The Fine Print
The Newsletter of the Maryland Public Purchasing Association, Inc.
November/December 2006
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE-
Mark A. Pemberton, CPPB, C.P.M.
Let me open by thanking all members and guests who attended our Picnic/Crab Feast on Saturday, September 16 at Kurtz’s Beach in Pasadena. It truly turned out to be a wonderful day. As my lovely 8-year old daughter said on the way home “Daddy, those were nice people”. Oh the wisdom of a child, I could not agree with her more. I heard lots of positive comments regarding the location and the menu. Thanks to Brian Snyder for his efforts in arranging the event. I look forward to continuing this late summer tradition and believe we may return to Kurtz’s next year.
I remind everyone of the upcoming MPPA elections in November. I encourage those who have not been involved in the past to come and join the fun! Serving on the MPPA board is quite a rewarding experience. I know we are actively recruiting for a new Secretary, Treasurer and a couple new Directors and Committee chairs. Please contact, Secretary Maureen Dunn, or Nominating Committee chair Cindy Sennett, or myself if you are interested (and I don’t know why you wouldn’t be). Speaking of voting, get out there and exercise you’re right on November 7th as well.
I’d like to personally thank the outgoing Board members for their hard work and dedication to the Association. As I have said before, MPPA is made better by their involvement. Thanks again to each of you.
The Board has been tasked to update the MPPA procedures manual and we anticipate the updated version being made available to the Association by years end. A copy of the current by-laws and procedures is available on our web site under the “About Us” heading.
As I close for this edition, I wish everyone a safe and blessed holiday season. Go Ravens!
You know I won’t sign off without a quote, so, here goes. From one of my favorites, Groucho Marx, “No man goes before his time – unless the boss leaves early”. How true.
I hope to see you all in the near future,
Regards,
Mark A. Pemberton, CPPB, C.P.M.
2006 President, MPPA
NOVEMBER 2006 MEETING OF THE MPPA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
WHEN:Thursday November 9, 2006
From 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
WHERE:The Rose Restaurant – Room B
6921 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21225
410-789-9100
PROGRAM:See below.
COST:$25.00 per person (members/guests)
MENU:Hot Lunch Buffet
Roast Pork Loin
Chicken Chasseur
Garden Salad
Potato & vegetable du jour
Rolls & butter
Coffee, Hot & Iced tea
Dessert
R.S.V.P: Registration and payment is available on line at www. mppainc.org or you may notify Facilities Chairperson Brain Snyder by telephone at 410-263-7944, e-mail at or fax at 410-263-8120. Brian needs a count of attendees on or before Monday November 6th.
PAYMENT: Payment is available on line (see above) or make checks payable to MPPA, Inc. c/o Donita Hood, 3833 Arbutus Avenue, Gwynn Oak, MD 21207. Payment will be accepted at the door.
PROGRAM:Procurement’s Role in Selection of Construction Design Professionals and Construction Project Delivery Methods
“A presentation and discussion from public and private sector stakeholders”
Richard Berich, PE, President of the Maryland Qualification Based Selection Council (QBS)
Vince Duobinis, Senior Project Development Manager, Centennial Contractors Enterprises, Inc
Harold (Hal) Good, CPPO, Director of Purchasing, Frederick County, Maryland
Ron Lepson, Chief, Bureau of Engineering, Howard County, Maryland
David Mayhew, AIA, Director, Facilities Management, Architecture, Engineering & Construction, Towson University, Towson, Maryland
Subject matter will include Qualification Based Selection (QBS) of design professionals, Pre-qualification of Contractors, Job Order Cost (JOC), Design-Bid-Build, Construction Management, and Design-Build.
***Bring your public works colleagues with you to participate in the roundtable to follow the presentations.
CRUISE WITH MPPA IN 2007
Karen R. Luther, CPPO
The arrangements are made. Phil and I only need members and their families and/or friends to book their cabin aboard the ship, Grandeur of the Seas. We have reserved 35 various types of rooms (15 inside staterooms, 10 ocean view staterooms, 5 ocean view staterooms with a balcony). Our children are going with us, their spouse/significant other, and some friends and relatives---rooms are going fast, so get your reservation in early. Contact Susan Plumley at 240-313-7009 EXT 61318 at AAA for booking and additional information. You won’t want to miss this ship!
