Illinois Water Environment Association
Executive Board and Committee Chairs Meeting Minutes
September 23, 2005

The Scheduled Meeting of the Executive Board of the Illinois Water Environment Association was called to order by President Larry Ziemba at 10:43 a.m. September 23 at Radisson Hotel in Bloomington, Illinois.

Present at the Meeting were Kathy Cooper, Chuck Corley, Ted Denning, John Drake, John Lamb, Mark Halm, Rich Helm, Lou Kollias, Dennis Priewe, Patricia Schatz, Linda Smith-Vargo, Sherri van der Wege, Amanda Withers, and Larry Ziemba.

Lou Kollias moved and Kathy Cooper seconded that the minutes of the 06/30/05 Executive Board Meeting be approved. The motion was approved.

1. Lou Kollias reported that the Audit Committee has not yet selected a professional auditor, but will interview and secure services soon. The audit is due at the committee’s discretion and will include only the fiscal year ending June 2005.
2. Dennis Priewe reported the IWEA made a $250 contribution to WERF and a $750 donation to Water for the People.
3. Dennis Priewe reported that this year’s budget included $2000 for WEFMAX. He will include the same amount in 2006 and 2007 budgets. Members suggested fundraising so that set-aside WEFMAX funds can be returned to the treasury. The Executive Board charged the WEFMAX Committee with fund raising to offset the IWEA portion of WEFMAX expenses.

1. New web host (Mary Johnson): Written report submitted in absentia.
2. Association email address (Mary Johnson): Part of written report submitted in absentia. Information is on the web site. President Ziemba (President) suggested it be on the letterhead. Decision to be next meeting.
3. 2007 Conference Site (Lou Kollias & John Lamb): Drake and Lamb to meet with Radisson staff after meeting. Report next time. Will ask for 2008 proposal too. Location of 2008 briefly discussed. "Clock Tower has been outgrown," A. Withers.
4. IWEA mailing address (Mary Johnson) Written report submitted in absentia.
5. IWEA Policy re support/opposition to legislation (Mary Johnson) President introduced the subject and the IWEA Policy #006 was distributed, read and discussed. K. Cooper offered a motion to vote on the policy, J. Lamb seconded. Passed as written on a voice vote.
6. IWEA Policy re succession planning (Kathy Cooper/Mary Johnson) Cooper introduced and explained the policy. Lamb asked about term limits. It was generally understood that this is not part of the policy but, instead, the job descriptions. Motion to pass by D.Priewe, L. Kollias seconded. Motion passed on voice vote.
7. Draft letter to Bill Bertera re: partnering with WEF on local seminars (Mary Johnson) President will work on this with Mary Johnson and any others interested. Let them know.
8. Administrative calendar (Mary Johnson & Kathy Cooper) Mary Johnson is on it. Check the secretary report for details.
9. WEFMAX 2007 local arrangements (Kathy Cooper, Chuck Corley, John Drake, Lou Kollias) President appointed Corley Chairman, Lamb distributed the WEF WEFMAX rulebook. Two sites have been selected but WEF has yet to select the dates. Have been asked to hurry but just have to await their dates.

• Funding oversight: See Budget/Financial Issues, point 3.
• Site selection: Radisson Suites Chicago and Hard Rock Hotels in the running. Will visit properties.

10. WEFTEC 2008 Local Arrangements chair (Larry Ziemba) President appointed Brian Percovich IWEA Chairman pending employer approval to work with CS WEA. Same mission on behalf of IWEA as past events.
11. Managing affiliate memberships – Are these members receiving newsletter? (Ted Denning) Reported five at present. Each getting new member letter. Eleven new active members.
12. Student Member welcome letter (Larry Ziemba) President developed for sending to active and associate. Will send to Cargill and Halm for review; changes suggested but not final. President will send, as the IWEA President, to all in future.

