NEWS IN BRIEF DELHI TOWNSHIP HOLDS WATER QUALITY AWARENESS OPEN HOUSE On May 7, 2005 Delhi Charter Township hosted a <strong>Water</strong> Quality Awareness open house and Reuse Rally at the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW). Volunteers and sponsors from local business, consultants, and governmental agencies contributed to the success of the event. The open house offered tours of the plant, face painting, edible aquifers, aquifer races, luscious landfills, popcorn, sno-kones, drinks, vactor demonstrations, bull’s eye water race, Frisbee throw, fish pond, water balloon launching, t-shirt launching, target casting, prizes, and a chance to release a largemouth bass into the Grand River. The POTW was decorated with fish painted by local area students. Township Manager John Elsinga said, “Sam (Sandra Diorka, POTW Superintendent) does an outstanding job of getting the entire community involved. The event keeps getting better every year.” The entire day was a huge success and the township staff are already planning for next years’ event. Sandra “Sam” Diorka sports a “blue fish tattoo” for <strong>Water</strong> Quality Awareness Open House. Fred Cowles, a volunteer from Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber, helps with an edible aquifer. MY ECUADOR EXPERIENCE WITH WATER FOR PEOPLE (by Jeremy Noggle, Student Member) Dear MS-AWWA <strong>Water</strong> for People and MWEA, I want to thoroughly thank you for selecting me for what I considered an experience of a lifetime. I was, and still am, honored to have been the student chosen for the trip. I must say that when I first found out about the trip I had no idea what it was going to involve, what it would mean to my career, or how it would affect me personally. Sure, Mike Roon gave a presentation to my college, but as good as it was, and it was excellent, no presentation could portray the connection you can make with the Quichua people or the emotions you will feel by doing so. I would like to briefly explain what the experience was like. First off, we get to experience Ecuador as tourists for a day or so, to get assimilated to the atmosphere before we were to sleep in and hike around the villages. You could get winded just tying your shoes, for the first couple of days. I told myself before I went down there that if I would dive into it and experience everything the people and culture had to offer. At times I got more than I bargained for, considering every culture has its own idea of palatable cuisine. Truthfully though, I was glad to gain any new experience. The Quichua people are very hospitable and gracious even though they have so little, and this was obvious at every village we visited. They all wanted to overfeed us, and provide us with any accommodations they had. The very first water system we visited (Rancho Alto) was my first taste of these people. Although we could not stay long they asked us to stay long enough to sing us praises, which was somewhat embarrassing, until it was explained how much the water means to these people. Then it was hard not to well up emotionally. Next we were off to Calahuasig, where I was able to interact with the children, who are amazing and are eager to learn. This interaction grew from village to village. Over the course of my trip I can truly say that I began to feel for the Quichua Indians. I was amazed at what the isolated water from the springs means to these people. It was stated to me from many different villagers that “water is life”. This fact along with the Quichua’s plight has caused me to ask myself what it is that I can do…what is my role. I believe my role is this: to tell my college and fellow students about my experience, and hopefully in a way that stirs them to participate as I had the privilege to. The other action I can take is that of trying my best while working towards my degree, and then I can become a working professional and hopefully an active committee member. I would like to someday revisit Ecuador and be able to work with the great people at the Holy Christ Jesus Blessing Radio Broadcasting Station (HCJB). If ever there was a cause to get behind, then this is that one. I am glad to call myself a member of <strong>Water</strong> for People. Thanks again and I hope in some small way I have given some insight into my Ecuadorian experience. Thank you, Jeremy Noggle, Student Member Bay de Noc College Student Chapter MWEA & MS-AWWA Student Activities Committee 54 MWEA MATTERS: FALL 2005
MWEA MATTERS: FALL 2005 55