5 NIGHT BERMUDA CRUISE
THE M.P.P.A GROUP
October 28 - November 2, 2007
aboard Royal Caribbean Cruises' Grandeur Of The Seas
See pink-sand beaches, pastel houses, and shorts in every shade … all in Bermuda.
Itinerary
October 28 / Embark Baltimore, Maryland
October 29 / Cruising
October 30 / Kings Wharf, Bermuda
October 31 / Kings Wharf, Bermuda
November 1 / Cruising
November 2 / Disembark Baltimore, Maryland
/
If Booked and deposited by Dec 31, 2006 an additional $25.00 per cabin discount will be applied.
Category / AAA Rates
D1 – Ocean view Stateroom with Balcony / $ 789
I – Ocean view Stateroom / $ 599
M - Inside Stateroom / $ 519
Rates, availability and itinerary are subject to change without notice. Rates are per person and based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted. Above rates do not include air unless otherwise noted. Government fees of $51.18 per person are not included. / DEPOSIT:
$ 100.00 per person, at time of reservation
FINAL PAYMENT:
Due August 4, 2007
AAA Mid Atlantic strongly recommends that you purchase travel insurance to protect your investment.
AAA is not responsible for errors or omissions.
For Reservation And Information, Please Contact Susan Plumley At
240-313-7009 EXT 61318.
#87162 - 10/24/2006
Notes regarding changes: If there is only one name change in a cabin, it is usually not a problem. However, if both people in cabin do not go and there are completely new names, here is what Royal Caribbean says…
If name changes are done BEFORE March 6, 2007… no fee or fare increase to do name change.
If name changes are done AFTER March 6, 2007… there may be a fare increase. It is based on inventory (how well selling).
If name changes are done AFTER August 4, 2007… no name changes allowed. You must cancel cabin and rebook new people in their own cabin. Cancellation penalties apply to people canceling (insurance is recommended) and there may be a fare increase for the new people booking.
October 16, 2006
To: All MPPA Members
From: MPPA Executive Board
The Executive Board Meeting was held on Wednesday October 11, 2006. At this meeting one topic discussed was vacancies on the board that need to be filled for 2007.
The following positions are available:
Secretary – Officer
Treasurer – Officer
Director Position – Two (2) Openings
Membership Committee Chairperson
If you would like to nominate someone, please contact one of following MPPA members:
Cindy Sennett, Nominating Chairperson at 301-454-595, or Maureen Dunn, Secretary at 410-386-2181, or Mark Pemberton, President at 410-260-7335,
The Board would appreciate members getting out there on the campaign trail and recruiting nominees. Time is of the essence, elections are normally held in November.
Thank you for your cooperation.
To:All MPPA Members
From:MPPA Executive Board
We are asking again for all MPPA members to search high and low in their files and storage areas in search of any MPPA information or documents.
We have secured a storage facility for old MPPA records. If you have any thing that you feel belongs in the archives, you are asked to send them to MPPA, Inc. at our Howard County mailing address c/o Howard County Purchasing, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, 5th Floor, Columbia, 21046).
MPPA WEB SITE ()
Kristi Heim, Web site Administrator
It would be appreciated if everyone would access the organization’s web site at the address above, Click on Review/update your profile and proceed with entry of your current information.
