April 2021 E-Newsletter
Issue #129
IN THIS ISSUE
2nd Quarter Virtual Training Register Now

Vote To Approve New Section Bylaws

AWWA Statement on Asian Hate Incidents

WE Walk for Water

ACE21 Moves To All Virtual

Demographics Survey

Spring Trustee Meeting Scheduled

Golf Tournaments Planned

Training

Job Postings 
2nd Quarter Virtual Training
May 20th - Sponsored by Stantec
Registration Is Now Open! 
Register now for our second quarter virtual training on May 20.

You can register for the full day (0.6 CEUs) $120 member price; or a half day, either morning or afternoon (0.3 CEUs) $60 member price. Registration closes Friday, May 14.

May 20 - Regulatory Rodeo: Will include a 5-year look at RTCR assessments; cover updates to the NSF 61 standards that impact coating systems; updates to the Lead and Copper Rule and routine monitoring; corrosion control treatment and required monitoring; PFAS technologies; cross connection control regulations and a case study of response to a system contamination; using data and machine learning to improve regulatory compliance.

Vendors and consultants we have several sponsorship opportunities available for you to increase your company visibility with our members. Opportunities exist for all four quarters. Sponsorships vary in price and benefits. 
E-newsletter Sponsors
Section Quarterly Training Sponsor
Membership Asked to Approve New Section Bylaws
Via Online Voting 
After many months of work by an ad-hoc committee, your Board of Trustees and section members we now have updated Section Bylaws that require member approval.

Recently approved by the AWWA Executive Committee, approval by our Section Members is the final step prior to implementation. Once approved, our Section Rules of Procedure will be updated over the course of the year to reflect updates in these new bylaws.

AWWA members are asked to vote online to approve the bylaw update. Polls close April 30. Members will be asked to input their email on record with AWWA and their last name prior to accessing the polls. 
AWWA Releases Statement on Asian American Pacific Islander Hate Incidents
“The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is committed to advancing a culture of diversity and inclusion within our Association and the water sector. AWWA members are troubled by reports of increasing hate incidents -- including violence -- directed toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Throughout the ongoing pandemic, AAPI people have been targets of cruel and unfair rhetoric. Unfortunately, racist attitudes and actions toward the AAPI community are not new, and historical, state-sanctioned injustices should never be forgotten. For example, in 1882 -- only one year after AWWA was founded -- the racist Chinese Exclusion Act specifically prevented Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States. More recently, Japanese Americans were stripped of their freedoms and sent to internment camps during World War II. We should never forget these and many other sad moments in our history, and they should drive us to unite against racism in all its forms. As an Association that draws its strength from a wonderfully diverse membership, we stand in solidarity with our AAPI members and look forward to a future where racism against AAPI people is extinguished forever.”

Melissa Elliott, AWWA President
Chi Ho Sham, AWWA President-Elect
Jim Williams, AWWA Past President
Uma Vempati, AWWA Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair
Join WE Walk For Water
A Virtual Fundraiser for AWWA's Water Equation 
Our Section has a long history of supporting AWWA's philanthropic efforts. And while this last year has looked and felt very different, our tradition of fundraising must carry on!

PNWS-AWWA is once again participating in "WE Walk," a virtual fundraiser to raise money for the Water Equation. Please join our team or make a donation to support the important work of the Water Equation. Last year our team came in second with just over $5,000 raised. This year we are going for gold with a goal of $6,500.
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ACE21 Goes Completely Virtual
Registration Is Now Open 
AWWA has announced that it is transforming its 2021 Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE21) into an all virtual event from June 14-17. Registration for ACE21 All Virtual is now open.

AWWA made this decision after listening closely to our members and evaluating the circumstances in our host city of San Diego, Calif. The San Diego Convention Center remains closed, and we have no indication it will be open for an event the size of ACE21 by June. In addition, California public
health authorities are asking people to limit travel to and within the state. Members tell us that they would love to meet in-person, but many would not be able to attend ACE21.

It’s important that we make this decision now so that everyone involved with ACE21 – attendees,
presenters, exhibitors and business partners – can adjust their plans accordingly. Details on refunds,
hotel and airline cancellations, exhibit and sponsor questions and other related information will be
posted on the ACE website, as will registration information on ACE21 All Virtual.
Section Diversity Member Inclusion Sub-Committee
Demographics Survey 
AWWA members know that when you join or renew your membership with AWWA you are asked some voluntary demographic information.

The PNWS Diversity Member and Inclusion Sub-Committee is looking for some additional voluntary data on our members to help plan for recruiting and retention of our members.

The survey takes just five minutes and will help us identify areas of improvement to promote an inclusive environment where all members feel welcome. Participants who complete the survey prior to June 1st will be entered in a raffle.
Section Spring Virtual Trustee Meeting
Scheduled For Thursday, May 6 
Your Section Board of Trustees will be holding their Virtual Spring Meeting on Thursday, May 6 from 2-3:30.

While the agenda for this meeting is currently being crafted, it will include several topics of interest to our members including:

  • The final results and approval of our recent membership vote to approve our new Section Bylaws
  • Final words from our Section Chair Ronda Farmer as she closes out her year as chair
  • And a virtual gavel passing to incoming Section Chair John Roth.

Members are invited to attend and should contact the Section Office for a Zoom link.
Save The Dates
Golf is Just Around The Corner 
COVID knocked out all our Section wide golf tournaments in 2021. This year our members are ready to get back out on the fairway and show off their golf skills or in my case a lack there of.

Mark your calendars now for these dates. Registration coming soon!

  • August 13 - Northwest Oregon Subsection tournament at Gresham Golf Club
  • August 20 - Central Washington Subsection tournament at Apple Tree Resort - Yakima, WA
  • August 21 - Southern Oregon Subsection tournament at Stone Ridge Golf Club - Eagle Point, OR
Tease: Next Month's E-newsletter
Dedicated to our Section's Best Volunteers for 2021 
In next month's May Edition of the E-newsletter we will be entirely devoted to the recipients of this years Section awards. These awards normally presented at our annual Section Conference will include:

  • The Subsection Advisory Council Award
  • The Pioneer Award
  • The Heart and Soul Award
  • The Lechner Award
  • The Powell Lindsay
  • The Fuller
Job Postings
  • Custodial Maintenance Person
  • Project Manager
  • Utility Person I
  • Wastewater and Water Operator
  • Assistant Public Works Superintendent - Water Division
  • Project Engineer
  • Field Operations Manager
  • Operations Manager
  • Mid to Senior Water/Wastewater Engineer
  • Facility Operator
  • Operations Manager
  • Engineering Regional Manager
  • Maintenance Electrician
  • Design Engineer
  • Field Operations Maintenance Person I-II
  • Public Works Director
  • Control Systems Technician
  • Project Engineer
  • Senior Engineer
  • Sewer Collections Operator
  • Water Construction Technician
  • Water Distribution Operator 1
  • Senior Utility Worker
That's it for this month! Please send your news or information for inclusion in the June edition to the Section office.

Sincerely,
Kyle Kihs signature
Kyle Kihs
Executive Director