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1998 conference attendance shatters records

Was anybody left at home? With 1,831 attendance, KRWA's 31st Annual Conference & Exhibition enjoyed a whopping 14% increase over last year's 1,604 total.

From across Kansas and from 29 other states, people toured 214 exhibit spaces, arrived early to get seats at 32 concurrent sessions, met old friends and made new ones. The conference theme, "New era, new demands, new results," set the tone for three busy days.

If you missed the 1998 conference, run now to your 1999 calendar! Pencil in March 30 and 31 plus April 1, 1999. (It wouldn't hurt to make your hotel reservation, either. In 1998, the new Hyatt Regency Hotel, which is connected to Century II, was sold out months in advance for the KRWA conference.)

Fast start at pre-conference sessions

Five full-day pre-conference sessions set the pace. Pre-registration was free to the more than 700 people who attended. Each received six hours' credit towards certification or renewal.

The 1998 cross connection control workshop covered key program components and their importance in protecting public drinking water. Co-sponsored by the American Backflow Prevention Association, there was a display of related products in the hallway. Presentations were made by a cross-section of the water distribution industry to 170 attendees.

Speakers were Mike Logston, Missouri Department of Natural Resources; Jim Purzycki, BAVCO; Rick Fields, Wilkens Industries; Tony Arthur, Watts Regulator; Lyle Jacon, Hydro-Design, Inc.; and Al Hermsen, ALH Trainers.

"Managing Experts for Results: Construction Projects and More" covered topics such as ownership basics, construction project prices vs. your money, whether to issue an RFP or RFQ, what boards/councils had better know about contract documents and how to tell what deliverable items you'll get at the end of the project.

Presenters were Ellen Miller, Ellen Miller Group, and Helen Price, PWSD No. 2 of Andrew County, Mo. They were joined in a spirited panel discussion by engineers Tim Austin of Austin-Miller and John Bailey of Professional Engineering Consultants, both of Wichita. All 115 attendees received the latest KRWA handbook, Getting Results from Your Experts: Engineers, Attorneys and More! Unveiled at this session, it is the fifth in the Water Board Bible series.

"The Kansas Public Water Supply Fund for Cities and RWDs" covered new funds authorized by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. With round two of Kansas applications for this new funding source starting after July 1, 1998, this session was especially timely for its 120 attendees.

The presenters were David Shupe, Kansas Rural Water Finance Authority (KRWFA); David Waldo, Kansas Department of Health & Environment; Mike Peroo of Acord Cox Company; and Glen Kirk of the Kansas Water Office. They presented a general overview of the fund, discussed the priority ranking system, listed projects funded, and explained the application process and its requirements. KRWFA is under contract with the state to provide financial analysis and ongoing loan servicing to the loan fund.

"Sewer Maintenance and Operation" addressed the need for a high level of maintenance that prevents costly collection system replacement. Over 190 participants learned about cleaning of the collection system, chemical root control, inflow and infiltration studies (including smoke testing), manhole rehabilitation and progressive pigging force mains.

Presenters were Gail Abney, Utility Maintenance Contractors; Park Raffensperger, General Chemical; Melissa Fitzgerald, Schwab­Eaton; Marvin Petsel, Strong-Seal Systems; and Joe Dulaney, Maxi-Flow.

"Pumps and Trench Safety" covered pumps in the morning and trench safety in the afternoon. Presenters George Wooten, Engineered Fluid, Inc.; and David Wright, EFI-Wright Sales, Inc., used an actual pre-packaged booster pump station for hands-on training. In the morning, 119 people learned about topics such as pre-packaged facilities compared to conventional units, how owners should specify equipment and what they should expect to have installed. Consultants also benefited from the session.

In the afternoon, attendees learned about shoring and safety systems, soil types and testing, and OSHA requirements for Competent Person for Trenching and Excavations. Following a classroom presentation, they visited a mobile trailerized trench which simulated working conditions typically found in the field. The presenter was Richard Treptow, Mid West Fire Training Associates.

