Change of Leadership - Water Environment Association of Texas

22 | Texas WET May 20092009 Operations Challenge Makes a Splash in GalvestonWith three of the four teams competing in the 2009WEAT Operations Challenge State Competition beingfrom Division I, there was little doubt that this year’s statecompetition was going to be a close one. Little did anyoneknow how close of a competition it would be! Every teamdid their part. It was obvious that all of the competitorshad worked hard and prepared and it showed duringthe awards ceremony. Every team was recognized atsome level (see score sheet) with the final outcome beingextremely close. In the end the TRA CReWSers narrowlybeat out the Dallas Aqua Techs in points. It should benoted that the Aqua Techsmanaged to win three of the fiveevents and even won the covetedProcess Control event for thefirst time in their team’s history.But proving that consistencyTeam #1MAis the key, the TRA CReWSersTRA1TRAmanaged to beat them out onCReWSersetotal points. The Power SAWS,2 Aqua Techs DALanother Division I team, came3 Dillo Xxpress AUSin third overall, with the DilloXxpress from Austin finishing up 4 Power SAWS SAWSin fourth with a very respectfulMaintenanceshowing.I do not think that most people understand Best Timethe 257.50level sof competition that is present in our State. To try andSlowest Time 381.40put things into perspective, three of our Texas teamsare ranked in the Top 10 in the Nation. Time To Points earn a Ranking spot Timein Division I’s Top 10, a team must 257.50 have placed 100.00 first 1 or 111.16second at the national level in Division 381.4II 0 in 25.00 order to 4 move 78.06up to Division I and they must place in the top 10 at the334.7253.26 3 111.88Division I level every year in order to stay there. Many260.60 98.12 2 104.57times the difference between 1st and 2nd in an event isseparated by hundreds of a second, and often times thefastest team does not win the event but rather the teamthat demonstrates their ability to minimize their mistakesthrough the entire competition. The only Division II teamthat we have competing at our state competition wouldhave finished in the top second or third at the Nationallevel in two of the events based on last year’s Nationalscores, this being indicative of how strong our teams havebecome. Would you be happy if your sports team finishedranked in the Nation’s Top 10 every year? I mean comeon, not everyone can be LSU!The level of professionalism demonstrated by all of ourTexas teams is noteworthy; win or lose these competitorsappreciate the opportunity to compete and enjoy thefriendship developed because of the competition. Theyare all assets to their employers and I hope that eachof you appreciate them for the efforts they put forth.In the end, the goal of this program has always been topromote professionalism and education. There is not anindividual on one of these teams who has not advancedtheir knowledge of our industry and in turn benefited theirBy John Bennett, PWO Representativeemployer for their advanced knowledge. Once again we(Texas WEAT) have the opportunity to send four teamsto the National Competition in Orlando, Florida. We allknow and feel the economic impact of our times. Theseguys are all dedicated to their craft and will work hardto be a positive representation of WEAT at the nationalcompetition, but we cannot do it by ourselves. We needyour support, assistance with training, and financialassistance to send all of these teams. Please contact JohnBennett, Orren West or Jeff Sober if you would like toassist.Laboratory SafetyLaboratoryProcessSafetyBest Time 522.13 Best Time Best Time 204.00 522.13 Most PointsBest Time 2174.00204.00Slowest Time 998.02 98.0Slowest TimeSlowest Time401.00 998.02 98.0Least PointsSlowest Time755.00401.00Team #1 MA Team Time#1PointsRankingMATimeTimePointsPointsRankingRankingPointsTimePointsPointsRankingRankingPoTRATRA 581.04 190.72CReWSers2TRA204.00581.04 100.0090.7211671.002204.0073.41100.0021167e2 Aqua Techs DAL 522.132100.00Aqua Techs1DAL365.00522.1338.71100.0032174.001365.00100.0038.71132173 Dillo Xxpress AUS 998.02 98.0325.00Dillo Xxpress4AUS401.00 998.02 98.025.0025.004988.004401.0037.3225.00349884 Power SAWS SAWS 780.88459.22Power SAWS3SAWS230.00780.88 90.10 059.222755.003230.0025.00 90.10 042755CollectionsoMaintenanceCollectionsoBest Time 257.50 Best Time Best Time 78.06257.50Final Best ResultsTime 78.06Slowest Time 381.40 Slowest TimeSlowest Time111.88 381.40 Slowest Time111.88Final ResultsTime Points Ranking Time TimePointsPointsRankingRankingPointsTimeRankingPointsRankingPointsRanking257.50 100.00 1 111.16 257.5026.60100.0031390.73111.1626.6013390.731381.40 25.00 4 78.06 381.40 100.0025.0014363.7178.06100.0021363.712334.72 53.26 3 111.88 334.72 25.00 53.26 43165.57111.8825.0044165.574260.60 98.12 2 104.57 260.6041.2198.12 22313.66104.5741.21 32313.663David Barber Award WinnerRichard Hamilton, Captain of the Austin Dillo Xxpress, was chosen by thecompetitors and judges as the person who best exemplifies the spirit of competitionand professionalism that was demonstrated by David Barber, a long time operationschallenge competitor that tragically lost his life in 2007. Richard’s competitive nature,personality and intensity during the competition made him a natural for this award. Aplaque commemorating this honor was presented to him by Ms. Judy Barber and theirson Matthew Barber.