Kathy Damon Announces Retirement August 26, 2011     Dear Staff, Colleagues and Friends of the Carson Center,     More than twenty years ago, I came to Western Massachusetts to assume leadership of what is now called The Carson Center for Human Services.  It has been an honor to serve in that role since.  Now, after two decades, I ve decided that the time is right for me to move on to retirement and for the Carson Center to move on to new leadership for the future. My plan is to retire no later than the end of March 2012.    I am proud to have played a part in the delivery and ongoing development of recovery-oriented behavioral health, wellness, and education services for people of all ages, supporting their efforts to achieve greater health and well-being in everyday life. The Carson Center plays an important role each year in the lives of thousands of people and it has been gratifying to be a part of that.   Retirement brings mixed feelings.  Mine have been eased by my knowledge that the Carson Center is strong at present and well-positioned to face the challenges that will come its way in the future. Its greatest strength comes from the dedicated, capable staff members who make possible the work of our broad array of programs serving people in the Westfield and Ware areas, and throughout western Massachusetts.         It has been an immense pleasure and privilege to work with our board of directors, our management team, and our staff.  My colleagues in the community and in state agencies have offered expertise and support over the years that has been sustaining.   Come next spring, I know I will miss working with all of you, and I ll miss the work itself, but I am looking forward to another stage of life, hopefully with the blessing of good health for some period of time, to be with my family, pursue other interests, and find new ways to contribute to whatever community surrounds me.   In the meantime, our Board of Directors under Phil Cameron s capable leadership will be carrying out a transition process to ensure the Carson Center s ongoing capacity to carry out its mission under new leadership.  I have no doubt that future will hold brighter stars than ever!