Today is the last day of what has been a great gathering. Seeing our members, sponsors and exhibitors come together to network and share ideas makes all the hard work by the TMEPA staff and volunteers worthwhile. We hope that you found sessions that were informative, made connections that will be lasting and had discussions to bring back home to your municipalities, It was extra special to have so many people join us this year as we also celebrated our 50th Anniversary. Thank you to everyone who came out to Nashville - and those who followed the Meeting from home - we look forward to staying connected with you over the next year. There is always more work to be done to protect our great industry. With your help, we know that the next 50 years have great things in store. Enjoy the last day of this year's Meeting and travel safely back home! 

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! 

Sue Kelly, President & CEO of APPA, gave an impassioned session on a variety of the most pressing topics facing utilities today. APPA is there to help public utilities of all sizes be prepared, both on a legislative front and on everyday issues. APPA represents 1,400 of the 2,000 public power utilities in the U.S., with one in seven Americans being served by APPA. "That is a powerful statement," Kelly said. APPA is a resource that works best when all served by it participates in the process. For example, staying aware of legislative proposals long before they get to a vote, such as municipal bond changes, is imperative. TMEPA does a great job of working with APPA, from having members serve on their Board to just keeping up with the issues, APPA connects the wide variety of public utilities on many issues. Kelly shared some of APPA's priorities, which she is happy to discuss with any member. In addition to keeping a variety of issues at the state and local control level, Kelly said that "we have a long history of participation; this is key to keeping public power strong." For more information on current topics facing the industry, be sure to reach out to APPA. They are knowledgeable on everything from EPA regulations, municipal bond concerns and cyber security risks. APPA is a partner to TMEPA and members should take advantage of their expertise and knowledge that can help prevent problems before they arise. To learn more about APPA, click here. 

Cyber Security Help
Every utility – large and small – should be practicing basic level "cyber security hygiene." That’s because of "ransom-ware," which could start with an innocent email attachment and then, a few days later you get a call that says "pay us or else." These people, who are in often in other countries, can even take over your breakers, turn your power on and off, and more. Kelly describes one utility that had to deal with this for more than nine months. "Cyber hackers are targeting small, local governments now," Kelly said. "Everyone is at risk – no matter your size. Now you see what keeps me up at night."

All public utilities need to be educated about cyber security threats. APPA is providing tools and updates to help:
1. APPA Resources: Guidebooks, webinars, "what-if" exercises at events.
2. Sign up for E-ISAC. Email: operations@esisac.com or call: 404-446-9780 and press 2 (24-hour hotline).
3. Work with local police and fellow public power utilities to come up with ideas.
4. $15 million grant recently awarded, with $7.5 million going to APPA to help fight cyber crime.

The Annual Awards Banquet packed the large conference room. Attendees enjoying a nice sit-down dinner as a variety of awards were given to those who have done exceptional work over the previous year. The TMEPA President's Gavel was also handed from Outgoing TMEPA President Brian Skelton to Incoming President Jim Ferrell, who will now serve one year as President. NOTE: Check the next issue of this Newsletter on July 22 for a full list of award winners, along with a slideshow of photos from the Banquet. 

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. 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!

Friday, July 15: Full Schedule Details

Our Exhibit Area will be open today! The 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 today 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 updates from the Exhibit Area! 

WordSouth, a content marketing company and exhibitor at this year’s TMEPA Meeting, will be conducting interviews throughout the meeting for use in creating podcasts that will be available after the event ends. The idea behind the podcasts, which are audio stories that can be listened to at your leisure, is to offer both those at home and attendees who were at the Meeting, a chance to gain additional knowledge and insights. Stephen V. Smite, who works in public relations for WordSouth, said that he and his colleague, Jared Dovers, will create the podcasts for those people who want to learn more about a certain presenter or exhibitor. Smite said that this year’s TMEPA Meeting, which also celebrates the Association’s 50th Anniversary, was a perfect time to get involved. "It will give people who came to the Meeting a chance to dial in and learn more about certain topics or companies. These are stand-by resources that people can refer to when they want." For many of Tennessee’s municipal utilities, which are in very rural areas, these podcasts could offer a variety of industry knowledge with just a few key stokes. WordSouth is also celebrating an anniversary, their 20th year of helping utility communicators tell their story. "For many of our rural utilities, there are challenges, but they also have a unique voice," Smite said. "They are ingrained in their communities they serve and have a sense of ownership. That is an important story to tell." 

 

Visit Booth 18 to learn more about Naylor Association Solutions, a publishing company focused on trade associations. Naylor publishes TMEPA's Annual Directory, their monthly newsletter and this Annual Meeting Show Daily you are reading now. Stop by for a free gift (while supplies last) and to learn more about how Naylor could help you reach your target audience. Naylor would like to give a big thank you to TMEPA and the attendees of this event -- your hospitality was lovely and your members are engaged, eager and knowlegable.