News, policies and trends for all state government employees and agencies, published quarterly by the Georgia Merit System. VOLUME 7, NO. 2 SUMMER 2004 The State continues on a fiscally conservative path to spending Gov. Perdue: 'We're not out of the woods yet' Georgia's economy is growing again. All signs indicate that the recession is over and a steady economic recovery is underway. Georgia gained over 12,000 jobs in the recent reporting period, placing the state more than 51,000 jobs ahead of where we were at the same point last year. Tax collections for June were up 6.1 percent, or $49.8 million over July 2003. Revenue estimates for FY 2004 were met. The current budget was based on a projection of just over 6 percent revenue growth. And Georgia continues to maintain its AAA bond rating. Bond rating agencies cited Georgia's commitment to making the difficult decisions and maintaining strong financial monitoring and oversight. Georgia state government revenue is projected to increase by 6.3 percent. That's an additional $972 million in revenue next year. This is good news for Georgia's economic health and the state's budget situation. "All of this is good news," Governor Sonny Perdue told agency heads at a recent staff meeting. "But let's not fool ourselves into thinking we still don't have difficult challenges ahead." Challenges ahead Over the past two years, state government has taken a fiscally conservative, financially responsible path of focusing spending on core missions and core values. Budget challenges required the state to make some hard choices and tough decisions, re-evaluate every department and program, eliminate waste and find efficiencies. Agencies set priorities and made the needed adjustments of doing more with less. Although the economy appears to be improving and state revenues are increasing, Governor Perdue said it doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet. "In fact, looking beneath the surface of our budget and revenue numbers, we may have to camp in these woods for quite a while." Beneath the surface you'll find a major problem. And it is a good problem to have. Georgia is a growing state. As the population grows, so does the demand for state services. That means that for all the good work that has been done over the last couple of years in finding efficiencies, state spending is still increasing. The state's two largest areas of expenditure - health care and education - are also two of the fastest growing. That's formula-driven Please see State Spending, page 2 INSIDE Commission for a New Georgia Update ......................................2 Retirement Bills ........................2 Money Matters ..........................3 Employee Income Tax Compliance ..............................3 Retirees ........................4-7,13-14 Dependent Health Coverage......8 Marchand Tops in International Trade..........................................8 GRTA Xpress Service ................8 2004 Wellness Fair ....................8 2004 Employee Recognition Awards ..................................9-11 Commissioner Young Receives Leadership Award ....................12 New Name for Industry, Trade and Tourism ............................12 Wellness ..................................15 Technology Tips ......................16 Anne Frank Exhibit ................16 Russell Hinton Selected to Advisory Council ....................16 Commissioner Wheeler Attends Dedication Ceremony..............17 Government Spotlight ............18 Model State Government Award ......................................18 MAPEP Standards Approved ..19 DHR Pharmacist Publishes Novel ......................................19 The Georgia Capitol Ornament The Georgia Capitol Museum is pleased to introduce in the first limited edition in a series of collectible ornaments. Gov. Perdue's Recent Appointments of Executive Staff and State Department Heads Kay N. Robinson Director of Constituent Services Governor's Office Terry DeMeo King Policy Advisor for Natural Resources, Transportation and Economic Development Governor's Office Lonice Barrett Director of Implementation Governor's Office Craig Lesser Commissioner Department of Economic Development B. J. Walker Commissioner Department of Human Resources Noel Holcomb Commissioner Department of Natural Resources Richard McGee Administrator Subsequent Injury Trust Fund Michael Vollmer Commissioner Department of Technical and Adult Education This year's ornament features the Capitol building. The 3" x 2" ornament is finished in 24K gold. See page 8 to order. 2004 Workforce Planning and Development Conference September 16-17 Page 20 Page 2 Summer 2004 State Spending (continued from page 1) and benefit-driven spending primarily comprised by Medicaid and Quality Based Education (QBE). These two areas dwarf the operating budget where the state has made most of its savings over the last two to three years. This formula-driven spending for healthcare and education costs, which make up 75 percent of the state budget, is growing faster than state revenue collections. Unchanged, these categories will consume a larger and larger proportion of the total state budget, leaving fewer funds available for every other function. Increases for public and employee health care programs at rates that are nearly impossible to control could consume $750 million of the $972 million in additional revenue. The coming year's cost to pay increases for teachers and state employees will consume another $155 million. A new way of doing business Governor Perdue urged agency heads to take the entire budget picture into account as they make their 2006 budget submissions. As core missions are re-evaluated, every department and every program must ask these questions: Why is the state providing this particular service? Who is the customer for this service? Should the state continue to provide this service? How can we do this better? Agency heads have been asked to submit three budget requests: one reflecting a 3 percent cut, another showing no change, and the third reflecting a 5 percent increase. The purpose of preparing this range of budget requests is twofold. One, it will help the state better adjust its budgeting as a true revenue picture develops. Two, and more important, it will help agencies as they continue to prioritize and hone their focus. For the Amended Budget, Governor Perdue intends to do with it the same as he has done with the Governor's Emergency Fund. He will return it to its original, limited purpose. "The Amended Budget should deal with mid-year adjustment, very specific unplanned or emergency items, and not much else," he said. "We will stop treating it like a second Christmas in January." Agency directors were told to think in terms of one budget and proceed with that idea in mind as they put together their amended budgets. Commission for a New Georgia Update Last year, as part of Governor Sonny Purdue desire to create a new culture in state government, the Commission for a New Georgia was formed. The Commission is an innovative public-private partnership comprised of twenty-one top corporate executives from across the state. Its purpose is to examine the State of Georgia's opportunities to improve state government and to envision Georgia's strategic future. The Commission's primary goal is for Georgia to become the nation's best-managed state. The Commission gives committed Georgians from the public sector, private sector and academia the opportunity to lend their expertise in the areas of policy development and governmental operations. Its mission, which strives for government's continuous improvement, is advanced through a series of small, topical task forces that are led by private sector leaders and composed of industry subject matter experts. Each task force is comprised of approximately ten business leaders from Georgia companies that represent Georgia's demographics and all regions of the state. Lasting 90 to 120 days, each task force performs diagnostics of state operations and offers recommendations, based on best practices from the private sector, to improve state management. Each task force receives programmatic support on a pro bono basis by highly regarded private sector consultants and academics to quickly produce analysis and recommendations. Over the past year, Commission Task Forces have studied several key areas of state government at a 100,000-foot view and submitted a list of recommendations for more effective and efficient operations. "I'm serious about transforming the culture of state government from top to bottom," says Governor Perdue. "I believe the Task Force recommendations can help us produce tremendous savings along with tremendous improvements." Although the governor sees the Commission for a New Georgia as a valuable think tank that brings fresh eyes and outside perspectives to state government, he also wants the leadership in state government the experienced eyes and inside perspectives to present their best and boldest thinking in redefining state government and redefining how the state does business. "Let's just say, I want the best of both worlds," said Governor Perdue. "By improving the efficiency and effectiveness of how the State does business, we can produce savings comparable to revenue of the state lottery." As Executive Director of the Commission, Annie Hunt Burriss has coordinated the works and reports of the Commission Task Forces. She will continue to do so as new task forces keep generating new ideas and recommendations. On July 22, Governor Perdue appointed Lonice Barrett, longtime commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, as the new Director of Implementation. Reporting directly to the governor, Barrett will work with Jim Lientz, the state COO, Tommy Hills, the state CFO, and agency heads to evaluate and prioritize Commission recommendations. Under Barrett's leadership, small implementation teams made up of seasoned state employees will review Commission task force recommendations for accuracy, scrubbing them down to a 10,000-foot view to determine which will be the most responsive and least expensive to implement. These recommendations will then be submitted to Governor Perdue for programmatic, budgetary, and legislative action. The types of recommendations vary by task force but include: better managing the State's resources and services, generating jobs and revenue through sustainable economic development initiatives, and creating a well-educated, healthier and safer Georgia. Currently, the Workforce Development task force is studying the issues related to growing Georgia's workforce into the state's strongest asset. The Receivables task force and the Public Financing Options task force will begin their work during the month of September. Please see Commission Update, page 3 The Georgia Statement Volume 7, Number 2 State Personnel Board Geri P. Thomas, Chair M. David Alalof, Vice Chair Claybon J. Edwards, Member Melinda Langston, Member Georgia Merit System Marjorie H. Young, Commissioner Office of Communications and Marketing Deborah Williams, Managing Editor Carletta Henderson-Youngs, Editor Cleveland Clements, Copy Editor The Georgia Statement is published quarterly for state employees by the Commissioner's Office of the Georgia Merit System. If you wish to submit comments or need to correct a distribution problem/address, contact Editor, The Georgia Statement, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 504 West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334, call 404-657-0375, or Commissioner's Office at www.gms.state.ga.us/contact. If you have a disability and need this material in an alternative format, notify the Editor at the above address, or for TDD Relay Service only: 1-800-255-0056 (text telephone) or 1-800-255-0135 (voice). This publication is accessible on our website: www.gms.state.ga.us. The Georgia Merit System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Governor Signs Retirement Bills On May 13, 2004, Governor Perdue signed into law House Bill 480 and House Bill 914. The new provisions took effect for all active members on July 1, 2004. House Bill 480 creates a new provision under the statutes governing the Employees' Retirement System (ERS) to permit an eligible member to purchase up to three (3) years of additional service. The statutory provision requires a member to pay the full actuarial cost to grant such service credit(s). An ERS member is eligible to purchase the additional service only at the time of the member's application for retirement. Further, House Bill 480 prohibits a member from purchasing service to create eligibility for retirement (10 years and age 60) and to create eligibility to vest (10 years membership service prior to age 60) their rights to retirement benefits upon reaching the age of 60. While on the surface House Bill 480 appears to be a great opportunity for ERS members to acquire service credits for early retirement, one must understand that paying the full actuarial cost for such service will generally be very costly. House Bill 914 will allow ERS members who retire by reason of service (except 25 years of service) to select an optional retirement allowance that will provide a partial lump sum distribution with a reduced monthly retirement benefit. The partial lump sum distribution may not exceed the sum of 36 months of the monthly retirement allowance. The partial lump sum distribution will be made as a single payment payable at the time the first monthly retirement allowance is paid to the retiring ERS member. An ERS retiring member should consider that the reduction in the monthly retirement benefit would be permanent and any future cost of living adjustment(s) would be applied to the reduced monthly retirement benefit. ERS is currently working with its actuary in order to respond to member inquiries in a timely manner. For more information about retirement provisions, please contact the Employees' Retirement System at (404) 350-6300. Deadline for Fall issue is October 1, 2004 Summer 2004 Page 3 Commission Update continued from page 2 Private Sector Task Force Recommendations to Gov. Perdue A Growing Georgia Tourism: 1. Consolidate Georgia's tourism efforts into a single, independent authority. 2. Evaluate the goals and performance of each organization supporting tourism, and determine a long-term strategy for each to contribute to the overall tourism effort. 3. Expand public and private funding for tourism marketing, advertising and research 4. Develop a master development plan for Coastal Georgia that balances economic development with environmental preservation, and use this plan as a model for other regions of Georgia 5. Review current incentives to promote tourism jobs and investment, and revise if needed 6. Support legislation enabling the Georgia Department of Economic Development to join the private sector in tourism marketing efforts. Support HB1415 on hotel/motel tax reform. Strategic Industries 7. Focus economic development efforts on growing the following industries in Georgia: Aerospace, Agribusiness, Energy & Environmental, Healthcare & Eldercare, Life Sciences and, Logistics & Transportation. 8. Establish a statewide, centralized commercialization center to be the central point of contact for identifying available research, commercialization opportunities and appropriate points of contact. 9. Coordinate economic development efforts through the Governor to ensure that all efforts by the State are consistent, easy to access by those who do business in Georgia, and focused on Georgia's strategic economic development plan. Establish and adhere to timely, measurable goals. 10. Establish a university-affiliated research park. Competitiveness: 11. Create Governor's Cabinet for Economic and Workforce Development comprised of relevant agency heads to coordinate the state's prospect process. 12. Focus financial incentives on industries as strategic to Georgia's growth 13. Develop and enact a plan to attract and maintain business investors and ideas and research in Georgia. Redefining Government Space Management: 14. Establish a Real Estate Authority led by an executive with portfolio management expertise. - Manage all State-owned and leased real estate through this organization. - Adopt a portfolio management strategy. - Consolidate lease to potentially save between $275 and $875 million over 10 years. - Identify surplus land and buildings, and utilize or sell to reduce costs by $210 to $315 million over 5 years. 