How quickly time flies!  This fall has been a very busy one here in the IT Department.  Most notably, our new building has been under construction since October 6.  I have been spending a lot of time doting on the progress of this facility.  It’s a labor of love, though.

We have begun the purchasing of our new equipment for the 2006 budget year.  It will be a race for John and I to get everything put into place before the crews start back up next spring.  United is getting a major overhaul in Waterloo.  In Brooklyn we are replacing 3-4 servers and about 20 desktops/laptops. 

The computer training program is also getting ready to kick off.  I say this every year, but it never gets old:  This program is one of the best I’ve ever seen.  The content and attention delivered to our users take s a backseat to nothing.  Please take some time and go to classes.  Sandy has done a great job getting a full schedule lined up for everybody.

LL Pelling’s conversion to Viewpoint looks like it’s going to take hold.  Candace has been spending at least a full day every week in North Liberty since September.  There just aren’t enough hours in the day for her sometimes!  We might give her a week between major conversions and system implementations after she gets this one done…

I did want to put a little bit of a special footnote into this installment of my column.  2005 has been one helluva tough year.  The losses we’ve had as a company, along with the personal and private struggles of so many of our employees and their families is something I hope we don’t ever have to endure again in such a short time frame.  I know that I’ve taken a little inventory and counted my blessings…one of them being able to work with everybody here at Manatt’s and the sister companies.  I truly love this job, and being able to work with so many great people is the biggest reason I find it so rewarding.  Through all of our downers this past year, I’ve found the most sentiment by jumping right back into work with both boots, so to speak.  I hope everybody has a great Holiday Season and a restful winter.  Spring is just around the corner!