11/16/1999

Annual Leave - In future, please prepare your request for annual leave in advance and forward it to your supervisor for approval. Thanks.

Software Changes - I've asked the IT team to evaluate and decide among several software packages. It's time to upgrade the packages we are using now so it's an opportune time to make this evaluation. We're looking at the next versions of WordPerfect, Lotus 123, and Lotus Freelance compared to the Microsoft products (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). It's important for support and for ease in transferring files within MTAS that we all use the same basic products. One part of the IT team's evaluation is to ask for volunteers to test different versions of the software. Contact Lisa if you would like to volunteer.

Notes R5 Training - More software; this time we're not comparing; we're upgrading. Soon, we will convert from Notes version four to version five, or as Lotus calls it R5. Our Notes servers have been running R5 for some time. In January we will be ready to convert all the desktops to R5. Debby, Lisa, and I will provide the training one-on-one at your desk. We've scheduled two days in Nashville and Jackson and three days in Knoxville. We would like to spend about an hour going over the changes with you on the first day and then be available for questions and a little further training the second. We'll have a sign up sheet with scheduled times for the first day (first two in Knoxville). Here's the schedule.

Nashville - Tuesday, January 11 and Wednesday, January 12.
Knoxville - Monday, January 24, Tuesday, January 25, and Wednesday, January 26
Jackson - Thursday, February 3 and Friday, February 4.

Staff Meetings - While you are marking the R5 training sessions on your calendar, please mark these staff meetings. All of the meetings start at 9:30 AM and will be finished by 11:00 AM. I have rearranged some of the January, 2000 meetings to accommodate the R5 training.

Month	Knoxville	Nashville	Jackson
January	Tuesday, 1/18	Tuesday, 1/11	Thursday, 1/13
February	Tuesday, 2/15	Wednesday, 2/16	Thursday, 2/17
March	Thursday, 3/9	Wednesday, 3/8	Tuesday, 3/7
April	Thursday, 4/13	Tuesday, 4/11	Wednesday, 4/12
May - MTAS Retreat May 3 - 5	none	none	none
June - TML Conference June 10 - 13	none	none	none
July	Wednesday, 7/12	Thursday, 7/13	Friday, 7/14
August	Tuesday, 8/15	Wednesday, 8/16	Thursday, 8/17
September	Monday, 9/11	Tuesday, 9/12	Wednesday, 9/13
October	Wednesday, 10/11	Tuesday, 10/10	Monday, 10/9
November	Friday, 11/10	Thursday, 11/9	Wednesday, 11/8
December	none	none	none