From AWWA: AWWA Minnesota Section Wins 2020 Section Education Award

from Florida Water Resources Journal - November 2020

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AWWA Minnesota Section Wins 2020 Section Education Award

Section wins for its water utilities treatment and technology education program

Pandemic and Pancakes!

What a unique set of word choices. It certainly was unique back in March 2020, but today? Not so much! March 2020 is when the world began to turn upside down with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the cancellation of several annual workshops and schools (i.e., collections/ treatment and local Minnesota district water operator schools), a gap in information sharing was identified.

Approximately 400 to 500 utility professionals lost the opportunity to learn about important water and wastewater initiatives, case studies, new products, and legislative updates. They also lost the opportunity to “connect” and remain engaged with their peers during this time of social distancing.

Webinar Created

Several members of the AWWA Minnesota Section got together to discuss the consequences of these cancellations, and an idea was formed: design and host a series of live webinars that would provide a brief (30 minutes), topical, and informative forum for members to remain connected with each other.

The webinar series was titled “Virtual

Water Break” (VWB). The hope was to have an experience similar to meeting someone at the workplace water cooler for conversation.

The inaugural VWB was called “Pandemic and Pancakes!” The content focused on communicating during a pandemic. The webinar showcased a variety of communication tools, such as Zoom, Webex and GoToMeeting. Most city staff had very limited experience with these and many other computer peripherals, such as web cameras and microphones. For many, this was their first opportunity to telework.

There had been very little time for users to learn which tool to use, how to use it, and how to configure it. This first webinar was focused on helping people with those needs.

Each VWB uses a live poll question to engage members, and we’ve tried to have a discussion question or topic each time to get attendees to talk to us and share their input, ideas, and concerns.

Why “pancakes”? To reach as many members as possible, understanding the member’s very hectic work schedule (due to COVID-19 changes and precautionary adjustments being made in the workplace), the VWBs were scheduled early in the morning to be as convenient as possible. In addition, the section decided to make them free to everyone.

The VWB series kicked off with more than 90 attendees and was well-received. As of August 1, twelve VWBs have been offered. Several more were scheduled, leading up to the section’s virtual annual conference, which took place in September.

The weekly VWB attendance has remained consistently high since March. The topics have focused on COVID-19 and have included Michigan Department of Health updates, COVID-19 and tap water, project design and bidding in COVID-19

times, managing and leading during COVID-19, city aid and assistance (among cities, and including the Minnesota Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network [MN WARN]), emergency and risk planning, and virtual technologies to consider as cities limited access to facilities. We even did a session on celebrating “Drinking Water Week” while observing social distancing guidelines.

Some of the feedback received from the attendees include: S “The presentations help me feel more connected to friends and colleagues.” S “The timing suits my schedule.” S “The presentations are short.” S “It’s nice that the webinars are free.”

Commitment to Training

At this time, there is no accurate prediction of when life will return to “normal.” For now, this is the environment, the workplace, the home life, the times that we’re in, and the section is dedicated and committed to providing ongoing opportunities for members to remain connected to the section, as well as to their friends and colleagues.

A special thank you goes to the members of the VWB team: S Bill Schluenz, chair S Eric Volk, past chair S Dave Lemke, Technical and Education

Council chair S Carol Kaszynski, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) chair S Members: Pat Shea, George Kraynick,

Jacqueline Strait, and Adam Markos S Mona Cavalcoli, Minnesota Section manager

For more information regarding the VWB webinars, please contact Carol Kaszynski, STEM chair for the AWWA Minnesota Section, at carol.kaszynski@ ci.stpaul.mn.us.