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February 28, 1997
AMSA Legislative Strategy Session to Take Place Next Week . . .
The Association's first Legislative Strategy Session of the 105th Congress will take place on Thursday and Friday of next week, March 6-7. Leadership response to the Strategy Session has been good and the program of speakers and internal discussion will, without a doubt, be beneficial. We have two recent additions to Thursday's program to report. Bob Perciaspe, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, has contacted AMSA and requested to attend along with Jeff Peterson of his staff; and, Caroline Gable will attend representing Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) to discuss his recently introduced nonpoint source control legislation. We look forward to seeing those of you who will attend and reporting the outcome of the meeting to the Board in the near future.
Additional Data Provided on 1996 Member Needs Assessment . . .
Fairfield-Sonn Associates, AMSA's consultant on our 1996 Member Needs Assessment, has provided the National Office with additional frequency distribution data per the Board's early February request. This information is intended to assist Association leadership and members in interpreting the findings of the survey -- and will play an important role in the Planning & Bylaws Committee's plans to review the results and make recommendations, as appropriate, to the Board. Early next week the survey report, including the new frequency distribution data, will be forwarded to the membership. We invite Board members to take a second look at this updated version of the report, and, in particular, at Technical Appendix B, Frequency Distribution of Responses for Each Question.
Planning & Bylaws Committee to Meet on April 1st . . .
As noted in the preceding entry, the Board has requested that the Planning & Bylaws Committee meet, prior to the May Board of Directors Meeting, to review the results of the Member Needs Assessment. A meeting has been scheduled for April 1, 1997 in Chicago, Illinois. In keeping with Board direction, the Committee will review the Member Needs Assessment, consider revisions to AMSA's Strategic Plan (related to findings of the Needs Assess-ment), and discuss the siting of post-1998 May meetings.
New Board Vacancy in Region VI . . .
Victor Medina has retired as Water Superintendent for the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, thus creating another vacancy on AMSA's Board of Directors. On February 26 a memo was forwarded to AMSA members in Region VI announcing the opening and soliciting nominations. The timing of Victor's retirement is such that we can coordinate the nomination process with that already underway in Regions I, III, IV and IX. All nominations are due to the Nominating Committee on April 11, 1997.
1996 Financial Survey to be Released March 10 . . .
The National Office will hold a press conference on Monday, March 10, 1997 in the Edward R. Murrow Room of the National Press Club to release the Association's 1996 Financial Survey. The Financial Survey provides a national overview of municipal wastewater management financing and trends based on data provided by the AMSA membership. The survey, developed and analyzed under the auspices of the Facility Financing Committee, continues to undergo significant improvement in both scope and presentation. We look forward to providing you a copy upon its release.
Managed Competition Publication Well Received by Members . . .
AMSA's companion report to our July 1996 Evaluating Privatization checklist has been well received both within and outside the Association. To date, the National Office has sold/distributed approximately 1,400 copies of Managed Competition, Evaluating and Responding to RFQs and RFPs. Interest in the original checklist report continues -- and represents a record for AMSA publications. To date, the National Office has sold/distributed more than 4,500 copies of the Evaluating Privatization report.
AMSA Web Site Development Underway . . .
The National Office is proceeding with the development of the Association's Web Site. An informal survey of ten member agencies, conducted by our consultant Krajewski & Associates, indicates that preliminary efforts have been on target and excitement about the Web Site is growing. A draft request for quotations is currently under review at the National Office and will be forwarded to selected vendors very soon. We have also revised the phasing schedule for the site to ensure we are fully prepared at "launch" time to present a Web Site of definite benefit and use to our members. Phase I of the site will go on line in July 1997, allowing us to feature the site (and possibly offer our members the opportunity to "pet the net") at our summer conference in Seattle. We are also exploring nontraditional services and information that may be a benefit to AMSA's members. As we have proceeded with the development of the site we have identified a number of policy issues appropriate for Board consideration. These will be brought to the Board for consideration at the May Board of Directors meeting.