ACWA Region Board Elections: A Great Opportunity to Serve Your Agency, Region, Association by Dave Eggerton May 28, 2021 Voices on Water Participation on ACWA’s Region Boards not only gives your agency a stronger voice within the association, it provides a great opportunity to stay on top of the latest developments within California’s water community while experiencing camaraderie with fellow water agency leaders. Most recently, seven of ACWA’s 10 regions conducted virtual meetings during the first full week of May. The value of regional board participation came through, even in a virtual format, as board members connected, shared news and received updates on the association’s latest advocacy work. If you have ever thought about joining an ACWA region board, now is the time to act. Nominating committees in every region are currently seeking candidates to serve as chair, vice chair and up to five board member positions for the 2022-’23 term. These positions are typically filled by directors and staff of ACWA’s member agencies, all of whom recently received election materials. I strongly encourage anyone considering a region board position to make their interest known. The deadline for candidates to submit applications is June 30. More information is available online at www.acwa.com. Region board members also plan events, working closely with ACWA staff to host tours and workshops that give ACWA members from other parts of the state a closer look at the facilities and work of their counterparts. We have continued this tradition through virtual programming over the past year and look forward to returning to in-person regional events in the near future. The leadership of ACWA’s 10 geographical regions is integral to the leadership of the association as a whole. Chairs and vice chairs of each region serve on ACWA’s Board of Directors, governing the organization. Region boards also determine the direction and focus of regional priorities and activities. Additionally, they support the fulfillment of ACWA’s goals on behalf of members, serve a key role in ACWA’s grassroots outreach efforts and provide an essential conduit of information for the association and its members. The effectiveness of ACWA as the leading advocate for local water management in Sacramento and Washington D.C. largely depends on the commitment of our membership to engage and lead within the association through opportunities such as this. Just as important, maximizing your presence within the association helps ensure that our entire community maintains a comprehensive understanding of what we all share in common, as well as what makes our agencies unique in terms of resources, challenges and talent. Please consider running for a region board position. The benefits are many – to you, your agency and to the entire ACWA community. Thank you!
