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May Edition

#MembershipRocks

 
What do members say about VA AWWA?? 

"As a non-licensed professional, the AWWA membership benefits that I get the most out is the networking events and conferences. In this industry, knowing the right people makes a big difference when you’re trying to tackle any obstacle.  Developing meaningful relationships and friends along the way is critical to growing as a person and as a professional!"
~ K Stamm
 
What are you waiting for? 
Turn your activities into rewards!
Deadline to submit points is June 30, 2022

Get rewarded in three different ways for taking advantage of your many membership benefits!  Check out all the details, including how to turn your activities into points and then those points into prizes and rewards! 
wE-SPLASH Sponsors
To learn more about all the great sponsors above, click their logo to check out their website. 
Upcoming Events
Click on a link below to get more information
2022 Corporate Sponsorship
Dec 01, 2021 - Dec 31, 2022
 
Eastern VA YP Tour: Lee Hall Water Treatment Plant, Newport News Waterworks
Newport News Waterworks Lee Hall Water Treatment Plant
May 18, 2022
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
 
Thoughtful Tuesday - Disability Inclusion Matters
Virtual Event
Jun 07, 2022
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
 
Water for People - NOVA Hike
Wolf Trap Loop Trail - West Lot
Jun 18, 2022 11:00 AM
 
VA AWWA Networking Event - Washington Nationals
Nationals Park
Jun 18, 2022 4:35 PM
 
Cybersecurity: The Ever-Changing Threat and Why Your Defenses Need to Adapt
Online only
Jun 22, 2022
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
 
Cross Connection Devices: Inspection, Maintenance, and Testing- 40 Hours
Henrico County Water Treatment Plant
Jul 11, 2022 8:30 AM -
Jul 15, 2022 5:00 PM
 
Annual Good Lab Practices Conference
Omni Charlottesville
Jul 25, 2022 - Jul 26, 2022
 
Achieve and Maintain Compliance with the SDWA
Paul D. Camp Community College: Workforce Development Center
Jul 28, 2022
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
 
Trending In An Instant: A Risk Communication Guide for Water Utilities
Online only
Aug 09, 2022
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
 
Save The Date! Webinar: LCRR Service Line Inventory Development
Online only
Aug 30, 2022
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
 
VA AWWA | VWEA 2022 - 2023 Leadership Academy
Online and Various sites
Sep 14, 2022 - Sep 11, 2023
 
Cross Connection Devices: Inspection, Maintenance, and Testing- 16 Hours
City of Virginia Beach DPU
Oct 19, 2022 8:30 AM -
Oct 21, 2022 5:00 PM
 
SAVE THE DATE: Fall 2022 Plant Operations Seminar
Western Virginia Water’s Spring Hollow Water Plant
Nov 04, 2022
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
 
View entire list
 
Look for additional events in June.  More details will be available soon!
  • Take Pride in VA AWWA Membership
    Diversity Richmond, VA  
    June 8, 2022

The World's Premier Water Conference
In-person or online – ACE22 has you covered
Register Online!

News and Announcements
Member Shootout - Michele Maclauchlan
While Michele MacLauchlan does a great job as a Principal Engineer for Chesterfield County's Construction Inspection group, her real super-power lies in her willingness to serve and lead.  As the former chair of the Drinking Water Quality and Research Committee, Michele asked where else she could be of service.  That question lead to her becoming the chair of the Plant Operations Committee having never served on the committee before.  Don't worry, she also has her water operator license so she knew how to relate to and lead this wonderful committee.  Michele was instrumental in planning their flagship Plant Operations Conference last week.  After being away for two years, everyone agreed the event was a huge success.  
 
When a member of the committee was asked about Michele, here is what they had to say..."Since becoming a member of the Plant Operations committee, I have witnessed Michele’s ability and willingness to lead, solicit input, delegate, and plan/execute successful events. She is passionate about the industry and generously volunteers her time and talent to VA AWWA. She is a great asset to the Virginia Section." 
 
THANK YOU, Michele, for being an amazing member of Virginia Section AWWA!
 
Get Registered for WaterJAM 2022
 
Registration is now open!  Make sure you reserve your seat (or exhibit booth) for the premier water sector conference on the east coast.  Get all the latest information, updates, and registration information from our conference website
 
Thoughtful Tuesday - Diversity Inclusion Matters
Disability Inclusion IconWe are back with “Thoughtful Tuesdays” – our monthly virtual event with guest speakers, facilitated discussions, case studies, podcast and Ted Talk reviews, stories, and inclusion/best practice shares for the VA AWWA community that allows us to increase awareness and education, engage our membership and have courageous conversations on DEI topics.
 