15. Gather and maintain current information on all real estate. 16. Use portfolio management strategies and tools for effective decisionmaking. Capital Construction: 17. Establish a Chief Property Officer with responsibility for all capital construction Develop a clear mission, vision and guiding principles for capital construction and property management 18. Evaluate real estate assets for reallocation and opportunities to sell. Reallocate General Obligation (G.O.) Bonds no longer needed due to canceled or completed projects. 19. Develop statewide policies, procedures and tools to manage capital construction services. Administrative Services: 20. Align responsibilities for administra- tive services by function to promote clear policy making, stronger accountability and customer focus. 21. Make state purchasing of goods and services more efficient and servicedriven. 22. Consolidate Human Resource activities that are common to all State organizations, and allow agencies to continue to perform HR functions that are specific to each agency. 23. Refocus the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) to enact its mission to develop and promote IT planning, implementation and management. 24. Implement a statewide asset management program to better track and monitor the State's assets. Fleet Management: 25. Broaden the use of existing Fleet Management system to all agencies. 26. Track vehicle operating and ownership costs to determine all costs associated with vehicles to make better decisions about buying and selling State vehicles. 27. Centralize fleet management activities, and develop a five-year business plan. 28. Change and enforce vehicle assignment and commuting policy so the State can more efficiently use its existing vehicles. Leadership Development: 29. Establish a State government executive leadership development program to train and prepare current and future State government leaders. Provide clear career expectations and measures for success. Pr ocur emen t: 30. Establish a single center-leading purchasing agent that clearly manages the purchasing activities of all State agencies. Set criteria to determine when purchases are made centrally or left to the individual agencies to most efficiently purchase all goods and services for the State. MMOONNEY MATTERS Managing your money Did you know that you can stop money from going out the door unnecessarily by performing a few simple steps or by asking a few simple questions? Review all records and bank statements immediately to determine that there are no extra charges or surprises that you have not authorized. It may just be a computer glitch, or it may not. Whatever the case, identifying mistakes quickly can help prevent or minimize costly damage from taking place. If a deal sounds too good to be true, research it thoroughly before investing. Avoid impulsive spending. Be knowledgeable of any penalties you may be charged by banks, creditors, and stores. What you don't know can hurt your pocketbook. Read and understand the fine print that may hide additional charges. It takes a little longer to read all the verbiage but what cost you a little more time could save you a lot more money. If you don't know, ask somebody. Seeking the assistance of a financial expert is a good way of saving or creating wealth. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice. Revenue Chief: Employees Must Comply With Income Tax Code State audit shows 13 percent of state employees have not filed 2002 returns ADepartment of Revenue probe has found about 23,000 state employees, 13 percent of the state's work force who were paid by the state in 2002, did not file a state income tax return. Most of those would have been filed in 2003. In October 2003, the Revenue Department began an aggressive campaign in pursuit of an estimated $1.6 billion that individuals and businesses owe the state in delinquent taxes. The Department has used methods ranging from holding the renewal of liquor licenses, posting the names of individuals and businesses owing back taxes on the internet, and wider use of private collection agencies in its campaign. The review of state employee's tax records is another method the Department is using to bring more individuals into compliance with the state's tax statutes. "These initiatives are not about putting more money in the treasury. They are about creating a fair and equitable platform for all taxpayers," emphasized Georgia Revenue Commissioner Bart L. Graham. By law, all individuals earning compensation in the State of Georgia in excess of $5,000 annually are required to file State income tax returns. Unless an extension is filed, tax returns are due April 15 of each year. Code of Ethics for Government Service All state jobs are positions of public trust. And as stewards of state services and public funds, one of the many obligations of a state employee must be compliance with the State Revenue Code. Noncompliance reflects on the public's perception of trustworthiness of state employees. In addition, it violates O.C.G.A. _ 45-10-1 (Code of Ethics for Government Service) which states, in part, that any person in government service should: "Uphold the Constitution, laws and legal regulations of the United States and the State of Georgia and of all governments therein and never be a party to their evasion." It is the expectation that all state employees comply with the requirements to file and pay taxes. "All employees are required to file, irrespective of whether they are due a refund or have an outstanding tax liability," said Commissioner Graham. "If you have not filed your state taxes for 2002 or other years, I encourage you to do so immediately." Corrective Measures to Resolve Delinquency The tax recovery process involves sending an initial inquiry letter to each non-filer, then providing them an opportunity to submit clarifying information. If an employee receives any notice from the Department of Revenue, he or she should respond promptly. If the matter remains unresolved, more aggressive steps will be taken. Revenue officials will notify each agency director when a tax lien is recorded so that he or she can take appropriate action. Page 4 Summer 2004 Congratulations to these dedicated state retirees Submitted by The Employee Retirement System January 2004 Name Years of Service Aaron, Gail R Agan, Diane G Aldridge, Geneva Brown Andrew, Richard Harlan Ashcraft, Mary Atkinson, Linda T Baker, Priscilla G Banks, Haral Bargeron, Larry E Beal, Ronald L. Bearden, Jerry W Bell, Lucille E Benson, Joan Beverly, Elaine C Blackmon, Delory S Bledsoe, William Franklin Bond, Joseph Randall Boyd, David M Brantley, Janice C. Brazil, Carolyn Brisendine, Brenda Lee Brown, Robert C Brown, Mark L Brown, Patricia Alice Brown Sr, Terry L Burge, Janice Burrell, Michael Butler, Catherine B. Byers, Dorothy A Cadora, Ronald Ray Carter, Gayle Wheeler Cash, Marie H Cauble, Monique B Caylor, Lamar N Clark, James C Coker, Patsy R Collins, Joann G Coon, Joseph Montresser Cooper, William Copeland, Everett D Cox, Patsy J Craig, Larry K Crawford, Steven Mark Crumley, Bobby Nelson Davis, Mayo Hazel Doby, Nancy H Dodd, Patricia S Dorris, Caroline R Douglass, Rose Mary Dozier, Joan L Drooker, Marilyn Edmondson, Susan Davis Elliott, Edna Emerick, Carolyn Louise Ferrell, Carolyn F Fields, Mary H Fields, Rhonda K Findley, Jerry F Flournoy, Clellie Ann Fouche Jr, Jim Morgan French, Doris Elaine Gabbard, Joan P Garrett, Carolyn M Gibbs, Dorothy Jean 34 yrs 00 mths 25 yrs 00 mths 21 yrs 05 mths 19 yrs 03 mths 19 yrs 11 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 30 yrs 00 mths 27 yrs 05 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 14 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 11 yrs 00 mths 22 yrs 11 mths 19 yrs 11 mths 25 yrs 08 mths 19 yrs 10 mths 32 yrs 06 mths 21 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 25 yrs 03 mths 13 yrs 08 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 04 mths 20 yrs 07 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 13 yrs 11 mths 14 yrs 05 mths 18 yrs 05 mths 19 yrs 03 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 30 yrs 03 mths 15 yrs 05 mths 22 yrs 07 mths 10 yrs 09 mths 34 yrs 03 mths 18 yrs 04 mths 25 yrs 07 mths 13 yrs 05 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 10 yrs 02 mths 27 yrs 06 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 26 yrs 04 mths 14 yrs 01 mths 19 yrs 00 mths 32 yrs 01 mths 14 yrs 06 mths 33 yrs 02 mths 13 yrs 11 mths 23 yrs 07 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 21 yrs 10 mths 14 yrs 06 mths 14 yrs 09 mths 19 yrs 10 mths 14 yrs 04 mths 13 yrs 06 mths 18 yrs 04 mths 18 yrs 04 mths 24 yrs 02 mths Department Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Department of Revenue DHR - Public Health Ga. Merit System of Pers. Adm. Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Tax Officials DHR - DFACS Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga.Dept of Community Health Ga. Student Finance Commission Ga. Dept. of Transportation Georgia Technology Authority DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor DHR - DFACS DHR - Public Health CSB - E. Central Georgia Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Labor Tax Officials DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Labor DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Dept. of Juvenile Justice CSB-Pineland Area MH Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Tax Officials Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga.Dept of Community Health DHR - DFACS CSB-GA Highlands Ga. Dept. of Public Safety CSB-McIntosh Trail Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-Albany DHR - DFACS Ga.Dept of Community Health Ga. Dept. of Labor Glisson, Jouida A 16 yrs 04 mths Goolsby, Sharon C. 19 yrs 11 mths Gourley, Ralph M 26 yrs 02 mths Haliburton, Richard 34 yrs 00 mths Hall, Willie Maude 12 yrs 00 mths Halstead, John Lee 10 yrs 02 mths Hamilton, Evelyn L 34 yrs 00 mths Hamilton, Peggy G 28 yrs 04 mths Hamrick, Helen P. 26 yrs 04 mths Hankins, Geraldine H 10 yrs 00 mths Harrison, Judith D 30 yrs 02 mths Hart, Gail 15 yrs 05 mths Hayes, Lucille M 25 yrs 00 mths Heller, Larry George 11 yrs 02 mths Holliday Jr, Earnest 21 yrs 05 mths Holt, Angelynn M 34 yrs 00 mths Hubbard, Linda B 34 yrs 00 mths Hudson, Kathaneeta P 31 yrs 03 mths Huggins, George L 23 yrs 07 mths Hughey, Annie Maude 19 yrs 03 mths Hunter, Willie Lee 18 yrs 04 mths Jackson, Janice 24 yrs 00 mths Jenkins, William Harris 17 yrs 06 mths Job, Mary E 25 yrs 00 mths Johnson, Maurice L 34 yrs 00 mths Johnson, William R 30 yrs 05 mths Jones, Sylvia D 32 yrs 07 mths Jones, Mary E 21 yrs 07 mths Joyner, Eleanor M 24 yrs 09 mths Kavanaugh, Warren 33 yrs 00 mths Kirkland, Charlotte Geraldine 14 yrs 02 mths Kreckman, Lexie A 34 yrs 01 mths Lawhorn, Dorothy F 35 yrs 06 mths Lawrence, Wilburn A 29 yrs 01 mths Lightsey, H. Leaburn 11 yrs 07 mths Lockridge, James D 34 yrs 01 mths Lord, Marcia I 34 yrs 00 mths Lowery, Thomas D 28 yrs 00 mths Lynn, Leonard D 34 yrs 00 mths Magwood, Jacqueline J 15 yrs 09 mths Mandelke, Patricia J 31 yrs 00 mths Mansour, Margie W 30 yrs 04 mths Martin, Nancy E 34 yrs 00 mths Mathews, Shirley A 18 yrs 01 mths Mathis, Mary Pugh 10 yrs 03 mths McDonald, Patricia C. 34 yrs 07 mths McDuffie, Carolyn 24 yrs 10 mths McKinley, Carolyn O. 34 yrs 07 mths McLockin, Boyd Sims 24 yrs 10 mths Melton, Gloria B 34 yrs 00 mths Miller, Joan 10 yrs 11 mths Moncrief, Barbara B 15 yrs 00 mths Morgan, Marty A 14 yrs 00 mths Morrow, Marilyn A 17 yrs 10 mths NeSmith, Vicki 24 yrs 09 mths Nikore, Vimal Vicky 19 yrs 08 mths Oneal, Patsy Ann 16 yrs 04 mths Palmer, Bridget M 30 yrs 00 mths Parker, John E 25 yrs 05 mths Parks, Mae Helen 29 yrs 05 mths Patrick, Freddie B 26 yrs 01 mths Peach, Frances L 17 yrs 06 mths Peek Jr, James H 26 yrs 00 mths Peterson, Yolanda M. 25 yrs 01 mths Pettis, John E 34 yrs 00 mths Petty, Paul C 34 yrs 05 mths Phelps, Geraldine B 18 yrs 11 mths Plunkett, Phillip Boyce 34 yrs 11 mths Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources State Board Pardons & Paroles Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - BOCOP Ga. Dept. of Corrections Department of Revenue DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Labor Department of Revenue DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources CSB-GA Mountains Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections State Board Pardons & Paroles Ga. Bureau of Investigation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-Northeast GA Center Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-Coastal Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Georgia Forestry Commission DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Public Safety DHR - DFACS Georgia Forestry Commission Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Transportation Altamaha Technical College Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Agriculture Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Labor DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-GA Mountains DHR - DFACS DHR - DFACS DHR - Public Health Jekyll Island State Park Found CSB-Gwinnett/Rockdale/Newton CSB-Northeast GA Center Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources CSB - E. Central Georgia Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety South Ga Technical College Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-Coastal Ga. Correctional Industries Ga. Dept. of Admin. Services Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Georgia Forestry Commission Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Georgia Technology Authority continued on page 5 Summer 2004 Page 5 Congratulations to these dedicated state retirees Submitted by The Employee Retirement System Price, Mitchell P 34 yrs 02 mths Ramsey, Nona C. 19 yrs 08 mths Raulerson, Margie F 19 yrs 04 mths Rentz, Rodney Allen 30 yrs 00 mths Rhodes, Roberta Elayne 25 yrs 04 mths Rich, Marion S 22 yrs 03 mths Riordan, Margaret M 16 yrs 07 mths Robinson, Carol C 30 yrs 00 mths Rosborough, Douglas Harvey 21 yrs 07 mths Rucker, Roy Thomas 18 yrs 09 mths Seabolt, Lester S 28 yrs 06 mths Sellars, Ken 14 yrs 02 mths Shavers, Viola H 25 yrs 02 mths Shiflet, Michael David 34 yrs 01 mths Shinholster, Leola D 34 yrs 00 mths Sibert, Robert L 27 yrs 07 mths Sims, James R 29 yrs 04 mths Smith, Wayland Roger 29 yrs 03 mths Smith, Stephanie M 14 yrs 04 mths Smith, Danny R 13 yrs 10 mths Southern, John Emerson 16 yrs 02 mths Sparks, Janice F 34 yrs 00 mths Stavropoulos, Jimmy 34 yrs 00 mths Stevens, Patricia S 30 yrs 00 mths Stewart, Darrell E 27 yrs 10 mths Summers, Katie Mae 31 yrs 01 mths Tanner, John Clark 17 yrs 09 mths Thomas, Gerald Leo 19 yrs 04 mths Thomas Jr, Robert 13 yrs 01 mths Thompson, Danny M 31 yrs 11 mths Tolley, Judy 11 yrs 01 mths Turner, Linda R 34 yrs 03 mths Walker, Maxine 30 yrs 01 mths Wall, Daniel R. 29 yrs 08 mths Wallen, James W 34 yrs 01 mths Walton, Ellen R. 17 yrs 08 mths Warren, Joseph Edward 18 yrs 10 mths Webb, Betty J 30 yrs 01 mths Wickersham, William Robert 15 yrs 04 mths Wickline, William R 17 yrs 00 mths Williams, Laverne H 34 yrs 05 mths Williamson, Sara L 10 yrs 00 mths Wood, Ronald A 31 yrs 00 mths Yarbrough, Peggy C 10 yrs 01 mths Young, Harvey G 34 yrs 02 mths Name February 2004 Years of Service Barnes Sr, Elijah Bedford, Doris P Bennett, Diallo I Blackburn, David R Bradshaw, Joyce B Brock, Rebecca J Brooks, John C Brown, Sandra Faye Bryan, Robert L Bryant, Derenda B Bush, Barbara P Carlan, Jerry Chapman, James Haines Chesser, Barry S 13 yrs 04 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 11 yrs 02 mths 26 yrs 02 mths 30 yrs 06 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 11 yrs 01 mths 31 yrs 11 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 22 yrs 08 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 21 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Bureau of Investigation Ga. Dept. of Labor Department of Revenue Department of Revenue Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Office of Comm. of Insurance Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources CSB-New Horizons Ga. Dept. of Corrections Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Labor Georgia Technology Authority Ga. Dept. of Labor Georgia Forestry Commission CSB-Ogeechee Ga. Dept. of Corrections Office of Planning and Budget DHR - Public Health Ga. Correctional Industries Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources CSB-Albany Ga. Dept. of Community Affairs Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources DHR - Public Health Georgia Forestry Commission Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Department of Revenue CSB-GA Highlands Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Department Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Office of Comm. of Insurance CSB-Ogeechee DHR - Public Health DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Agriculture Department of Revenue Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Transportation Office of Comm. of Insurance Georgia Forestry Commission Chestnutt, Hal W Cloer, Tina Darnell Coats, Johnny Lee Collins, Dobbie J Crowe, Reba Curry, Catherine H Daniel, Gail B Devane, Darrell G Dickerson, Charles Ira Dixon, Bobby Gene Doster, Kathleen B Drummond Jr, Troy W Fletcher, Lucia C Frohberg, Diane B Gailey, Nicholas J Gambill, William Lee Gates, Christopher Geiger, Marilyn Kathleen Gibbs, Harry Gibbs, James Elliott Gill, Thomas J Gosa Jr, Forrest W Graham, Sharon B Griffin, Gisela N Hagen, Benjamin Hallum, Alan W Hammer, Merlyn James Hardage, Phyllis S Harris, Devonia Harris, Percy Hayes, Amanda A Heard, Pecola G Hodge, Arthur H Holloway, Constance Marie Humphrey, Laverne M Humphrey, Arnold Hurd-Smith, Jerry C. Hutcherson, Carolyn M Jennings Jr, James T Johns, Deborah Glover Johnson, Ralph D Johnson, James Murdock Johnston, Diana H Johnston, Judy T Jordan, Thomas Keene, Harold O Kemp, Laquita J Kent, Hal Robert Kimbell, Robert Dean Kingsley, Tanya W. Kitchens Jr, Levi Jackson Knops, Gerardus M Laplume, Andre M Lee, Rosie Belle Mancil, Joan Kay Martus, Leroy C McKibben, Alvanese R McPherson, Janet Grier Mills, James F Mitchell, Daniel L Moore, Thomas M Mull, Carol Ruth Oliver, Nancy Gayle Parkerson, Patricia A Quiller, Mary J Reed, Annette B Rentz, Thomas W. Robbins, Geraldine W 34 yrs 00 mths 20 yrs 02 mths 13 yrs 07 mths 31 yrs 06 mths 20 yrs 02 mths 28 yrs 02 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 21 yrs 04 mths 11 yrs 00 mths 11 yrs 03 mths 19 yrs 08 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 30 yrs 01 mths 10 yrs 03 mths 10 yrs 09 mths 32 yrs 07 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 30 yrs 00 mths 13 yrs 00 mths 10 yrs 05 mths 11 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 11 mths 31 yrs 03 mths 10 yrs 00 mths 26 yrs 03 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 14 yrs 09 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 27 yrs 10 mths 14 yrs 09 mths 26 yrs 10 mths 17 yrs 01 mths 27 yrs 05 mths 28 yrs 06 mths 14 yrs 03 mths 15 yrs 05 mths 11 yrs 04 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 33 yrs 04 mths 11 yrs 11 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 33 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 31 yrs 01 mths 22 yrs 07 mths 32 yrs 00 mths 28 yrs 10 mths 27 yrs 01 mths 21 yrs 02 mths 14 yrs 04 mths 19 yrs 11 mths 21 yrs 01 mths 28 yrs 00 mths 32 yrs 11 mths 29 yrs 11 mths 16 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 02 mths 24 yrs 02 mths 20 yrs 07 mths 26 yrs 09 mths 18 yrs 00 mths 15 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 30 yrs 00 mths 40 yrs 10 mths 30 yrs 02 mths Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Defense Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-Gwinnett/Rockdale/Newton DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Education Ga. Dept. of Labor DHR - DFACS Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Corrections Secretary of State Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Education Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-Clayton County DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Central Georgia Tech College Conversion Company Default Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Dept. of Community Affairs Conversion Company Default Department of Revenue Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Georgia Forestry Commission Secretary of State Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Georgia Technology Authority Georgia Building Authority Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Georgia Technology Authority Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Human Resources GA Dept of Banking & Finance Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Correctional Industries Ga. Dept. of Admin. Services Ga.Dept of Community Health Ga. Dept. of Labor Dept. of Juvenile Justice CSB-Ogeechee Ga. Dept. of Agriculture CSB-Ogeechee continued on page 6 Page 6 Summer 2004 Congratulations to these dedicated state retirees Submitted by The Employee Retirement System Robertson, Charles E Rodgers, Elizabeth J Rowell, Brenda Rudolph, Clarence L Saye, Janie Scarborough, Thomas M Seymour, Walton E Sherrod, Billie J. Shinholster, Kieser Short, Elizabeth Simpson, Marie Small, Ernestine C Smith, Cynthia J Smith, Patricia Brown Spikes, Matthew Stephens, Annette Stephenson, Emmett David Stone, Gail L Strickland, Joyce Diane Stuart, Audrey Lynn Swanager, Vicki Lynn Thompson, Willette R Thrower, Miriam K. Tibbitts-Ratteree, Joan E. Townsend, William Trawick, Ella M Tufts, David Underwood, Minnie Kate Vansant, Carolyn Ennis Wagner, Thomas M Walker, Harriet H Walker, Elsie Marie Watkins, Elaine W Watts, David Allan Weaver, Mary Ann Welch, Mary S Wesley, Clarence West, Jesse Walter Wheat, Beverly A White, Gloria Jean Whitehurst, Annette G Wiggins Jr, Clarke Williams, John Bennett Wood, Joy E Young, Alan R 34 yrs 00 mths 14 yrs 04 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 14 yrs 02 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 17 yrs 04 mths 30 yrs 02 mths 29 yrs 09 mths 30 yrs 00 mths 16 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 31 yrs 02 mths 22 yrs 03 mths 22 yrs 08 mths 17 yrs 08 mths 27 yrs 04 mths 25 yrs 07 mths 10 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 24 yrs 04 mths 10 yrs 00 mths 32 yrs 05 mths 22 yrs 06 mths 10 yrs 00 mths 21 yrs 10 mths 33 yrs 10 mths 11 yrs 05 mths 15 yrs 10 mths 14 yrs 00 mths 36 yrs 06 mths 34 yrs 11 mths 13 yrs 03 mths 27 yrs 06 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 21 yrs 10 mths 13 yrs 02 mths 25 yrs 00 mths Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation Tax Officials Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Education Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Department of Revenue DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-Lookout Mountain DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-Albany DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Georgia Forestry Commission Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-McIntosh Trail CSB-Northeast GA Center Griffin Technical College Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources CSB-McIntosh Trail Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Kennesaw State University Dept. of Juvenile Justice Conversion Company Default Dept. of Juvenile Justice CSB-Middle Flint Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor State Board Pardons & Paroles Ga. Dept. of Agriculture Ga. Dept. of Corrections Superior Courts of Georgia Ga. Dept. of Corrections March 2004 Name Years of Service Abdullah, Winifred M. Alberty Jr, John E Alford, Martha Jane Archer, Martha H Arthur-Parker, Pamela Jean Barron, Glenda W Bauer, Richard A Betha Jr, Zeb Thomas Bieri, Ronnie Chris Blackmon, Peggy P Botton, Daniel L Bradford, Linda J Bradford, Ann H Brooks, Gloria Jean Brown, Donald R Brown, Ted B 16 yrs 08 mths 25 yrs 00 mths 27 yrs 06 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 27 yrs 10 mths 21 yrs 03 mths 20 yrs 09 mths 10 yrs 11 mths 32 yrs 08 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 31 yrs 10 mths 26 yrs 06 mths 23 yrs 07 mths 26 yrs 02 mths 28 yrs 11 mths 25 yrs 02 mths Department Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources State Board of Workers' Comp Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections Dept. of Juvenile Justice Secretary of State Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Labor Department of Revenue DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Transportation Bryant, Nancy Ann 14 yrs 08 mths Bryant, Jack Delano 10 yrs 00 mths Bryson, Larry N 28 yrs 03 mths Buckner, Melvyn P. 23 yrs 04 mths Carman, Neoma Jean 10 yrs 00 mths Carter, Kenneth E 30 yrs 09 mths Carthern, Laura B 14 yrs 00 mths Childree, Judy Denise 19 yrs 09 mths Clark, Nicky G 34 yrs 00 mths Clark, Lena M 28 yrs 10 mths Colwell, Joann 31 yrs 10 mths Copeland, Shirley C 34 yrs 00 mths Crain, Freddie Edward 11 yrs 05 mths Craven, Joanne H 17 yrs 00 mths Crosier, Charles D. 24 yrs 04 mths Dalrymple, Terry D 29 yrs 02 mths Davis, Judy C. 29 yrs 04 mths Day, Alma 17 yrs 05 mths Dennis, Alfreda H 15 yrs 04 mths Doss, David Emory 14 yrs 02 mths Dunham, Phyllis 30 yrs 04 mths Durden, Rhonda C 18 yrs 01 mths Ellis Jr, Herbert L 29 yrs 05 mths Fincher Jr, Ben Woodrow 19 yrs 04 mths Fortenberry, Maudine 25 yrs 01 mths Freeman, Myron E 33 yrs 06 mths Ginn, Donald Lee 25 yrs 00 mths Goodson, Dorothy Mae 15 yrs 06 mths Granger, Melinda B 22 yrs 04 mths Gray, Robert F 33 yrs 03 mths Greiner, Francine Klein 15 yrs 02 mths Grice, Dennis Eugene 13 yrs 08 mths Hand, Jerry 20 yrs 00 mths Henderson, Edward 16 yrs 07 mths Henderson Jr, Wallace 18 yrs 00 mths Hendrix, Geraldine 25 yrs 05 mths Henry, Sedgesbert A 13 yrs 09 mths Hicks, Estella G 25 yrs 07 mths Hooper, Connie Marie 13 yrs 09 mths Hunt, Eddye L 13 yrs 01 mths Ingram, Willie L 30 yrs 00 mths Jiminez, Joylene A. 10 yrs 07 mths Jones, Mattie M 34 yrs 00 mths Jordan, Kay W 33 yrs 00 mths Justice, Simmie Mae 34 yrs 00 mths Kaplan, Barbara A 15 yrs 08 mths Kidd, John T 31 yrs 11 mths Lewis, Ida L 15 yrs 08 mths Lockhart, Pearlie Mae 17 yrs 07 mths Long, Jr.Raleigh M 34 yrs 00 mths Lovelace, Marguerite G. 20 yrs 10 mths Lowery, Charles Christopher 11 yrs 03 mths Mann, Sue E 16 yrs 05 mths Marshall, Sandra Norwood 33 yrs 06 mths Mason, Myra George 22 yrs 08 mths Massey, June A 32 yrs 10 mths McMichael, David N 32 yrs 00 mths Meely, Patricia Jane 24 yrs 11 mths Messer, Beverly T 10 yrs 01 mths Metts, Patricia 22 yrs 03 mths Milleman, Sandra S 17 yrs 02 mths Millians, Linda F 29 yrs 04 mths Milliken, Beth A 28 yrs 05 mths Mitchell, Willa M 35 yrs 05 mths Morris, Carol G 34 yrs 00 mths Morrison, Barbara J 24 yrs 06 mths Moss, Edward M 34 yrs 00 mths Ga. Dept. of Corrections Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Department of Revenue Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Department of Revenue Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Community Affairs DHR - DFACS DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety GA Federal-State Inspection Se Tax Officials Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Office of Comm. of Insurance CSB-Satilla Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-GA Mountains Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety Georgia Forestry Commission DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation Georgia Technology Authority Georgia Technology Authority Ga. Dept. of Transportation CSB-Albany Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Conversion Company Default CSB - E. Central Georgia DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Secretary of State Ga. Dept. of Public Safety DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources North Ga Technical College DHR - Public Health Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Bureau of Investigation continued on page 7 Summer 2004 Page 7 Congratulations to these dedicated state retirees Submitted by The Employee Retirement System Parks, Annette Parson, William Randall Petain, Kostantine Pittman, Bobby Ray Powell Sr, John David Ragains, Susan S Reeves, Mona L Rhudy, Shirley M. Rickman, Wilbur Cordell Ridgeway, Gisela Roberson, Sandra J Roland, Billy Gray Ryder, Carolyn E Sears, Henry H Sellers, Michael I Session, Emma W Setser, James L Short, Mattie Sikes, Willard D Simons, H Thomas Singleton, Robert W Skrine, Toby J Smith, Joyce C Smith, William E Sparks, Jerry W. Spires, Carolyn R Stephenson, Alice T Stewart, Doyle T Strange, Sandra G Strickland, Marian M Strozier, Emily W Taylor, George M Taylor, Tommie Hayes Thomas, Paul G Thompson, Robert W Thurmond, Mary A Towns, Tanis Travillian, Carl F Turner, Jean B VanHook, JoAnn C. Vaughn, David Ernest Vines, Marlon R Walker, Patricia E Walker, Stacia H Walker Jr, Charles Curtis Walker Jr, Billy Ware White, Ardith Wayne White Jr, Robert Eugene Whittaker, Dean Daniel Williams, Tomacia L Woodard, Roosevelt Wren, Harriette L. Wyche, Terry 30 yrs 04 mths 11 yrs 01 mths 13 yrs 06 mths 18 yrs 05 mths 11 yrs 03 mths 24 yrs 05 mths 13 yrs 05 mths 10 yrs 01 mths 27 yrs 08 mths 30 yrs 08 mths 21 yrs 03 mths 22 yrs 10 mths 29 yrs 04 mths 32 yrs 07 mths 25 yrs 04 mths 25 yrs 00 mths 28 yrs 10 mths 29 yrs 04 mths 24 yrs 09 mths 32 yrs 01 mths 32 yrs 06 mths 30 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 03 mths 19 yrs 05 mths 10 yrs 00 mths 31 yrs 11 mths 10 yrs 05 mths 31 yrs 08 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 33 yrs 01 mths 33 yrs 04 mths 15 yrs 00 mths 14 yrs 05 mths 28 yrs 06 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 29 yrs 01 mths 23 yrs 05 mths 14 yrs 03 mths 10 yrs 05 mths 20 yrs 01 mths 13 yrs 04 mths 33 yrs 02 mths 32 yrs 02 mths 31 yrs 05 mths 13 yrs 08 mths 14 yrs 06 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 18 yrs 08 mths 19 yrs 01 mths 15 yrs 10 mths 30 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths Pathways Cntr Behav Devel Grwt Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources CSB-Lookout Mountain CSB-GA Highlands Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Correctional Industries CSB-New Horizons Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources CSB-New Horizons Ga. Dept. of Corrections Georgia Technology Authority CSB-DeKalb County Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Labor Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Labor DHR - DFACS Georgia Technology Authority Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Labor DHR - Public Health State Board Pardons & Paroles DHR - Public Health Industry, Trade & Tourism Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Corrections State Board Pardons & Paroles Ga. Bureau of Investigation Secretary of State Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Labor Name Adams, Walter A Albertson, Joan S Aldridge, Charlie L Anderson, James Pierce Ansley, Mabel E Ashe, Henry D Bagwell, Susan G April 2004 Years of Service 23 yrs 01 mths 22 yrs 10 mths 14 yrs 11 mths 16 yrs 04 mths 29 yrs 01 mths 28 yrs 04 mths 34 yrs 00 mths Department Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections Office of Comm. of Insurance DHR - Public Health Pathways Cntr Behav Devel Grwt DHR - DFACS Bailey, Joseph 27 yrs 01 mths Bennett, Marvin 30 yrs 03 mths Bentley, Sherman 16 yrs 01 mths Benton, Harold C 24 yrs 11 mths Berryhill, Carolyn 29 yrs 08 mths Bishop, Donald R 15 yrs 07 mths Bishop, Billy P 10 yrs 07 mths Boazman, Lottie P 31 yrs 00 mths Boe, Carol R. 16 yrs 01 mths Bralley, James R 30 yrs 00 mths Brown, Howard E 34 yrs 00 mths Bryan, Wilma 15 yrs 02 mths Burden, Diane H. 25 yrs 03 mths Butler, Albert W. 34 yrs 00 mths Capers, Elijah 11 yrs 02 mths Carlton, Elaine Peters 26 yrs 09 mths Carmony, H. Walter 34 yrs 00 mths Carnahan, Merl Oliver 12 yrs 04 mths Clark, James Edward 34 yrs 01 mths Clark, Winifred S 30 yrs 02 mths Cody, Nancy B. 30 yrs 07 mths Coleman, Carolyn Mathis 14 yrs 09 mths Colvard, Randall D 33 yrs 09 mths Conner, James Lloyd 26 yrs 00 mths Copeland, Kathryn W 34 yrs 00 mths Courtoy, Byron R 34 yrs 00 mths Crawford, Fred 19 yrs 03 mths Cunningham, Deloris Hefner 34 yrs 00 mths Dancsecs, Brenda 26 yrs 03 mths Darby, James F 34 yrs 00 mths Darby, Roscoe Sams 10 yrs 02 mths Davis, Connie M 13 yrs 08 mths Day, Eugene A 34 yrs 00 mths DeBord, Wilburn F 34 yrs 00 mths Denney, Carol C 17 yrs 