May 2, 2008
Public Employee Appreciation Week
Thanks for your valued service, commitment
As most of you know, Governor Otter has designated next week Public Employee Appreciation Week, a time specifically set aside to acknowledge your efforts and to say thank you. We don’t do that often enough. Sometimes it takes a declaration to remind us of how much you contribute. On behalf of the transportation board and our executive staff, I want to let you know how much I value your service to the department and the state of Idaho.
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Governor proclaims May 5-9 as Public Employee Appreciation Week
... NOW, THEREFORE, I, C. L. "Butch" OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim May 5th through 9th, 2008, to be PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION WEEK and May 7th, 2008, to be STATE EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION DAY in Idaho.
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PerksCards offered as a way of saying 'thanks'
Human Resource Services spent the past few weeks building a jigsaw puzzle on the right side of the Intranet to pique the interest of ITD employees. The result will be formally introduced next week during State Employee Appreciation Week activities at Headquarters and district offices. It’s called Perks – extra rewards for a job well done. Perks cards – which will open the door to myriad discount services and products – will be distributed beginning Monday as ITD’s way of saying thanks to employees.
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Busy week of celebration planned at Headquarters
Each day of Public Employee Appreciation Week (May 5-9) at ITD will bring new activities at Headquarters and new ways to say thanks for all that employees do throughout the year. A formal ceremony is planned Monday to introduce employees to a new PerksCard program that provides discounts, coupons and special prices on the goods and services of participating companies.
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Activities planned in districts
A number of districts have planned activities to honor employees during Public Employee Appreciation Week that begins Monday and runs through May 9.
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Idaho Mobility 2008
Mobility takes giant step forward
ITD’s Division of Public Transportation rolled out a new vision of mobility in Idaho to providers and users during a conference held in Boise this week (April 30, May 1). Nearly 80 people representing public transportation interests statewide learned more about Public Transportation’s new emphasis on how best to move people instead of focusing on any one particular mode of transportation.
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Director reaffirms department's commitment to mobility
ITD Director Pam Lowe emphasized the evolving, multi-dimensional role transportation will play in Idaho’s future when she spoke this week at a public transportation summit in Boise. It was a perfect venue to discuss the transportation department’s new mission statement: “Our mission. Your Mobility.”
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Achieving desired mobility is marathon, not a sprint
Developing a coordinated public transportation system is not a 100-yard dash, but is a marathon, accomplished over a period of time with patience and persistence. That is the assessment of Dan Dirks, chairman of the Community Transportation Association of America’s board of directors. The keynote speaker for this week’s Mobility Idaho 2008 summit in Boise called on his extensive experience with public transportation in Michigan to encourage development of a coordinated plan in Idaho.
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ITD services
Print shop provides modern, cost-saving services
A computer installed with modern graphic and pagination software can make a desktop publisher out of about anyone. But a document assembled on a computer needs the press, trim and binding services of a place like the ITD print shop before it becomes a publication. The ITD print shop recently introduced some of its tools at an open hose in Boise, showing how it turns computer-created documents into publications for mass distribution.
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Motor vehicles
New driver's license testing option deployed statewide
Touch-screen testing stations that provide immediate confirmation of pass or fail on driver's license tests are available statewide as part of a technology initiative by the Idaho Transportation Department's Division of Motor Vehicles. ITD received two $500,000 grants from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to purchase an Automated Driver License Testing System (ADLTS)
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Highway Safety
Caution urged as bicycles increase on Idaho highways
Warm weather and rising gasoline prices are great reasons to dust off a bicycle, tune it up and get pedaling, particularly since May is National Bike Month. Riding a bike provides great exercise, is a fun sport for the whole family and offers young riders a sense of freedom, according to Lisa Losness with ITD's Office of Highway Operations and Safety
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Environment
Spring cleaning? Dispose of waste carefully
As spring cleaning begins in earnest, the Ada City-County Emergency Management office asks homeowners and occupants to use caution when disposing of common, yet hazardous, materials. Officials encourage people to use the LIES method when deciding how to discard unwanted or expired waste – limiting, isolating, eliminating and separating potentially hazardous chemicals in the home.
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ITD Mailbox
• Training proved very valuable
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Highway Safety
Video PSA approved for mature audiences at theaters
Moviegoers won’t see ITD’s national award-winning motorcycle safety PSA on theater screens showing “Prom Night,” a PG-13 remake of a 1980 slasher film. They won’t see it in theaters showing the martial arts action film “The Forbidden Kingdom” or prior to any James Bond movie – also rated PG-13.
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Awards
ITD nominated for plethora of honors
ITD might have to designate a room – or perhaps build some new trophy cases – if it is success in bringing home transportation-related awards continues. A recent report to the executive outlined a plethora of nominations and pending awards from regional and national competition.
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Administration
Tolman accepts position with Department of Labor
Dave Tolman, administrator of ITD’s Division of Administration, announced this week that he has accepted a similar position with the Idaho Department of Labor. His last scheduled day at ITD will be May 16.
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In Memoriam
LeRoy Meyer passes away at age 72
A highly revered and respected former ITD district engineer Leroy Meyer passed away recently in Boise. He concluded a 38-year career by retiring as District Engineer in District 3.
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Employees
Fitness challenge begins Monday, register by May 2
In honor of the Summer Olympics, during 1996 ITD had the “Road to Atlanta;” in 200 it was the “Decathlon Down Under;” and in 204 we had the “Journey to Athens.” With the Olympics in Beijing, China, this year’s annual exercise challenge will take us to the Great Wall of China.
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