AMSA Board Briefs - November 1, 2004

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November 1, 2004

• Outreach a Priority for New Strategic Plan
  Since the adoption of AMSA’s new Strategic Plan by the Board of directors on September 21, numerous efforts have been underway to share the Plan – and its key tenets – with AMSA’s membership nationwide. Member Updates 04-16 and 04-17, have featured key components of the Plan and provided a link to the complete document for interested members. FaxAlert and Clean Water News articles have complemented these outreach efforts. Member Update 04-16 also presented the concept of a name change, and the Board-endorsed proposed name – the American Clean Water Council, to the membership for their consideration. In addition to soliciting member input on both the Strategic Plan and the name change – the National Office is also placing personal telephone calls to all Member Agencies (with the exception of Board Member agencies), Public and Private Affiliates and Committee leaders to facilitate their ability to comment and our ability to address any concerns.
  
  Comments received to date regarding the proposed change have been a mixed bag – with some expressing support for the name proposed and others having issues with a single word in the name or the acronym. Most negative concerns have focused on the use of the word “council” in the name. As a result the National Office staff has identified some potential alternatives including the Clean Water Association of America (CWAA); Clean Water Agencies of America (CWAA); American Association of Clean Water Agencies (AACWA); and, National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). As we continue our outreach to AMSA’s members, we will gauge their reaction to these alternate names, as well as the current name on the table, the American Clean Water Council. We invite Board Member comment on any and all of these potential names. Please feel free to call or e-mail Paula Dannenfeldt with your comments (202/833-4654 or pdannenfeldt@amsa-cleanwater.org).
   

• Strategic Planning Working Group to Meet in Denver
  A Working Group of the Strategic Planning Committee – led by Chair, Donnie Wheeler – will meet in Denver this week to identify potential changes to AMSA’s governance documents in order to ensure their consistency with the Association’s new Strategic Plan. The Working Group, which is comprised of individuals who volunteered for this effort in September, will review both the organization’s Bylaws and the Policies & Procedures of the Board of Directors. All issues identified and revisions recommended by the Working Group will be brought before the full Strategic Planning Committee for consideration. The Committee will then recommend agreed upon revisions to the Board for review and adoption.
   

• Nominating (Officers) Committee Seeks Interested Candidates
  AMSA’s Nominating Committee (Officers) is currently requesting expressions of interest and/or nominations for AMSA Officers for the 2005-2006 term beginning in May. Because AMSA policy provides for the succession of officers, the role of the Nominating Committee is limited to the selection of a nominee for the office of Secretary. Because no two officers may serve from the same federal region – and the new officer nominee’s term of Board eligibility has to continue through 2009 in order to ascend to the presidency – Board members from Regions I, II, IV, VI, VIII, and X are eligible for consideration. Board Members will soon be forwarded a memorandum providing additional information on the nomination process. The Nominating Committee (Officers), chaired by Thomas “Buddy” Morgan is requesting that nominations be made prior to January 21, 2005.
   

• AMSA Security & Emergency Preparedness Committee Plans Call
  AMSA’s Security & Emergency Preparedness Committee will meet via conference call on November 5, 2004 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm Eastern. In addition to the Committee’s membership, all interested AMSA members have been invited to dial-in to participate in the call. Among the items slated for discussion are potential legislative priorities in the security arena for the next Congress – and a review of security-related questions proposed for the Association’s upcoming 2005 Financial Survey. This upcoming conference call will provide the opportunity for Committee leadership and staff to hear directly from AMSA member agencies on these and other security related issues. We welcome broad participation by the Board of Directors. To participate, please confirm your plans to join the call via e-mail to Shalina Baker-Parker at sbaker@amsa-cleanwater.org prior to COB Wednesday, November 3. You will be provided with a call-in number, agenda and other instructions no later than Thursday, November 4.
   

• AMSA/WEF Confirm Plans to Co-Sponsor May Clean Water Policy Forum
  AMSA and WEF have joined together to co-sponsor one legislative and regulatory-focused meeting to be held in Washington, which consolidates both the AMSA National Environmental Policy Forum and WEF’s Washington Briefing. The joint meeting will now be known as the AMSA/WEF National Clean Water Policy Forum and will take place May 3-4, 2005, at the Marriott Metro Center in Washington, DC. During the coming months, AMSA and WEF staff will continue to collaborate on the development of the joint-meeting program, logistical needs and staff support.
  
