Elected Bloggers on the Move!

Starting at home, Greensboro Councilwoman Sandy Carmany is talking about the economic incentive policy. Councilman Tom Phillips bird dogs contruction projects at Piedmont Triad International Airport! Utah Majority Whip Steve Urquhart's Thursday May 26th update discusses the implications of the Income Tax in Utah as Co-Chair of the Income Tax Subcommittee. Tenn. State Senator Roy Herron gives an update on the week in the legislature and makes a comment about four colleagues and one former colleague arrested and charged with taking bribes. Texas House of Representatives Aaron Pena plugs the Freshman of the Year Awards of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. Minn. House Rep. Ray Cox is all about Memorial Day as well as Florida US Rep. Katherine Harris and Rep. Mark Kirk!

Tony Womack is central part of Yankee Line-Up! AND I'M PRESIDENT OF THE GREENSBORO CHAPTER OF THE TONY WOMACK FAN CLUB!

New York Yankees have a great addition to their line-up....that's TONY WOMACK. From 2B to LF, he's a gamer. I've decided to proclaim myself Greensboro Chapter President of the Tony Womack fan club! I can't believe Boston just had 5 hits in a row, and they only scored 1 run. Why is that? Because Womack sat one of them down at home! Oh yeah, and now we are tied. 3-3 from Yankee HR; Francona to the mound; Womack drops a bunt (little too hard); take the high pitch (1-1);ball (2-1); Jeter looks on; foul off (2-2); ball (3-2); DID I SAY I'M NOT WORRIED.....and WOMACK GETS A SINGLE! Now, 2 on, no outs, and Sheff.

Oh my God.....Sheff, oh Sheff..... Yankees up 6-3! This has been a REALTIME presentation.

That's why I'm Greensboro Chapter President of the Tony Womack Fan Club!

Coble votes in favor of Stem Cell Research Bill....

STEM CELL RESEARCH VOTE: Earlier this week the U.S. House of Representatives voted 238-194 to pass the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would lift restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. Voting for the bill were 187 Democrats, 50 Republicans and one independent. Voting against it were 180 Republicans and 14 Democrats. Here’s how North Carolina’s delegation in the House voted on the bill :

DEMOCRATS FOR (5): G.K. Butterfield, Bob Etheridge, Brad Miller, David Price, Mel Watt
REPUBLICANS FOR (1): Howard Coble
DEMOCRATS AGAINST (1): Mike McIntyreREPUBLICANS AGAINST (5): Virginia Foxx, Robin Hayes, Walter Jones, Patrick McHenry, Sue Myrick, Charles Taylor

Secretary of Health and Human Services would be given approval to use federal funds to conduct research utilizing embryonic stem cells if the cells meet certain conditions set out in the legislation. Most existing material derived from human embryos that qualifies for U.S. government funding have been contaminated by mouse proteins that could make humans reject these therapies.

I appreciate Howard's vote to help the efforts toward research on Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, cancer, MS [multiple sclerosis], Lou Gehrig's disease and other fatal, debilitating diseases...

ROD 101 Event: The Sprint and Distance Events!

As a commissioner, one can argue success (mostly) comes as a result of making positive big decisions in a small amount of time over your term. As an elected department director, success comes from hundreds of small positive decisions leading to a larger impact over your term.

My nephew Cameron, 10, and neice Brittany, 13, go to track meets. They were at Wake Forest this past weekend and between the two of em won 4 gold medals. Cameron was actually the MVP of the meet with 3 of the 4 medals. I got to thinkin'.....

If commissioners were runners they would mostly be sprinters. You go from one issue to another; or multiple issues quickly and it calls for agility and bursts of energy. The pace of a Department Director is like participating in a combination of events: part marathon; triathalon; and sprinting is needed mostly during budget time (or when computers go down and and customers are wondering what the @#$# is going on?)

Yes, Department Directors use different mental muscles. I'm not sprinting as much, but it is budget season. I'd define my current event as the triathalon. New computer system (Swimming); Internal Operations (Running); and Customer Service (Bicycling) in the ROD office.

The E-Newsletter and 100 Day Report will be coming out in the next couple of days. I'll add the link so you can check out how far we've gotten into the event!

No Joke! Thigpen Blog makes CNN 'Inside Politics' with Judy Woodruff!

