A terrific time in Anaheim! “Vision Builders” come to the APWA Congress to make a difference R. Kevin Clark Editor, APWA Reporter American Public Works Association Kansas City, Missouri t was August 24-29, the weather was beautiful (Southern California, go figure) and as usual there was plenty to do in Anaheim (Disneyland and all that). But for public works professionals, the reason to be in Anaheim was for APWA’s International Public Works Congress & Exposition. Thousands of attendees gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center to learn from the best at the educational sessions, to chat with hundreds of public works vendors on the exhibit floor, and to network with their peers at a great array of events, including the Get Acquainted Party and the Young Professionals Networking Reception. This year saw one of the best Congress & Expositions ever and a big reason was the hard work done by our hosts, the members of the Southern California Chapter. Let’s take a look back at “the week that was” including the traditional passing of the presidential gavel, standing ovations for all four General Session speakers, artificially intelligent sensors in our infrastructure, and that feeling like none other—standing on top of the world.
Volunteers help at Adopt a Pantry What can a group of 30 volunteers accomplish in three hours? On August 24, the APWA Board of Directors and guests took part in the APWA Proud to Care outreach program to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. The Adopt a Pantry event was coordinated for the Board by Joyce Amerson and Mohammad R. Heiat, P.E., co-chairs of the community 22 APWA Reporter
October 2012
Volunteers taking part in the Adopt a Pantry project on the Friday before Congress service project and members of the Southern California Chapter. According to Brian Van Norman, APWA Director of Chapter Relations, the team of volunteers staffed the food pantry for one of the Second Harvest locations distributing vegetables, fruit, juices and other food items to 157 families representing 458 individuals who turn to Second Harvest for food donations. “Thank you for making Friday’s Adopt a Pantry possible,” said Emily Doyle, Special Events & Public Relations Coordinator, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, to the volunteers. “We are so happy to have joined with you to help bring fresh groceries and produce to those who would otherwise not be able to afford it. We appreciate people in the community like you!”
Workshop Saturday While it’s never the official opening day of the show, Congress Saturday is always a great reason for attendees to come a day early. The House of Delegates conducted their annual business meeting with related breakout sessions throughout the day, and our Technical Committees, including the Engineering and Technology Committee and the UPROW Committee, gathered to discuss events of the past year and lay plans for the one coming up fast. And of course, Saturday is the big movein day for our exhibitors, including yours truly setting up the Reporter booth and visiting with colleagues while the maintenance crews built a spectacular public works display around us throughout the day. When the carpet goes down, and the lights