  Prior to the joint 2005 National Clean Water Policy Forum, AMSA will host the Association’s 35th Anniversary Annual Meeting on May 1st and 2nd. AMSA’s Annual Meeting will provide for an opportunity for the Association’s committees to meet, will allow for the Annual Business Meeting and will conclude with a gala celebration of AMSA’s 35th Anniversary.
  
  Mark your calendar for May 1-4, 2005, for AMSA’s 35th Anniversary Annual Meeting and the AMSA/WEF National Clean Water Policy Forum!
   

• Action Please By November 5 on DC Stormwater Intervention Ballot
  Board members should have received by electronic mail a ballot due November 5 seeking votes on a proposal that AMSA file a motion to intervene in an activist group’s appeal of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority’s municipal separate storm sewer system permit before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Appeals Board. We are requesting $10,000 in Targeted Action Funds (TAF) for AMSA to work with other municipal groups on this case. The National Office is holding a voluntary conference call on November 3 at 2 p.m. eastern for Board members who would like to obtain additional information on the case before voting. The dial-in for this call is 1-877-394-0659, pin 483474#. Any questions regarding the proposal may be directed to General Counsel Alexandra Dunn at 202/533-1803 or via e-mail at adunn@amsa-cleanwater.org.
   

• Leadership Center Draws New Class of Registrants
  The 2005 two-week, residential session of the Water and Wastewater Leadership Center will be held February 13-25, at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Application packages for the 2005 session of were distributed in July by AMSA, and other joint venture organizations. The application deadline is December 3, 2004, and to date, 17 applications are in hand, and staff continues to receive a number of inquiries each week. It is anticipated that the 2005 session will fill to 30-person capacity in the coming weeks. If you, or a staff member, have plans to attend the 2005 session, please submit the application materials as soon as possible (www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/leader/.)
  
  Eighteen members of the 2003 Leadership Center class are currently participating in the 2004 Alumni Refresher Course. The Alumni Program is a two-day program held 18 to 24 months following the successful completion of the two-week residential program, and the curriculum provides alumni with a venue to reconnect with peers, a setting to discuss lessons learned since the residential program and an opportunity to reexamine and update their individual professional development plans.
   

• Pretreatment Workshop a Success – Law Seminar Follows
  Over 200 attendees convened in Norfolk, Va., last week for the 2004 National Pretreatment Coordinators Workshop. The conference program provided an excellent opportunity for pretreatment professionals to interact with national, regional and state officials and discuss national issues related to the National Pretreatment Program. Workshop presentations can be found on AMSA's website (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/materials.cfm).
  
  AMSA’s 2004 Developments in Clean Water Law Seminar will be held November 10 – 12, 2004, at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, Calif. Over 100 public agency attorneys and mangers are expected to be on hand to discuss and examine a bevy of legal strategies and clean water issues, including recent legal decisions affecting NPDES permitting, the latest on stormwater litigation, SSOs and CSOs as well as a panel discussion on effective management of construction claims to name a few. See you in San Diego, November 10 - 12!
   

• Winter Conference Planning Underway
  AMSA’s 2005 Winter Conference, Sustainable Systems, will be held February 1-4, 2005, at the Westin La Cantera in San Antonio, Texas. The conference agenda will explore ongoing and emerging management issues affecting public utilities across the nation. With Sustainable Systems as the conference theme, the sustainability concept will be applied to a variety of management challenges, such as the public utility workforce, security, infrastructure and the environment.
  
  National Office staff will begin the conference outreach in the coming weeks; however, you can reserve your hotel accommodations now by calling the Westin La Cantera, 210/558-6500 to ensure the special room rate of $175 single/double. For the latest conference and program information, visit AMSA’s website at www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/.
   

• AMSA Board to Lose Three Members
  AMSA’s Board of Directors will lose three valued members over the coming months. Jon G. Monson, Director of Water & Sewer for the City of Greeley, Colorado and Region 8 Board Member has resigned his Board seat due to significant travel restrictions at this utility. Region 2 Board Member, Christopher O. Ward, Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, is leaving the City to become President and Chief Executive of American Stevedoring, a port operator. American Stevedoring is awaiting approval of a renewal lease from the Port Authority – where Chris was Chief of Planning and External Affairs before joining the City – to operate a port along the Brooklyn waterfront. Lastly, we recently learned of Margie Nellor’s plans to retire in May of 2005. Margie currently serves on AMSA’s Board of Directors representing Region 9 and is the Assistant Department Head, Technical Services a the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. Current plans call for these vacated seats to be filled by election of the membership in May of 2005.