TVA Today:
Daily news for employees

Tuesday, October 7, 2003

MTSU, TVA Announce Master Agreement on Joint Efforts
Middle Tennessee State University and TVA have reached a master agreement that will serve as a guide to how the institutions will cooperate on projects, programs, research-and-development activities and student initiatives such as internships.

MTSU President Sidney McPhee and TVA Director Bill Baxter formalized the agreement in a brief ceremony last Saturday on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro.

As part of the agreement, MTSU and TVA are focusing on possible joint efforts associated with cooperative education, energy efficiency, K-12 educational outreach, environmental stewardship and economic development.

“TVA is a perfect partner for MTSU, and this agreement will greatly benefit the university in a variety of areas,” says McPhee. “For seven decades, TVA has served this region well as the country’s premier power company. Not quite as well known is TVA’s long-time support of higher education.

“This master agreement will greatly support our academic programs, our research-and-development activities, and will be a major asset to our student programs.”

McPhee added that he looks forward to MTSU students participating in internships and co-op programs with TVA.

“From its earliest days, TVA has partnered with institutions of higher learning to achieve a higher quality of life in the Tennessee Valley,” says Baxter. “We are excited about the opportunities for collaboration between TVA and MTSU and look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership.”

A comprehensive university, MTSU offers more than 140 programs in its six undergraduate colleges, and the College of Graduate Studies has more than 50 programs, including doctoral degrees. This fall, MTSU enrolled 21,744 students.

October Inside TVA Covers Draft Strategic Plan Presentations
The October Inside TVA is now available at most regular distribution stations throughout TVA. It is scheduled to be posted online later today in the PDF format that debuted last month at http://www.tva.com/insidetva/. (See item below.)

The October issue includes these and other news stories and features:

• Part 5 of TVA’s Business Education Series – “How the TVA System Works.”
• Coverage of the elements in TVA’s draft Strategic Plan, as presented to employees, retirees and other stakeholders by Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning & Analysis Theresa Flaim.
• Information about the new Employee Identification Numbers, created to provide more privacy and help protect individuals against identity theft.
• A “day in the life” of hydro employees, specifically the men and women who help keep the turbines humming in the powerhouse at TVA’s oldest dam, Wilson.
• Articles on Winning Performance, the new Contractor Workforce Management Policy, benefits open enrollment, the COO Administrative Peer Team and more.

Online Inside TVA Again Published in PDF Format
The online version of Inside TVA, scheduled to be available later today at http://www.tva.com/insidetva/, is being published for the second time in PDF format.

Online readers will have the opportunity to view the pages exactly as they appear in the print version, but with full-color photography. To save time, readers should open the pages one by one, rather than downloading the entire issue.

Additional text and photos not in the print version will continue to be included in the online issue, when appropriate. This issue includes extended coverage on the “day in the life” article on Wilson Hydro Plant, as “Online Extra.”

The online issue includes a survey asking for feedback on Inside TVA coverage. Complete “Tell us what you think …” and help Internal Communications learn what news coverage is most important to you.

CS&M Hosts Workshop on Grid-Connected Energy Systems
Customer Service & Marketing hosted a free workshop on the installation of grid-connected solar- and wind-energy systems last Friday in Knoxville.

More than 60 people attended the workshop, which was sponsored by TVA Green Power Switch Generation Partners. It featured Kevin Lynn, Senior Research Engineer for the Florida Solar Energy Center. Lynn is a technical expert in the installation and maintenance of distributed-generation systems and has extensive experience in developing protocols for the installation and testing of renewable-energy systems.

The workshop was held at the Knoxville Utilities Board Operations Center on Middlebrook Pike.

Attendees include area power-distributor representatives, local code officials and consumers interested in learning more about green-power generation and TVA’s new GPS Generation Partners demonstration project.

Additional seminars across the Tennessee Valley are planned for the future.

More information about GPS Generation Partners is available at http://www.gpsgenpartners.com.

TVA, Boy Scouts To Open Hiking Trail at Tellico Reservoir
TVA’s Little Tennessee Watershed Team and the Boy Scouts of America Troop 354 of Lenoir City, Tenn., will open a new hiking trail at TVA’s Tellico Dam reservation.

The first loop of the Tellico Reservation Hall Bend Trail will be officially opened for public use at a ceremony in the trailhead parking lot on Tellico Parkway beginning at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8.

TVA and the Boy Scouts began working on the trail in February 2002 to enhance recreation opportunities on the Tellico Dam reservation. TVA assisted the Boy Scouts in trail design and vegetation management and also built a parking area at the trailhead.

Members of Troop 354 worked many hours last year and this summer to complete the first loop. The Boy Scouts will help maintain the trail on a regular basis by removing litter and trash, pruning vegetation and installing benches and lake-access points.

The trail offers great views of the reservoir and will allow access to an interesting natural habitat. When complete, the trail will stretch four to five miles.

IBEW Local 721 Meeting Today in Chattanooga
The monthly meeting of Local 721 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers will be at 7:30 p.m. today. The meeting will be at the IBEW No. 175 Union Hall at 3922 Volunteer Dr. in Chattanooga.

Members are urged to attend. For more information, call Business Manager Tommy Floyd at 843-4074.

Blood Drive Thursday at Colbert Fossil Plant
United Blood Services will have a blood drive at Colbert Fossil Plant from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9.

Donors should report to the Plant Assembly Room. Appointment times can be scheduled by calling Steve Wallace at 389-7294. Walk-ins also are welcome. Donors will receive free Halloween T-shirts.

Identification, such as a TVA photo ID, will be required. Donors should eat before donating. All blood types are needed.