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Member Pipeline - Member Services & Information - Update (MU 01-17)

*To:*	Members & Affiliates
*From:*	National Office
*Date:*	December 13, 2001
*Subject:*	AMSA's 2002 WINTER CONFERENCE
*Reference:*	MU 01-17
*Attachments:*	- AMSA’s 2002 Winter Conference Narrative Agenda (pdf ~ 27K) - Registration Information (PDF ~ 13K) - Conference Registration Form

Action Please By:
January 11, 2001

Plan Now To Attend. . .

Managing & Protecting
Wastewater Infrastructure Assets February 5 - 8, 2002
Caribe Royale Hotel
Orlando, Florida

Managing & Protecting Wastewater Infrastructure Assets are two issues squarely at the forefront of our national water quality agenda – and AMSA will examine both in depth at its upcoming 2002 Winter Conference, February 5-8, 2002, in Orlando, Florida. Those planning to attend are urged to make their reservations without delay to take advantage of favorable airfares and secure hotel accommodations prior to the Caribe Royal cut-off date of January 11, 2002.

Protecting Wastewater Infrastructure Assets
The events of September 11^th focused renewed attention on protection of our nation’s critical infrastructure, including wastewater collection systems and treatment facilities. Publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) must now grapple with the possibility that their infrastructure assets may be targets for direct physical threats —or serve as conduits for indirect physical threats. POTWs across the nation must now increase their awareness of risks and upgrade their capability to protect not only their physical assets — and as a result the environment — but also the assets embodied in their employees, their knowledge base, their information technology and their customers.

The nation’s utilities and the cities they serve must strive to be fully protected from service interruptions and direct intervention associated with the full range of extreme events, from natural disasters to terrorist attacks. AMSA has been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Infrastructure Protection Center to play a leadership role in working with public wastewater utilities to share advisories and provide information and training specific to infrastructure security. This important conference represents just one such initiative.

Please join us in Orlando in February for our program of thought provoking sessions and important information on tools and resources to enable your agency to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Managing Wastewater Infrastructure Assets
Comparable in prominence to the issue of wastewater infrastructure security is the effective management of our nation’s infrastructure.

Asset Management (as !et man!ij mcnt) n.

An integrative optimization process that enables a utility to determine how to minimize the total life-cycle cost of owning and operating infrastructure assets while continuously delivering service levels demanded by customers.

There is little disagreement that investments in water and wastewater systems pay substantial dividends to the environment, public health and the economy; however, the provision of water supply and wastewater treatment services is highly capital intensive. These enormous capital costs have provided our nation with a vast system of water and wastewater infrastructure, but these critical assets require careful assessment and a commitment to adequate investment to ensure long-term reliable service. The protection, maintenance and continued viability of these vital public resources are the mission of an asset management program.

AMSA, along with numerous other members of the Water Infrastructure Now (WIN) coalition, is part of an aggressive campaign now underway in Washington to secure increased and continuing Federal funding for our nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure. As this process continues, changes to financial accounting and reporting standards issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (better known as GASB 34), will soon require local governments to begin reporting depreciation of their assets or to implement an asset management system.

AMSA’s 2002 Winter Conference will provide a forum for the release of the new asset management publication, Managing Public Infrastructure Assets to Minimize Costs & Maximize Performance. The publication establishes an understanding of asset management principles, navigates impending financial reporting regulations and assists public water and wastewater utilities with the development of asset management programs at the agency level. Conference sessions specific to this important initiative are certain to be invaluable to attendees.

Make Your Hotel Reservation Today — Deadline January 11!
Be sure to reserve your hotel accommodations at the Caribe Royale Hotel by the January 11^th deadline to guarantee the special conference rate of $185 for a queen double or standard king room. To make your reservations today, call the Caribe Royale at 800/823-8300, and be sure to mention that you a participant in AMSA’s 2002 Winter Conference.

Program and Registration Information Enclosed . . .
Enclosed is a narrative agenda for AMSA’s 2002 Winter Conference that provides a comprehensive overview of the conference’s informative sessions. Also, enclosed is a registration form and detailed logistical registration information to make your travel planning for the 2002 Winter Conference a breeze!

Don’t forget to watch your mail for additional information and visit AMSA’s web site, www.amsa-cleanwater.org, often for online registration and the most up-to-date information on the 2002 Winter Conference, Managing & Protecting Wastewater Infrastructure Assets.

Attachments:

AMSA’s 2002 Winter Conference Narrative Agenda (pdf ~ 27K)
Registration Information (PDF ~ 13K)
Conference Registration Form

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