I received a call from CNN's Inside Politics with Judy Woodruff about 2:30 pm today. They wanted permission to use put my blog on the show. I laughed and thought it was a joke at first. 'Jack Bauer and the 14 Senators disarm Nuclear Weapon' caught their eye and they used it in their blog segment. The piece ran after a Howard Dean interview at 4:25 pm.

Jack Bauer and 14 Senators disarm Nuclear weapon!

Signing the agreement: Sen. Landrieu; Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.; John McCain, R-Ariz.; Mike DeWine, R-Ohio; John Warner, R-Va.; Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.; Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; Olympia Snowe, R-Maine; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Ken Salazar, D-Colo.; Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I.; Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii.

Closure invoked on Brown, Pryor, and Owen. No commitment for Myers and Saad. Filibusters only in "extraordinary circumstances" and use discretion. Opposition to change prohibit filibusters. (AND THE US AIRFORCE SHOT DOWN A NUCLEAR WARHEAD OVER LOS ANGELES DUE TO INTELLIGENCE GATHERED BY CTU AGENT JACK BAUER).

A Day at the Ball Park!

Elle had a great time at a recent game and I recommend it!

Basic Supervisory Training Completed! Where's the graduation music?

Register of Deeds supervisors (and me) finished the Guilford County Basic Supervisory Training through Human Resources. I really appreciated the 5 trainings and they were useful. The last training focused on performance measuring; conflict management, and case studies. Participants represented the Guilford Center, Department of Social Services, Planning Department, Sheriff's Dept, and Public Health. The Register of Deeds office had the most participants in the training and I say it with pride.

The trainings have given us an opportunity to look at issues in the office collectively. I believe we can institutionalize good habits and tools to continue improve office operations.

We are making updates! New colors, and a new project!

We've been doing Spring Cleaning on the Blog as you can see....new colors, etc.

AND I NEED YOUR HELP!

I am seeking out ELECTED OFFICIAL BLOGGERS! They can be in NC, out of state, United Kingdom, etc! Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, etc. It really does not matter. And again, ELECTED OFFICIALS- not candidates. I'm trying to build a list. Candidates may come later.

I can be emailed at jthigpen@triad.rr.com.

Thanks!

Phone call re: Take my Social Security # off those documents!

The Deeds office getting a slew of phone calls related to the Fox 8 piece from last night on ID theft. We are taking contact information for citizens at the Guilford County Register of Deeds website for social security removal from documents once the legislation is enacted. Legally we can't do anything right now. Pass the word if you see folks on the street! haha

If you leave it, they will come!

We played our first Men's Senior Baseball (MSBL) games yesterday at War Memorial Stadium!
Orioles win 9-1!

Elle ran the bases after the game. It was great! Goes to show you the ol' gal of a stadium still has some use!

WGHP Fox 8 interview on Identity Theft on Sunday Night 10 pm!

I met with Chad Tucker and Brad (cameraman) this afternoon regarding Identity Theft legislation. It should be a pretty informative piece! They've found information on some interesting people. Check it out Sunday night!

In addition, check out my new Guilford County Register of Deeds Indentity Theft Information Center!

Budget Presented to County Manager and Budget Director!

I remember walking through the waiting area in the County Manager's office as a Commissioner--watching Department Directors squirm and wait anxiously to present their annual budgets to the Manager. I'd laugh after I turned the corner.....and say to myself, "Yeah, Roger/Willie--stick it to em". Yesterday, I chuckled as I squirmed and waited anxiously to see myself enter the door so I could beat myself over the head!

Anyway, I'm requesting two new positions- a Business Systems Analyst (Computer geek) and an office specialist. Two top priorities are Technology Enhancement and Customer Service. Those two positions will help us make great strides in those areas.

In this budget, I'm small potatoes. Talked with EMS Director Alan Perdue. They are requesting 23 positions. Saw Sheriff BJ Barnes who is requesting 21 positions. WOW. In a way, it's understandable with our population increases and added responsibilities associated with these public services that increases in staff are needed. Oh yeah, I didn't mention the schools, did I?

Ouch....Great time to be a Commissioner!

Tarheel Chapter Professional Development Seminar Blog Panel

Participated in a Media Panel through PRSA yesterday: How Does Blogging Affect You? The panel included Sue Polenksky, TechTriad, Roch Smith, Jr., Greensboro 101, Lex Alexander, Citizen-Journalism Coordinator News & Record and me, Jeff Thigpen, Guilford County Register of Deeds.