1. Change in December meeting date and location (Lou Kollias) Change to 5th noted.
2. Thank you dinner for Herb (Toby Duckett) December 5, 2005 date noted and will be preceded by an IWEA meeting at Egan Plant. Invitations will be sent. President will invite Dianne Bowie. President and Mary Johnson to prepare guest list, List should include past Secretary-Treasures and Past Presidents.
3. Board nomination of Herb Anderson for Bedell Award (Larry Ziemba) President, Mary Johnson and Duckett discussed and support this "outstanding service to an MA" award. Helm pointed out it might depart from the established nomination process. Discussion followed and decision was to let President and Mary Johnson decide and make the nomination in the usual manner.
4. Letter to new IAWPCO leaders (Larry Ziemba) Continuing discussion by Drake and President with their Execs: Miller of Rantoul and Wallis of Princeton on September 27. Items were sharing mailing lists, cooperating on operations seminars and other joint ventures. Intent is to present and share ideas; no decisions yet.
5. Selling conference attendance list (Linda Smith-Vargo) In the past the attendee list hardcopy was handed out to anyone. Will check with other AM’s and research topic. Decision to be at later date after hearing from Smith-Vargo.
6. Contract newsletter production (Larry Ziemba) Handed out many other MA magazines. Presented comments and emails for MA’s and the case for $12,000 profit promised by one vendor as opposed to our current $10,000 expense for the CLARIFIER. President report included for record. Smith-Vargo added the current format is a valuable IWEA resource that should not be lost. Kollias suggested saving issue for 2006-07 Newsletter Chair decision. The Note-taker suggested creation of a job description, policy and mission first before dropping the current format. The IWEA / Newsletter Chair effort and involvement would not change if publication is farmed out to professionals. Priewe interjected the nature of IWEA as an educational entity may be affected as well.
7. Problems with newsletter mailings (Mary Johnson, Ted Denning) Both have reviewed and discussed the #’s recently returned. Checked addresses but not identified cause. To meet with Smith-Vargo to prepare a correct mailing list, if possible. President to send "special recipient" list to Denning for inclusion. Other must do it as well. Decision: Master WEF member list will be obtained by Denning, relayed to Mary Johnson, reviewed by Smith-Vargo and used as a fresh start.
8. Award for sponsoring new members (Larry Ziemba) Put notice in CLARIFIER? Schatz wants to have issue sent to Awards committee for their work plan.
9. Cancellation of February 10, 2006 Exec. Board & Com. Chair meeting (Ziemba) Consensus is to cancel and Mary Johnson directed to remove from web site.
10. Members discussed proposed modification to WEF constitution and Bylaws: Helm suggested a deferral. Agreed.
11. Lordman Education Services request regarding storm water regulations speaker (Larry Ziemba) Asked for volunteer IWEA speakers to contact Mary Johnson. Withers and Van derWege did on the spot.