01 mths Dennis, Mattie Lou 31 yrs 00 mths Dickerson, Mark A 30 yrs 00 mths Dorsey, Jewel H 32 yrs 05 mths Douglas Jr, Charlie 20 yrs 04 mths Duncan, James B 33 yrs 05 mths Eller, Stanley Scott 24 yrs 09 mths Elliott, Barbara J 27 yrs 00 mths Fleckman, Patricia H 15 yrs 10 mths Ford, Syble P 34 yrs 00 mths Fort, Larry 31 yrs 07 mths Foster, James Elbert 17 yrs 10 mths Franklin, Celia C 34 yrs 05 mths Free, Larry B 34 yrs 00 mths Garrett, Jack E 30 yrs 00 mths Giles, Michael A 28 yrs 07 mths Gorin, Cynthia B 14 yrs 05 mths Granger, Ricky O 31 yrs 10 mths Green, Gladys 34 yrs 00 mths Green, Karen Johnson 27 yrs 00 mths Green, Janie Guyton 19 yrs 03 mths Green, Earnest 14 yrs 02 mths Griffin, Lola B. 25 yrs 01 mths Gussio, Mary Rymer 17 yrs 11 mths Hamby, Larry Eugene 11 yrs 05 mths Hamilton, Jack E 33 yrs 03 mths Hammitt, Joan N 35 yrs 01 mths Harrison, Ruth Chapman 25 yrs 03 mths Harrison, Garrie D. 16 yrs 02 mths Hart, Leonard T 34 yrs 00 mths Hatcher, Stephen W 34 yrs 00 mths Henderson, Nancy C 34 yrs 03 mths Hicks, Jon Kent 18 yrs 05 mths Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources George L. Smith II - GWCCA Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS DHR - Public Health State Board Pardons & Paroles Ga. Dept. of Corrections Tax Officials Ga. Dept. of Corrections GA Federal-State Inspection Se Dept. of Juvenile Justice DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Human Resources CSB-Coastal Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Transportation DHR - Public Health Tax Officials Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-GA Highlands Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources State Board of Workers' Comp DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources CSB-South Georgia Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety CSB-Gwinnett/Rockdale/Newton Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation DHR - DFACS DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources continued on page 13 Page 8 Summer 2004 Documentation required for dependent health coverage The State Health Benefit Plan SHBP recently completed the first phase of dependent verifications. Under this initiative, employees with family health coverage have to provide documentation supporting that all their listed dependents are eligible for SHBP coverage. These verifications are similar to dependent reviews conducted by other large employers both nationally and in Georgia. Since the SHBP is a self-funded plan, employee premiums and state funds pay all claims including those submitted by ineligible dependents. Of Plan members audited to date, six percent failed to provide documentation for their dependents. SHBP mailed certified dependent coverage termination notices to all affected subscribers. Recovery efforts for paid claims are now in progress. The dependent verification process will be ongoing. Eventually, all employees with family coverage will be asked to provide dependent verification. SHBP members who are asked to submit documentation on dependents must do so within 60 days of the request for verification. The Plan requires: A copy of your certified marriage license to cover spouses; A copy of the certified birth certificate to cover a natural child; A copy of a stepchild's certified birth certificate, show- ing your legal spouse as the natural parent of the child, and a notarized letter documenting that your stepchild lives in your home on a permanent basis in a parent- child relationship for at least 180 days per year; Adoption papers, guardian or court orders for other children who live with you permanently and are legally dependent on you for financial support. (The SHBP will recognize and honor a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO) for eligible dependents. See your Summary Plan Description (SPD) for more information); Disability paperwork for disabled dependents 19 and over. This documentation must be received by the Plan before the child's 19th birthday; or A certification letter for full-time student dependents from the registrar's office of your child's school. Marchand tops in International Trade Doug J. Marchand, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority has been named to the Journal of Commerce's 2004 "Leadership Roll" as one of 15 leaders in international trade. Marchand, who has served as director for the Georgia Ports Authority since 1994, was the only director of an American port authority to be named to the list. Marchand's listing is due in part to the implementation of a Client Relations Center created in December 2002 to serve customers more effectively. The center was designed to serve as a front-line communications tool, providing customers and other port-users with a direct, responsive link to service assistance, cargo coordination and issue resolution. Under his leadership, the organization experienced unprecedented growth and major expansion projects at the ports. The Georgia Capitol Ornament Order Form The Georgia Capitol Museum is pleased to introduce the first limited edition in a series of collectible ornaments. GRTA Sponsors Xpress Service Xpress is the brand new, clean, comfortable, convenient express commuter service in the Atlanta region. Connecting home, work, school and play, Xpress luxury coaches carry riders throughout the region each weekday, freeing them from the costs and worries of driving alone. Sponsored by GRTA and 11 metropolitan Atlanta counties, Xpress service began this summer. The first two Xpress routes were #420, connecting Sigman Road with Downtown Atlanta, and #440, Tara Boulevard from the Atlanta Motor Speedway, to the Clayton County Justice Center and on to downtown Atlanta. Last month, services extended to include Route #400, from Cumming to the North Springs MARTA station; Route #460, from Douglasville to Downtown Atlanta; Route #408 on Peachtree Parkway to the Doraville MARTA station; Route #430, connecting McDonough with downtown Atlanta. In the fall, service from Acworth, Powder Springs, Panola Road and Coweta County will begin. Service from Discover Mills to the Lindbergh Center MARTA station and Midtown Atlanta will begin in the winter. Xpress fares are $3 one way, $5 round-trip, $45 for a 20 trip ticket and $80 for a 31-day pass. Reverse commute on specific routes is half price. For more information about Xpress, visit the website at www.XpressGa.com or call Xpress at 404-463-4782. Wellness Activities Sponsored by The Georgia Merit System and The Department of Community Health A wellness fair will be held at the Sheraton Augusta Hotel for state employees. The Augusta wellness fair is scheduled for October 6, 2004, 8:00 am unit 1:00 pm. A number of services will be provided free to employees as well as a variety of wellness information. October 1 & 12, 2004, Flu Shots will be given from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. Flu shots will be given in room 512, West Tower of the Sloppy Floyd Building. Flu Shots will cost $20. Pneumonia, Tetanus, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B shots are also available for a fee. If You have questions please contact the Georgia Merit System at (404) 651-5042. We invite you to become an annual collector of these keepsakes. This year's ornament features the Capitol building from a detailed drawing. The 3" x 2" ornament is finished in 24K gold. Cost: $20.00 per ornament Make check payable to: Secretary of State Acct. 400-42 Mail order to: Georgia Capitol Museum 432 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 404-651-7600 Name______________________________Quantity____ Address_______________________________________ City________________ State_________ Zip_________ Proceeds benefit "Save Georgia's Historic Flags." Summer 2004 Page 9 HHH 2004 Public Employee Recognition HHH Cus tomer Servi ce Name Ruby Robinson Benita Bowers Crystal Armstrong Bessie Mosley Michele Carter Daphne Blue Ermias Bekele Louis Eldridge Merline Brewer Debra Roberts AskDOE Sequoya Nelson Linda Sullivan Bonnie Tinker Donna Gordon Jenny L. Neville Dislocation Services Crime Scene Specialists Dean Crist License Unit Transition Team Ronald B. Mercer Donese Ghani Theda Hicks John Roach Jimmy Smith Dawn Young Community Service Name Tyler Kerr Shasta Thomas Connie Haynes Michelle Owens Charles A. Carter Tammy May Ron Frazier Sergeant Danny Crook Savannah Impact Program Jennifer Newby Lead ers hip Award Name Mark Bodenheim Mary Jane Beeson Dwayne Robinson Margaret James Dr. Tom O'Rourke Captain Johnny Jones Herman Hill Lisa Thomas Melissa Jones Ebone Richardson Cindy Moss Carol Anne Webb Kevin Kelley Betty Echols-Jones Lon Revall William R. Murphy Chief James Anderson Laura Ellis Patrick White Diane Frazier & Gwen Wiggins Forrest Sumner Nominees Innovations /Suggestions Agency Public Service Commission Department of Community Health Georgia Technology Authority Georgia Building Authority Employee Retirement System Department of Juvenile Justice GA State Financing and Investment Com. Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs Department of Motor Vehicle Safety Department of Corrections Department of Education Department of Defense Secretary of State Administrative Office of The Courts Department of Human Resources Department of Banking and Finance Department of Labor Georgia Bureau of Investigation Harris County Department of Natural Resources Department of Transportation Department of Revenue Georgia World Congress Center Georgia Merit System Georgia Finance Commission Department of Public Safety Agency Georgia Building Authority Department of Juvenile Justice Department of Motor Vehicle Safety Department of Corrections Department of Defense Department of Human Resource Department of Labor Department of Natural Resources PAP Georgia World Congress Center Agency Hall County Department of Community Health Georgia Building Authority Employee Retirement System Department of Juvenile Justice Department of Motor Vehicle Safety Department of Corrections Department of Defense Secretary of State Administrative Office of the Courts Department of Human Resources Department of Banking and Finance Department of Labor Georgia Bureau of Investigation Department of Natural Resources Department of Transportation Pardons and Parole Department of Revenue Georgia World Congress Center Georgia Merit System Georgia Forestry Commission Name Jerome Williams Catherine Sterling Roy T. Jr. Edgerton Roger Lotson Professional & Paraprofessional Accountants Marie Chow Sandy Wexler Gwinnett Judicial Circuit Child Support Enforcement Richard Sawyer William Jackson Lt. David Cody Team Award Name Engineering Assistant Team Employment Service Business Enterprise GBI Agents Red Top Mountain State Park Deer Management Team District Two Concrete Maintenance Section Perry Smith,District Bridge & Concrete Maintenance Manager CMAs Centennial Olympic Park Maintenance Team Information Technology Project Newton Rockdale Forestry Unit On-Line ADAP Implementation Team Composite State Board of Medical Examiners, Investigations Section Houston Co. Environmental Dekalb Co. Public Health Hall Co. Public Health District 2 Curriculum Standards Team Canine Unit DMVS Call Center Jason Banks & Company Asset Management Team Professional Services Team Heroism Award Name Audrey Reid Otis Robinson Ernest Murrah Terry Hicks Ginger Collins Keith Harden Karen Davis-Keene Agency Department of Juvenile Justice Department of Motor Vehicle Safety Department of Corrections Department of Defense Secretary of State Department of Human Resources Department of Natural Resources Office of State Administrative Hearings Georgia World Congress Center Georgia Merit System Department of Public Safety Agency Department of Defense Department of Human Resources/ Dept. of Family and Children Services Department of Labor Georgia Bureau of Investigation Department of Natural Resources Department of Transportation Office of State Administrative Hearings Georgia World Congress Center Georgia Merit Georgia Finance Commission Department of Public Safety Composite State Board Environmental Health Dekalb Co. Public Health Hall Co. Public Health Department of Education Department of Corrections Department of Motor Vehicle Safety Georgia Building Authority Georgia Technology Authority Department of Community Health Agency Georgia Building Authority Department of Juvenile Justice Department of Motor Vehicle Safety Department of Corrections Department of Transportation Georgia World Congress Center Georgia Merit System H Faithful Service Sa fety Awa rd Name State Board of Worker's Comp. Safety Cmte. Raymond Samuel Jay B. Martin Carole C. Jakeway Ricky Smith District Two Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Video Production Team Agency State Board of Workers' Comp. Department of Motor Vehicle Safety Administrative Office of the Courts Department of Human Resources Department of Transportation Georgia Finance Commission Commissioner Pete Wheeler Robert C. Pilkinton Veterans Service for 55 years of service Department of Transportation for 42 years and 3 months of service Page 10 Summer 2004 A Salute T H H H Public EHmHplHoHyee Recognition H Customer Service H Community Service Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Debra Roberts Dept. of Corrections Theda Hicks World Congress Ctr. Merline Brewer, second from left Merline Brewer Merline Brewer is a model state employee who works for the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety (DMVS). She is a true professional in every sense of the word; possessing a "can-do" attitude, genuine interest in others and has the ability to communicate to individuals on all levels. Ms. Brewer custom designed, developed and delivered a statewide Q-Matic Customer Workflow Applications and Excellence in Customer Service training program. Her initiative to provide internal training saved DMVS in excess of $50,000 in contractor proposed training costs. During the first three phases of this program, Ms. Brewer presented Customer Service training to 450 Driver Services personnel over a three-month period during annual In-Service training; she was the lead trainer during the statewide implementation of the Q-Matic Work Flow and Lobby Management System Program, encompassing a total of 94 sites; and she conducted on-going follow-up training/consulting to the field she is the state-wide contact for Q-Matic and customer service issues. Ms. Brewer's training accomplishments are well documented through improved customer service and meeting and/or exceeding performance goals. H Leadership Honorable Mention Michelle Owens Dept. of Defense Jennifer Newby World Congress Ctr. Sergeant Danny Crook, second from left Sgt. Danny Crook Sergeant Danny Crook is an exemplary Conservation Ranger for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources who is actively involved in improving the quality of life for the citizens of Haralson County. As a member of the Georgia Hunters Education Association, Sgt. Crook and his associates plan and prepare a meal for approximately fifty volunteer Hunter Education instructors from six counties including an awards ceremony and additional training. As a member of the Haralson County Wildlife Association, Sgt. Crook is the driving force for the annual community Kid's Fishing event. He coordinates volunteer opportunities and forms partnerships with other community organizations, businesses, public officials, and local citizens, to successfully secure thousands of dollars in donations to cover the costs for equipment, food and prizes for this event, as well as secure contributions to assist six needy families in his community during the past holiday season. He personally purchased meat that he delivered to the elderly and shut-ins. Sgt. Crook maintains additional community involvement with organizations including: Little Tallapoosa River Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, The Howl - Haralson County High School's quarterly outdoor writing magazine, Boy Scouts of America, 4-H Shooting Team, Relay for Life, Polk and Carroll Counties Kid's Fishing Events, and church, civic and sportsman organizations. H Heroism Honorable Mention Kevin Kelley Dept. of Labor Cindy Moss Dept. of Human Resources Lisa Thomas, third from left Lisa Thomas Lisa Thomas is a Food Service Director for the