Carnival Party: You won't eat for a week!

What had more than 2,600 legs, many colors and waited patiently to be fed? The KRWA crowd before the 1998 Carnival Party Social and Barbecue.

Over 1,300 people had worked up an appetite in the exhibits or at Tuesday's full-day pre-conference sessions.

Now it was almost time to break bread, kick back and boogie. The huge line grew. The decibel level rose. L.L. Bean loafers and silk shirts mixed with work boots and blue jeans.

As pink-streaked clouds streamed by outdoors, the Century II doors opened at 7:03 p.m. People headed for food, beverages, games or just talked with old friends. In the background, the Streetside five-member band (left) sang songs of the '50s and '60s. Elvis predominated in renditions such as "It's All Right" and "All Shook Up."

Food and more food. How much can over 1,300 hungry people eat? Eight whole hogs and 450 pounds of sirloin were just the beginning. You could tell it was "all you can eat" night by the way people slowly got to their feet when they were all finished. Many just stayed at their tables. Whether they were too full to move or just enjoyed visiting with neighbors was hard to tell.

Fun and fellowship. Folks had fun with 10 games sponsored by various Associate Members and KRWA. They included Flying Frogs, Knock 'em Down and electronic racing cars. First-and-10 mini-football and Pitch Out had people 20-deep in line.

Eric Riner, son of Douglas RWD 6's bookkeeper, Ronda Riner, LeCompton, beat out several grown-ups with his hot basketball shooting. Michael Jordan, watch out!

Over at the Human Bowling Alley, it was hard to tell who had more fun, the helpers or the Roller Bowlers. Dennis Schwartz, George Mathews, Pat Shaffer, Mike Mayberry and Darrell Schlabach worked hard helping contestants suit up and get going.

Pads and a helmet were OSHA-required before getting into the ribbed ball, which looked like a round solitary confinement cell. With a mighty heave, the helpers rolled the ball towards six king-sized pins. It was a hoot! Pin retrievers Sharon Schwartz and Rita Mathews provided a feminine touch.

Pipe tapping. Under the able eyes of KRWA staff, four teams competed in the Second Annual Service Tap Contest. The teams were:

They selected tools and equipment from a common pool or brought their own. Stop watch in hand, staffer Dan Clemens started them off; Jon Steele supervised. The task? Tap a four-inch pvc main, connect and extend a service line to a meter setting, including installation of a meter -- all being leak-free. Throughout the contest, Mike Lytle's mop and bucket got a big workout.

Over 200 spectators cheered on their favorites. The winner was Hanover in 5 minutes, 3 seconds. One person commented, "They could tap 80 lines a day if they did it this fast!" Is there a Guinness record in the making?

Don Martin, Jeff and Darrell Schlabach of the winning Hanover team each received a crisp, new $100 bill, courtesy of KRWA . Want to get in on the action in 1999? Form your team fast and start practicing!

Special thanks to these Carnival Party '98 game sponsors:

Opening Session: Taking Charge of the Future

Conference-goers packed the Opening Session on Wednesday, March 25th. The many day-glo yardsticks in the audience looked like neon snakes taking a stretch. Low-decibel music crooned, "You go to this, I'll go to that."

Then the lights went down. The music "Strike up the band" opened KRWA's 1998 video. The conference's three-person animated cartoon band took over the big screen. KRWA's video continued with images of construction, smoke tests and VIPs such as Governor Bill Graves. Then NBC's Tom Brokaw broke in with his 1997 coverage of the Bern, Kan., washing machines given to 104 homes in a test of low-water, low energy clothes cleaning. Enthusiastic audience applause showed its appreciation of the fast-paced video.

On behalf of the KRWA board and staff, President David Mueller welcomed the 1,000+ audience. Referring to the conference theme of "New era, new demands and new results, he said: "The biggest change in this new era is our customer. Few of our current customers remember catching rain water for the cistern, hauling water, working on windmills or old pumps, or working in hand-dug, rock-lined wells. Thanks to YOU, they turn on the faucet and expect clear, cool and plentiful water without thought as to how it got there."

