Tallahassee Area Chapter of NIGP November 2010 Newsletter

It’s hard to believe this will be my last President’s message to you. The year has flown by! I have enjoyed serving as the TACNIGP Chapter President this year. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with everyone. I want to thank the 2010 Board for their support as well as a special thanks to Mark Lovell and Diana Trahan for all the hard work! November is the time to vote in a new TACNIGP Board. It looks like we have a full slate of Officers and several nominees for the Board. I encourage you all to attend the November meeting and vote for your next Chapter leaders. Take a look at the candidate biographies at the end of this newsletter. It is not too soon to take an active role in your Chapter and start thinking about becoming a leader next year. The Holiday Committee is working hard putting together our Christmas Luncheon. Admittance this year will cost you one new stuffed animal for a child to receive at Christmas. Please join us for the invocation of the new officers and some holiday fun. Save the Date – Tuesday, December 14th. Don’t forget to renew your membership early. (Even as the lame duck, I have some inside information on a great program next year!) I look forward to serving you as Past President next year and hope to see you in November!

Message from the President

2010 OFFICERS

Wendi Sellers, President Robert Threewitts, Vice-President Don Tobin, Treasurer Donna Smith, Secretary Keith Roberts, Immediate Past President

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 11

2010 TACNIGP President Wendi Sellers, CPPB

Tallahassee Area Chapter of NIGP Post Office Box 922 Tallahassee, Florida 32302 Phone: (850) 414-6148 info@tacnigp.com https://www.tacnigp.com/

2010 BOARD MEMBERS

Vida Addison, City of Tallahassee Susan Barr, Department of Corrections Charles Day, Department of Management Services Gloria Dixon, Department of Transportation Ed Valla. Department of Business & Professional Regulation Brenda Wells, Department of Management Services

Bylaws Committee - Vacant Communications Committee - Diana K. Trahan Education & Professional Development Committee – Robert Threewitts Finance Committee– Mark Lovell House Committee – Charles Day Membership Committee – Susan Barr Nominating Committee – Keith Roberts Reverse Trade Show Committee – Charles Day Scholarship Committee – Vida Addison Tradeshow Committee – Mark Lovell Volunteer Committee – Ed Valla

2010 COMMITTEE CHAIRS

November 2010 Newsletter

Message from the Vice-President

Cooler weather is officially here. College and pro football is all over the TV, the weather is great and holidays are near-Veteran’s day, Thanksgiving-yummm! And Christmas right around the corner. Beautiful motorcycle riding weather.

Our speaker for this month is Chris Carney-Crime Laboratory Analyst for FDLE. He first started as a Forensic Technologist in the DNA Investigative Support Database and then was promoted to a Crime Laboratory Analyst in the same section. He spent several years as an analyst and senior analyst and in 2006 was promoted to the position of Supervisor for the state’s database. He has over 16 years of forensic experience and an extensive knowledge of the software and systems employed by the DNA databases worldwide. Chris earned commendations as the department’s Forensic Scientist of the year in 2004, receiving a proclamation from the Florida Governor and Cabinet for his service to the community. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from ST. Leo College in 1993 and is married to Donna, an IT Professional at Leon High School. They share their home with their daughter Sarah (almost 3), who is awaiting to become a big sister early next year!

Come join us for lunch; gain some knowledge about forensics and DNA and be with friends.

See you there!

2010 TACNIGP Vice-President Robert Threewitts, CPPB, FCPM

Upcoming Events for 2010

November 9, 2010 TACNIGP Meeting

November 11, 2010 Veteran’s Day

November 18, 2010 Thanksgiving Day

December 14, 2010 TACNIGP Holiday Meeting

December 24, 2010 Christmas Eve

December 25, 2010 Christmas Day

Thanksgiving Funnies

Sabina Flanagan 5-Nov

Chrisy Smith 5-Nov

Lisa Baxter 6-Nov

Jay Facemire 9-Nov

Lori Alberstadt 15-Nov

Betty Dennis 16-Nov

Bobby Hinson 17-Nov

Christina Hennekes 18-Nov

Bill Stancill 20-Nov

David Wright 20-Nov

Cherryl Biles 21-Nov

Judy Stock 22-Nov

Ed Valla 22-Nov

Sue Harms 23-Nov

Sharita Spradley 24-Nov

Stephen Poole 30-Nov

Carole Reinhart 30-Nov

NOMINEES FOR OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS

Our annual election will be held at the November meeting on the 9th. Please remember to attend for this very important vote. A list of nominees is out on our website and is posted at the end of this newsletter.

