President Message

Greetings, Fellow Members and Operators

by Jim Siddall

You shoulda been there, man!!

One of my favorite comedians is Dave Attell, and one of his routines is about leaving a party early. The next day one of his friends is telling him how much better the party got after Dave left. His friend finished with the line, “You shoulda been there, man!”

In the last three months, we had the Annual School in Corpus Christi, the East Texas school in Longview, and the West Texas school in Lubbock. I was so fortunate to be able to attend all three events. “You shoulda been there, man”!

Each of the TWUA schools helped each attendee learn new things. They benefited from learning about new rules and regulations, techniques, tools, or procedures or from experienced operators with years of experience. One of my personal favorites about attending the schools is the fact that they offer you a glimpse into the latest trends and technologies

TWUA schools focus on operators with the same desired outcome: improving our skills and abilities. Each school was not only about talks but also about the members who attended them. They allowed participants the opportunity to talk to people one-on-one about what they were experiencing and gave us advice on how to enhance our work and enrich ourselves with new perspectives and knowledge. The additional benefit was bringing together operators from all different geographical areas, technical backgrounds, and cultural experiences.

Attending a TWUA school shows our employer (and potential employers) that we are actively engaged in the water/wastewater industry and are actively communicating with our industry peers. Adding your experience makes you stand out among dozens of operators and proves your interest and devotion to your work.

It only took a global pandemic to realize that some of our work, training, and meetings can be done from home. It’s kind of funny, but things that weren’t meant to be done from home in the past, such as attending meetings, are now suddenly well-accepted to be done in your pajamas on your couch. Attending TWUA schools and district meetings is still a big deal, probably more than ever before. Each event is a unique experience, as no two school or district meetings are the same. It is one of the best chances to travel, connect with new people, and have a great time learning new things.

This year, all the TWUA schools and district meetings provided opportunities to gain knowledge, connect with industry peers, and add experiences to our resumes. The opportunity is there for you to benefit from also. Check the calendar and make plans to attend schools and district meetings. You, your utility, and most importantly, our customers will benefit from participation.

Next year, let’s not have any “You shoulda been there, man!” and make it. It was great seeing you again, and wasn’t that a good time?