05/30/2007

MTAS Retreat - Here we are at The Hermitage. We'll get copies made and distributed soon.

I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who helped, and at the risk of missing someone, let me list a few names.

Thanks to Dick, Warren, Frances, and Izetta for presenting information about their programs Thursday morning.

Thanks to Justin & Jennifer for shopping for, selecting, purchasing, and expediting the backpacks.

Thanks for help with logistics and planning to Kurt, to Shara for negotiating with the hotel for the meal and meetings and breaks!, and to Cara for working with Gray Lines and for negotiating our way into the Stadium when they got confused about the starting time for the tour.

Thanks to RickS and GaryJ for helping Kurt carry equipment from our office to the hotel and back.

Thanks to Rex for setting up a very good tour of the Police Academy.

Thanks for David for a different look at the gag gifts (and thanks to Fred's Drug Stores for their corporate sponsorship).

Thanks to Sandy and Sarah for taking pictures - we'll put copies on the share drive soon.

Thanks to the IT team for their presentation and some lovely awards.

Congratulations to Tess for the Customer Service Award, to GaryW, Becky, and Kurt for the Trailblazer Award, to SteveL for the Hobday Award, and to Mike for the "Never Give Up" award.

Especially thanks to SteveL, SteveW, Melissa, Sandy, RickW, RickS, and Ralph for sharing their stories about significant projects. I could have called on everyone else and we could have stayed till midnight listening to equally significant stories from all. MTAS is an amazing group of very talented people with a strong belief in our mission. All of us have stories about how we have helped cities and so, thanks to each of you for what you do to help cities every day.

Blackberries - I'll send an email along with the forms to everyone with a cell phone allowance this afternoon.

Professional Development - Everyone who attended the entire retreat will receive 7.5 hours of professional development credit. We will send a list to the UT Human Resources department for that credit. If you do project reporting please show 7.5 hours professional development and the rest of your time as administrative.

Vacation - I'll be on vacation from June 4 - 15. I'll be carrying my wife's luggage as she takes a group of five students to Spain. 10 cities in 13 days!