YP Connections - Water Environment Federation

PAGE 8YP CONNECTIONSYP PROFILE: FRAN BURLINGHAM, PESYPC MEMBEREmployer, position, job duties:Brown and Caldwell, Senior Engineer- WWTP capacity analyses, pre-design on solids handling facilities,master planningWhen did you join WEF? 2002Why did you become involved withWEF? To meet other people in thefield, give back to the industry andlearn about the latest and greatestresearch and technological developmentsHow many WEF committees do youbelong to (including subcommittees)?Two, SYPC and Public Communicationand Outreach Committee.What is your motivation to belong toother committees within WEF? Similarto why I’m involved with WEF,learn about different aspects of ourindustry and learn from differentgroups of people.What is the one goal you wish peopleknew more about WEF/water industry?About the water industry – I wishmore people recognized the importanceof what we do and the impactwe have on a daily basis to environmentaland public health. About WEF – Iwish the public knew WEF’s name andthat it was synonymous with THE leadersin the water industry (we are gettingthere by the way – Water’s WorthIt!)What is your funniest experience inworking with water? Dropping aKemmerer sampling into a secondaryclarifier and operations staff having todrain the entire tank during clarifierstress testing. I didn’t think it was funnyat the time but the operators got areal kick out of it.What is the one misconception youthink students today think about thewater industry? That we aren’t savingthe world one day at a time. Workingon a computer or operating a treatmentplant can have just as much impact asbuilding a latrine and probably has alonger lasting effect and wider reach.Have you presented any papers at aWEF event? How did you decide tosubmit a paper on this (i.e. project youworked on, interest, research, etc.)?I’ve presented posters on projects Iworked on.Did you experience any roadblocks orobstacles in trying to serve on othercommittees? No roadblocks from SYPCor PCOC. I haven’t tried to get involvedin some of the committees thathave the reputation for being difficultto join.Or, what tactics would help you becomemore involved in other WEFcommittees? I think you have to bereally persistent and not take “no” foran answer. Keep asking until you findthe person that can get you on the committeemailing list and don’t be afraidto enlist the help of WEF staff, they arevery knowledgeable. Signing up for aspecific task is the best way to get involved.I really got more involved withPCOC by volunteering to review abstractsfor a special session for WEF.If this is really about getting more involvedin WEF – I really got involvedwith WEF by being involved with myMA. When I was in Georgia, the WEFdelegates brought me to a couple WEF-MAX meetings which facilitated myinvolvement with SYPC (thank youDianne Crilley!) and helped me learnmore about WEF as an organization. InCalifornia, I served on our MA board asa WEF delegate which then turned intoSpeaker of the HOD which then led tomy position on BOT. So my involvementat a local level was really whatpushed me to be more involved at theWEF level.Upcoming WebcastsNOW OFFERED AT NO CHARGEBiosolids 101: Fundamentals of PracticeOctober 31st. 2012 1at pm to 3pm easternAsset Management: Translating Data to InformationNovember 14, 2012 at 1pm to 3pm easternGo to: http://www.wef.org/OnlineEducation to register now!