President's Message

Bruce Bartel
Green Bay, Wisconsin
June 2010

As this issue of the Clarifier comes to you, it is the end of spring and the beginning of summer. As the summer season comes upon us, make sure to take the time to enjoy the weather and the many outdoor activities that all communities in Wisconsin offer.

As you go about your jobs in protecting the environment in your community, keep in mind that the people you serve truly do appreciate the work you do. Many times, make that most times, our profession goes about our work in anonymity and unless something goes drastically wrong, nobody seems to worry about the work we all do. Unfortunately, this means that all the good work is usually not properly recognized; however please remember that your jobs are important and you play a vital role in keeping Wisconsin’s waterways clean.

I would like to invite all of you to attend the 44th Annual WWOA Conference from October 19 to 22 at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells. Randy Thater has worked very hard at putting together what promises to be another fine conference. The keynote speaker is Brad Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery is a humorous motivational speaker and should kick off the conference in rousing fashion. The entertainment after the Thursday night awards banquet is MooNie the Magnificent. MooNie will be something the WWOA members have never seen before and will offer a unique experience to all. On line conference registration for both attendees and exhibitors will be opening in mid-June at www.wwoa.org. Remember to bring along your family as the Kalahari offers an indoor water and amusement park that will provide endless amounts of fun for the whole family.

The cost of everything, except the rooms, at the Kalahari is more expensive than any of the other conference venues that the WWOA uses. The WWOA Board of Directors continues to hear how much the membership enjoys the Kalahari, but had to make the tough decision to approve a nominal cost increase in conference registration and meals for those attending. The $65 registration fee for WWOA members is still a bargain to receive two plus days of training. The Board took into consideration the economic times we are all facing and the fact that most municipalities are cutting back, but the only way to make the Kalahari more affordable was to increase conference fees.

One part of the conference that is facing elimination is the annual Operators Competition. The number of teams involved in the competition has been dwindling over the last few years. The Board of Directors has made the decision that a minimum of three teams is needed to keep the competition going. There is a lot of work involved in putting the competition together by the competition chairperson and the vendors that supply the equipment. It is a shame that all this work is put into the competition and the teams participating are becoming less and less. Please give some consideration into volunteering to participate in the competition. Contact your regional officers if you are interested in participating. You will not regret the decision.

Another big part of the conference is the annual awards. There are many deserving individuals in the wastewater industry, but the only way these folks can be given the proper recognition is to be nominated for the awards. We all know deserving individuals so please take the time to nominate someone for one of the awards. Explanation of the individual awards along with the nomination forms can be found in this issue of the Clarifier.

One final note, the WWOA Board of Directors provided comments during the public comment period to the Wisconsin DNR concerning the proposed new phosphorus regulations. A copy of the comments can be found on the WWOA web site.

Until next time – take care.