great session in developing our “Membership Gurus” who are active in promoting APWA membership throughout our chapters. Also, in our efforts to reach other “non-traditional” APWA membership candidates, we’ve taken a booth to various other technical conferences and established a subcommittee to evaluate expansion of membership from military bases, colleges, universities and other disciplines. Our efforts through the “First Time Member” and “Never Been a Member” campaigns have been successful both in recruiting and retaining new members and, as of May 31, 2008, our membership was 660 greater than May 31, 2007, standing at 29,664. Thank you, Membership Committee. Provide Our Members with the Tools to Make Them More Effective Advocates for Public Works. In April, the Government Affairs Committee held their annual spring meeting in Washington, D.C. and this year added a new flavor by adding a “Fly-in” session with 19 additional APWA members invited to join the GAC members for advocacy work “on the hill.” All told, we had 32 members make over 70 calls on members of Congress, advocating for the APWA legislative agenda plus local public works legislative issues. We also heard from Congressman Oberstar of Minnesota and Congressman Blumenauer of Oregon who briefed us on the work of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and potential water trust fund legislation, respectively. The Board of Directors also heard from Senator Sanders of Vermont when we held our winter meeting in Washington, D.C. The Board also used that opportunity to visit the “hill” regarding the APWA legislative agenda. Also, at our June Board of Directors’ meeting, we received a report from the “Local and State Government Advocacy Task Force.” More recommendations from that task force will be shared in the near future, but suffice it to say that our members need more resources to be more effective in their advocacy work and need to build coalitions with others that share our passion for the public infrastructure. Thank you, Government Affairs Committee and Local and State Government Advocacy Task Force. Well, I certainly didn’t intend to turn this into a marathon column, but there were so many people to thank. I’m sure I missed a few and to those I apologize. I do want to give a special recognition to our APWA staff. I’m spoiled living in Kansas City because I get to see them more often than most of our members. But, I hope we all realize what tremendous people we have for APWA staff in both our Kansas City and Washington, D.C. offices. Many of the accomplishments listed previously were greatly influenced by the work of staff, but rather than repeat a thank-you in each paragraph, I wanted them to have a paragraph of their own. Thank you, APWA staff, you are the best!
It has been a privilege to serve APWA this past year with my Board of Directors family. These are very professional people, highly dedicated to our public works causes and to APWA. Thank you, Board of Directors. I also want to thank my employer, HDR, who has allowed me the flexibility and time to commit heavily to APWA this past year. Today, June 23, as I compose this, I have made 56 trips for APWA since last September. Several more are scheduled before “my year” ends and HDR has been very supportive. Thank you, HDR. I also want to thank my family which has supported me and accepted my absence from family events when I was traveling for APWA. Carol, Mike, Kevin, Keith, Kelli, their spouses and my grandchildren, you’re going to have to put up with me more now that I’m becoming a Past President of APWA. Thank you, family. But, most importantly, I want to thank you, the members of APWA, who have put your trust in me this past year and allowed me the privilege of serving as your APWA President. It was an honor and I wish each of you the very best. Thank you for all you do for the public works profession daily and for APWA.
Technical Committee Meeting Schedules at the New Orleans Congress: • Emergency Management: August 16, 8:00-11:00 a.m., Room 351 • Engineering and Technology: August 16, 1:004:00 p.m., Room 349 • Facilities and Grounds: August 19, 10:00 a.m.1:00 p.m., Room 240 • Fleet Services: August 16, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Room 350 • Leadership and Management: August 18, 12:002:00 p.m., Room TBA • Solid Waste Management: August 16, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Room 351 • Transportation: August 19, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Room 351 • Utilities and Public Right-of-Way: August 16, 8:00-11:00 a.m., Room 349 • Water Resources Management: August 16, 8:0011:00 a.m., Room 350
August 2008
APWA Reporter
7