MEMBERSHIP
Darla H. Herbold, CPPO
MPPA warmly welcomes the following professional purchasing practitioners who were accepted into membershipon October 11, 2006, by the MPPA Executive Board:
Darnetta M. Tisdale
Administrative Officer
Department of Assessments and Taxation
3244 Kelox Road
Baltimore, MD 21207
Phone: (410) 277-3535
Fax: (410) 333-7444
Email:
Joy Hamlet
Purchasing Clerk
St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Cmmission
43990 Commerce Avenue
Hollywood, MD 20636
Phone: (301) 373-4733 x222
Fax: (301) 373-4822
Email:
Linda Doyle
Procurement Specialist I
Washington County Purchasing Department
200 W. Washington Street, Room 320
Hagerstown, MD 21740-4748
Phone: (240) 313-2335
Fax: (240) 313-2331
Email:
Sue Ann Ziegler, CPPB
Procurement Supervisor
City of Baltimore
Bureau of Purchases
231 E. Baltimore Street, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 396-5736
Fax: (410) 396-1822
Email:
Christine L. Parnau, CPPB
Procurement Supervisor
City of Baltimore
Bureau of Purchases
231 E. Baltimore Street, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 396-5707
Fax: (410) 396-2997
Email:
Evon Cuffie
Purchasing Assistant
City of Baltimore
Bureau of Purchases
231 E. Baltimore Street, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 396-5712
Fax: (410) 396-1822
Email:
Paulette Gough-Peace, CPPB
Procurement Specialist I
City of Baltimore
Bureau of Purchases
231 E. Baltimore Street, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 396-5708
Fax: (410) 396-1822
Email:
Marsha Coleman, CPPB
Procurement Specialist
City of Baltimore
Bureau of Purchases
231 E. Baltimore Street, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 396-5719
Fax: (410) 396-1822
Email:
Paul J. Edgeworth, CPPB
Procurement Specialist II
City of Baltimore
Bureau of Purchases
231 E. Baltimore Street, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 396-5726
Fax: (410) 396-1822
Email:
Valessa Clark
Buyer
City of Annapolis
145 Gorman Street, 2nd Floor
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: (410) 263-7944
Fax: (410) 263-8120
Email:
Andres Olaciregui
Procurement Specialist I
Office of Purchasing
Montgomery County, Maryland
255 Rockville Pike, Suite 180
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: (240) 777-9944
Fax: (240) 777-9952
Email:
RECOGNITION REPORT
Pam Jones, CPPB, MBA, CPM
Please remember, if you’d like to forward information to be published (e.g., recent certification, promotion, etc.), please contact me at or contact Tom at .
Announcements
Please remember, if you’d like to forward information to be published (e.g., recent certification, promotion, etc.), please contact me at .
Don’t Forget-Opportunities for Educational Aide:
The Stanley D. Zemansky Scholarship Program Application Procedure has been redesigned. The new procedure captures the required information in an application format. We hope this will make applying for the scholarship more user-friendly and encourage more eligible MPPA members to apply. The new instruction and application have been uploaded to the MPPA website.
The Board has approved a new educational tool to benefit its membership. MPPA has established educational aide to reimburse eligible MPPA members that pass their certification exam, and whose agencies do not pay for their certification exam, the cost of the exam fee. We hope this will encourage and aide more members in becoming certified in the Profession. This educational aide was effective as of January 1, 2006; please visit the MPPA website to view the instructions and application.
New Certification/Recertification
If you have recertification information, CPM, or other certification information you would like to share or recognize, please let me know.
CONGRATULATIONS to the following individuals:
No New CPPB/CPPO Certifications (report from NIGP) or Recertification news
EDUCATION
Rich Shelton
For additional information, fee schedules and updates on course opportunities check the MPPA web page at and click on Education.
To ensure your spot in a course contact Mary Moser or Rich Shelton @ 410-386-2181 or Fax 410-840-8929.
SURVEY RESULTS RE: GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Yes / No / CommentsQuestion 1 – Thursday Meetings / 20 / 2 / Prefer to have January Installation meeting on Saturday. As I recall, one was held on a Thursday at noontime
Thursdays are not a good day for me as I have set this day for all formal Bid openings / If you pick another day Friday’s would be a better day
Any day but Wed is good for me.
Wednesday is also good
Please avoid Wednesday / No day is perfect
Thursdays or Fridays
Tuesday is another good day
Meetings are every 2 months on Thursday. Thursday’s are fine with me. Some agencies hold bid opening on Wednesday which would prohibit some form attending. / I think Wednesday would be better / Wednesday or Thursday
Questions 2 – 2nd Week of the Month / 21 / Either the 2nd or 3rd week would work for me
Not an issue, Thursday are the only issue
Yes- 2nd week is fine
Flexible / Second week is still O.K., but would suggest moving the November meeting to the first week of the month to get away from the Veteran’s Day holiday and not to make it nearer to the Thanksgiving holiday / Week doesn’t matter
Any week is good for me
The third week would be acceptable as well / 2nd week is fine or any other week / The 2nd week of the month works well, and everyone is aware of this schedule
Question 3 – Meeting Time – Lunch/Dinner / Lunch yes – 19
Dinner yes– 1 / For those of us who have to travel for two hours or more in each direction, lunch time meeting are preferable
Lunch time is fine and preferred. No evenings
Lunch is definitely better!
I would like to see MPPA alternate lunch and dinner meetings.
I believe we should alternate – e.g. January- (Installation of Officers) Dinner; March – Lunch; May – (Professional Staff Recognition – more staff would be able to attend) dinner; July – Lunch; September – (crab feast Saturday) lunch; November - (Election of Officers) lunch / Originally all MPPA member ship meeting were dinner meetings. Some members complained they had to be home in the evening to attend to children and/or spouse. We also found some members had problems driving at night or had security concerns.
