Technology and turkeys Really, the two — technology and turkeys — don’t go together well in the public sector. For the most part, advances in technology are supertools, not turkeys. For example, developments in aerial surveillance, i.e. drones; GIS, as writer Ray Balogh investigates this month; and software as a service, for records management have improved efficiency, streamlined recordkeeping and made us capable of doing more, faster. They also keep us accountable.

But, being November, as it is, I’ll indulge in a little fowl history here anyway.

Sheridan Alexander, Southeast U.S. Travel Expert at gosoutheast.about.com, discovered that each year, two fortunate turkeys receive presidential pardons during the lighthearted tradition known as the Presidential Turkey Pardoning Ceremony. Although several presidents have been credited with pardoning turkeys, reaching as far back as Abraham Lincoln, the official pardoning ceremony began in 1989 during President George H. W. Bush’s first Thanksgiving in the White House.

The naming of the turkeys has become somewhat of a tradition as well. For several years, the White House posted a poll on the official website inviting the public to cast votes. In other years, a poll or contest has been conducted by the states in which the turkeys have been raised. In any case, the names of the turkeys are not usually announced until shortly before or during the ceremony.

Names of the pardoned national Thanksgiving turkeys and their alternates throughout the years have included:

• 2013: Popcorn (official) and Caramel (alternate) — Pardoned by President Barack Obama
• 2012: Cobbler (official) and Gobbler (alternate) — Pardoned by President Barack Obama
• 2011: Liberty (official) and Peace (alternate) — Pardoned by President Barack Obama
• 2010: Apple (official) and Cider (alternate) — Pardoned by President Barack Obama
• 2009: Courage (official) and Carolina (alternate) — Pardoned by President Barack Obama
• 2008: Pecan (official) and Pumpkin (alternate) — The alternate, Pumpkin, was pardoned by President George W. Bush during the official ceremony because Pecan became ill during the preceding night.
• 2007: May (official) and Flower (alternate) — Pardoned by President George W. Bush
• 2006: Flyer (official) and Fryer (alternate) — Pardoned by President George W. Bush
• 2005: Marshmallow (official) and Yam (alternate) — Pardoned by President George W. Bush
• 2004: Biscuits (official) and Gravy (alternate) — Pardoned by President George W. Bush
• 2003: Stars (official) and Stripes (alternate) — Pardoned by President George W. Bush

Whatever you name your Thanksgiving meal, I hope it’s delicious.

Jodi Magallanes
Editor