Lots of good discussion. There was some trepidation from Public Relations specialists about using blogs, but I hope we eased some of their tensions. Thanks to Eris Ball from RF Micro for her hard work in putting the panel together.

Forget it! Jack Bauer for Guilford County Commissioner!

EMS; Schools budget; Sheriff; Departmental issues; economic incentives; regional transportation; blah, blah. No problem.

The real mission is get the Register of Deeds budget passed!

Presenting my budget to the County Manager and Budget staff tomorrow afternoon. Highlights are better customer service; technology enhancements, and saving county money on contracts.

Wow....I can't believe this!

Ex-communicated Democrats.....

Public can get Identity Theft Legislation and Information on Register of Deeds website!

Go to the Guilford County home page and you'll find the link (under the Guiford County sign) for Identity Theft legislation, resources, and updates from the Guilford County Register of Deeds office!

We'll be building this site for useful information for the public!

Mecklenburg County Commissioners honor Confederate History Week! Guilford next?

Mecklenburg County Commissioners made next week Confederate History Week at a recent meeting. Who said Guilford County Commissioners were backwards?

Yes, I had ancestors who fought in the Civil War for the Confederate Army and I'd never want to dishonor a human life or my ancestry. BUT, I see these current efforts more as attempts to create subtle racial division, and revise history such that white supremacy is somehow justifiable and socially acceptible. Honor the dead, skip the condemnation of slavery. No big deal.

And I'm sure I'll hear from folks about the NAACP and reverse racism on the one hand. We should not forget our southern heritage on the other.

Let's honor the dead by working toward building the American Dream for everyone. We have a special responsibility especially in the South to work toward this goal based on our confederate history.

Those new Ethics Rules Ain't Got Nothing on Me!

Rep. Howard Coble's trip to Ireland is raised in the News and Observer under a "?" You decide...

This would never be a problem with Guilford County Department Directors. I had an attorney offer our staff some pens. No. After a complaint, I took them off the floor. A vendor offered to rent a van for our staff to go to Mecklenburg County to see their software system. No. Go through Fleet. Another wanted to buy our staff lunch. No. Pay and get reimbused. Yep, clean as a whistle!

Guilford County Personnel Regulation 9 covers gifts and favors. Hmmn, it does not say anything about Swedish massage? haha

The Most Influential Democrat in the World.....

The election is coming up tomorrow May 5th. I'm endorsing British Prime Minister Tony Blair of the Labour Party. Yeah, I know, I have friends with issues with him on the War in Iraq. I can't defend some of his decisions, but I can't help but be drawn to his energy, commitment, and many of his political stands. I also like Gordan Brown. I'm calling it, Brown will take over for Blair at some point in the near future. Issues like dealing with Third World debt and the Commission for Africa are trying to woo Labour Party members disenchanted with Blair over Iraq.

I predict 37%-29% for Labour with a strong showing by the Liberal Democrats 25%.

Identity Theft Protection Act of 2005--ROD Bills of Interest!

HB 1248 Identity Theft Protection Act of 2005



Places prohibitions on the use of social security numbers by state and local governments, including collecting the number unless otherwise authorized by law, failing to segregate the numbers collected from other records or to provide a person with an explanation of why the number has been requested, printing the number on any card required for the individual to access government services or printing the number on materials mailed to the individual (unless required by state or federal law), or otherwise disclosing the number to a third party without the individual's consent. Lists exceptions to prohibitions. Authorizes local law enforcement agencies to take reports of identity theft even if another agency has jurisdiction over investigation of the crime. (source: NC League of Municipalities)

Fourth Supervisory Training: NO WHINING!

Lenora Billings-Harris led the Training entitled: Creating a Respectful Workplace. The first part of the training identified how we all use "the victim mentality" in dealing with each other on personal and professional levels. The result minimizes our capacity to work together; to be "totally responsible people" (the goal of the training); and to create respectful workplaces.

Deeds truly are more important than mere words. But words can have a tremendous influence in the workplace and limit our capacity to build strong organizations. I liked this training especially because it involved basic human psychology. "NO WHINING" pins were given out at the end of the training. haha.

ok, it ain't so....Welcome back Dr. Cole!