06/23/2017

· Rick, know that you and your family continue being in our good thoughts and prayers.

· IPS New Employee Orientation will occur on July 12 ^th at University Avenue. Sixteen folks will be in the class. Several of them will be MTASers. I don’t remember a class that big in my time with IPS.

· At this week’s IPS Leadership Team meeting, Herb reported that cybersecurity training was a topic of discussion at Dr. DiPietro’s staff meeting and that it was duly noted that IPS has enjoyed a 100% completion rate for the past 3 years. Apparently, it was also duly noted that some university units had close to 0% completion. Ouch! That training will be an annual thing, so let’s keep the string intact…and thanks for the attention you pay to it.

· Sometimes (well, actually most times) when I read something on Facebook, all I can do is shake my head and wonder. But I saw something last night that struck a chord with me. The posting said, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” Seems simple enough. Wonder why some folks seem to struggle with it.

· The cross-agency team working to develop IPS’s Level 2 TNCPE (Baldrige) application has completed the draft. Some editing is being done on it right now and it will be ready to submit on (or prior to) July 11 ^th . I’ve read the 22-page draft. Folks, it’s some good stuff. The site visit by the examiners will be in the third week of September. If things hold true to form, the feedback report from the examiners should be back to us in early December. John Grubbs has been the MTAS representative on the drafting team. John, thanks for your commitment to this and the time and effort you given to getting the draft to this point.

· Executive Director candidate presentations and Q & A…Just don’t miss any of them! Not a single one of them! Nuf sed.

· The required height of the flagpole on a golf green is 7 feet. True or false?

· Lastly, remember a few things…
o What each of you do every day for our customers and each other is recognized and appreciated. Really! It is!
o “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

· Well, if Cindy ever gets out of here, the potential for a comfortable weekend for all is greater.

Jim Thomas, Executive Director


(O) 615. 532.4950 (C) 615.972.9219

jim.thomas@tennessee.edu

www.mtas.tennessee.edu