AWWA Minnesota Section – Young Professionals Committee

II. Review and Approve Minutes from past meeting

Approved

III. Review and Approve Agenda

Approved

IV. Unfinished Business

A. Facility Tours

1. Cold Springs Brewery Tour - There was a conflict with MN Rural Water regarding holding a social event, therefore YP made the decision to cancel and possibly reschedule for a future date. The committee discussed organizing a dual facility tour of DeZurik and Cold Springs Brewery. Todd will contact DeZurik to determine possible tour dates and coordinate with the Social Committee. The Social Committee should contact Pat Shea for assistance in organizing the Brewery tour.

2. Metro District Operators School – Summit Brewery Tour - The next Operator School is the first week in April. The committee discussed sponsoring a social event during this AWWA School. The committee discussed the idea of a Summit Brewery tour with invitations to attendees of the training school. Summit has a limited schedule available for tours and it would be difficult to coordinate a time that would work for both Summit and the Operators School. The best possibility would be on the Friday after the training sessions are completed. There are doubts as to whether operators would stay after their training/testing in order to attend the brewery tour. Often times its viewed as a chance to head home early on a Friday. Brian Zinnel and Chris Glassing will work with local arrangements committee to determine the best day and time to schedule a social event. At a minimum, the social committee will plan a social hour including appetizers and refreshments during the Operators School.

3. DeZurik – Sartell, MN (Kevin Renslow) - See above

4. Minneapolis UF Plant (Doug Klamerus) – Doug Klamerus discussed a tour of the new Minneapolis UF plant with the City of Minneapolis.. The security level is very high at the plant and the available viewing areas would be relatively limited. However, the city will provide a tour for the YP group that would include a video presentation and access to some areas of the plant. Grant Meyer suggested YP consider a visit to a new water treatment plant during the construction phase or perhaps at several phases during the construction phase. The upcoming summer construction season would be a good time to do this. Brian and Todd are involved with projects that could be candidates for this type of tour. Please contact Chris Glassing if interested in YP scheduling this type of tour.

5. Other Ideas – National Young Professionals from WEF and AWWA have organized a YP Summit ( meeting) in South Carolina. If anyone is interested in attending, they should contact Chris Glassing. MN YP committee may be able to assist in funding by using money we had earmarked for other events that are not going to occur this year. Dave Brown will contact Jon Eaton to determine the Board’s position on using money currently in the YP budget for activities other than those originally submitted.

B. Community Service Project

1. Water Tower Competition (Drew Hess) - There are many logistical obstacles in organizing an outreach program of this scope. As such, it appears the water tower competition will not be held this year. We need to discuss the possibility of offering it in the future.

2. World of Water Poster Competition - Brad Forester investigated a poster competition relating to water, which YP could offer as a community outreach program. It involves school-aged children submitting a poster related to water. The children submit the posters to the YP committee for judging and displaying at the annual MN AWWA conference. A poster competition would be relatively simple to administer and would offer the YP committee a good chance to be involved with a community outreach program. YP members interested in helping organize this competition should contact Chris Glassing.

C. Social Event

1. Brewery Tour, sponsored by YP - The Cold Spring Brewery tour will be hold in conjunction with the DeZurik facilities tour. See above.

2. Annual Conference Social – sponsored by YP - Chris Glassing discussed earlier the possibility of YP sponsoring the Banquet Reception and an entertainment event following the dinner at the annual conference. Jeff Yeschick discussed with conference committee and their was a positive response, however YP (Jeff) discuss further with committee that is responsible for organizing the banquet. This would be a good opportunity for the YP committee to be involved with the entire MN AWWA Section. The committee discussed ways to increase contact with AWWA members by using a “mingling card” in which all members received a card and must get signatures from 3 YP members. Each member completing the task would be included in a drawing for a prize. Discussion of a Casino Night and/or Texas Hold’em Tournament following the banquet.

D. Policies & Procedures update

1. Draft Guidance Document – The document will be voted on for approval at the next meeting

E. Sub-Committee Reports

1. Membership (Todd Butz) – YP will be contacting several schools in the MN area to set up a time for a panel of AWWA members to speak to students. The goal is to inform students about YP, and let them know they can be involved even as students. John volunteered to help on this committee.

2. Social (Brian Zinnel) – See above notes regarding the Cold Spring Brewery tour.

3. Public Affairs (Drew Hess) – No report

4. Fresh Ideas (Brad Forester) – Brad drafted an example of how YP could put together a poster competition. Chris Glassing will distribute to YP members for review and comment.

V. New Business

A. Website updates - Chris Glassing will work with Stew Thornley on posting meeting minutes and upcoming meeting/events on the web site. The committee discussed posting some photos from social events and facility tours.

B. Membership - See report from membership sub-committee

C. Annual Conference Moderators - YP members interested in participating as a moderator for one of sessions at the annual conference, please contact Jeff Yeschik. Moderator duties would involve introducing speakers and keeping the sessions on schedule. This is a good way to get involved and meet other AWWA members.

VI. Announcements and Schedule next meeting - Next meeting scheduled during the Metro District Operators School in Bloomington, MN on for April 6, 2006