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

Page 8 AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION HAWAII SECTION
ACE in Washington D.C.—Being in the Nation’s Capital
By Susan Uyesugi, AWWA Hawaii Section Government Trustee
While Washington D.C. is a really long plane ride
for the Hawaii Section delegates, it’s really worth it
to be able to attend ACE and see the nation’s capital
in the same trip.
On Sunday afternoon, Section Chair Jason Takaki,
Outgoing Director Elson Gushiken, and Trustee
Susan Uyesugi visited with the manufacturers
who exhibit at the Hawaii conference and gave
boxes of Hawaiian Host Macadamia Nut Chocolates
to thank them for their support. Mahalo to Hawaiian
Host Company for the donation of candy so
that we could spread the Aloha Spirit!
The section breakfast on Monday morning was a
great success. Everyone enjoys the opportunity to
visit with each other since we’re on different islands
including the island of Guam! We were happy
to see all the islands represented once again.
We were pleased to have from AWWA Staff Executive
Director David LaFrance. Also joining us
were President Joe Mantua, Incoming AWWA
President Jerry Stevens, Incoming President-Elect
Charlie Anderson, and AWWA Past-President
Craig Woolard. Chair Jason Takaki introduced
the section officers and Ivan Nakatsuka provided
the invocation. The Big Island’s men’s tapping
team and the returning women’s national champions
from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply were
introduced and section members were encouraged
to cheer them on.
The Big Island men’s tapping team put on a great
effort but didn’t make it to the finals. The Honolulu
women’s team were automatically in the finals
so did a couple of practice runs on Tuesday.
Elson Gushiken, Jason Takaki and Susan
Uyesugi attended the Section Officers Forum on
Tuesday afternoon. Keynote speaker Greg Melia
from the American Society of Association Executives
gave a great presentation on Divergent
Thinking. Membership and education awards were
also distributed.
On Wednesday morning, Fuller Awardee Woodie
Muirhead was recognized along with other section
awardees at the Fuller Awardee breakfast.
It’s a good thing Susan called Elson to wake
him up or he would have missed the entire program.
The finals for the Pipetapping contest were held
Wednesday morning and the Honolulu women
repeated as champions with a winning time of 2
minutes, 35.81 seconds. Congratulations to
Gary Fernandez, Danielle Ornellas, Cat
Sawai and Susan Oda. Be there in Dallas to
see them defend their title again!
Attendees were able to visit many of DC’s sights
before, during, and after the conference. Many
people made time to visit with our Congressional
delegation and see the many museums as well
as try all the different restaurants! Next year
the annual conference is in Dallas. Hope you
can attend!