Having recently returned from the AWWA’s Annual Conference and Exposition (“ACE”) in Chicago, I’m pondering the meaning of membership. Membership, according to Webster’s dictionary, can refer to the status of “being a member” or a body of members within an organization with a large membership. If you’re a “member” you’re part of a select group—but what does it mean to belong?
When it comes to water, the actions of one community can significantly impact neighboring communities. As such, water resource management is primarily about this interconnectedness; about finding ways to meet demand without adversely affecting supply. As a water purveyor—or water conservation professional—you are part of a select group, and—to paraphrase an old Amex commercial—membership has its responsibilities.
As AWWA President Craig R. Woolard, PhD, P.E., points out in the ACE conference program, it’s “idea sharing” that can lead to “safe water, better service, and a more secure tomorrow.” In other words, the best water resource management plan is the one that you share.
With that in mind, I’d like to encourage you to share some of your success stories. Post a comment here, or send me an e-mail (ecutright@forester.net) for inclusion in a future blog. Let us know what challenges you faced, what tools you utilized, and what worked for you. Because, in the end, when it comes to managing this precious resource, we all should have equal access to the clubhouse.