Notes from Chairperson Blommel-Johnson

Welcome to the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) website.

Our mission is to provide information, education, and networking opportunities to the drinking water community to promote public health, safety, and welfare.  The 95th Annual Conference held in September in Duluth is just one example.  This year’s conference had record attendance with 530 attendees. Water professionals – operators, managers, engineers, vendors, and regulators took advantage of educational tracts that included asset management, GIS, technical and research, case studies, and diversity.   It’s not too early to plan for the 96th MN Section of the AWWA Annual Conference which will again be held in Duluth, September 19 – 21, 2012.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to the many volunteers who helped to make the conference a success.  Volunteers help with everything from the program and speakers, to awards and contests, to publications and registration, to competitions and exhibits, and all tasks in between.

Beyond the conference, volunteers do a tremendous amount of work, they are the heart of our association.  Thank you to the Board, Trustees, Council, and Committee members who give so very much to the MN Section.  Contact an AWWA member to become involved or join the MN Section.  Research has shown that people who volunteer may live longer than those who don’t, as long as their reasons for volunteering are to help others rather than themselves.

Congratulations to this year’s award and competition winners – the George Warren Fuller award was presented to Scott E. Anderson, St. Louis Park; the Leonard N. Thompson award was presented to Dan Boyce, East Grand Forks; the Meritorious Service award was presented to Allen Young, St. Cloud, and the Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Jay Whitaker.  The City of St. Cloud won the “Best in Glass” water taste test, the tapping team from the City of Duluth won the pipe tapping competition, and Pat Conrad won the meter madness competition.  Congratulations to everyone!

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”  Winston Churchill

Carol


Carol Blommel-Johnson
AWWA MN Section Chair
cblommel@ci.apple-valley.mn.us