WEF’s Strategic Plan

All WEFs activities will be focused on its new strategic plan. Three main goals of the new WEF strategic plan include:

1. Attract and develop a diverse and passionate water workforce.
2. Cultivate a purpose-driven community to sustainably solve water challenges for all.
3. Lead the transformation to the Circular Water Economy.

As part of WEF’s Strategic Plan, they have clarified their values. Below are the values that are the foundation to the plan.

1. Collaboration – Working together to improve our water environment.
2. Customer Service – Keeping all stakeholders and customers in mind at all times.
3. Bold Leadership – Being brave, trying new things, being growth-oriented.
4. DE&I – Continuing to promote and live by the commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

2022/2023 HOD Workgroups

The 2022/2023 HOD workgroups are:

• Water Advocacy at State/Local Level.
• HOD of the Future
• WEF Strategic Plan Rollout.

Rich Hussey is on the Water Advocacy at State/Local Level workgroup. This workgroup just participated in a large event held in Washington DC. The National Water Policy Fly-In was held in April with over 392 attendees with 43 States being represented. This also included 25 MAs from WEF and 11 young professional scholarship recipients. At the Congressional Reception, there were over 500 attendees.

The workgroup is primarily focusing on how to leverage federal output. We are coordinating efforts by providing feedback and connecting MAs to the WEF Government Affairs Committee. We are attempting to coordinate advocacy efforts with other organizations like AWWA and NACWA. The workgroup also conducted a recent survey to understand the needs that WEF should be advocating for. The results of this survey indicated the top five issues are PFAS, labor, funding, workforce development, operator reciprocity and certifications, and SSOs.

Dave Arnott sits on the HOD of the Future workgroup. In this workgroup, we are taking a fresh look at how to make the HOD relevant and vibrant to the MAs in the future. The focus areas are:

1) Structure and Function of the HOD

• How can we align the structure and function of the HOD with WEF’s new Strategic Plan?
• What language updates are required in the policies and procedures?

2) Delegate Participation

• How do we get 100 percent delegate participation?

3) Planning for the Future

• What is the vision the future of WEF and MAs? What does the HOD look like in the future?
• How can we increase the visibility and communicate the importance of roles of WEF Delegates?

2023 WEFMAX Events

Dave and Rich attended each attended a WEFMAX event in the spring. These are events where MAs come together to share ideas and best practices.

Dave attended the April 12-14 WEFMAX in St. Louis, MI (hosted by Missouri WEA). The theme of this WEFMAX was “improving your MA through partnership and collaboration.” Joe Lapastora gave a talk at this event on the success of the CSWEA’s Midwest Regional Student Design Competition highlighting partnership and collaboration. Brainstorming sessions were held to generate answers to questions such as:

1. How can we bring new operators to the industry?
2. How can we better explain and sell the value of involvement?
3. How can we ask more people to contribute their time?
4. How can we improve communication within our MAs?
5. What current communication methods in the HOD can be improved?
6. How can we approach the challenges of collaboration with AWWA respectfully?
7. How can we explain the HOD and increase understanding?
8. How can we be gentle but accountable as volunteers?
9. What steps can we take to mentor the next generation?

Rich attended the May 3-5 WEFMAX in Denver, CO (hosted by Rocky Mountain WEA). The theme of this WEFMAX was “improving MAs through member engagement and service.”

The various discussions of the meeting included the following:

1. What word best describes ‘engagement?’
2. What is the best way to measure member engagement?
3. What is one way your MA could better serve its members?
4. What got you engaged in your MA?
5. What has been your most rewarding way to serve through your MA?

The meeting also held a number of moderated panel discussions, including:

1. Member Engagement and Development
2. Gaps in Member Engagement
3. What Do Young Professionals (YPs) and Emerging Professionals (EPs) Want from a Professional Organization?
4. Member Association Staff Day-to-Day Needs

WEFMAX allows MAs to gain additional perspectives and successes and challenges from other MAs throughout the country. The meeting is comprised of various leaders from various backgrounds across our water/wastewater industry.

There was a WEFMAX on May 24-26 in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada (Hosted by Atlantic Canada W&WA). The theme for this event was “improving MAs through leadership innovation.” Neither Rich or Dave were able to attend this event.

There was a virtual WEFMAX on July 20, 2023. The theme for this event was “the best of the best.” This is where the most popular sessions from each of the three previous WEFMAX events were shared.

WEFTEC 2023

WEFTEC 2023 takes place in Chicago, IL from September 30-October 4. Housing and attendee registration is now open. Visit www.weftec.org for more information.

As WEF Delegates, we are here to support you and represent the interests of the CSWEA to the House of Delegates and WEF. If something is on your mind, please feel free to call or email David at darnott@ruekert-mielke.com or Rich at rhussey@lai-ltd.com. We are here to serve you/CSWEA and be a liaison to WEF leadership.