I want to thank all for coming to this meeting.

My thanks to Jim Washington for hosting this and particularly for his decision on the credit hours issue. It�s a great step in the right direction.

I appreciated the time we had with Russ Chew and Ventris Gibson. Obviously they�re key players as we move into the future and we have to maintain productive relationships with them.

Our joint facility visits will continue with OAK next on May 18. After that the agenda is SAN, FTW, DEN, Alaska and Puerto Rico with more being added all the time.

Positive working relationships are very important, something that I�ve always worked toward achieving. A critical part of those relationships, however, has to be producing results for constituents. In other words, the proof�s in the pudding. If all we have are cordial relationships with no tangible results, then we really don�t have relationships at all.

There�s been much talk here about A76 and the MEO. As I�ve said before, we are in a number of different forums at the same time. Our primary goal is to stop this study but we also realize that we have to play the hand that�s dealt us. Therefore, we aggressively participate in the MEO through our representatives, Dave Hoover and Donna Homes. Our goal, in this forum, is to shape the winning bid while still protecting employee rights.

I�ve had a number of former Air Traffic Division managers approach me and talk about how badly they feel that we�re going through this. I really don�t need to hear that anymore. My feeling that if the ATMT had weighed in properly two years ago we wouldn�t be where we are today. My response to them now is "where were you when we needed you?"

To the managers here: There are a number of you who have helped us and to them I express my appreciation. Thank you. I certainly understand that you can�t take a public position to stop the study. But managers can take a position that the study should be done properly and we missed an opportunity this week to show joint management labor support on this concern. We know that NAATS has to do the heavy lifting and that�s fine but we could use a little help from time to time. For the most part it�s been pretty quiet in the collective FSS management corner.

Last summer NAATS made an innovative proposal to the Administrator that would have resulted in cost savings of $600M/year and over 50% consolidation of facilities. In return we asked that the A76 study be terminated. That offer was rejected and no counter offer has ever been received.

None of this changes the fact that we�re still being subjected to this outsourcing process.

I don�t believe that those in charge of this study have horns or a tail and I know they have jobs to do. I do, however, hold them responsible for the statements and decisions they make. The agreement with the Administrator is that the source selection date will be March �05. There is a provision that this could be moved up to December but only so long as it does not adversely affect the MEO bid in any way. That�s the clear language of the agreement. Adopting a position that source selection could be made at any time prior to December �04 for any reason is a violation of that agreement.

Misrepresenting material facts in any forum is wrong. If the case for conducting this study can�t be made without resorting to this type of misinformation then I submit that those responsible are in the wrong game with the wrong issue. Credibility does matter and I�m determined to maintain that of my organization. I can only hope the same applies to all my FAA counterparts.

Again, my thanks to Jim Washington for sponsoring this meeting and to all of you for coming.

Thank you.