I know how tough it is to keep up with the latest news and information when we are all so very busy. Between voicemail messages, email messages, and scribbled notes on little pieces of paper stuck in our pockets, it seems the flow of information never lets up. Just trying to stay up to date on the latest news and attend to our everyday responsibilities seems a nearly impossible balancing act.

In this letter, I want to offer a simple way to stay current on the progress you and your colleagues are making in state government to serve the people of Michigan more effectively. Since the beginning of the year, I have asked the Cabinet to stay focused on the seven point plan I outlined in the State of the State address. The seven points, or "roads," we will travel to grow Michigan's economy and improve the quality of life for all of our citizens are:

1. Retain business
2. Attract entrepreneurs
3. Develop a 21st century workforce
4. Create "cool cities"
5. Tirelessly improve education
6. Make health care more accessible and affordable
7. Make Michigan a national leader in protecting the environment

A new electronic newsletter, called "News from the Governor's Office," is now available to help you keep track of the progress we are making on these commitments to our citizens. Given your interest as both a citizen and a public servant, I thought you might want to squeeze it into your day.

You can read this email in one of two ways. If you are interested in receiving this monthly newsletter via email, please go to www.michigan.gov/gov and sign up by clicking on the "Email from the Governor" link. If you sign up, you will not only receive the newsletter, but you will also receive press releases and other information we send to subscribers all over the state.

Alternatively, if you would like to read the newsletter but don't want to receive it via email, it is posted online at www.michigan.gov/enews.

As you know, one of our core values is Inclusion, and in the employee survey, many of you said inclusion is apparent when information is shared freely and openly. In addition to this e-newsletter, I'll continue to write to you directly through letters such as this to update you on the progress we're making in implementing our Vision and Values to make the state "a great place to do great work." In the meantime, I wanted to be sure that you're all "in the loop," so to speak, on the critical work that you and your colleagues are completing every day.

Thank you for all you do to serve this state with Excellence, Integrity, Teamwork and Inclusion.

Sincerely,
Jennifer M. Granholm
Governor

P.S. The State of Michigan will be celebrating Public Service Recognition Week the first week in May, and I look forward to paying tribute to you and hopefully meeting you during that week. If your workload and schedule permit, please plan to stop in and say hello at one of the following employee gatherings I will be hosting:

May 3
4:30- 5:30 p.m. - Detroit - Cadillac Place East Showroom

May 4
4:00- 5:00 p.m. - Saginaw - Jerome T. Hart Building

May 5
9:30-10:30 a.m. - Grand Rapids - State Office Bldg., 2nd Floor Conference Room