Another year has gone by so quickly and it is time to celebrate the feast of the Nativity again.  As we do so I think of you and the times we have shared together in the past.  Our paths have taken us in many directions  but in our hearts we are still together.

It has been a good year for me  busy as usual.  I chuckle sometimes trying to remember if there has ever been a dull moment in my life!

Mother Nature managed to impact Richmond again this year when Tropical Depression Gaston came through on August 30th and caused quite a bit of flood damage in one area of the city.

There have been a number of changes at work for me.  Our new Director of Information Technology (IT) started in May.

The consolidation of state agency IT staff into a new agency was completed this fall.  Though some specific IT staff at our agency, including me, was not consolidated into the new agency most of our IT staff was.  They are still physically present in our agency but report to the new IT agency.

One of the results of the consolidation was that I received a significant promotion this past summer.  My responsibilities are now primarily IT project management and IT security.  In addition to getting up to speed on my new duties I have been taking advanced project management classes as well as IT security classes.

Earlier this month I was in DC five days for training on IT security management at the SANS conference.  The training was quite intense with both day and evening sessions.  But, it was excellent and will be more than a bit useful in my position at the agency.

My involvement with the Masons continues.  In May I took the Royal Arch degrees and this fall I received the orders in the Knights Templar.  Earlier this month I was elected Senior Warden of my Lodge.

In addition, I recently received an invitation to join the Allied Masonic Degrees.  The Allied Masonic Degrees are an invitational organization requiring membership in the Royal Arch as well as the Symbolic Lodge.  Membership is limited to 27 members per council.