Following an invocation by Darrell Schlabach, the opening musical review and national anthem were presented by The Old-Time, Heart-of-America Music-You-Love Mini-Band. Somewhat unconventional, this opening was typical of KRWA: Entertaining and enthusiastic.

Keynote speech. Hailing from "Metro Wamego, gateway to St. George," keynoter Ron Wilson discussed changes affecting rural regions and tools their leaders can use to make a difference. He is the Director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Using a computer presentation on the wide screen, Wilson's topic was "Tinkertoys and Rural America." He showed several demographic trends, such as:

Looking ahead 50 years, Wilson advised rural communities to:

1. Plan strategically -- set up alliances with other groups.

2. Grow your own businesses. Why does Green Bay, Wis., support a pro football team with only a population of 100,000? "Because they grew there," he said.

3. Develop value-added jobs and crops.

4. Use the tools of technology. Wilson's Tinkertoys are a laptop computer, data and maps.

5. Market and enhance the quality of life in rural Kansas

He urged harnessing changing technology especially for the benefit of young people. "Use modern technology to telecommute," he said, "and maybe we can bring our best and brightest back home." He pointed out that each Tinkertoy piece is difference but important; you use connectors to make something work. "We need to be connectors, working together to build a strong future for rural water," Wilson concluded.

The national picture

The Tuesday luncheon featured NRWA Chief Executive Officer Robert Johnson. He congratulated KRWA's board, staff and all those attending on such a successful conference. Johnson recalled management guru Peter Drucker's comment that the biggest asset concerning the future is the ability to learn. But to adapt, there must be a willingness to learn. The water and wastewater industry must find new ways to do business.

"Take individual responsibility for all you do, for all your customers," Johnson advised. The industry knows where to go for help and training. Across the country, systems call their rural water association for technical and other assistance. Saying "I'm too busy," "I don't understand" or "it's not my job," won't fly anymore. "There are no more excuses for rural water," he said.

One new requirement from the 1996 reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the Consumer Confidence Report. NRWA and several state associations are now testing templates. Groups representing small systems during the SDWA reauthorization process demanded state flexibility and got it.

"We told Congress that we could take charge and produce better quality water than ever before," Johnson recalled. "Now the responsibility is ours to give the best water we can . . . to walk the walk we said we could."

The basic ingredients

It takes home-made vanilla ice cream and from-scratch hot fudge topping to make a breath-taking sundae. And it takes top-flight exhibits and timely, useful sessions to make a successful conference. KRWA had them all.

Exhibits. This article last year asked if KRWA could shoehorn in more than 167 exhibits. No problem! There's always a larger room at the Century II Convention Center.

Conference-goers enjoyed 214 exhibits in 1998. That's a whopping 29% increase. Several exhibitors took up four or more spaces, permitting large-scale equipment to be shown.

And rumor has it that KRWA is studying adding at least 24 more for 1999. As of June 1, 1998, 136 exhibitors have already signed up for the 1999 conference.

Random sights from the exhibits:

Festive, colorful banners designed by KRWA. The buzz of conversations. Foot traffic throughout the exhibits area.

They said it all: Here was THE place to find out what's new, what's changing . . . and what your system could use. The program map and directional signs helped folks get around the 80,000 square feet of exhibits.

KRWA's exhibitors support the association in many ways. They are one-half of the successful equation that makes this the Mid-West's largest water and wastewater conference. The other half? Timely sessions that busy operators, managers, boards, councils and staff need.

It's state-of-the-art exhibits, 32 training sessions, lots of food quality and entertainment . . . all at an unreasonably affordable price . . . that keep this conference growing year after year.

Sessions. With eight concurrent sessions, selecting the right one was like ordering off a Chinese menu: Too many tempting choices, too little time. This is a complaint most conferences would pay for!

