Welcome to the first day of TMEPA's 50th Anniversary & Annual Meeting. We are so excited to kick off this year's event in the vibrant city of Nashville at the lovely Omni Hotel. This year's Meeting is extra special due to the celebration of TMEPA's 50th Anniversary! There are a number of events planned to mark this milestone, including a tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame at the Welcome Reception tonight, a Roundtable Discussion at the Luncheon Honoring TMEPA's Past President's, onsite Board Training and so much more. See the Daily Schedule section below each morning for full details of that day's happenings. 

We are especially proud of the program we were able to put together for this year's event, with spectacular speakers, thought-provoking sessions and a variety of events and activities to choose from each day. There are so many opportunities to network, to explore current trends and to bring back ideas to your utility. We would be remiss if we didn't thank the many Exhibitors, Sponsors and Associate Members, without whom this event would not be possible. 

If you are here in Nashville, we hope you enjoy the extra effort that went into planning this year's Meeting. If you are following along from home, thank you for staying up-to-date with your Association! This Daily Newsletter will help you with key takeaways each day, even if you couldn't make it to Nashville. We are proud to bring you this new resource and welcome any feedback. Also, be sure to check Twitter for live updates -- just type in the hashtag #TMEPA50 to see what people are sharing. 

Registration and Check-In will be open today from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We have a special gift for registrants thanks to the generous donations of the partners below, many of whom will be in the Exhibit Area on Thursday and Friday. Be sure to stop by, strike up a conversation and say thank you.

Thank you to the following contributors: 
Alexander Thompson Arnold: Mints
Allen Hoshall: Pens and Bags
Clean Harbors: Tape Measures/Levels
ESource: USB Flash Drives
Halo: Hats and Other
Invoice Cloud: Stress Clouds
John Davis Advisors: Pens
Leidos: Sunglasses
NISC: USB Car Chargers

We are often asked how we put on such a great meeting. It takes a lot of hard work by the committee and staff, of course, but it wouldn't happen without our sponsors and partners. You'll find most of them in the Exhibit Area, where you can meet and talk. The Reception, Breakfasts, Breaks, and Social Hour will held be in the Exhibit Area, so don't miss this chance to say thanks and make a new friend, or business partner! See the full list of sponsors by clicking here.

Be sure to check this section of the newsletter each day for interviews, recaps and in-depth looks at current topics in our industry. This meeting will bring together some of the brightest minds in our industry -- and this is where we will share some of their stories! 

Question 1
In your term as TMEPA President, what was your main goal?
A: To continue on more of the good work of the Association, which is to protect and help our municipal power utilities across Tennessee.

Question 2
This year’s Meeting is special because of the 50th Anniversary milestone. What does it mean to you that the Association has had such longevity and how does it feel to be a part of that?
A: It means that the organization that was chartered 50 years ago was done so with a purpose -- to organize and represent municipalities. And that work continues today. The founders and managers were trendsetters who did the more difficult work of creating the Association. It is a much easier job to continue on with success.

Question 3
What makes the TMEPA Meeting important to attend? What can both first-time and long-time members expect to bring home from the Meeting?
A: I think the Association has made extra effort this year because of the Anniversary. There will be fantastic speakers, a great venue and wonderful entertainment. It will be both educational and entertaining. There will be so much for people to pick and choose from this year. 
 
Question 4
What are you most looking forward to this year? Do you have any recommendations for must-attend sessions?
A: The Past President’s Roundtable Luncheon will be fantastic. It will be an interesting and entertaining discussion. There will be people there who have been involved with the Association for years! This bringing together of people who have knowledge of our industry from over many years will be a great experience to watch. We probably won’t have enough time for all the great discussions, but we will try.

Question 5
The Exhibit Area has a variety of booths this year. This is great for attendees but also shows a great level of support for the Association. How important are the sponsors and exhibitors to this event and the Association?
A: Quite frankly, if we didn’t have their support -- and that of the associate members -- we couldn’t put on this event. We appreciate each and every one's support. The Exhibit Area will also be a good opportunity for these exhibitors to get in front of our decision-makers and have real discussions on current issues.

Question 6
Anything else to add?
A: This year’s Meeting is going to be the largest one we have ever had. We will have the largest attendance, the largest percentage of members represented, the best location and sensational sessions. There was a lot of extra effort to make the 50th Anniversary special, and I think attendees will enjoy it and bring a lot back home to their municipalities. 

New this year will be our Twitter hashtag -- #TMEPA50 -- that you can use to share your experience at the meeting and make connections with new partners. Those at home can also follow the meeting by typing the hashtag into Twitter, which will bring up every tweet that includes this hashtag! We will also be tweeting throughout the meeting, using this hashtag, and we are looking forward to seeing your experiences and takeaways from the meeting. Each day of the meeting, we will highlight a "Tweet of the Day" -- so be sure to check this section. You may just see one of your tweets here! Find TMEPA on Twitter at @TNMuniElectric  

Check this section each day for daily highlights of not-to-miss parts of the meeting, special events and other important information about that day. You can click here to view the full schedule. We have so much going on this year -- you are sure to find more than enough to stay busy and make new connections!

Wednesday, July 13: Full Schedule Details
7 a.m. Golfers Continental Breakfast (Hermitage Gold Course, President's Reserve) 
8 a.m. Golf Tournament (See map here.)
Special thank you to Anixter for hosting this event! 

 

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration and Check-In (Omni Hotel - Nashville, TMEPA Registration Desk -- Exhibit Area; Broadway West Pre-Function) 

Special thank you to TVA for being this year's Meeting Co-Host!

 

 

 
3 p.m. TEPAC Board of Directors Meeting (Music Row 6) 

4 p.m. TMEPA Board of Directors Meeting (Music Row 6) 

6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Welcoming Reception -- Buffet & Refreshments and Special Tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame (Exhibit Area, Grand View Terrace). Note that your name badge is your ticket to the reception and Country Music Hall of Fame.
Special thank you to USI for hosting this event! 

 

 

Our Exhibit Area will feature a variety of exciting exhibitor booths (click here to see full list) presenting products and services critical to your system needs. The exhibitors will be set up and ready to connect on Thursday and Friday. We will also hold a variety of our special events in this area! Don't miss this opportunity to learn about emerging trends, see new products and services, and network with leaders in the industry. Don't forget to check the Daily Newsletter and Twitter each day for interviews and updates from the Exhibit Area!