ED News

by Russell Hamilton, TWUA Executive Director

Father, we bow our heads in respect and humbly say thank you, as we acknowledge that you are the creator. We take comfort in knowing that You remain in charge and control of life as we understand it. We need You, and we welcome You in all we do. We come into Your presence, seeking Your grace, calm, guidance, and forgiveness. Father, we pray for Your mercy and ask that You guide, direct, protect, and bless TWUA and its members. Father, we thank you for your mercy as we offer praise to Jesus as say, Happy Birthday, Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas. Amen

As we prepare for this time of Christmas, the TWUA Management Committee and Central Office Staff and we sincerely hope everyone experiences a truly blessed and joyous Christmas. This is the time in which Christians profess their beliefs in the birth of Jesus. In these current times, it may be hard for some to get into the spirit of Christmas, but we all have life and the assurance of grace, love, and forgiveness. This is a time for family, kindness, keeping the traditions going, and helping the less fortunate. To those who will be working this holiday, thank you for your devotion and for your part in making this day more enjoyable for others. We urge you to remember our troops and their families.

In West Texas, Lake Spence is sitting at 18.8 % (- 0.2 %). White River is sitting at 14.4 % (-0.4 %). Panhandle - Lake Meredith is sitting at 30.9 % (- 0.5 %), and Greenbelt is at 12.0 % (- 0.4 %). If you want a complete look at current lake levels, go to waterdatafortexas.org. The drought has never left for some.

Annual School – the 105th Annual School will remain in Corpus Christi. The dates are September 17th – 20th 2023. After the 100th anniversary, it was suggested that the association make each upcoming 5th year a special event to acknowledge and commemorate the association and those who have served in management positions. Not sure at this point the specifics on how the 105th will be celebrated, but please, make plans now to come and be a part of this historic accomplishment.

Mark your calendar for the 2023 Regional opportunities

– Amarillo will kick off the regional events beginning April 4th – 6th 2023. Beaumont will be April 24th – 27th 2023. Abilene will be May 9th – 11th . Arlington will be May 15th – 19th 2023. Killeen will be June 6th – 8th. 2023. San Marcos will be July 11th – 13th, 2023. Longview will be August 28th – 31st, 2023. The entire regional calendar and links to all the fliers will be activated as soon as possible so that you can register for any region now, making use of budgets more efficiently.

Covid and the effects thereof just keep hanging around; however, we remain optimistic that the TWUA in-person training events will remain successful and attendance will return to historical numbers, but your participation is needed. In-person, Live training events are struggling to attract students. Training manuals are requiring longer shipping times, so please register early, and we are hoping that last-minute registrations do not become problematic (relating to training manuals).

How is the QR code for advertising training events working? Central Office would love to have feedback and get your thoughts on this method of advertising training. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Norma Clark (n.clark@twua.org).

The Story Goes Something Like This

Jesus Came To Dinner

Ruth looked at the envelope again; there was no stamp, no postmark, only her name, and address. She read the letter one more time.

Dear Ruth,

I plan to be in your neighborhood on Saturday afternoon, and I’d like to stop by for a visit.

Love Always, Jesus

Ruth’s hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. “Is this a joke?” “Why would the Lord want to visit me? I’m nobody special. I don’t have anything to offer.”

With that thought, Ruth remembered that today was Saturday, and her kitchen cabinets were empty. She went to her refrigerator, but she already knew it was bare as well. “Oh, my goodness, I really don’t have anything to offer. I’ll have to run down to the store and buy something for our dinner.”

She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Seventeen dollars and thirty cents. “Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least.” She threw on her coat and hurried out the door.

A loaf of bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, a half-pound of sliced ham, a small head of lettuce, tomatoes, a dozen eggs, a half-gallon of milk, half dozen sugar cookies . . . . leaving Ruth with a grand total of two dollars and twelve cents to last until her next payday. Nonetheless, she felt satisfied as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked securely under her arm.

As Ruth hurried down the street, she noticed a dirty homeless-looking man rummaging through a trash receptacle. As she got near, she noticed how peaceful and kind his eyes looked. Ruth asked him how long it had been since he had eaten?

The man lowered his head and humbly replied, “it’s been a while.”

Ruth placed her bag on a nearby bench and began making two sandwiches. The homeless man had a cup in his coat pocket, so Ruth poured him some milk and offered him one of the cookies.

