Summer 2013 - Public Documents - NC AWWA-WEA

Committee Spotlightswho is active on the committee involved asa Theme Leader.”A Website Subcommittee, consisting oftwo to three members, is responsible forreviewing the information on the Association’swebsite and providing feedback to theAssociation staff member, as well as draftingpolicies and procedures for postings.Current Communication CommitteeChair Tom Bach indicated an improvementthat would encourage Editorial Subcommitteemember’s to rotate on and off theEditorial Subcommittee, so each CommunicationCommittee member wouldhave the opportunity to experience specialprojects, such as the Water EnvironmentFederation’s Water For Jobs Campaign.“We also work with other national associationsto communicate our ideas and sharetheir ideas,” says Bach. Internally, the CommunicationCommittee liaises and sharesresources directly with the MembershipServices Committee. This committee collaborationrecently led to the posting of newmembers in each issue of the NC Currentsmagazine. In addition, the Committee Chairsfor Communication and Membership areactive members on both committees, whichpromote future collaboration and awarenessof corresponding goals of each committee.“We have really evolved,” says Bach.“Our next goals include getting moreoperators and young professionals involved.”He notes that members have toldhim they enjoy having the opportunity tohone their writing and editing skills. Consistingof members both from the private andpublic sectors, the committee is a wonderfulvenue for networking, with people oftenspending time talking to one another at theend of face-to-face meetings.Membership ServicesThe primary responsibility of the MembershipServices Committee is to proactivelyengage new and existing members of NCAWWA-WEA. Specific goals and activitiesinclude retaining current members by highlightingbenefits and identifying/addressingtheir needs; partnering with other committeesand organizations; working on theretention and recruitment plan; developingmarketing materials; encouraging membershipin NCAWWA-WEA at events; welcomingnew members; and notifying membersof opportunities to get involved.“We would love to have more committeemembers,” says Chair Kelly Boone. “We haveseveral opportunities, including making contactwith new members, helping develop surveyquestions, staffing our membership boothat events, working on our marketing materials,and coordinating with other committees. Weconduct meetings by conference call.”Specializing inWater and Wastewater10700 Sikes PlaceCharlotte, NC 28277704.377.9844www.willisengineers.comBoone has been chair since November.“I was encouraged to join NCAWWA-WEAas soon as I started working at CDM Smith,”she says. “I first joined the Diversity Committeeand was immediately able to meet andinteract with numerous other professionals inthe water/wastewater industry. NC AWWA-WEA has provided a great opportunity tonetwork over the years. It has contributed tomy career and also allowed me to give backto the industry.”Over the past year, the committee wasinvolved in tracking Section AWWA monthlyretention rates; updating the Retention andRecruitment plan based on member surveyresults; and setting up the Membershipbooth at the Spring Conference, EasternCollections and Distribution School, and AnnualConference. Membership Services alsoworked with the Young Professionals (YP)Committee in the AWWA Presidential Challengefor targeting new individual and utilitymembers; in the AWWA Student RecruitmentChallenge, which recruited five StudentAWWA Members; and in the implementationof Student Chapters at NCSU, and UNCC.Other initiatives included updating theNC AWWA-WEA Membership Brochure,the welcome email sent to new members,and the slide show for Spring and Annualconferences as well as developing anemail for NC AWWA-WEA staff to send tonon-members registered for the conferences.Membership Services also trackedthe Section’s progress toward meetingMembership Challenge goals for 2012and helped the Communication Committeedevelop a list of prospective membersto be profiled in NC Currents. Working onthe Association logo, procuring state pinsfor the Association leadership for AnnualConference, coordinating with otherCommittee Chairs on the Member surveyand helping the Communication Committeerecognize winners of national awardswere other activities, many of which will becontinued in the upcoming year.“We are again participating in AWWA’sMembership Challenge, which this year isfocused on retaining first year members,”adds Boone. “We are committed to engagingnew and current members and helpingthem get the most out of their membershipin NC AWWA-WEA.”24 NC Currents Summer 2013Click Hereto return to Table of Contents