PICTURES NEEDED

Brenda Wells is working on our Chapter history and is looking for any pictures or memories that anyone may have. She is also looking for volunteers to help her out with this undertaking. If you have any information to share or would like to volunteer, please contact Brenda at (850) 488-6904 or e-mail her at Brenda.Wells@dms.myflorida.com.

2010 HOLIDAY LUNCHEON This year’s holiday luncheon will be held at the Civic Center on December 14th. Everyone is asked to bring a new stuff animal for children.

Money market - $ 108,062.03

Checking - $ 37,242.16 Total - $ 145,304.19

Newsletter Articles Needed!

Do you have something you would like to add to the newsletter? Is there a writer in you just itching to get out? Please consider preparing an article for the newsletter! You may choose any topic you wish (almost!). Writing an article for a professional association newsletter brings many great returns; among them are personal satisfaction and recognition, but most of all you have an opportunity to share your accumulated experience, knowledge and wisdom with other TACNIGP members. CPPO’s and CPPB’s may even be eligible for a recertification point from NIGP for published articles. Please e-mail me at newsletter@tacnigp.com before the first Thursday of the month. Thank you. Diana K. Trahan, Communications Committee Chair

TACNIGP BUDGET

OCTOBER MINUTES BOARD MEETING

TALLAHASSEE AREA CHAPTER OF NIGP, INC. Date: October 19, 2010 Location: Leon County Purchasing Bid Room, 2284 Miccosukee Road Members Present: Wendi Sellers, President; Robert Threewitts, Vice President; Don Tobin, Treasurer; Donna Smith, Secretary; Board Members:, Brenda Wells, and Susan Barr. Members Absent: Keith Roberts, Immediate Past President; Gloria Dixon, Charles Day, Ed Valla, Vida Addison, Board Members. President Wendi Sellers called the meeting to order at 3:33 PM. A motion to approve the Minutes for the September Board meeting was seconded and approved. Officers Reports:

a. President – Wendi reports that Nancy Jewett has volunteered to Chair the By Laws Committee.

b. Vice President – Robert has been busy lining up 2011 speakers c. Treasurer – Provided the P & L statement for September 21 through October 19. d. Secretary -no report

Old Business: The fall seminar was held on October 12 at the Carr Building on Commonwealth Blvd. Leftover food was donated to Hope House. Very little feedback from the membership was received. Committee Reports: 2011 Trade Show – No report. Nominating Committee: President Sellers reported that two more nominations were received for Board member positions. Volunteer Committee: No report. Holiday Committee: The committee is researching centerpieces and gifts. The membership will be reminded to bring a new stuffed animal to the holiday luncheon. Scholarship Committee: No report. President Sellers will contact Chair Addison for information New Business: Adjourn Respectfully submitted by Donna Smith, 2010 Secretary – Tallahassee Area Chapter of NIGP

FREE TACNIGP OCTOBER SEMINARS

THE STORY OF THANKSGIVING

Most stories of Thanksgiving history start with the harvest celebration of the pilgrims and the Indians that took place in the autumn of 1621. Although they did have a three-day feast in celebration of a good harvest, and the local Indians did participate, this "first Thanksgiving" was not a holiday, simply a gathering. There is little evidence that this feast of thanks led directly to our modern Thanksgiving Day holiday. Thanksgiving can, however, be traced back to 1863 when Pres. Lincoln became the first president to proclaim Thanksgiving Day. The holiday has been a fixture of late November ever since.

However, since most school children are taught that the first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 with the pilgrims and Indians, let us take a closer look at just what took place leading up to that event, and then what happened in the centuries afterward that finally gave us our modern Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Separatists.

The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast -- including 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.

Governor William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild ducks and geese. It is not certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However, it is certain that they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl.

Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is pumpkin pie. But it is unlikely that the first feast included that treat. The supply of flour had been long diminished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind. However, they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a type of fried bread from their corn crop. There was also no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There was no domestic cattle for dairy products, and the newly-discovered potato was still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous. But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.

This "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year. Many years passed before the event was repeated. It wasn't until June of 1676 that another Day of thanksgiving was proclaimed. On June 20 of that year the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a

meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. It is notable that this thanksgiving celebration probably did not include the Indians, as the celebration was meant partly to be in recognition of the colonists' recent victory over the "heathen natives," (see the proclamation).

A hundred years later, in October of 1777 all 13 colonies joined in a thanksgiving celebration. It also commemorated the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga. But it was a one-time affair.

George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, although some were opposed to it. There was discord among the colonies, many feeling the hardships of a few pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. And later, President Thomas Jefferson opposed the idea of having a day of thanksgiving.

It was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many editorials championing her cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and later, in Godey's Lady's Book. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was proclaimed by every president after Lincoln. The date was changed a couple of times, most recently by Franklin Roosevelt, who set it up one week to the next-to-last Thursday in order to create a longer Christmas shopping season. Public uproar against this decision caused the president to move Thanksgiving back to its original date two years later. And in 1941, Thanksgiving was finally sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday, as the fourth Thursday in November.

1676 Thanksgiving Proclamation

"The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:

The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God's Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being persuaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and souls as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ."

THANKSGIVING WORD SEARCH

A G N I V I G S K N A H T G O

R A E Y R R T I C U R O A D A

L L T F E A S T E L S T M I T

N P U M P K I N Y M H I K R R

U L R Q C L N O V E M B E R E

H A I D O E O T R O K U N N S

F T L I F S L R I P G R O O S

E T N E E R O E Z I U P U I E

Y E O V N G C H B L F I Q T D

A R Y R R E B N A R C O Y I D

D C O R N U C O P I A M I D E

I R P I H S R O W M T T J A W

L O W E L B A T E G E V E R X

O T S E V R A H A R B D U T E

H G U C Y O K A H C A R V E A

CARVE

FEAST

PUMPKIN CELEBRATE

GATHER

THANKSGIVING

COLONIST

HARVEST

TRADITION CORNUCOPIA

HOLIDAY

TURKEY

CRANBERRY

NOVEMBER

VEGETABLE DESSERT

PILGRIM

WORSHIP

FARMER

PLATTER

VONNIE ALLEN RETIRES OCTOBER 31, 2010

How do I say goodbye? That is something I have been trying to figure out for several months now. I have left Agencies over the years I have worked with the State but I have always moved to another Agency and kept many of the contacts. I knew I would be seeing old friends at the NIGP meetings. Now I am retiring. I must find a way to say goodbye to NIGP and everything it has meant to me over the years. I started my career in Procurement about 20 years ago working for the Dept. of Corrections as a Purchasing Technician at Jefferson Correctional. There isn’t even that position listed anymore! We only had a typewriter and before they brought in a fax machine (we were the first institution that got one) written quotes came in the mail. We typed our purchase orders on 6 pages of carbonless paper. If you made a mistake, you could fix the top copy (original) but had to use “whiteout” to dot the other copies and then write with ink the corrections. There were no easy ways to create a bid. Every bid was done from scratch, hand typing each page and having to retype any page that had an error! When you want to complain about your pay…mine at that time was about $13,000 per year, and yes I did do bids. I moved from DC to the Dept. of Labor with a promotion. I made more friends and learned so much there. One of the greatest things I was introduced to was an organization called NIGP. I was so amazed the first time I sat in a meeting and looked around at over 100 people that did the same things that I did everyday. I felt like I was meeting heroes and stars every time I went to a meeting. When Labor was being broken up, I moved on to DMS and the DJJ and on to the Agency for Workforce Innovation and now back to DC. I have moved from Department to Department, but I have always stayed in NIGP. It was my safety net for asking questions and learning better ways to do things. I have been a volunteer in so many committees. I did the Newsletter for years and sent it out at first in a printed copy to the different agencies and then from my home computer on a dial up phone connection! I served on the Board and then as an officer then being President for a one-year term. It sounds like I gave a lot to NIGP, but that isn’t true. I got so much from NIGP, that I can never repay the organization. I gained self confidence, knowledge and most of all, friends. I will miss you all very much. Since my last working day will be October 29, I will not come to vote on the November elections. I believe that voting is a privilege that should be exercised by those that will be governed by the elected. I plan to attend the Christmas/installation this year, and if invited frequently in the future. I wish all of the individual members and the Tallahassee Chapter the very best. You have given me the best over the years and I thank you for your support, your help and your caring. Vonnie Allen, CPPB Past President and Proud Tallahassee NIGP Member

