It was noted at last week's FS meeting that there is an orientation session for all new chairs. My initial reaction was that: 1) It would likely be "standing room only" given the high turnover, and 2) that the adminstration probably needs to schedule about one every other week just to keep up with the especially short shelf-life of chairs these days. This is sad. In some departments chairs are overpaid and underworked, but in most they are overworked and underpaid. I once thought it would be intrinsically rewarding to be a chair, but these days there isn't enough money in the world to make me serve in this capacity.