Department of Defense Ft. Stewart Campus of Youth Challenge Academy. She has served in this capacity for the last three or four years and has brought outstanding leadership to this department. Her staff members trust her judgment and have a strong belief in her integrity. They follow her leadership readily, and she continues to grow in this position, especially in the last year or so. Ms. Thomas saw the need for more up-to-date training in food service methodology and enrolled her staff in various courses. She leads by example, attending three training sessions herself in the past year. Ms. Thomas has constantly sought, from a multitude of sources, additional supplies and materials to support the dining facility. Within the past year, she has completely revised every menu to reduce sodium and fat content so that all menus are in full compliance with the latest health information for high school students, and she has invented a method for keeping inventory resulting in a reduction of food losses due to theft or mismanagement. During this past fall, a major inspection by the Georgia Department of Education Food Nutrition personnel found not a single thing amiss in her administration of the USDA hot breakfast and hot lunch programs from ordering, purchasing, storing, preparing and feeding to administration of funds through the dining facility. Her facility passed the Health Department Inspection with the second-highest score of any area restaurant or dining facility. Keith Harden World Congress Ctr. Ernest Murrah Motor Vehicle Safety Terry Hicks, second from left Terry Hicks On Tuesday evening, October 21, 20003, Terry Hicks - while driving by a residence on Station Crossing Drive in Albany, Georgia - saw a small child pinned beneath a car. He stopped and orchestrated a team effort to lift the vehicle and free the two-year old baby. This action was the ultimate factor in saving the child's life. Mr. Hicks is a very modest man and doesn't think of himself as a hero, but the mother of that child thought so, and so does the State of Georgia. Mr. Hicks is a Transfer Officer at the Department of Corrections' Lee State Prison. Summer 2004 Page 11 To Service H Public Employee HHReHcHHoHgnition H Innovations/Suggestions H Team Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Asset Management Team Georgia Technology Authority Roy T. Edgerton, Jr., second from left Marie Chow Dept. of Human Resources William Jackson Merit System Roy T. Edgerton, Jr. Roy T. Edgerton, Jr., Deputy Warden of Security at the Department of Corrections' Hays State Prison, began to notice that many pair of inmate boots were being discarded for several reasons, i.e., soles separating, heels separating, tears in the leather, seams becoming unstitched and worn areas on the heel corners. He took the initiative to talk to local shoe repair shops to see how much repairing the boots would cost. He felt it would be much cheaper than throwing them away and putting a new $20.00 pair of boots in service. He was right. He found that boots could be re-stitched and patched at a cost of 10 cents per boot. At 20 cents per pair, boot repair is extremely cost effective. As a result, two machines - a stitching machine and a patch machine - were purchased and placed in the facility warehouse. Four inmates were assigned to the "Boot Repair Detail" and were trained on the machines. Before long, the boot repair detail began repairing boots for other facilities throughout the state as well. Since the inception of this idea, a total of 1,094 pairs of boots have been repaired that would have otherwise been discarded. This is an estimated savings of $21,880.00. Mr. Edgerton's innovative idea is now being considered to be part of the on-the-job training program in shoe repair. This course will teach inmates a viable trade that will assist them with securing gainful employment upon their release. H Safety Honorable Mention Roy T. Edgerton, Jr., second from left DOL Business Enterprise Program: The 14 members of the Department of Labor's Business Enterprise Program (BEP) is being recognized Employment Services Dept. of Human Resources for achieving accomplishments that have allowed Georgians who are blind to obtain viable employment opportunities they might not have been able to obtain elsewhere. The primary goal of BEP is to develop viable business opportunities for Georgians who are blind to become independent entrepreneurs. Despite not having a full-time, permanent Executive Director, Deputy Director, Program Manager (absent due to 12 week maternity leave and 6 week illness) for ten months, the BEP staff successfully demonstrated true teamwork and a strong sense of organizational commitment by taking on additional duties and responsibilities while providing continuous support for the blind vendor community. Team goals have been obtained through a shared effort from staff to depend on one another and utilize each other's strengths. Using such strategies have allowed the BEP to establish a 36 station postal vending route and new snack bar for Yerkes Research Center; renovate two state snack bars; arrange the take over of the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary's vending; license six blind vendors; conduct the most successful annual blind vendor training conference ever; and appoint a counselor into temporary management duties while maintaining their appointed counselor duties and U.S. Air Force Reserve commitments. The team has gone the extra mile to provide service to internal and external customers. H Employee Suggestion State Board of Workers' Compensation Safety Committee Ricky Smith Raymond Samuel Dept. of Transportation Motor Vehicle Safety State Board of Workers' Compensation Safety Committee: The Safety Program established by the State Board of Workers' Compensation whose goal is to protect its employees from on-the-job injuries achieved a 50 percent reduction in the number of losses between 2002 and 2003. The Safety Committee has worked tirelessly to achieve this goal and provide a safer workplace for all organization employees. The Committee realizes that education and communication with employees is vital to its success. Safety training classes are held at least once a quarter for all employees. To establish exactly the scope of the organization's safety problems, a survey was distributed to all employees, asking what types of problems they were having, what type of safety training they would be interested in and what type of equipment might help them do their job more comfortably. The Committee paid attention and responded to the concerns. Committee members visited every employee's workstation, including the field offices and made appropriate adjustments. A relatively small investment in new equipment made an incredible improvement in the physical comfort and safety of employees. In 2002, there were 10 workers' compensation claims reported with a cost paid to date of $176,938. In 2003, five workers' compensation claims were reported at a cost of $5,356. All 2003 claims have been closed. Ralph T. Boyle (second from left) Donald Hutchins (middle) Leo Kight Leo Kight - Leo Kight was awarded $3,798.00 and a Certificate of Commendation for his suggestion concerning the Department of Transportation's installation of one-piece porcelain toilets to minimize vandalism at the reconstruction sites of five rest areas. The purchase of approximately 100 toilet lids at $12.50 per lid resulted in a tangible savings of $37,986.00. Ralph T. Boyle - Ralph T. Boyle was awarded $1,050.00 and a Certificate of Commendation for his suggestion concerning the improvement of completing the Department of Public Safety's Georgia Vehicle Accident Report Form in a Microsoft Access program. Mr. Boyle converted a paper document to an electronic template that could be used to input report information. Mr. Boyle's suggestion resulted in an estimated annual savings of $10,000.00 to the agency. Donald Travis Hutchins -Donald Travis Hutchins, an employee of the office of the Secretary of State, was awarded $114.00 for his suggestion concerning the implementation of a Georgia Technology Authority policy to mandate that all end user computers and monitors be turned off at the end of each business day and on weekends to conserve energy. Implementation of Mr. Hutchins's suggestion will result in intangible savings, and therefore, in addition to the $114.00, Georgia Technology Authority also recommends a Certificate of Commendation. Page 12 Merit System Commissioner Receives NASPE Award An annual National Association of State Personnel Executive's (NASPE) awards luncheon was held on August 3 in Biloxi, Mississippi where Georgia Merit System Commissioner Marjorie H. Young received the NASPE Rooney Award. Commissioner Young was honored for her outstanding leadership in Human Resource management. NASPE President, Jeff Schutt presents Commissioner Young the 2004 Eugene E. Rooney Leadership in Human Resources Management award. Summer 2004 New Name for Industry, Trade and Tourism The Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism has been given a new name. New legislation signed by Governor Sonny Perdue changed the name of the agency, effective July 1, to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Perdue also signed a second bill giving the agency authority to acquire property to lure major companies that may have an interest in locating their business in Georgia. The bill allows the agency to purchase or acquire large tracts of land with the intent of attracting companies before the decision making process is completed. Property acquired by the agency requires the approval of the State Properties Commission. Test Your Vocabulary 1. Mtier ___ (adj.) Not capable of being swayed or diverted from a course. 2. Chagrin ___ (adj.) Of an everyday character; ordinary. 3. Enervate ___ (n.) An occupation for which one is especially well suited. 4. Indolent ___ (adj.) Incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding. 5. Intransigent ___ (adj.) Avoiding labor and exertion; lazy 6. Autodidact ___ (v.) To weaken. 7. Munificent ___ (adv.) By necessity. 8. Perforce ___ (n.) Acute vexation or embarrassment. 9. Quotidian ___ (n.) A person who is self-taught. 10. Recondite ___ (adj.) Very generous. Quick a ccess to two important sta te e mployee programs is now available by visitin g the Georgia Me rit System on lin e. Just visit http://www.gms.state.ga.us/employee/FSAInfoForEmp.asp to access the Faithful Service Awards Program or http://www.gms.state.ga.us/employee/RetRecogInfoForEmp.asp for the Retiree Recognition Program. Test Your Vocabulary: Answers 1. Mtier (n.) An occupation for which one is especially wellsuited. 2. Chagrin (n.) Acute vexation or embarrassment. 3. Enervate (v.) To weaken. 4. Indolent (adj.) Avoiding labor and exertion; lazy 5. Intransigent (adj.) Not capable of being swayed or diverted from a course. 6. Autodidact (n.) A person who is self-taught. 7. Munificent (adj.) Very generous. 8. Perforce (adv.) By necessity. 9. Quotidian (adj.) Of an everyday character; ordinary. 10. Recondite (adj.) Incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding. Summer 2004 Page 13 Congratulations to these dedicated state retirees Submitted by The Employee Retirement System Hoagland, Harold Willis Hornsby, Joann House, Betty P Howard, Diana D Howard, Robert Douglas Hull, Joyce B Hulsey, Nancy G Hutto Sr, John Robert Jackson, Gwendolyn P Kelehar, Nancy B Kelly, Martin B. Kennedy, Janie Sue Kerr Jr, George R Kimsey Sr, Charles Ed Kitchens, Bruce Steve Ladd, Betty Jane Latta, Wanda G Lawrence, Mae H Layfield, Melvin Linder, Ruby L Logan, David L Loggins, Mardean Martin Lowery, Marie Lyle, Sharon M. Maddox, Frederick W Martin, James K McIntosh, Barbara A Middlebrooks Jr, Percy B Miller, Gayle H Miller, Charles William Mincey, Randy D. Moon, Robert J Moore, George M Morgan, John Wilton Murphy, Betty G Music, Daniel Newsome, Joan M Newton, Carolyn Goodman Nix, David W Otto, Dorcas Ann Parrish, John Raymond Pate, Judy C Paul, Bobby Eugene Payne, Nancy Hardy Peacock, Glenda K. Peigler Jr, Robert J Pelt, Diane Y Pendarvis, Robert D. Pender, Caryl Moye Pointer, Sandra P Polk, Charles Edward Popwell, Donna L Porter, Linda B Quinn, Julette J Ramsey, James Robert Randall, Gayle L Rankine, Jean Y. Roberts, Roy Rush, David R Russell, Joyce Rutledge, Willie D Sampson, Wilma Oliver Scarborough, Joan P. Short, Sharon W Smith, Bonnie Rose Smith, Patricia A Smithson, Thomas W. 14 yrs 11 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 33 yrs 01 mths 30 yrs 05 mths 12 yrs 05 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 29 yrs 05 mths 19 yrs 08 mths 24 yrs 11 mths 25 yrs 02 mths 09 yrs 00 mths 11 yrs 03 mths 13 yrs 03 mths 15 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 13 yrs 07 mths 33 yrs 06 mths 16 yrs 07 mths 31 yrs 11 mths 29 yrs 01 mths 35 yrs 01 mths 10 yrs 00 mths 13 yrs 06 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 27 yrs 05 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 15 yrs 10 mths 35 yrs 01 mths 29 yrs 04 mths 19 yrs 05 mths 14 yrs 04 mths 28 yrs 04 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 17 yrs 00 mths 33 yrs 06 mths 23 yrs 01 mths 34 yrs 05 mths 24 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 33 yrs 00 mths 30 yrs 00 mths 09 yrs 06 mths 20 yrs 03 mths 21 yrs 11 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 32 yrs 10 mths 16 yrs 04 mths 23 yrs 06 mths 31 yrs 09 mths 29 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 06 mths 10 yrs 00 mths 17 yrs 02 mths 16 yrs 10 mths 26 yrs 06 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 17 yrs 10 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 19 yrs 11 mths 26 yrs 04 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 30 yrs 01 mths 10 yrs 06 mths 20 yrs 04 mths Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-Clayton County Superior Courts of Georgia CSB-DeKalb County Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS DHR - DFACS Dept. of Juvenile Justice CSB-Gwinnett/Rockdale/Newton Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Subsequent Injury Trust Fund Georgia Forestry Commission CSB-GA Mountains Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Georgia Forestry Commission Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-GA Mountains Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga.Dept of Community Health Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Dept. of Admin. Services Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Teachers Retirement Sys. Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation CSB-Gwinnett/Rockdale/Newton Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Corrections Dept. of Juvenile Justice DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Education DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-Coastal Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources State Board Pardons & Paroles Georgia Forestry Commission Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Bureau of Investigation Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - Public Health CSB-GA Highlands Southall, Delores M Spriggs, William J Stallings, Janice J Stanton Sr, Oliver Stoe, Eugenia P Stone, Willie D. Strickland, William Gerald Sumner, George M Thigpen, Melvin David Thompson, Robert B Thornton, Diane G Toler, Brenda S Troup, Estelle W Turner, Ronnie E. Waters, Sylvia K. Watson, Larry W Way, Vicki Y Webber, William L White, Joan I Whitehead, Sarah L Wiesner, Paul Joseph Williams, Mary L. Williams, Ronald H Willson, Robert Henry Wilson Sr, Wilbert Wimberly, Audrey M Winkfield, E K 34 yrs 01 mths 11 yrs 03 mths 10 yrs 10 mths 24 yrs 03 mths 25 yrs 00 mths 21 yrs 07 mths 14 yrs 06 mths 27 yrs 01 mths 14 yrs 03 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 15 yrs 05 mths 20 yrs 00 mths 15 yrs 00 mths 14 yrs 00 mths 22 yrs 10 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 14 yrs 07 mths 31 yrs 02 mths 10 yrs 08 mths 30 yrs 00 mths 11 yrs 08 mths 33 yrs 08 mths 27 yrs 03 mths 13 yrs 10 mths 14 yrs 03 mths 14 yrs 07 mths 34 yrs 00 mths DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-Gwinnett/Rockdale/Newton Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - Public Health DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources CSB-South Georgia Office of Planning and Budget DHR - DFACS Georgia Forestry Commission Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Name Adams, Linda M Adams, Mary B Amor, Richard A Anderson, Lawson E Anderson, Kathy D. Askew III, Isaac C Bailey, Eunice W Balkcom, Elizabeth Barrett, Sheila Redding Bentley, Nellie R Bibbs, Lois D Blackmon, Janice C. Bonds, Linda F Boyd, Janet A Brendle Jr, Lewis V Bryant, Catherine D. Bundrage, R C Burke, Betty O Butterworth, Jimmy T Campbell, John William Card, Reginald J. Carter, Vanessa M. Carter, Nathaniel Carter, James Vergis Carter Jr, Thomas D Chaffin, Johnny W Chamblee, Fred D Chandler, A.Don Clements, William H Cochran, Charles R Cochrane, Maria T Collins, Michael Cooper, Gary Couch, James F Courson, Brenda M May 2004 Years of Service Department 34 yrs 00 mths 30 yrs 07 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 21 yrs 09 mths 13 yrs 06 mths 33 yrs 10 mths 23 yrs 07 mths 34 yrs 00 mths 24 yrs 06 mths 25 yrs 11 mths 19 yrs 07 mths 15 yrs 10 mths 25 yrs 01 mths 28 yrs 03 mths 27 yrs 03 mths 27 yrs 09 mths 32 yrs 11 mths 29 yrs 00 mths 34 yrs 01 mths 16 yrs 02 mths 14 yrs 00 mths 29 yrs 09 mths 14 yrs 08 mths 12 yrs 10 mths 32 yrs 08 mths 13 yrs 10 mths 32 yrs 08 mths 28 yrs 10 mths 32 yrs 07 mths 29 yrs 07 mths 14 yrs 05 mths 13 yrs 04 mths 25 yrs 10 mths 34 yrs 09 mths 25 yrs 08 mths Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-DeKalb County Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-DeKalb County Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-Gwinnett/Rockdale/Newton Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Bureau of Investigation DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources CSB-DeKalb County Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-GA Highlands GA Agrirama Development Author Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources DHR - Public Health continued on page 14 Page 14 Summer 2004 Congratulations to these dedicated state retirees Submitted by The Employee Retirement System Couter, Bruce W 24 yrs 04 mths Crump, Jimmy M 40 yrs 02 mths Curtis, Joan P 15 yrs 04 mths Darley, David A 34 yrs 00 mths Davidson, Terry Alan 14 yrs 01 mths Davis, Carole S. 19 yrs 02 mths Davis III, Albert Guyton 15 yrs 03 mths Dean, James Edward 28 yrs 00 mths Doster, Agnes G 36 yrs 02 mths Dozier, Faye G 33 yrs 04 mths Drake Jr, Robert W 14 yrs 04 mths Dryden, Robert Y 26 yrs 03 mths Duzan, Janice M 33 yrs 06 mths Eavenson, Charles T. 31 yrs 06 mths Evans, Racine S 19 yrs 03 mths Fagan, Hazel H 22 yrs 03 mths Ferguson, Martha A 16 yrs 04 mths Fields, Delta E 24 yrs 08 mths Finney, Louis W 31 yrs 03 mths Ford, James E 26 yrs 11 mths Fordham, Janice M 34 yrs 00 mths Frady, Robert L 27 yrs 04 mths Frazier Jr, Hal J 10 yrs 01 mths Freels, Milton Lee 13 yrs 01 mths Furry, Virginia L 31 yrs 07 mths Galasso, Carol Ann 11 yrs 11 mths Garner, John K 29 yrs 09 mths Garrett, Susan E 33 yrs 06 mths Gay, Carol D 20 yrs 04 mths Geiger, Gary Ronald 20 yrs 02 mths George, Brian Everett 18 yrs 01 mths Gillis, Elaine 14 yrs 03 mths Goff, Jean F 13 yrs 04 mths Gosha, Miley Mae 27 yrs 06 mths Graham, Gail O. 22 yrs 08 mths Griffis, Cheryl C 23 yrs 10 mths Gruber, Frankie S 12 yrs 01 mths Hamilton, Perry 12 yrs 00 mths Harper, Martin Swinton 10 yrs 00 mths Harris, Collette 28 yrs 07 mths Hartline, Wennell T. 19 yrs 08 mths Harvey, Carolyn Fay 13 yrs 04 mths Hazen, Peggy Jill 16 yrs 05 mths Head, Ronny W 29 yrs 09 mths Held, Billy 17 yrs 05 mths Hicks, Daniel Scott 14 yrs 09 mths Hill, Elzadia King 18 yrs 08 mths Hodgson, Rosalind Faircloth 11 yrs 01 mths Horn, Bobby J 10 yrs 08 mths Horton, Glenn M. 22 yrs 04 mths Hudson, Lillie M 22 yrs 09 mths Hughes, Barbara R. 27 yrs 04 mths Hulsey, Shirley T 13 yrs 11 mths Hurt, Willmond 15 yrs 00 mths Itson, Lawrence V 31 yrs 11 mths Jackson, Betty L 33 yrs 00 mths Jackson, Wilbert 29 yrs 06 mths Jackson, Thomas Lester 12 yrs 02 mths James, Hilda K 20 yrs 08 mths Jenkins, Linda D 34 yrs 00 mths Jennings, Frances M. 18 yrs 11 mths Johnson, Cheryl Gayton 29 yrs 09 mths Johnson, Franklin Carroll 10 yrs 00 mths Johnson Jr, Henry 17 yrs 00 mths Jones, Lina Mae 15 yrs 06 mths Joyner, David W 13 yrs 11 mths Keller, Cathrine C 25 yrs 01 mths Kneier, Ruth T 11 yrs 04 mths State Board Pardons & Paroles Ga. Dept. of Public Safety CSB-GA Highlands Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Georgia Forestry Commission Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Transportation General Assembly of Georgia Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety State Board Pardons & Paroles General Assembly of Georgia Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Bureau of Investigation Ga. Dept. of Labor DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Dept. of Human Resources GA. Industry, Trade & Tourism DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Teachers Retirement Sys. Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources CSB-Gwinnett/Rockdale/Newton Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Dept. of Corrections Department of Revenue DHR - Public Health Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Human Resources DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor Department of Revenue Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Tax Officials Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Motor Veh. Safety Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Corrections CSB-Cobb County DHR - Public Health DHR - DFACS CSB-Northeast GA Center Lane, Virginia Marlene 16 yrs 07 mths Long, Myrna Maureen 11 yrs 04 mths Massey, John Thomas 21 yrs 00 mths Mayfield, Newton E 33 yrs 01 mths McAdams, Helen T 14 yrs 11 mths Meadows, Judy Anne 22 yrs 11 mths Merritt, Miriam 26 yrs 08 mths Minter, Royce G 32 yrs 07 mths Moor, Larry S. 34 yrs 00 mths Moor, Julia Grant 27 yrs 10 mths Morris, Clariece 33 yrs 06 mths Mullinax, Billie J 34 yrs 00 mths Murray, Stella G 33 yrs 01 mths Napper, Imogene Delores 27 yrs 02 mths Nix, Donald Virlyn 20 yrs 07 mths Okelley, Evelyn W 31 yrs 03 mths Orr, Judith Delores 11 yrs 06 mths Outlaw, Becky W 16 yrs 04 mths Pace, John Henry 12 yrs 03 mths Parham, Erma J 29 yrs 08 mths Partridge III, William Sidney 26 yrs 05 mths Pearson, Rhonda Denise 13 yrs 07 mths Peeples Jr, Thompson A 27 yrs 01 mths Pickens, Linda M 12 yrs 06 mths Pontes, Joseph A 18 yrs 00 mths Price, Terry Sterling 32 yrs 05 mths Price, Robert R 23 yrs 00 mths Quinn, Shirley R. 19 yrs 01 mths Rogers, Kenneth James 20 yrs 08 mths Royal, Ellen S 10 yrs 01 mths Russell, L. Diane 28 yrs 11 mths Ryan, Patricia D 34 yrs 04 mths Scott, Vann B. 15 yrs 04 mths Shirah, Pam 34 yrs 00 mths Smith, Pete P 29 yrs 09 mths Smith, Patricia W 24 yrs 07 mths Smith, Florence 18 yrs 02 mths Smith III, John S 23 yrs 09 mths Speir, Wallace L 28 yrs 00 mths Strickland, Phillip David 11 yrs 01 mths Strozier, John 10 yrs 01 mths Stuhrman, John Henry 10 yrs 01 mths Surrency, Gary W 34 yrs 00 mths Tartt, Eartha B 14 yrs 02 mths Tatum, Richard E 15 yrs 02 mths Thomas, Maria W 25 yrs 00 mths Thomas III, Ross Henry 10 yrs 00 mths Thompson, Linda C. 19 yrs 10 mths Thompson Jr, Fred 10 yrs 08 mths Tompkins-Ogburn, Jeanette 32 yrs 09 mths Travet Jr, Albert 20 yrs 06 mths Troha, James A 32 yrs 09 mths Tucker Sr, Clifton 13 yrs 09 mths Tuggle, Lillian M 34 yrs 02 mths Waldrop, James Mark 20 yrs 09 mths Walls, Katie L J 32 yrs 01 mths Washington, Thomas G 30 yrs 00 mths Whicker, Royal 13 yrs 07 mths Whitaker, Billy R 30 yrs 05 mths White, Geneva B 34 yrs 00 mths Wilcox, Mary G 25 yrs 09 mths Wilkerson, Cecil L 31 yrs 08 mths Williams, Douglas Robert 11 yrs 02 mths Witt, Carolyn A 30 yrs 09 mths Wright Jr, Roy 10 yrs 00 mths Yarbrough, Linda S 17 yrs 10 mths Yearwood, Juanita H 34 yrs 00 mths Young, Debra F 23 yrs 08 mths Ga. Dept. of Labor DHR - Public Health Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Labor State Courts Ga. Dept. of Public Safety GA Dept of Banking & Finance Ga. Dept. of Community Affairs Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Department of Revenue Dept. of Juvenile Justice Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections DHR - Public Health DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Public Safety CSB-GA Highlands Ga. Dept. of Corrections Georgia Forestry Commission Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Student Finance Commission Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Labor DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Labor Georgia Building Authority Office of Planning and Budget Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Griffin Technical College Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Transportation CSB-Coastal Ga. Dept. of Human Resources CSB-Albany Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Corrections Ga. Dept. of Labor Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Transportation Conversion Company Default Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Public Safety Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Agriculture Ga. Dept. of Transportation Ga. Dept. of Corrections Georgia Technology Authority Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Labor CSB-Middle Georgia Department of Revenue Georgia Building Authority DHR - DFACS Ga. Dept. of Human Resources Ga. Dept. of Corrections Summer 2004 Page 15 WELLNESS Decrease Your Risk of Heart Disease There are numerous factors that can increase the risk of heart disease. Some factors are controllable by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet. Controllable factors include: Tobacco smoke According to the American Heart Association, smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking does not only increase the risk of heart disease but it is linked to illnesses such as lung, mouth and throat cancers; chronic lung diseases and infections; congestive heart failure; and peripheral vascular disease (in the legs and arms). If you don't smoke, be careful to minimize your exposure to second hand smoke. Constant exposure to other people's tobacco smoke may increase your risk as well. There is good news for people who smoke! No matter how long or how much you've smoked, your risk of heart disease and stroke decreases once you stop. In fact, it's cut in half after one year without smoking, then continues to decrease until it's as low as a non-smoker's risk. Obesity or weight problems Too much body fat increases your risk of health problems including heart disease. Excessive body fat, especially in the waist area, causes unhealthy conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high triglycerides, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Modest weight loss can help lower the risk of heart disease. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a recommended way to estimate your body fat. BMI assesses body weight relative to your height. Try to reach a healthy weight - and stay there. Physical inactivity A lack of physical activity can also increase your risk of heart disease. Exercise can help control risk factors such as blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity on most or all days of the week to condition your heart and lungs. Fun activities may include dancing, gardening, walking, etc. If you don't have a lifestyle that includes activities, start with 10 or 15 minute increments. There are some health conditions that increase the risk of heart disease that are treatable with a healthcare provider's help. High Cholesterol Individuals with high cholesterol or "bad" cholesterol should work with their doctor to create a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Exercise is also important. In some cases, your doctor may have to prescribe medication to help you reach your goal. It is important to be knowledgeable about your cholesterol levels so you can reduce them if needed. High Blood Pressure High blood pressure raises the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, eye damage, congestive heart failure and atherosclerosis fatty buildups in the arteries. Women who are overweight, have a family history of high blood pressure, or have reached the age of menopause. More than 73 percent of women ages 65 to 74 have high blood pressure. Speak with your health care provider concerning your risk. Diabetes Diabetes often appears in middle age and among overweight people although it's becoming an increasing problem in children and adolescents. Having diabetes increases a person's risk of heart disease and stroke. People with diabetes should work closely with their healthcare provider to manage the disease as well as reduce or eliminate the risk of other heart disease risk factors. Regrettably, there are a few factors that increase the risk of heart disease that none of us have power over. Gender Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women, and they have attacks earlier in life. Age Unfortunately, the risk of heart disease increases as people grow older. Family/Heredity According to the American Heart Association, the risk of heart disease increase if your brother, father or grandfather had a heart attack before age 55, or your sister, mother or grandmother had one before age 65. Plus, most people with a strong family history of heart disease and stroke have at least one other risk factor. African Americans have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke than Caucasians and the risk is also high among Mexican Americans, American Indians and native Hawaiians. Previous Heart Attack If you've had a heart attack, you're at higher risk of having a second attack or a stroke. Remember to always speak to a healthcare provider concerning any health risks and its treatment, including heart disease. This article is intended for informational purposes only. Top Ranking Long-Term Disability Diagnoses by Incidence and Cost State of Georgia Employees Percentage of Total Incidence 30.2% Musculo-skeletal/ Connective Percentage of Total Cost 35.6% 20.1% Mental Disorder 16.6% 11.2% 9.0% Tumor 8.8% Injury/Poisoning 7.4% 8.3% Circulatory 9.0% 5.0% Other 7.5% Source: 2004 UnumProvident Corp. Review Period: January 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004 Statistically, our employee population is out of line when compared with the average data in the area of Musculo-skeletal/Connective. These types of claims are largely attributed to obesity. -- Vic Keene, Employee Benefits Division Director, Georgia Merit System STONE MOUNTAIN PARK The State Personnel Council invites you to celebrate at the 8th Wonder of the World! Adult One-Day All-Attraction Pass Discounted Price $18.00 Gate Price: $20.33 w/tax Child's One-Day All-Attraction Pass (ages 3-11; children under 3 are free) Discounted Price: $14.00 Gate Price: $17.12 w/tax Tickets are good until December 31, 2004 Mail ticket order, payment (money order only, no personal checks) and selfaddressed, stamped envelope (for return of tickets) to: State Personnel Council, P.O. Box 347206, Atlanta, GA 30334 Name___________________________________________ Address_________________________________________ _________________________________________ Department______________________________________ Work Phone_______________________ E-mail ___________________________________________ ____ at $18.00 ____ at $14.00 Total enclosed $______ For additional information: E-mail: kdk@gms.state.ga.us Page 16 Summer 2004 TECHNOLOGY TIPS The Benefit of A Well Managed Database Before you begin to structure a database, decide your target audience and how the information you collect will serve different staff with different needs. Core fields help establish what kinds of information you will collect and how it will be utilized. Commonly, databases can be used to generate mailing lists or call lists. First, begin to populate your database with core fields such as: First name City Last name State Name tag first name Zip Company Day phone Position Fax phone Address E-mail address Secondly, establish a list of administrators who will be responsible for any changes, additions, or deletions in the database to keep information accurate and current. This helps establish credibility of the database listings and allow the agency to look efficient and conscientious to their customers. One idea to consider is to create a separate category for people who want to be removed from the database. Just