2011 NOMINEES PRESIDENT Donna Marie Smith Current Employer: Dept. of Management Services, Div. State Purchasing Position Title: Lead Purchasing Analyst Purchasing Employment History: Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2002-2004; Dept. of Management Services, Division of State Purchasing 2004 to Present; Talla-Com Industries Tallahassee, 1996-2002; Thomas & Betts, Brooksville, FL 1993- 1996 Service to the Chapter: Board Member 2009, Chapter Secretary 2010, volunteered for 2008, 2009 and 2010 Trade Shows Professional certifications: CPPB, CPPO, PMP® VICE-PRESIDENT Robert Threewitts Current Employer: Department of Education Position Title: Management Review Specialist Purchasing Employment History: Department of Education; Department of Education-Office of Student Financial Assistance; Private Sector-25 years Service to the Chapter: Board Member 2008 and 2009; Vice-President 2010; Volunteer; Member since 2002 Professional Certifications: CPM, APP, CPPB SECRETARY Susan Barr Current Employer: Department of Corrections Position Title: Purchasing Analyst Purchasing Employment History: Department of Corrections, 4years; Florida Legislature, 1-1/2 years); Department of Management Services, 17 years; Mercantile Stores, Inc. (Gayfer’s) 15 years Service to the Chapter: Board Member 2010 (Chaired the Membership Committee, volunteered for various committees and functions; Board Member 2009 (Chaired the Scholarship Committee and volunteered for various committees and functions; Board Member 2008 (Chaired the Membership Committee, volunteered for various committees and functions); Member since 1987 Professional Certifications: FCCM TREASURER Mark Lovell Current Employer: DMS/State Purchasing

Position Title: Lead Purchasing Analyst Purchasing Employment History: 1999 - 2001: Purchasing Agent at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; 2001 - 2003: Operations Analyst at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; 2003 - 2005: Purchasing Analyst at DMS/State Purchasing 2005 – (Present): Lead Purchasing Analyst at DMS/State Purchasing Service to the Chapter: Board member, 2006; Chapter Secretary, 2007, 2008, and 2009; Chair of the House Committee from 2006-2009; Co-Chaired the Trade Show Committee in 2010. Current Finance Committee Chair; and have been a member in good standing every year since 1999. The past year I have worked with our current Treasurer (Don Tobin) to ensure a smooth transition. Professional certifications: CPPO, CPPB, PMP, FCPM, FCPA, FCCM, FCCN BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Six to be elected) Vida Addison Current Employer: City of Tallahassee Position Title: Procurement Specialist Purchasing Employment History City of Tallahassee - Procurement Specialist 2004 – present; Jackson Health Systems - Asst. Administrator/Purchasing Manager, 1992-2004; Eastern Airlines - Purchasing Agent, 1977 - 1992 Service to the Chapter: Board Member, 2009 & 2010; Scholarship Committee Chairperson; Volunteer – Seminars and Tradeshow Professional certifications: CPPB, FCCM David Callaway Current Employer: Department of Transportation Position Title: Purchasing Director Purchasing Employment History: Eight (8) years purchasing experience in private industry prior to public sector career; Purchasing Agent III with Department of Corrections from 1989-1991; Purchasing Agent III, Contractual Services Agent, Procurement Analyst, and Purchasing Director positions held at the Dept. of Transportation from 1991 to the present. Service to the Chapter: Chapter member since 1990; Vice President in 2000; Served on the Board of Directors in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007; Served as Chairman of Membership Committee in 2007 Professional certifications: CPPO, CPPB, PMP, FCN Charles Day Current Employer: Fl Dept of Management Services, State Purchasing Position Title: Purchasing Analyst Purchasing Employment History:

