President's Preamble
Looking back on 2009-2010 by outgoing President Dave James
Despite the larg
est retraction of the US and Nevada economy since the Great Depression, NWEA members and member agencies have continued to support improvements in the education of our profession and of the general public. NWEA members and supporters put on a successful annual conference in April 2009 and very successful Tri-State conference in September. Through workshops and webinars, we continued to train, test and certify the professionals that are on the front lines of maintaining water quality, treatment and collections operators, lab analysts, waste inspectors and maintenance technicians, and we have continued to support both students and incoming young professionals in their professional development. NWEA has continued its high level of activity for one reason, a large cadre of committed professionals who are willing to donate their time, talent and treasure for the welfare of the association. In this past year, it has been my great privilege to work with so many dedicated and self-sacrificing people who believe in creating and maintaining a safer water environment for everyone. Thank you for your contributions in this past year, and I look forward to continued service with NWEA in other capacities in the years to come.
Looking forward to 2010-2011 by Incoming President Stephen Long
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Let’s start off by saying “What a successful Conference”. I would like to give a special thanks to all the Vendors, Sponsors and Volunteers who helped make this years conference a great success. I would also like to thank the WEF Delegate Sandra Ralston for her wonderful visit and insight.
We had 91 participants and 22 vendors, not bad considering I was only expecting 65 to 75 participants and we inducted three new members to the Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers. Congratulations to Jennifer McMartin, Harvey Johnson and Suey Huey all three were well deserving.
We had some in depth discussions with the NDEP about the upcoming contract renewal for the State's Certification Board and will keep the Board moving forward this next year to focus on what is the most important thing we do as a organization: train the operators and consultants and embrace the Young Professionals.
We hope to be able to achieve this by consolidating some of the chairs and giving them set and agreed goals to achieve each year.
I have been in the Wastewater business for 27 years and in that time I have worked at 5 facilities in three states. I am looking forward to an exciting and motivating year.
Great thanks. I will do my best.
Stephen Long – Reno/Stead Water Reclamation Facility Supervisor and
NWEA President 2010 – 2011