flag the record so they will not be contacted. Why? Someone may ask if that person, who is a customer, is on the database. You say `no', and you put the person back on -- and get an angry call later from the individual asking why you contacted him/her when he/she specifically asked you not to. Establish a routine maintenance schedule to update contact information. Get rid of duplicate records on the database. A lot of database programs include a function to help find duplicate records. A query is another effective way of locating duplicates. To minimize returns, include the words "Address Correction Requested" once or twice a year on your mailings. Remember, the advantage of a database is not based on the computer program, but the information that is collected. An accurate, up-todate listing is not only valuable to the organization, but to the customers it serves. Georgia Commission on the Holocaust Brings Internationally Acclaimed Anne Frank Exhibit to Kennesaw State University Kennesaw State University and the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust are hosting "Anne Frank in the World: 1929-1945" the personal chronicle of the German-Jewish teenager whose family spent more than two years in hiding during World War II. In an effort to share Anne Frank's story, a multimedia exhibit that uses 8,000 words and 600 pictures to recount compelling events in Anne's short life is now located in Kennesaw, twelve miles north of I-285 on I-75. This educational exhibit is one of only three in existence. To reach the main exhibit at the KSU Center, visitors walk through a replica of a cattle car door modeled after the cattle cars in which millions of Holocaust victims were sent to prison and death. Visitors then enter through a bookcase, a visible reminder that Anne Frank and her family lived in a hidden annex above Otto Frank's office. Photographs of Anne and her family in happier times are shown alongside a historical account of Adolf Hitler's rise to power. After more than two years in hiding in Amsterdam, the Frank family was betrayed to the Nazis and sent to concentration camps. Only Otto Frank survived. At the end of the exhibit, a "Scroll Room" contains more than 400 tiny holes with various quotes from Anne's diary inscribed on small scrolls of parchment paper. Visitors are encouraged to take the scrolls with them as a memento. In addition to the hundreds of rare photographs and historical text, a newly produced 28-minute video presentation, "The Short Life of Anne Frank," chronicles the existence of the teenager and her family. British actor Jeremy Irons narrates the documentary, produced by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Teaching visitors acceptance and promoting diversity are the primary goals of the exhibit, which also depicts other acts of inhumanity in the world today. "We are certainly honored to offer the Anne Frank exhibit to the city, the state, and the world," said Betty Siegel, president, Kennesaw State University. "We have through Anne Frank the voice of a generation and a timeless teacher of tolerance. The effort to bring the exhibit to Kennesaw State was well worth the dedication of so many committed people." "Anne Frank in the World: 1929-1945" was granted to Kennesaw State University by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, which in turn was awarded by the Anne Frank Center of New York and the Anne Frank House of Amsterdam. The exhibit will be displayed for at least the next three years at the KSU Center. "Anne Frank in the World" is open to the public seven days a week and is free of charge. For more information on the exhibit, please visit www.kennesaw.edu/annefrank/index.htm or call (678) 797-2083. Russell Hinton Selected to Advisory Council on Government Auditing Standards Russell W. Hinton of the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts was recently selected as a member of the Advisory Council on Government Auditing Standards. The Council is comprised of 23 members, primarily consisting of top federal, state, and local auditors from around the country. Representatives from CPA firms as well as accounting professors also hold positions on the Council. Hinton will serve a threeyear term on this Advisory Council. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to work with the General Accounting Office to keep government auditing standards current through the issuance of revisions and guidance. These standards are widely used in audits of federal, state, and local government programs, and in audits of entities receiving federal assistance. The standards outline the responsibilities of the auditors who conduct both financial and operational audits of government programs and provide an overall framework for ensuring that the auditors have the necessary competence, integrity, objectivity, and independence in planning, conducting, and reporting on their work. As a result of such standards, the public has greater assurance that thorough, accurate, and objective audits are performed and that the results presented in audits are correct. Furthermore, managers and decision makers who use the results of audits are assured that they have reliable information in which to make financial and operational decisions that affect their entity, which is a primary strategic goal of the Department of Audits and Accounts. The Comptroller General first issued standards for government auditing in 1972. Since this time, major revisions have been made four times, most recently in 2003. Under the direction of the State Auditor, the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts has been using these auditing standards since their inception. Annually, the Department of Audits and Accounts completes over 450 audits and reviews of State agencies, colleges, local boards of education, healthcare providers, and state-funded programs using the auditing standards issued by the U.S. General Accounting Office. Every three years, the Department of Audits and Accounts receives a peer review to determine the extent to which auditing standards are being applied during an audit. The most recent peer review was conducted in October 2002, and concluded that the Department of Audits and Accounts has effectively incorporated the auditing standards into its financial and operational audits. Welcome to an easy way to save for your retirement. Peach State Reserves (PSR), the Georgia Retirement Investment Plan, is for employees of the state of Georgia. With PSR you can use payroll deduction to accumulate tax-deferred savings. This means you can hold off paying income taxes today and invest your savings and earnings until you need retirement income later. "Help Yourself" to a secure financial future with a Peach State Reserves Investment Account. Call toll-free 1-800-701-8255 or contact your Personnel/Payroll office for further details. Summer 2004 Page 17 Governor Proclaims "Greatest Generation Week" in Georgia During a special program paying tribute to Georgia's World War II generation held in front of the state's WWI Memorial located on the State Capitol complex, Governor Sonny Perdue issued a proclamation designating May 24-30, 2004, as "Greatest Generation Week" in Georgia. This ceremony was held and proclamation issued to encourage local government agencies, civic groups, and veteran organizations to work together in planning and hosting events to honor Georgia's World War II veterans in conjunction with the dedication of American's National WWII memorial on Saturday, May 29, 2004, in Washington, D.C. Commissioner Wheeler attends Dedication Ceremony Pictured with Governor Perdue During the Pledge of Allegiance are (from left to right) Tommy Clack, president of the Georgia Veteran Leadership Program; Bill Price, WWII veteran of the Pacific Theater and current state commander of the American Ex-Prisoners of War; Reverend Merick Hufton, chaplain for the GVLP; and Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler, Chairman of the National WWII Memorial Advisory Board. Have You Entered A Name In The World War II Memorial Registry of Remembrances? If you have not yet registered a name in the World War II Registry of Remembrances, here is your chance? Anyone who helped win the war, either as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or as a U.S. citizen on the home front, is eligible for entry into the Registry. You may enter your own name, or the name of someone you wish to honor for their service to our country during the war. If you wish to register more than one name, please make one copy of this form for each name. The Registry of Remembrances will be available for viewing on site at the National World War II Memorial to ensure that the names of these patriotic Americans are recorded in history for all time. Mail completed form to: World War II Memorial Campaign Processing Center P.O. Box 186 Calverton, NY 11933-0186 Please print. *Fields with asterisk must be completed Honoree's Title or Rank: ______________________________________ Honoree's First Name:* ________________________________MI ____ Last Name:* ____________________________________Suffix: ______ Hometown:* __________________________________State:* ________ Honoree is:* q World War II Veteran q Killed in World War II q Civilian on the Home Front Service Branch, if applicable: q Army Air Forces q Army q Navy q Marine Corps q Coast Guard q Merchant Marine Brief description of wartime activity: ______________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Your relationship to the above honoree:* __________________________ Please enter your own name and address below. We will send you information on how to include a photography of your honoree in the Registry of Remembrances after we have received this form. Thank you. Your Name* ________________________________________________ Your Address* ______________________________________________ City* ________________________ State * ________Zip*____________ Commissioner Wheeler (second row, second from left), along with former Presidents Clinton and Bush at Dedication of the World War II Monument, May 29, 2004 in Washington, D.C. State Personnel Council is offering discount tickets to: Universal Studios - where you can "Ride the Movies"! Islands of Adventuresm - with characters from myths, legends, children's stories, cartoons and comic books. Both 2-day, 2-park and the 2-park annual pass options include admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, unlimited park-topark access, and CityWalk Party Pass. 1-Day 1-Park Ticket $44.00 - Adult * $38.00 Child (ages 3-9) (Regular price $55.33 - Adult, $45.75 - Child) 1-day tickets Adult Child $44.00 x __ $38.00 x __ = _____ 2-Day 2-Park Ticket $83.00 - Adult * $72.00 Child (ages 3-9) (Regular price $103.26 - Adult, $89.41 - Child) 2-Day 2-Park (3rd Day FREE**) $83.00 - Adult * $72.00 Child (ages 3-9) (Regular price $103.26 - Adult, $89.41 - Child) 2-day tickets $83.00 x __ $72.00 x __ = _____ 2-day/2-Park tickets $83.00 x __ $72.00 x __ = _____ (3rd day FREE) **All 3 days must be used within 7 consecutive calendar days of first day of use. 2-Park Annual Pass $164.00 x ____ = _____ Universal Orlando 2-Park Annual Pass -- $164.00 - Adult or Child (Regular price $181.00) Total amount enclosed: = $______ *Restrictions apply. Benefits subject to change without notice. Ticket not available for purchase at front gate. All prices include tax. Children under 3 years of age are FREE! Send money order, this order form and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Name _________________________________ Department ____________________________ Work Phone____________________________ State Personnel Council P.O. Box 347206 Atlanta, GA 30334 E-mail: kdk@gms.state.ga.us Page 18 Summer 2004 GOVERNMENT SPOTLIGHT The Georgia Merit System The Georgia Merit System of Personnel Administration (GMS) was established in February 1943(SB 17) as the central personnel agency of the state of Georgia, providing human resource (HR) and benefit programs, products and services to all state entities and employees. Then, Governor Ellis Arnall issued an executive order not only for the creation of the Merit System, but for a Merit System Council, currently regarded as the State Personnel Board. The Board is composed of Georgia citizens appointed by the Governor to adopt and amend policies, rules and regulations, and review adverse personnel actions on all other purported violations of departmental rules and regulations. The five-member State Personnel Board and the Merit System Commissioner also serve on the ten-member Employee Benefits Plan Council. Since it's creation in 1943, the Merit System has undergone various changes in its history of service. In 1996, civil service reform changed the role of GMS from regulator to consultant when it decentralized many HR functions directly to agencies. GMS assumed the role of expert human resource consultant to agencies and facilitator of workforce planning and policies that cross agency lines. The Merit System also serves as the state's central recordkeeping agency for state employee data and as a resource for monitoring state personnel practices. The core business of the Merit System is workforce recruitment, development, and retention services. It carries out this role through three goals: 1. Recruitment - Georgia State Government acquires the employees it needs; 2. Retention - Georgia State Government retains a competent workforce; and 3. Development - Georgia State Government develops its leaders and workforce. The Merit System has had seven commissioners, including its present commissioner, Marjorie H. Young, who took the helm in 1999 and was later re-appointed in September 2003 by Governor Sonny Perdue. Commissioner: Marjorie H. Young Vision: We envision a highly competent and diverse workforce that meets the needs of state government and the expectations of the people of Georgia. Mission: Georgia Merit System champions workforce excellence and provides leadership that enables state government to achieve its business objectives by using innovative strategies to recruit, develop and retain a competent and diverse workforce. Service Strategy: We can; We care; We customize. Guiding Principles: Employees are our greatest asset. Integrity and excellence are at the heart of all our decisions. We exist for our customers. Everyone deserves mutual respect and understanding. We create a work environment that supports and rewards continuous learning, continuous improvement, creativity and high performance. Number of employees: 151 DIVISIONS Compensation and Staffing Division Pat Kinard-Boutte Division Director Provides human resource consulting services based on best practices designed to increase workforce productivity. Workforce Planning, Succession Planning, Salary Reports and The JobSite are housed under the guides of this division The Georgia Merit System Customer Service Division Mustafa A. Aziz Division Director Provides research, dispute resolution, counseling/ mediation, education and management/ employee relations services including personnel policy interpretation, statewide drug testing functions and medical assistance services. This division also administers numerous Work-life programs such as employee suggestions, employee recognition, service and retiree awards, and charitable contributions. wellness and EAP/Safety. Training and Organization Development Division Diane Frazier Division Director Provides human resource development services that include conducting, developing, and coordinating statewide management and employee development programs and job-related skills needed to hire, train, and develop employee competencies in the areas of leadership, management and supervision, administrative support, communication, work place, and trainer skills. Employee Benefits Division Vic Keene Division Director Provides constant research for cost-effective ways to enrich employees with an array of benefits. This includes benefit design and education, maintenance of employee eligibility records, interacting with agency benefit coordinators, monitoring contractors providing insured benefit products, and reviewing benefit plans and products. The division also administers the State Deferred Compensation plan, which includes monitoring contract compliance and performance and the investment and distribution of deferred compensation funds. Administration and Systems Division Deborah Belcher Provides technical and technological support for GMS products and services, budget development and management, procurement, accounting and mailroom services. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Council for Excellence in Government and the Ford Foundation for Georgia's Civil Service Reform International Personnel Management Association (IPMA) for Georgia's groundbreaking approach to Workforce Planning and Strategic Assessment Research National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE) for Georgia's Total Compensation/Rewards Model National Association of Governmental Deferred Contributions Administration (NAGDA) for Georgia's Deferred Compensation Section 457 Plan. U. S. House of Representatives Government Reform Committee for Georgia's Cafeteria Plan for flexible benefits FranklinCovey's Model State Government Award for the execution of Principle Centered Leadership throughout state government. National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE) Rooney Award for Leadership in Human Resource Management. Model State Government Award From left to right: Author and motivational speaker Stephen R. Covey, Governor Sonny Perdue, Twyla Fleming of FranklinCovey, and Commissioner Marjorie H. Young. The Model State Government Award was presented to Commissioner Marjorie H. Young and the Georgia Merit System at the FranklinCovey Symposium in Atlanta on March 25. Commissioner Young and the Merit System were nominated recipients of the award based on the following: Commissioner Young and her team have been long time proponents of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in the state of Georgia. In November of 2002, Governor Sonny Perdue took the helm and promoted the need for principle-centered leadership within the state. The Commissioner's team began to immediately look at broad implementation of FranklinCovey's The 4 Roles of Leadership, including licensing certified trainers to teach the courses in-house. Commissioner Young and key members of her staff became certified to teach FranklinCovey's Aligning Goals for Results work session in preparation for a broad rollout statewide, to assist employees in understanding how to align and achieve goals. Young also wanted a process in place to measure how well state employees were able to focus and execute on key goals. Commissioner Young identified 10 state agencies to participate in pilot programs to increase achievement of key goals and to ensure measurement of results created. Commissioner Young's implementation of programs to enhance employee productivity serve as a showcase and model to other states in creating, implementing, and measuring results. Commission Young has been instrumental in partnering with the Governor and his staff in creating a principle-centered state model, leading to more effective and efficient government. Commissioner Young and her dedicated team have been given the mandate to train leaders in the state to deliver on Governor Perdue's vision. Their individual and joint commitment and passion to not only the process, but to principles, will have a lasting impact on the State of Georgia. Summer 2004 Page 19 MAPEP Standards Committee Approved The State Board of Personnel has approved a new Medical and Physical Examination Program (MAPEP) Standards Committee. The panel of five medical doctors and specialists is tasked with reviewing and revising the current pre-employment medical and physical standards for the state's approximately 16,800 Category 5 positions. These are law enforcement and other positions that involve the highest level of physical activity and extreme of potentially life-threatening working conditions. The pre-employment Physical Examination program was established in 1956 (O.C.G.A. 45-2-40) and requires the Georgia Merit System, through a Committee of Doctors, to develop standards for medical and physical fitness. The Committee has been convened periodically to review and make revisions upon the request of state agencies and changes in state and federal legislation. The program objectives of MAPEP are: To insure that the prospective employee will be physically capable of carrying out the duties of his or her appointment To protect the prospective employee from possible harmful effects associated with his or her employment which may arise by virtue of a particular preexisting condition To protect the state from potential liability under workers' compensation laws for conditions arising after employment, but caused in whole or part by preexisting physical conditions. To provide a consistent, job-related process for determining and applying the medical and physical standards To provide for administrative procedures that are straight-forward, clear and minimal. Each agency decides the category designation (1 - 5) of each position. This is done either as vacancies occur or agency wide by occupational category, with exceptions handled as vacancies occur. The primary issue in the job category designation is the nature of the work of each position. The goal is to identify the category that most closely links the prescribed medical assessment with the physical requirements and working conditions of the position. General guidance and discussion of designation considerations may be obtained by contacting the Merit System. For more information, contact Barbara Murdock, MAPEP Coordinator, at 404/ 657-8420 or bmurdock@gms.state.ga.us. Georgia Technology Authority Submits IT Report on State Agencies Areport published by the Georgia Technology Authority shows state agencies spent approximately $435 million on information technology items or projects during fiscal year 2003. State law requires GTA to collect IT expenditures information from agencies annually to compile a report for distribution to state leaders. Agencies were instructed in August 2003 to submit IT expenditures to GTA for the period July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003. The intention of IT planning is to ensure accurate budgeting and accounting for IT expenditures including staff, hardware, software, telecom and data services, and computer supplies. The report also makes it possible to specifically see how much agencies spend on IT to support specific categories of government services. State funds accounted for about $237 million of the total amount spent on IT resources. The remainder came for the most part from the federal government. The largest amount $178.5 million or 41 percent of total expenditures was spent on health and human services. Other service categories, amounts and percentages are: general government: $95.3 million or 21.9 percent public safety: $66.3 million or 15.2 percent physical and economic development: $73.7 million or 17 percent education: $21.1 million or 4.9 percent. The Georgia Technology Authority, Office of Planning and Budget, and the Department of Audits have met over the past year to review options for developing a budgeting and accounting system that would allow for collection and reporting of information technology costs. The following outlines the options and the recommendations that were reached by the three agencies: 1. Establish an Information Technology (IT) Budget Function for all agencies. 2. Expand the use of the Computer Charges line item. 3. Create a new Information Technology Subclass Extension. The report, issued by GTA in December 2003, is the state's second annual IT expenditures report. The full report, which does not include the Board of Regents' IT expenditures, provides more detailed information from each state agency. It is available online at www.gta.georgia.gov. EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT DHR Public Health Pharmacist Publishes Novel Georgia State government has a novelist among its ranks. Joseph A.Whaley, Jr., who currently serves as the Pharmacy Director for Southwest Georgia's Public Health District 8/2 in Albany, has written his first fictional novel, "Directional Warning". The storyline involves an incumbent U.S. President who discovers he has a terminal illness that will eventually end his political career and claim his life. Determined that his Vice President (VP) will follow him in elected office and that his political party will retain control of the White House, the President creates a new federal drug interdiction agency to serve as both his personal legacy and as a stepping-stone for the VP into the White House. Centered around the world of international drug smuggling and American politics, the plot follows the political campaigns of the two principle presidential candidates and the efforts of the new drug interdiction agency to halt the most successful cross-border drug smuggling operation in American history. The story takes the reader to Florida's famous saltwater flats along the St. Marks River, to the Vail, Colorado ski country, to the Andean drug fields in Columbia, to the isolated rocky west coast of Cuba, and to the tourist paradise of Belize. Whaley received personal acknowledgement from Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Prime Minister Said Musa of Belize in recognition of the novel's descriptive depiction of their state and country's exotic natural beauty, and for illustrating Belize's cultural diversity and attraction for tourism. A 1973 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Whaley was appointed by two Georgia Governors to serve two five-year terms on the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy. During his second term, he was elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Whaley credits his profession and his Board experiences as a major stimulus in his desire to write a novel. "For several years I contemplated writing a novel that would be based in part on my pharmacy practice and Board experiences linked with my outdoor recreational interests. I was constantly haunted by the Board cases we reviewed that involved teenage drug use and abuse, and the often and always tragic death and family grief that follow a drug overdose. This was the story I wanted to convey in my novel." Whaley said he knew the time commitment needed to complete the manuscript would be difficult, but once the decision was made, he was undeterred. "I pretty much gave up all my free time for a full year to do so. Each night from around 7 p.m. often until after midnight, weekdays and weekends, I was sequestered in my study either writing or doing research always focused and driven by my desire to produce a literary work that would be educational, informational, and entertaining, yet inspirational to its readers to the extent that it might deter someone from a life of drug use, abuse, and dependence who otherwise might have done so had they not read it." "Though classified and published as a novel of mystery and intrigue, "Directional Warning" was written to encourage the youth of America not to become involved with illicit drugs," Whaley said. Whaley says the underlying purpose of writing his novel was to depict the dangers associated with illegal drugs and to expose the drug smuggling underworld for what it really is; an incorrigible business, immensely profitable with no regard for human life, and no concern for the associate increase in crime that always accompanies its drug sales. "If after reading my novel, just one teenager is persuaded to `say no' to even the first use of any addictive drug, then all the time, energy, and personal expense I incurred to publish this novel will have been well worth the effort," Whaley said. "Directional Warning," available from Llumina Press, is a novel blended with mystery, drama, romance, tragedy, and southern colloquial humor. Order toll free at: 1866-229-9244 or visit the web at: http://www.llumina.com/orders@llumina.com. Page 20 Summer 2004 2004 Workforce Planning and Development Conference September 16-17 Georgia International Trade and Convention Center College Park, Georgia Total Rewards: The Key to Attracting and Retaining a World-Class Workforce AGENDA General Session DAY ONE - SEPTEMBER 16 Ronald Bachman - Principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers - "Consumer Centric Healthcare: The Future is Now" Concurrent Sessions Dr. Tom Gaines, "Mentoring as an Employee Development Strategy" Dr. Bill Kanhweiler- Director, GSU Human Resource Degree Programs, "Employee Development in the HR profession" Dorie Tuggle, Sr. Manager of Diversity & Equal Opportunity Programs for Lockheed Martin, "Diversity" Nancy Lewis, MS- Owner/Progressive Techniques, "Change Management in Human Resources" Alison Earles, Benefits Law Group, "Fiduciary Responsibility and Managing Risk" Jason Phillips & Gary O'Bannon, K.C. Dept of Human Resources, "HR Scorecard and New HR Services Agreement" Chuck Penuel, Director, Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan, "529 Plan" Nancy Kiyonaga, Director, Workforce and Occupational Planning, New York State Dept. of Civil Service, "Succession Planning (Knowledge Management)" Dr. Tom Gaines, "Mentoring as an Employee Development Strategy" Dr. Bill Kanhweiler- Director, GSU Human Resource Degree Programs, "Employee Development in the HR Profession" Dorie Tuggle, Sr. Manager of Diversity & Equal Opportunity Programs for Lockheed Martin, "Diversity" Nancy Lewis, MS- Owner/Progressive Techniques, "Change Management in Human Resources" Alison Earles, Benefits Law Group, "Fiduciary Responsibility and Managing Risk" Jason Phillips & Gary O'Bannon, K.C. Dept of Human Resources, "HR Scorecard and New HR Services Agreement" Chuck Penuel, Director, Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan,"529 Plan" Nancy Kiyonaga, Director, Workforce and Occupational Planning, New York State Dept. of Civil Service, "Succession Planning (Knowledge Management)" DAY TWO - September 17 General Session Stephon Jackson - Brown Capital, "Human Capital: Employee recruitment, retention and organizational culture - a portfolio manager's perspective." T his year's conference "Total Rewards: The Key to Attracting and Retaining a World-Class Workforce" will feature HR and Benefits bestpractices in sessions led by national and international renowned practitioners. Don't miss the electrifying keynotes from representatives of FranklinCovey and PricewaterhouseCoopers. This conference program has been approved for up to 9 recertification credit hours toward PHYR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). CPE credits for Accounting Professionals Who Should Attend? Concurrent Sessions Reed Keller, President of SHPS Enterprise Solutions, "Integrated Health Management" Elliot Susseles, Sr. VP, The Segal Company, "Quantifying Total Compensation" Dr. Linda Owens, Owner of Owens Group, "Motivating the Employee" Karen Collins-Principal, Palmer and Cay Consulting, "Total Rewards" Alison Earles, Benefits Law Group, "Legislative impact on Benefits (COBRA,FMLA)" Teresa Curlin, Business Manager, HR Key Business-City of Charlotte-HR Scorecard Georgia Merit System - "Career Banding" Brennan Francois, President of Dynamic Living, "Wellness & Work-Life" Reed Keller, President of SHPS Enterprise Solutions, "Integrated Health Management" Elliot Susseles, Sr. VP, The Segal Company, "Quantifying Total Compensation" Dr. Linda Owens, Owner of Owens Group, "Motivating the Employee" Karen Collins-Principal, Palmer and Cay Consulting, "Total Rewards" Alison Earles, Benefits Law Group, "Legislative impact on Benefits (COBRA,FMLA)" Teresa Curlin, Business Manager, HR Key Business-City of Charlotte, "HR Scorecard" Peter Foley, Mercer Consulting, "A New Approach to Human Capital: Helping Human Resources become a Strategic Business Partner" Dennis Doverspike, University of Akron, "Retaining Talent in the Public Sector" Agency Heads Budget Professionals General Session Executive Team Members Benefits Administrators HR Development Professionals Workforce and Strategic Planners Program Managers Legal Professionals FranklinCovey - Principle Centered Leadership: Results and Retention - How to Get More with Less while Creating Conditions for (Employee) Commitment Chris McChesney & Mark Josie HR Professionals For more information, visit our website at: Sponsored by http://www.gms.state.ga.us/agencyservices/wfplanning/conference