03/01/2008 to 01/14/2009, Division of Purchasing, DMS, Purchasing Analyst 09/15/2006 to 01/02/2008, Division of Purchasing, DMS. Purchasing Specialist 09/01/2003 to 09/15/2006, Division of Purchasing, DMS, Purchasing Analyst 07/01/2002 to 09/01/2003, Division of Purchasing, DMS, OMC1 03/15/1988 to 07/01/2002, Division of Purchasing, DMS, Engineer II Service to the Chapter: Chapter Member since 1990, Active participant in Annual Forums as presenter and various support activities. Elected board member for 2010 and served as Chairman of the House Committee and Reverse Tradeshow Committee Chairman. Professional certifications: CPPB, FCPA, FCCM, FCPM, FCCN Gloria Dixon Current Employer: Dept of Transportation Position Title: Procurement & Management Analyst Purchasing Employment History: Dept of Financial Services; Dept of Management Services (Formally Dept of General Services) Service to the Chapter: Volunteer at Purchasing Conferences; Scholarship Committee; Board Member; Member of NIGP over 20 Years Professional Certifications: CPPB, FCCM, FCPA, FCN Bobby Hinson Current Employer: Tallahassee Community College (TCC) Position Title: Purchasing Manager Purchasing Employment History: DOC - Purchasing Analyst; AHCA – Purchasing Director; DCF – Purchasing Director; DMS – Purchasing Specialist; HRS – Purchasing Agent III; Florida Legislature – Purchasing Director; FDLE – Purchasing Agent III. Service to the Chapter: I have been a member since 1985. Professional certifications: CPPB, FCPM, FCPA Jason Ouzts Current Employer: Citizen’s Property Insurance Position Title: Contract Coordinator II Purchasing Employment History: Citizen’s Property Insurance

Service to the Chapter: Volunteer for Tradeshow and Reverse Trade Shows 2009 &2010, Chapter meetings, and Christmas luncheons William (Bill) Spencer Current Employer: FDLE Position Title: Operations & Management Consultant Purchasing Employment History: Performed purchasing duties for the following Agencies: Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles; Dept of Revenue; DMS; Juvenile Justice; Agriculture and Consumer Services; and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Served 13 years as Supply Officer (Purchasing equivalent) for US Air Force. Service to the Chapter: Several years as board member, 3 years as Membership Chairman, 2 years as Trade Show Administrator and also Assistant Administrator, several years as Trade Show Volunteer Chairman and more years as trade show volunteer. Professional Certifications: CPPO, CPPB, FCPM, FCPA, NIGP Purchasing Buyer of the Year for 2001 Ed Valla Current Employer: Department of Business & Professional Regulation (2006) Position Title: Chief, Bureau of Purchasing, Contracts and Leasing Purchasing Employment History: Purchasing Agent, US Geological Survey (1992); Purchasing Agent: Florida Department of Labor & Employment Security (1996); Supply Manager, National Park Service (1997); Buyer/Planner, Apple Computer, Inc. (2000); Purchasing Manager: Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles (2001) Service to the Chapter: Member in good standing since 2001; Board member in 2008; Active volunteer and participant in the TACNIGP Florida Governmental Purchasing Conference and Products Exposition, 2008, 2009, and 2010; Volunteer and participant in the NIGP National Forum in Charlotte, NC, 2008; Volunteer and participant in the NIGP National Forum in San Antonio, TX, 2010; Board Member, Volunteer Committee Chair, 2010 Professional Certifications: CPPB, FCCN, FCCM, FCPM, FCPA, PCA, EIEIO Brenda Wells Current Employer: Dept. of Management Services Position Title: Purchasing Analyst, Team Lead Purchasing Employment History: Dept. of Management Services (1997-Present) Service to the Chapter: Local and National Member since 1998; Board Member 2009 & 2010; Co-Chair 18th Annual Vendor Expo Trade Show “Avenues of Opportunity”; Various volunteer opportunities Professional certifications: CPPB, FCPM, FCPA, FCCM