Maybe varied – breakfast or dinner
A mix of lunch/dinner meetings is good. Esp. since state agencies limit reimbursement for lunches to $12.00 / Dinner meetings on Thursday are better for me, personally. However, we recall that luncheon meeting were better attended, particularly; if the agency picked the tab.
I do not believe dinner meeting would be attended; our lives are much to busy. I know once I get home, I am not coming back out. Keep them at lunchtime, please.
Maybe we need breakfast or dinner meetings / Lunch is suitable. But dinner would be more suitable, but a little more costly.
I would like to see a mix of lunch and dinner meetings. / Lunchtime continues to be o.k. with me. Maybe try a mix of lunch and dinner meetings.
An occasional dinner meeting would be acceptable. Perhaps Tuesday or Thursday evening
Question 4 – Various/Fixed Locations / Fixed - 2
Various – 7 / Various – 1
Fixed - 1 / If the fixed location is going to be more than two hours travel from the Eastern shore, I would favor various locations that would occasionally be within reach.
A fixed location would be difficult; I think various locations give all members a chance to participate.
In order to be fair to all members of the Association, I think we occasionally (at least once per year) must move meetings away from the Baltimore metropolitan area.
I prefer Hellas But ---
Various Counties
I like the variety / No Preference – As in the past, importance is for such concerns as convenience on location(traffic concern, ease in finding the site, adequate parking, adequate seating, need to climb steps to 2nd floor for persons with ambulatory problems, ability to see and hear speakers, and acceptable menu/food.) Location should not be too far from the “center” of the majority of members’ agencies/homes’ locations
I think the way the meetings are moved around allows more people to attend. But just as you sometimes hold a meeting in western Maryland (which I cannot attend) I believe you should also occasionally hold one on the Eastern Shore. / The advantages of the fixed location are many: A known place to go, no frantic looking for dire3ctions, perhaps the facility can be persuaded to offer better prices, the attended can anticipate travel times a little easier, etc.
Would prefer a fixed location in the Baltimore vicinity, maybe two locations and alternated so some folks could attend at least half of the meetings. Frederick was too far for me to travel
Various locations if fine, however, having some in the northern Baltimore County area would be nice. / Moving the meeting around allow for all people to participate, this is okay with me.
One single location would be easier for me.
I appreciate the various locations, as the only meetings I am able to attend are in Frederick.
Various Locations / I prefer various locations, but not always the same county.
Various locations provide the opportunity for people form various jurisdictions to come that may not otherwise be able to do so due to the long drive.
Question 5 – Future Meeting Locations / 4 / Annapolis would be best, or anywhere between Annapolis and Baltimore
Squires in Dundalk was a good location a few years ago. The Bowman in Parkville was another. There are many restaurants in Westminster; Maybe a Carroll county rep could suggest one.
Ram’s Head, Annapolis
All my suggestions have been used previously.
The Bowman on Harford Road in Carney.
BWI Marriott
Sheraton Columbia Hotel –
Waterside Restaurant
BWI Hilton Garden Inn
Dutch’s Daughter
Keep old locations, Snyder’s Willow Grove, Rose Restaurant (Comfort Inn) / As to speakers, if we could get Wm. Donald Schaefer, I believe he’d be interesting. Also some acclaimed speakers who has made presentation at NIGP Nat Conf, e.g. Beau Grant, when he may possible be “ in the neighborhood” such as on a trip to Washington, d. C. and the trip could be approx to one our meeting dates.
I think it is important to be certain to view the facility prior to actually scheduling a meeting – visit it at a busy time to ensure the room is private and the regular business of the restaurant (bus pans, dishwashers, employee break area noise, a loud group on the other side of the partition, etc.) does not interfere with our meeting. / The Linthicum area has a number of facilities: rose Restaurant, Snyder’s Olive grove, a number of restaurants near the Airport.
Not familiar with the Baltimore-Metro area for dining experiences.
Mt. Airy, along Rte. 70 has several restaurants that have banquet facilities. This could be a good compromise for the western and the eastern members.
Anyplace but Baltimore City (due to parking issues). Ellicott City (Bare Bones, Crab Shanty or Blue Point Grill) would be nice. / BWI- Columbia area. This is near the middle of the State and easier to get to from the Eastern Shore. Example: May’s locations; Rose