The man was very appreciative and thankful while wishing Ruth blessings as she hurried home, for she did not want to miss her important guest. As Ruth turned the corner, on a park swing, she noticed a small boy sitting, dragging his feet in the dirt and staring at the ground.

Ruth looked at her watch and was concerned that time was slipping by, but something told her she should reach out to the boy.

Ruth crossed the street and entered the playground through an open gate. As she approached the young boy, he looked up and smiled. Ruth introduced herself, and the young boy extended his hand and said: “hi, my name is James, but my friends call me Jimmy.”

Ruth asked James if he was lost or needed someone to help him home or find his parents.

James told Ruth he lived in the little white house nearby and pointed.

James was eying Ruth’s shopping bag when Ruth asked if he wanted something to eat. James said his mom was trying her best, but sometimes work is slow, and she is the first sent home. Those days we have a slice of bread soaked in syrup.

With tears in Ruth’s eyes, she led James to the merry-goround and proceeded to make James two sandwiches. Ruth told James to take one of the sandwiches to his mom, but James had already devoured one of the sandwiches and was biting into the second. So, Ruth made another and asked James if he would take it to his mom.

James was grinning from ear to ear and said: “yes ma’am, I will, and thank you.”

Ruth handed James a couple of cookies, packed up what was left, and headed home. She was thinking, I can make my guest a meal out of what is left, and I will simply say my stomach is not feeling right, so I better pass. I will eat when my stomach is better.

Ruth crossed the alley between two buildings, and she

heard, “Hey lady, can you please help us?” Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans; she hadn’t even noticed two figures huddled beside a trash can. A man and a woman, both dressed in little more than rags.

“Please lady, I ain’t got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living here on the street, and, well, soon it will be getting cold, and we’re kind of hungry and, well, if you could help us, ma’am, we’d be most appreciative.”

Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad, and, frankly, she was certain they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to. “Sir, I’d like to help, but I am a poor single woman myself. All I have is what is left of a few cold cuts and some bread, a little milk, some eggs, and two cookies. I am expecting an important guest for dinner tonight, and I need to serve this to him.”

“Sure, I understand; thanks anyway.” The man put his arm around the woman’s shoulders, turned, and headed back into the alley.

As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart. “Sir, wait!” The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. “Look, why don’t you take this food? I’ll figure something else to serve my guest.” She handed the man her grocery bag.

“Thank you, ma’am. Thank you so much!” It was the man’s wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering.

“You know, I have another coat at home. Here, why don’t you take this one.” Ruth unbuttoned her coat and slipped it over the woman’s shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street . . . without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest. “Bless you, ma’am, and thank you so much!”

Ruth was chilled when she reached her front door and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit, and she had nothing to offer him. Ruth fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope tucked in the lid of her mailbox. “That’s odd. The mailman doesn’t usually come twice in one day.” Ruth took the envelope out of the box and opened it. Dear Ruth,

You truly delight my heart. It was so good to see you again today. Thank you for the lovely meals. You may have thought they were inadequate, but I know they came from a loving heart and a faithful servant’s desire to help. James’s mom received a great job today, so things will be looking up for them. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat. It was just what I needed.

Love always, Jesus

The wind was picking up, and it was getting colder, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.

About that time, a delivery truck pulled up from the grocery store. And as the driver came around, he struggled with three large bags of groceries. The delivery man said, “a man with the ‘kindest eyes’ selected these items, gave this address, and paid the tab, plus a little extra for delivery.” “Oh, and there is plenty more in the truck; I will need to make several trips.”

Author Unknown

Stay Safe, and Remember – we do not need all the operators in Texas to be a member of TWUA – JUST YOU ! ! ! !

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION connect. engage. educate. TEXAS WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION

connect. engage. educate.

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TCEQ Occupational Licensing Exams are Going Paperless!

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Occupational Licensing section has been diligently working on revising and converting all licensing exams from paper to computer-based testing (CBT).

We are pleased to announce that beginning September 1, 2022, all TCEQ administered exams will be available at approved CBT centers. TCEQ will no longer conduct paper exam sessions, with exceptions for Americans with Disabilities Act requests.

The only two exams not offered via CBT are the OSSF Site Evaluator and the Landscape Irrigator exams, which are currently being administered by the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).