Greetings from Arizona!

By Margo Dorrough, CPM
Margo.Dorrough@phoenix.gov

We began this year with several enlightening and educational meetings. At the January membership meeting, our guest speaker Manny Tarango, Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, discussed “Managing Change in the Public Sector.” In April, guest speaker Stephen O. Clarke, CEO of Employee Involvement Systems spoke at our membership meeting on “Doing more with Less,” and gave several examples of partnering with other agencies/divisions to achieve the goals of the organization. This meeting was followed by CPM graduation ceremonies held at the Arizona State University’s downtown location. I was invited to speak to the graduating class about the benefits of joining the Arizona Society of Certified Public Managers® and participated in congratulating each graduate as they received their certificate. The Arizona Society currently has 107 members.

Pictured: Back row left to right:  Greg Hyland, Arizona Society Past President and current AACPM board member, Larry Gordon, AACPM Treasurer, Susan Griffith, Pinal County President, Pam Brannon, Pinal County Scholarship Chair. Front row:  Donna Rankin, Pinal County Program Chair, Margo Dorrough, ASCPM President, Celia Patrick, guest, and Cynthia Mercurio, ASCPM member.

In May, the Pinal County Chapter of the Arizona Society of Certified Public Managers® (PCC-ASCPM), in Florence, Arizona hosted the state meeting with a tour of a Greek Orthodox Monastery dedicated to St. Anthony the Great, the father of monasticism and renowned Third Century anchorite. In the summer of 1995 six monks arrived in the southern Arizona desert to establish St. Anthony’s Monastery, carrying with them the sacred, millennial heritage of the Holy Mountain, Athos. Upon their arrival the fathers began with the necessary construction work, building first the main church, living quarters for the monks, the dining hall and guest facilities. There are several chapels with Greek, Romanian, and Russian architecture. A vegetable garden, a small vineyard, citrus orchards, and an olive grove and grape vineyard dot the landscape. An elaborate system of gardens, pathways, and gazebos with Spanish fountains is literally an oasis in the middle of the desert. Visitors are welcome, but must be appropriately and modestly dressed. Men are asked to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts. Women are to wear long skirts (well below the knee), long-sleeved blouses, and scarves over their heads. We got a taste of what the pioneers felt like on this 104 degree day!

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