This Thoughtful Tuesday event is in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 19, 2022) featuring the topic “Disability Inclusion Matters”. Join us on Tuesday, June 7th, at 1 pm ET for a thought-provoking session that will get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion, and why disability inclusion matters.
Register Button
Swing into Some Fun at a Nats Game
Take me out to the ballgame! Take me out with the crowd! Take your family and friends and join your colleagues for a great night at the ballpark.  The Nationals vs the Phillies make for an afternoon of fun starting at 4:35 pm.  Gates open up earlier to get your food and beverages before the first pitch.  
 
Cost: $12.50 per person which includes special reserved seating in the Scoreboard Pavilion plus $8 in concession credit. 
 
Tickets need to be purchased early so sign up ASAP to make sure we save enough seats for everyone!  **Sponsorships are also available!  What a great way to promote your company!  
College Scholarship Deadline Coming Soon
If you are a student (or know one) that is looking to pursue a career in the water industry?  What about a water operator that is looking to advance to the next level?  Don't miss this great opportunity to apply for scholarship funds! 
  • OneAWWA Operator Scholarship - All applications must be received by this FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022. 
  • VA AWWA Ray A Jackson Undergraduate Scholarship - All applications must be received by next FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2022.
  •  VA AWWA Dr. Robert C Hoehn Graduate Student Scholarship - All applications must be received by next FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2022.
VA AWWA scholarship information, including application forms, can be found here: https://vaawwa.org/page/scholarships 
 
Please share the link with anyone you think would be interested.
 
 
Board of Trustee Nominations
The VA AWWA Nominations Committee is currently seeking nominations for members interested in serving on the Board of Trustees. We invite you to nominate yourself or a colleague that would be well suited for the following positions:
  • Council Trustee (2 positions available)
  • Secretary (1 position available)
Read more to learn more about each position. All nominations are due by Tuesday, May 31, 2022.  
 
Read more...
Join Us in a Project To Enhance Customer Communication About Water Quality
A recent Morning Consult poll of Americans showed a direct relationship between how much a utility communicates with its customers and customers’ level of trust in tap water. It confirmed that more communication means greater trust. We know that some utilities struggle with communications because they either don’t have anyone on staff who is trained to do it or they simply don’t have the time.
 
The nonprofit Virginia Health Catalyst is working on a solution. In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water, they’ve partnered with Raftelis to create a free water quality communications toolkit, which will provide guidance, how-to’s, and customizable templates to help Virginia utilities build trust in tap water with proactive, proven water quality communications. Once the toolkit is completed, utilities will have an opportunity to attend a free training to optimize the use of the communication tools and templates.
 
Here are three ways you can help us make this Toolkit a successful, useful resource:
  1. Join us in June (date TBD) for a 90-minute Zoom workshop to help us understand what you struggle with in terms of water quality communications, what you’d like for assistance, and what worries you most about proactive communications about water quality.
  1. Sign up for a one-on-one interview (by phone) to share similar thoughts as above. We will be seeking to speak to a wide range of utility leaders and communicators (from all sized utilities, rural, urban and suburban).
  1. Sign up to help us promote a consumer survey that will ask Virginia residents what they know – or want to understand better – about their drinking water quality. We will build the survey; you just help us get responses by sharing the link with customers.
Email Samantha Villegas (svillegas@raftelis.com) by May 31 to express your interest in any of these options and/or to learn more. We would like a mix of small and large utilities, rural and urban and in between!
 
Free Training for Small Systems
Calling small water systems (under 10,000 persons served) to join us on July 28, 2022, from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM to help your utility learn how to avoid costly violations. This FREE class, including a regulatory review and a hands-on water quality lab, is provided by EPA, in partnership with SERCAP. 
 
 
  
 
Career Center
 
Are you looking for a new job opportunity? Are you an employer looking for great candidates?  Either way, check out our newly updated Career Center for opportunities in Virginia. 
 
Here is a list of the most recent job posted:
  • Power Generation Mechanic
  • Maintenance Specialist
  • Senior Water Plant Operator
  • Water Quality Compliance Specialist
  • Utility Engineer
The webpage contains a summary of current job postings... but check back frequently for new positions posted daily/weekly. 
 
 
 

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Tap Into Virginia!

Click on the link below to view the latest edition online.  

 

Want to advertise with us? Check out the details in our 2022 Media Kit or contact
Dave Gill at david@kelman.ca


Thank you for your membership!