2011 PWQA convention recap

10/19/2011

2011 PWQA convention recap

Pacific Water Quality Association (PWQA) held its 54th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Irvine, Calif. Sept. 13-16.

Pacific Water Quality Association (PWQA) held its 54th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Irvine, Calif. Sept. 13-16. Here is a recap from the convention issued in press release.

The press release stated that there were 50 exhibitors and 332 attendees at the trade show.

Here is a list of the educational seminars posted by the release:

• Why We Soften Water presented by Chubb Michaud

• Softener Alternatives presented by Dr. Peter Fox

• Meeting the Customers Expectations presented by Greg Reyneke

• Whole House Reverse Osmosis presented by John Foley

Basics of Water Treatment & Certification Exams

WQA was onsite and presenting the only west coast opportunity for the Basics of Water Treatment seminar and certification exams, stated the release.

Meeting

• Outgoing President — Frank DeSilva gave a State of the Association which focused on reviewed the history of the past year, especially that despite record rainfall and the end of the drought in Calif., Inland Empire decided to go ahead with a softener ban the PWQA Legislative Days in Sacramento, Calif. was a great success and we were well received by both freshman and veteran legislators. PWQA is forging ahead with our promotion of POU as the 'Final Barrier' of water treatment and lastly The PWQA is reaching out to all western states to join our organization, according to the release.

• Incoming President Marty Jessen talked about the need to be PRO-ACTIVELY taking steps to improve our products and services. He suggested that we all:

O Upgrade the efficiency of the equipment we sell — both POE and POU equipment.

O Adopt new products and technologies that are more water efficient

O Go back and service, re-program or otherwise update our installed base of equipment — both rental and sold systems, to make them as efficient as possible.

All of these will be good for business and demonstrate that PWQA members are the leaders in the industry. We will make new sales of technologically superior products and generate more revenue from service calls. If we don’t do this we run the risk of more regulations that threaten our industry, noted Jessen.

Also present at the meeting were:

• Joyce Takada: Vice President

• John Foley: Secretary/Treasurer

• Newly elected board members: Mark Dorman with Quality Home Services, John Miller with Vertex, Janell Cedarstrom-Wysocki with Culligan International, Bill Lewon with Pacific Water Conditioning , Craig Bybee with Pentair and Jackie McCaleb with Culligan.

Legislation and Governmental Affairs Meeting — California State Assemblyman Chris Norby addressed the meeting, stated the release.

The winners of the Golf @ Strawberry Farms Golf Club were:

• 1st Place: Harlan Malter, Cleveland Burkitt and Eric Pagsanhan

• 2nd Place: Brian Good, Denny Roberts, John Miller and Mike Conte

• Duffer: Ken Schaeffer, Don Morgan, Russ Harrison and Peggy Blazek

• Closest to the Pin: Harlan Malter

• Longest Drive Men: Mike Conte

• Longest Drive Woman: Peggy Blazek

The winner of the Helicopter Ball Drop was:

• $1000 winner was ball # 654 Mark Cervantez with Pacific Water Conditioning

• 500 balls were purchased

Banquet Dinner

• Entertainment – Chris Jessen

• Awards Recipients:

Special Service Award — Water Techniques and Pionetics.

The Special Service Award was first given in 1976 and is bestowed from time to time for special projects of significance that do not fit into the other award categories. The 2011 Special Awards is being given to two very well deserved companies, Pionetics and Water Techniques. Pionetics hosted our Northern California BBQ at their facility in San Carlos while Water Techniques hosted our Southern California BBQ at their Santa Ana facility. During our BBQs we invite local legislative representative’s to attend and speak at our meeting. Both of our awardees were excellent in showing off their facilities by letting local representatives know who we are and what we do. This in turn gives our governmental representatives an insight to our industry. Both companies opened their doors, gave tours to everyone, and were excellent hosts for our BBQs and for that reason are well deserved of our 2011 Special Service Award, according to the release.

Carolyn J. Fahnstock Awards — Laurie Mecca and Joyce Takeda

The Carolyn J. Fahnstock Award was established in 1990 to recognize those people who demonstrate creative leadership in producing meetings, conventions and trade shows. The 2011 Carolyn J. Fahnstock is being given to two individuals this year Laurie Mecca and Joyce Takeda. Both of these ladies give up their very valuable time to help make our meetings, conventions and trade shows run smoothly. Laurie Mecca has been instrumental in raising money by going out and getting a raffle item (usually a very nice piece of jewelry) and then wearing it around the trade show and convention to help drive awareness and ticket sales. Joyce Takeda is the first person to step up to volunteer to do whatever needs to get done at meetings, conventions and trade shows Both of these ladies are our go to people who don’t need to be asked to help as they are always looking to see what needs to be done and get the job done! For those very reasons, both Joyce Takeda and Laurie Mecca are our Carolyn J. Fahnstock Award winners for 2011, stated the release.

Sidney C. Solomon Award — Pete Conaty and Associates.

The Sidney C. Solomon Award was established in 1970 to recognize those who demonstrate leadership in the field of governmental affairs. The 2011 recipient is being presented to Pete Conaty and Associates. Until you go to Sacramento for Legislative Days, you don’t realize the respect and clout Pete Conaty and Associates have in the Capital which is being used to our benefit in Sacramento as well as the State of California. Pete and his staff quickly learned our business and has been a real asset for PWQA in Sacramento. Pete Conaty and Associates are both WQA and PWQA Sacramento lobbyist and play a vital role in protecting the future of our industry in California which leads to the rest of the Unites States. For these reasons Pete Conaty and Associates are our Sidney C. Solomon Award winners for 2011, noted the release.

Past President Breakfast

The Past President Breakfast was attended by a dozen PWQA past presidents. Discussion included the Inland Empire Utilities Agency situation from an historical perspective and the need to address the issue at the municipal level, according to the release.

At the silent auction 16 items were donated for a total revenue of $1,133, stated the release.