The Power of Stories for Valuing Our Profession

Incoming Chair Report

By:  Delmas Johnson

It is my privilege and honor to serve as your Chair of Intermountain Section AWWA.  You are a tremendous and wonderful group of professionals.  I wish that I knew all of you individually, but nevertheless I am always open to your ideas, opinions and feedback. 

The Intermountain Section has benefited from the leadership of truly great mentors in the water industry.  I am indebted to the past Chairs who have created a great legacy of leadership in our Section and the water industry; particularly Pam Gill who served so well this past year as our Chair.  We recently mourned the passing of Rick Wheadon, a past Chair and Section Director who served with distinction and whose legacy has benefitted all of us.

We had a tremendous Annual Conference in St. George in September.  Thank you to all the many contributors who made it possible, including the Conference Committee and Section Staff.

During this past summer as we prepared for our Annual Conference in St. George, I was reading through the August issue of the AWWA Journal and came across an article authored by Gary Burlingame, Director of the Bureau of Laboratory Services for the City of Philadelphia.  The title of Mr. Burlingame’s article is “The Power of Stories for Valuing our Profession”.  As I read his personal and meaningful message on the power of storytelling, I was inspired.  Immediately I recognized a significant connection with storytelling in our profession and value of AWWA and the Intermountain Section for us.  If you did not have an opportunity to read Mr. Burlingame’s article in the August issue of the Journal, I encourage you to go back and do so.

As a result of my experience with that message, during this year until our next Annual Conference in 2017, I wish to emphasize and encourage all of us to consider, ponder and write our own story(s).  Writing our stories provides a real and substantial way we can share our knowledge, wisdom, experience and perspective that I believe provides the following benefits:

•       Remind our members why they are members of AWWA; cause reflection on a career with innate value.  I believe this can be personally therapeutic to revisit again the specific blessings we have in our lives and the satisfaction we have felt in our careers.

•       Provide a connection to new members to encourage mentoring with more experienced members.

•       Encourage young professionals to become a member and be involved in AWWA.

•       Inspire future water professionals in making that choice for their career path.

•       Provide a means to capture these stories on our website.  We will utilize the power of storytelling at our 2017 Annual Conference in Sun Valley.

Thank you considering this request.  I look forward to another great year as we continue to build on the foundation that has been laid for us.  I am always open to your input and ideas, including constructive criticism.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to me anytime.

Delmas W. Johnson