Become Involved By Robert O'Connell

February is always the most difficult month for me; I think it has something to do with there not being any football on television to help me kill off my weekends. Anyway…

This past week the Minnesota chapter co-hosted the 30th annual innovative conference in St. Cloud. The conference is designed to help all of us in the wastewater industry to cost effectively meet the challenges that we face as planners, designers, administrators and operators. This year, over 200 people attended the conference. Keynote speaker Jonathan Yuhas gave a very interesting talk on weather patterns in the Upper Midwest and the Twin Cities metro area. He actually stated that, “it really doesn’t snow that much in Minnesota.” Shrieks and gasps filled the auditorium. Moderated sessions included discussions ranging from biosolids management to I/ I reduction programs. It was a really good conference and special thanks go out to all who assisted in planning the event and all who volunteers time in speaking, moderating and sponsoring.

We have begun to plan for our Conference on the Environment. Tentative dates for the conference are for the second Tuesday in November 2013. The conference will once again be help at the St. Paul Campus of the U. If you’re interested in helping plan the event let me know. We need all the help we can in seeking sponsors, logistics, moderating, speaking – a call for abstracts should be arriving sometime on late spring.

I am looking forward to the annual Central States conference in May. This year the conference will be held in Madison, Wisconsin. As always, at the annual conference the leadership for each section changes hands and a new chair and vice chair assume to roles. I will become past-chair, with the main responsibility being as planner of the Conference on Environment, as mentioned above. Our new section chair will be Tracy Ekola from SEH. The incoming vice chair will be Tracy Hodel from the City of St. Cloud. So, to both Tracys, I wish them all the best. If anyone wants to become more involved, serve on a committee, or assist in planning events, let one of the three of us know.

I look forward to seeing you all in Madison.