A Message From The President

by Jerry Barron

Time flies when you're having fun! It's hard to believe, but spring 2001 is here, and the beginning of the outdoor project season has begun. For the last five years or so, old man winter has given most of us a break, fairly mild winters, with little snow. Those of us who experienced lower water levels in our wells and reservoirs, were glad to see a possible shift back to the snowfalls of the past. Those of us who are responsible for removing this solidified H20, were not as impressed. Been there, done that! But anyway, we can now, hopefully, put away the insulated Carhartts and snowmobile suits, and start wearing the nice orange tee shirts we've bought from NYRWA! Does anyone have the patience to hear about elections or voting procedures? No, I didn't think so, after all that we had to put up with last year, no matter who's team you were on. But just a short infomercial; if you haven't already, make sure you vote for a board member, and try to attend the annual meeting at our conference in Kerhonkson this May. Once again, our State organization, as well as the National organization, will be presenting our opinions on the new regulations and procedures that will be enacted at the Federal level. We, the Board and Staff, will then be working with the Health Department and State Senate and Assembly to reduce any negative impacts that could occur in our systems. We will work to maintain and improve the programs that are the most popular with system operators, and hopefully find the funding to expand these services. The Circuit Rider programs and our home study courses bring helpful hands right into your system, when it is needed most. Our office staff is just a phone call away, working to solve the day-to-day problems for new and old operators alike. Specialized staff, such as our Groundwater Specialist and Solid Waste Specialist can point the way to problem solutions. No one can have the answer to every question, but the staff can put you in contact with someone who will. Just a few short months ago, I submitted the end of year report to the Town Board that I work for, and in this report there is a summary of what my department had accomplished and last, what my goals and projections for the New Year were. Now as I look over the summary, the frost and snow has gone, and the time has come to make these goals a reality. Good luck to you in this New Year, and I hope to see you at the conference.