Blueprint for the Coming Year

As the new chair of the Minnesota section, my first thoughts are about the size of the shoes I have to fill. Jason Benson did a wonderful job guiding the section last year and set a standard I will try to match in leading the section this year.

In the coming year the Minnesota section will be served by other new leaders, John Friel as Vice-Chair, Alison Sumption as Secretary/Treasurer, and John Glatzmaier as Trustee. Together, along with several other volunteers who are continuing their service to our cause, we look forward to maintaining successful traditions and supporting new ideas and initiatives.

Many of us are returning to our routines after having attended the 83rd Annual CSWEA meeting in Madison. Despite a slight decline in attendees, the meeting was a success, with a great variety of events and programs, including no shortage of strong technical presentations that spanned the breadth of relevant issues our industry faces today, from new technology to tried-and-true management practices. Through it all there was fellowship and fun. The Minnesota section is looking forward to hosting next year's meeting with the same success at the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park.

Already, the section is talking about the subjects we want to tackle in the coming year. Greg Johnson will take the lead of the Government Affairs committee and has begun to address the regulatory issues that impact our region. One of the first orders of business will be to work with the other sections to review and comment on the draft arsenic TMDL for a segment of the Mississippi River.

We're in the planning stages for our annual Conference on the Environment, which we co-host every fall with the Air and Waste Management Association. The conference is Tuesday, November 9th at the Earle Brown Center in Brooklyn Center. And, of course, before this summer ends, we will be gathering in Grand Rapids the last week in July to learn, celebrate and exchange ideas at the MWOA Conference, at a great venue for outdoor activities where the sun, water, forests, and fairways beckon.

In his MN section message this past spring Jason wrote about an upcoming project on which I'd like to expand. The project is Blueprint Minnesota: Liquid Assets, a film documentary the Minnesota section of CSWEA is strongly promoting and is taking a lead in contributing funds toward its production. I look forward to being part of this important project.

If you stopped by the CSWEA exhibit table at the annual meeting in Madison you may have viewed part of the video that was on display. The video was Liquid Assets, The Story of Our Water Infrastructure, and was produced by Penn State Public Broadcasting with the support of numerous organizations including WEF, ASCE, and AWWA. The video-which provides a conceptual outline for our documentary-illustrates and describes the water and wastewater systems on which our lives depend. It educates general audiences about the many pipes under our busy streets, what they do, where they go, and how vital they are to society and our way of life. Its audience includes schools, various public-interest groups, interested citizens, and civic leaders- in other words, the stakeholders who use these systems and want them to perform well.

But the video also sounds an alarming message that our infrastructure is suffering from neglect and that without a strong commitment to keep it whole our future could be in trouble. So, the video is also a call to action. Its audience can also include legislators and policy makers.

Our goal is to produce a similar documentary, but one with a more regional focus. The documentary will demonstrate the value of Minnesota's water resources, our pride in these resources, and what must be done to protect them. When it's done our Liquid Assets will be aired several times on public television and copies will be made available to distribute and show to interested groups. So far, we have raised a little over half of the $30,000 needed for its production. Everyone can help in a variety of ways, but the immediate need is expanded sponsorship. Check out www.blueprintMN.com for more information.

Lastly, our section provides numerous opportunities for everyone to serve, opportunities to grow professionally and give your time and talents back to our great organization. Check out the list of committees and committee chairs at www.cswea.org/minnesota. Contact the chair of the committee you'd like to join and offer your help. They'd love to hear from you.