09/03/2019
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Good Tuesday afternoon MTAS,
I hope you had a fabulous, long holiday weekend. Have you ever wondered when/why we started observing Labor Day? According to History.com the day became a national holiday on June 28, 1894. “In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages.” (https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/labor-day-1) There were several strikes during this period, and some turned violent. According to the website, there are multiple theories as to who began the movement that led to this holiday. However, President Grover Cleveland signed the Congressional act into law. I hope you had a lovely celebration for the day.
For a week in review summary, the MTAS leadership team met in Mt. Juliet the early part of the week. We discussed progress on a couple of ongoing studies, providing support to state associations, the branding roll out, grand challenges/wicked problems that Herb discussed at the IPS conference, and we reviewed progress on the MTAS strategic plan.
Also last week I attended a UT supervisor summit. The theme of the summit was leading, and I heard from great speakers from across the UT system. I took quite a few notes, with the idea of sharing a few quotes with you. From Coach Rick Barnes, “Don’t mistake activity for achievement. What can you do today to improve your team?” From Macel Ely on bridging the generational gap, “What are you struggling with and what can I do to help?” From Ashley Blamey (Title IX coordinator), “Feed what you want to grow and ignore what you want to die.” She was referencing bullies. The day ended with a presentation from Coach Kellie Harper. She said “I am a better person and a better coach for the people I’m around.” She was referring to coach Summit’s saying about surrounding yourself with good people.
This reminds me that I meant to share a few take-aways from the IPS conference with you as well. So, here you go, slightly belated: Imagine if instead of a tug of war, we all got on the same side of a problem and pulled against it? (Kate Vitasek); all innovation starts and ends with people - all change is the sum of individual changes (Brad Federman); persist – keep going, don’t stop (Christine Darden); innovation begins with “what if” (Eric Eurich); not every innovation will produce results - there may be many failures before you hit “the one” (Randy Boyd); and we need to understand our history so we learn from it and don’t repeat the mistakes (Slave Haven Museum and National Civil Rights Museum).
I leave you this week with a message of gratitude. I appreciate everything that you do for MTAS that advances our customers to be the best that they can be. I am grateful that we don’t work 12 hour days without a weekend in between. I am thankful that the university invests in me for professional development; and I hope that with all the education I’ve received, that I apply that to your benefit.
Have a great, abbreviated work week!
Margaret
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