Annual AWWA Regional Meeting of Section Officers in Anchorage ...

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Page 2 AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION HAWAII SECTION Chair’s Message By Jason Takaki, Hawaii Section Chair Thank you for your membership in the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the authoritative resource on safe water. Founded in 1881 at George Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, the founding membership of 22 has grown to more than 50,000 strong. This phenomenal growth can be distilled to a simple, common mission: protecting public health through continual improvement. As stewards of our world’s most precious resource, we must continue to improve what we do and how we do it. AWWA is ready to help. The association’s place as the go-to source for information, education and involvement is the focus of the new Think Water, Think AWWA campaign. Yet, at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply where I work, we’ve learned there is nothing as essential and so critical to our everyday lives, but so clearly taken for granted, than safe drinking water. We found the most vocal in our community don’t know where their water comes from, don’t understand how it gets from vast groundwater sources to their homes, or even know what they pay for their monthly water service. Those working in the water industry truly appreciate the engineering marvel that brings water of unquestionable quality to our tap every morning and all day long. With that first gush of water from the bathroom faucet, while we brush our teeth or wash our face, we can silently rejoice in the wonder of clean, drinking water. And our spirits are refreshed because we know our good work today means future generations will equally rejoice in their tap water for years to come. We all need to share our joy and educate our families, friends, and our neighbors on the wonder of water. Our efforts need to stretch beyond a continued call for watershed protection and water conservation. We need to preach about pumps and pipes, valves and tanks, testing and treatment. Only with a full understanding of the wonder of a water system can we all enjoy and fully appreciate the water that in Hawaii is served with aloha. Perhaps water is taken for granted because the price is too low in relation to its importance. Maybe we, the water workers, are further to blame for not doing all we can to communicate the true value of water to water users. This is far from a new issue as illustrated by this excerpt from a 1969 issue of Western City Magazine. The article was entitled Global Aspects of Water Planning and written by George A.L. Yuen. The former Manager & Chief Engineer of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply was then the Section Chair of what is today the California-Nevada Section of AWWA. “In his headlong dedication to serve humanity, the waterworks engineer must never lose sight of the priceless value of his product and the importance of his contributions. All too often I’ve heard waterworks men pride themselves over the cheapness of water. Frankly, I think we’ve done the public a disservice in overselling this point. In reality, water is too cheap, and this fact is one of the greatest deterrents to the progress of our industry and the enhancement of the stature of the dedicated people who serve it. What we now need is a drastic overhauling of our philosophy – both of our water utility people and the general public.” There is much work to do. Let us begin. Thank you again for your involvement with AWWA and for your service to water. AWWA stands ready to help us in our education efforts. Think AWWA. Think Water. Think rejoice. Hawaii Section Mission Statement The Hawaii Section AWWA is dedicated to the promotion of public health and welfare in the provision of drinking water of unquestionable quality and sufficient quantity. The Hawaii Section AWWA must be proactive and effective in advancing the technology, science, management, and government policies relative to the stewardship of water.
AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION HAWAII SECTION AWWA Hawaii Section Director’s Message By Jon Muraoka, Hawaii Section Director My rookie year as a Director began this past June, and on July 25 and 26 th , I attended the Incoming Director’s Training at the American Water Works Association Denver Headquarters with 17 other new incoming directors representing various AWWA sections. The training was lead by President Jerry Stevens, President-Elect Charlie Anderson, and Executive Director David LaFrance, and was a great opportunity to meet the Executive Committee and Executive Staff. The sessions provided me the opportunity to learn about the entire AWWA organization, the roles and responsibilities of being a Director, and the AWWA vision and challenges ahead. AWWA is not immune to the economic headwinds facing our nation and it is both a challenging and exciting time for AWWA as we strategically plan enhancements to membership benefits and value, and its implementation to retain and increase membership. I had my first webinar and Board of Directors Meeting in September, and will be attending the Winter Board Meeting in Puerto Rico in January 2012. Elson Gushiken and other past Hawaii Directors have left behind huge shoes to fill and I will try my best to fill them for the next three years which seems like an eternity right now but will probably fly by like the blink of an eye. It is a privilege to serve as your Director and thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. Cliff Lum and his army of volunteers are hard at work on the 2012 AWWA Hawaii Section Annual Conference and I look forward to seeing everyone there. Page 3 Hawaii Section Board of Trustees 2011-2012 CHAIR Jason Takaki Honolulu Board of Water Supply 630 South Beretania Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96843 Ph: (808) 748-5741 / Fax: (808) 550-5030 E-mail: jtakaki@hbws.org VICE CHAIR/STRATEGIC PLANNING Ken Ota Pacific Pipe Co. 1255 Kuala St Pearl City, Hawaii 96782 Ph: (808) 455-8700 / Fax: (808) 455-8800 Cell: (808) 870-7913 E-mail: ken@pacificpipe.net SECRETARY John Chung Belt Collins 2153 North King Street, Suite 200 Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 Ph: (808) 521-5361 / Fax: (808) 538-7819 E-mail: jchung@beltcollins.com TREASURER/FINANCE C. Michael Street Bowers + Kubota Consulting 94-408 Akoki Street Waipahu, Hawaii 96797 Ph: (808) 836-7787 or (808) 833-1841 / Fax: (808) 834-4833 E-mail: mstreet@bowersandkubota.com DIRECTOR Jon T. Muraoka Fukunaga Engineers 1357 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1530 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Ph: (808) 944-1821 / Fax: (808) 946-9339 E-mail: jmuraoka@fukunagaengineers.com PAST CHAIR/AWARDS Audrey Yokota Gray, Hong, Nojima and Associates, Inc. 201 Merchant Street, Suite 1900 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Ph: (808) 531-0306 ext 107 / Fax: (808) 531-8018 E-mail: ayokota@grayhongnojima.com
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Annual AWWA Regional Meeting of Section Officers in Anchorage ...

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