1. Annual Conference – John Lamb: Written report submitted and also reviewed and discussed.
2. Audit - Lou Kollias: "No Report."
3. Awards – Pat Schatz: Submitted written. Also indicated WEF award nomination due by mid-October.
4. Biosolids – Thomas Granato: No show. Cooper reported committee is still planning an event for 2006. Watch for email.
5. Collections – Al Hollenbeck: Submitted written. Supplement by Lamb: conferences to be held November 10 at Matteson and November 15 at Effingham’s Keller Center. President asked they be added to calendar.
6. Governmental Affairs – Jay Patel: No show. President indicated the committee will meet October 21 and the Government Affairs seminar will be January 18, 2006 (snowstorm predicted).
7. History – Karl Pajak: No show. President reported contact with him and he has suggested weekend meetings but sorry, cannot meet weekdays due to job restrictions.
8. Industrial Pretreatment – Kam Law: Kollias reported on their behalf. Committee name has been changed from Industrial Pretreatment and Hazardous Wastes. Met in July to plan. February 16, 2006 dinner will be held with Bob Voss speaking on new industrial operator certification rules.
9. Laboratory – John Lamb: Submitted written. Also reported that committee will have sessions at March conference, small lab QA/QC manual will be committee activity by request, new website links to members proposed.
10. Local Arrangements – Sherri van der Wege: Written meeting minutes submitted. No meet-and-greet planned next March. Will defer to a local chair for the "Local Arrangements" committee in the future.
11. Lower Illinois – John Drake: Present but no Report.
12. Marketing – Linda Smith-Vargo: Written submitted, reviewed, and discussed. Has contacted Carlos Alexander to join Marketing. Will contact other associations to list our conference on webs, need a plan to market joint conference to our members, will do postcard again prior to large mailing package nearer the event. YP’s will again be asking to send a separate flyer.
13. Membership – Ted Denning: Currently 744 members and five affiliates. Discussed possibility of sending (new) IWEA directory to members semiannually. No action.
14. Newsletter – Eliana Brown: No Show. President filled in asking all EC members and committees to make sure work plan includes submittal of article(s) to newsletter. Brown has offered to resign in 2006. IWEA members present want to encourage her to remain as Newsletter chair.
15. Nominating – John Drake: Is still nominating, conferring with committee, and will have Second Vice President selection with the entire slate to propose to EC by fall CLARIFIER deadline. EC to approve by email ballot.
16. Plant Operations – Greg Garbs: No Show. President indicated they are known to be working with Safety and with Collections committees on joint seminars listing on EPA web as a training group.
17. Program – Amanda Withers: Submitted written. Will be picking banquet menu soon.
18. Public Ed & Student Affairs – Robert Kulchawik: No show and no written. President and others discussed activities and it was reported that no State Fair booth was organized. This was pointed out to be one of the best public information displays we participate in and must be continued. Committee directed to get student fair winner at March conference in Springfield.
19. Safety – Dennis Webb: No show and no written.
20. Student Chapters – Greg Cargill: No-show but written to be submitted.
21. 10 Day WEC – Sam McNeilly: No-show and no written. President to contact McNeilly to inform him Past President Schultz is available to assist with the US EPA educational grant application by November 2005.
22. Watershed – Steve John: No-show and no written.
23. Website – Mary Johnson: No-show but written hand delivered by Priewe.
24. Young Professionals – Mark Halm: Written and table of activities submitted. Outing (in the 70’s – 80’s sense of the word) planned for Chicago at Yeoman Pump, Co. Has checked member roster of IWEA and WEF to get emails for YP events announcements. Has worked with Chad Laucamp, of Abbott Labs on possible YP events at joint conference. No decision.

1. President – Larry Ziemba: Submitted written. Will be contacting Duckett about a written Board report at Monday WEFTEC HOD meeting. Lincoln museum tour still to be done at conference.
2. President Elect – Lou Kollias: Present, no report.
3. 1st Vice President – John Lamb: Present, written report submitted.
4. 2nd Vice President – Kathy Cooper: Present, no report.
5. Secretary – Mary Johnson: (on agenda again?) Not present, written report.
6. Treasurer – Dennis Priewe: Present, written report. All account balances up-to-date and ready for audit when committee arranges it.
7. Director 05 – Toby Duckett: Not present, no report. Called in absence in route.
8. Director 05 – Richard Helm: Discussed WEF activities for WEFTEC^®.05 including limited bylaws changes at HOD on Saturday, , four strategy session s will be divided by Duckett, Corley and Helm. Fourth one left to others. IWEA/CS reception on Sunday evening for all.
9. Director 08 – Chuck Corley: Present, not on EC, refused participation.
10. Past President – John Drake: Lower Illinois activities planned include more contact with operators; perhaps jointly sponsor seminar with operator group, and helping with YP plant tour. His nominating committee will nominate and get EC approval.

Meeting adjourned: 2:30 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Chuck Corley,
Director 2008