10/21/2016

· I learned from Scott Gordy this morning that every MTASer has completed the “Securing the Human” IT security training…before the deadline. Thanks, everybody, for your attention to this.

· 125% of the dollar goal. 80% of the participation goal. Tremendous! Thanks to everybody who has participated in the Campus Chest this year. It is a powerful statement when MTAS says we believe in the wellbeing of the communities we live in and show it in such a good way.

· With the cooler and more seasonal weather settling in over the state today, I’m compelled to remind you there are only 64 shopping days left ‘til Christmas.

· Of interest concerning the Nashville office…on November 10 ^th , the Capitol Boulevard Building will be renamed and dedicated as the Charles G. “Bones” Seivers Capitol Boulevard Building.

· I learned in Leadership Team meeting earlier this week that Dr. DiPietro and Dr. Milhorn want to make some field visits to view firsthand work we have done recently that has had positive outcomes for our customers. I’ve already started my list but your list is what I really need. It doesn’t matter if the work involved consulting, training or research or some combination of any of the three. Let me hear from you. We want to schedule at least one field visit before the end of the calendar year and then get a couple scheduled during the first half of 2017.

· In the spirit of the season, I was wondering about U.S. presidents and golf…and found out (Google) that Woodrow Wilson played 1,200 rounds of golf during his two terms in office. Doing the math, that’s a round of golf about every third day! Not much time in the office, huh President Wilson? I need to figure out how to get a deal like that.

· Another quiet week for birthdays and service anniversaries next week.

· 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

· Hope it’s a comfortable weekend for everybody!

Jim Thomas, Executive Director
(O) 615. 532.4950 (C) 615.972.9219

jim.thomas@tennessee.edu

www.mtas.tennessee.edu