03/26/2018

Good Afternoon MTAS Staff,

It’s another week – a short one at that. I hope if you have travel plans for this weekend that they are happy and safe. I know I’ll enjoy the three day weekend!

Okay, so what’s new in the last week? I attended my first pre-budget hearing meeting on Wednesday. I am very grateful that my first foray into the UT budget process is during a strong economy. Learning about all the behind-the-scenes transactions and acronyms is a challenge; and I’m so glad that it was not complicated by having to make funding cuts.

Also last week I conducted two interviews for the municipal management consultant position in Nashville. We’re making strong progress toward filling that position. Much thanks to Jeff who has helped us by staying on through the transition.

Here’s a reminder: If your job is a consultant, Tomi sent you an email this week asking you to review your PDQ and convert it to a PD by April 11. If you have questions, or need to access the training on how to do this, see her email dated 3/21/18 and titled “Request for Updated Position Descriptions - UTHR Job Families Project (Group 3).” If you’ve lost/deleted the email, just let me know and I’ll forward it to you. Please meet her deadline request.

If you know of a city or town that has made impressive sustainability efforts, please consider nominating them for the Governor’s Sustainability award. Here is a link to more information:
https://tinyurl.com/TN-stewardship . The deadline is March 30 (FRIDAY), so if you have an idea for a strong nominee, please get it done this week. Our customers are doing great things out there – let’s make sure they get the credit they so deserve and have earned.

Furthermore, if you read the IPS Catchup, then you’ll have seen this already. “This” is the fact sheet that IPS leadership hand-delivered to state legislators which describes all the tremendous work the Institute has done in each district last year. In case you missed it before, you can read about by going to the IPS website and selecting “IPS Impact” under the header “Serving Tennessee” or you can click on this link:
https://www.ips.tennessee.edu/home/serving-tennessee/ips-impact/ . If you have ever wondered what we do with all the data you input, this is just one small example of how we use your information. What you do really makes a difference and it’s nice to see it compiled in a report with all the other agencies. It amazes me how MTAS and IPS impact and influence communities across the state. You rock!

It's been a while since I quoted a movie, so just to keep things interesting, here is one from the Jesse Stone series starring Tom Selleck. This particular quote comes from Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (2015 TV Movie): “I never found out anything by listening to myself.” This goes right along with my belief that feedback is a gift. I’m still reaping the rewards of the gifts you gave me during the one-on-one time you spent with me at the end of last year. Thank you!

Let’s end with a celebration – Frances had birthday last Friday, the 23rd. Happy Birthday Frances!

Please enjoy your shortened work week and holiday weekend,
Margaret