked around. Screw it. I threw my high heels and resume over the fence, climbed then jumped over it barefoot in a dress. I got the job!
It has been quite the journey. I have met many great people along the way. I’ve connected with so many smart and talented professionals, I’ve made awesome friends — I even met my now partner Stefan Oehme at EclipseCon Europe. I created and edited the Eclipse Newsletter since 2013; it now has 250,000 subscribers! I helped launch the first EclipseCon France in 2013. In 2016, I moved from Canada to Germany and have been working from home ever since. Finally, I gave my first talk and coded my first full website in 2017.
All that to say that working at the Eclipse Foundation has shaped who I am today. Roxanne Joncas would be a completely different human being without the influence of all of you.
Say Goodbye in Person
I will be at EclipseCon France on June 13–14 in Toulouse. This will be my 14th and last EclipseCon. Wow. I can’t believe my first EclipseCon was in Boston in 2013. Get your ticket for Toulouse if you want to get one last high five from me!
Thank you
I wanted to take the time to write how some of you have influenced me and how I will remember you. Here goes:
- Sven Efftinge: First community member I remember working with and meeting in person.
- Mélanie Bats: Voice your opinion.
- Alex Morel: Always be yourself.
- Mickael Istria: Passion is important.
- Kai Hudalla: Ask questions.
- Cédric Brun: Slides/presentations can be fun.
- Jonas Helming: Always answer your emails.
- Alexandra Schladebeck: Test. Test. Test. + Voice losenges.
- Sebastian Zarnekow: Being quiet 99% of the time makes your words more powerful. Silent, but deadly.
- Alexander Schmitt: I can speak in public.
- Stéphane Bégaudeau: Stranger to friends in 5 seconds.
- Tracy Miranda: Work on what you love.
- Martin Lippert: Always show up.
- Shawn Pearce: Being a ‘’Bored’’ Member can be fun.
- Emily Jiang: A smile goes a long way!
- Linda Snyder and Carole Garner: Plan. Plan. Plan. Make it seamless for attendees and it’ll be fine, even if it isn’t.
- Goulwen Le Fur: A hoodie can be worth more than you think.
- Eike Stepper: Badge ribbons are important.
- Loredana Chituc: Open your heart.
- Chris Aniszczyk: Spelling is important.
- Lorenzo Bettini: Italy has a thing for paperwork.
- Ivar Grimstad: When in London, eat Indian Food.
*Note: I didn’t include everyone, because the list would be too long. If your name isn’t up there. It does not mean I don’t like you or won’t remember you!
What next?
My last day at the Foundation will be mid-August (exact date TBD). Following my departure, I am planning a sweet 4-month break to let all my creative out and learn German at an expert level. I have no idea what 2019 will have in store for me, but I am excited to find out! Ideally, I become as cool as Kate McKinnon in Ghostbusters.
Not really goodbye
Obviously, we live on the digital frontier, so it’s not really a farewell. You can:
- Follow my current project Normal You Are. I will be giving it a lot of love during my break.
- Tweet me on the Twitter @roxannejoncas
Farewell, my friends. See you out there in the wild!
Psst: You can apply for my position here.