"Which session to attend?" "When to arrive to make sure of getting a seat?" and "Could someone take notes for me?" were typical questions overheard. Stairways and elevators between the lobby area and meeting rooms got a workout by the hundreds of attendees.

Session topics included:

Annual meeting. The annual meeting was held March 26th at 8 a.m. Over 112 members sent delegates. Reports included a detailed financial statement showing that the association is in good health.

Legislative Chairman Dennis Schwartz presented a summary of 1997 issues. General manager Elmer Ronnebaum reviewed accomplishments including:

Goals for 1998 include:

Twelve-year board member Rita Mathews, director from McLouth, did not seek re-election. Sharon Dwyer, Douglas RWD 5, was elected to take that seat. Darrell Schlabach, Hanover, was re-elected to the board. Due to the bylaws, President David Mueller couldn't seek re-election; Dennis Schwartz is now the new president. Mueller is the new vice president. Other officers are Sharon Dwyer, Secretary, and Mike Mayberry, Treasurer. Other board members are Pat Shaffer and Carl Carroll .

Entertainment + tips = Spouses' Program

For 130 registrants, the conference really started on Wednesday at Noon. That's when the spouses' program kicked off with a luncheon in the elegant Grand Eagle Ballroom at the new Hyatt Regency Hotel, attached to Century II. They also enjoyed a spring fashion show by the Week-enders.

Next came Talespinner Judy Nichols. Her down-home storytelling brought laughs and knowing smiles from the audience. Her program blended personal, folk and literary tales about women and families. She showed how storytelling is still a potent bond between people, helping bridge gaps between groups, generations and regions.

On Thursday morning, John Tomlinson, Research Engineer with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, discussed the Bern washing machine project. Families in town and some in nearby Nemaha RWD 1 received 104 low-flow, energy efficient washing machines. The program was made possible by the U.S. Department of Energy and Maytag Appliances.

Next came Dr. Kevin Bryant, a Wichita gerontologist. Bryant showed ways to cut fat from your diet. He discussed how diet would not only prevent but also reverse coronary artery disease in 90 percent of patients. The secret? Getting everybody's cholesterol below 150 mg.

The grand finale

KRWA's 31st Annual Conference & Exhibition hit its high point on Wednesday night. The exhibits social in EXPO Hall attracted over 1400 people, followed by the annual banquet.

As the huge crowd moved through six buffet lines, they eyed the gorgeous handmade quilts designed and pieced by Kathleen Ronnebaum.

The very lucky winners were:

Following introduction of the head table, the banquet speech was given by Governor Bill Graves. Then the audience adjourned to the Little Theatre for the annual awards (see related article) and theater entertainment.

The show must go on! America wasn't totally ready for World War II. And on March 25, the cast of "Swingtime Canteen," was still reading from scripts. But both events came out right.

After all, it takes more than canceling the show one week before the conference to rattle KRWA. When virtually all the actors of the previously-booked play got hired elsewhere, Wichita's Stage One Productions pulled together a story set in war-torn London. The action took place on stage at a concert for the Eighth U.S. Air Force in 1944. Four showgirls faced cancellation of their new USO tour as soon as the night's entertainment was over. Each had problems that had to be put aside to entertain the troops.

Just like the real USO entertainment, "GIs" in the audience cheered, whistled and called for their favorite show girls. Was that really Carl Carroll who kept yelling, "Bring back the blonde!"??

The five-piece Swingtime Canteen Band set a hot pace or played moody music, as needed. The audience enjoyed standards such as "Bugle Call Rag," "Andrews Sisters Medley," "You'll Never Know" and "Pack up Your Troubles."

The four actresses, headed by veteran Charleen Ayers, deserved their standing ovation. They did what it took to see that the show indeed went on. Hats off to Stage One and KRWA for pulling the 1998 entertainment together.

From July 1998 issue of The Kansas Lifeline © 1998 KRWA