Welcome to the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s (MWDOC) December 2020 eCurrents newsletter. In this issue, we review the past year highlighting the accomplished work of the MWDOC team, transitioning all operations and programs to a virtual setting in order to continue providing advocacy, education, and valuable resources to the Orange County community. Also included, a panel of experienced communicators representing three (3) MWDOC member agencies each share how their agency successfully transitioned meetings, events, and workshops to a virtual environment, and what they believe the future holds for communications in a post-COVID world. Additionally, we shine a spotlight on the outstanding efforts of our member agencies to build and improve infrastructure projects that ensure a reliable water supply for their customers long into the future. Finally, we celebrate the illustrious water careers of MWDOC Director Joan Finnegan, MWDOC-Metropolitan delegate Director Larry McKenney, and MWDOC Assistant General Manager Karl Seckel as they each turn the page to their next chapter. All of this and more is covered in this latest issue of eCurrents. As always, if you have any comments or suggested topics for future articles, please send us an email at mwdocinfo@mwdoc.com. Thank you for subscribing!
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MWDOC is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. To learn more, click on the icon above, or visit our website at www.mwdoc.com.
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For a complete list of upcoming and archived MWDOC meetings, click on the calendar icon above, or visit our website at www.mwdoc.com.
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MWDOC DIRECTOR JOAN FINNEGAN HONORED AT VIRTUAL RETIREMENT CELEBRATION
November 18, 2020
Director Joan Finnegan has retired from the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) Board of Directors after 20 years of service. To honor her years of dedication to the Orange County water community, a virtual retirement celebration was held during the MWDOC Board Meeting on Wednesday, November 18. Speakers, including staff and directors, from numerous MWDOC member agencies hailed Director Finnegan as the “voice of reason” and thanked her for asking thoughtful, direct questions on critical water issues. Current and past MWDOC directors also spoke on their appreciation of her vision for Orange County’s water future. Director Finnegan served as a member of the Coastal Municipal Water District Board of Directors from 1985 until its consolidation with MWDOC, serving twice as vice president and president during her tenure there. In November 2000, she was elected to represent Division 4 on the newly consolidated MWDOC board. MWDOC staff and Board of Directors thank Director Finnegan for her consistent commitment to MWDOC and the Orange County water community.
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DIRECTOR LARRY MCKENNEY RETIRES FROM METROPOLITAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MWDOC thanks Director McKenney for six years of dedicated service
After six (6) years of service, Larry McKenney has retired from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) Board of Directors. He leaves the Metropolitan Board after recently taking the position as General Manager of Amador Water Agency. Since 2014, Director McKenney served as one of the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s (MWDOC) four (4) appointees to the Metropolitan Board. “I appreciate the trust and confidence of the MWDOC board in appointing me, and the diligence of the MWDOC staff in supporting my efforts," said McKenney. “Representing MWDOC at Metropolitan has been a highlight of my water career.” Director McKenney is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Texas School of Law, and served as an artillery officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. His career in water began as an attorney for the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 1990s, followed by public and private sector experience in management, legal, regulatory, advocacy, and environmental responsibilities at several Southern California water resources entities. He has also addressed statewide water issues for the last decade on the board of the Association of California Water Agencies. MWDOC staff and Board of Directors thank Director McKenney for his years of dedicated service and wish him well in his new role.
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A LEGEND HAS RETIRED...AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING!
Karl Seckel retires after 37 years of service
The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC or District) congratulates Karl Seckel, P.E., on his well-deserved retirement after 37 years of dedicated and tireless service to the District. Seckel retires from his current position as Assistant General Manager and District Engineer, on December 4, 2020, and that’s just the beginning! Following a successful campaign this past November, he will now take his seat as MWDOC Director Division 4, serving the cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and Seal Beach. With over 40 years of professional water-related experience and expertise, Seckel plans to make use of his extensive knowledge and decades of service, working collectively with others to ensure a reliable water supply for the region in a cost-effective manner. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland in Civil Engineering with Bachelor and Master of Science degrees, and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of California. MWDOC staff and Board of Directors congratulate Seckel on his new role, and look forward to working with him in this new capacity.
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MWDOC A YEAR IN REVIEW
Tiffany Baca, Public Affairs Manager, MWDOC
Here is an undeniable fact: this year has been hard. The COVID-19 pandemic has been swift and savage, bringing with it excessive challenges that no one could have possibly prepared for. Over the past year, Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) staff has incorporated into each day the spirit of appreciation that some typically reserve for the holiday season. While we’re anxious to turn the calendar page, we’d like to wrap up this difficult year by switching focus and celebrating a few of our achievements in 2020.
READ MORE on how the MWDOC team successfully reimagined the way we do business.
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OC COMMUNICATIONS PROS SHARE TOP TIPS FOR VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT
Bryce Roberto, Public Affairs Coordinator, MWDOC
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused us all to adapt our programs, meetings, and even daily routines, switching now to a virtual environment. Though we may be missing in-person interaction, virtual events have granted us the unique opportunity to safely reach a larger audience while reducing costs, expanding our resources, and improving data-driven analytics. As organizations begin to see the benefits of this new approach, will virtual events become a trend long after the pandemic?
READ MORE on the dos and don’ts of virtual events from our panel of experienced communicators:
- Crystal Nettles, Senior Communications Specialist, Orange County Water District
- Medha Patel, Communications Coordinator, Moulton Niguel Water District
- Nicole Stanfield, Public Information Manager, Santa Margarita Water District
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YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT HELI-HYDRANT ENHANCES BLUE RIDGE WILDFIRE RESPONSE
Yorba Linda Water District
The Yorba Linda Water District’s award-winning Marc Marcantonio Heli-Hydrant supported aerial firefighters battling the Blue Ridge Fire. The Heli-Hydrant reduced response time for helicopters because YLWD strategically placed it in the wildland-urban interface zone affected by the Blue Ridge Fire. The Boeing Chinook CH-47 helitankers filled at the Heli-Hydrant with roughly 2,000 gallons of water in 56 seconds...READ MORE
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ORANGE COUNTY LEADERS JOIN SMWD TO CELEBRATE TRAMPAS CANYON DAM AND RESERVOIR DEDICATION
Santa Margarita Water District
The dedication of Santa Margarita Water District's Trampas Canyon Dam and Reservoir on Friday, October 9, 2020, marked an important step in securing water supply resiliency for the south Orange County community. Local elected, regional, and state officials as well as community leaders joined the District Board of Directors and staff to commemorate the completion of this latest (and area’s largest) infrastructure project...READ MORE
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A SILENT SERVICE: WHY WATER WORKERS SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION
California Environmental Literacy Initiative Q&A with Tiffany Baca, Public Affairs Manager, MWDOC
Water is a vital natural resource that shapes the development of California’s environmental, social, and economic landscape. Despite this, the essential workers that maintain California’s water supply are often overlooked. Tiffany Baca is the Public Affairs Manager at the Municipal Water District of Orange County, an agency that provides more than 3.2 million Orange County residents with water-saving resources, water-centric education, sustainability programs, and clean drinking water. Environmental education is deeply tied to her work, especially as a member of CAELI’s leadership council. In this Q&A, Tiffany shares the importance of uplifting environmental literacy and providing career technical education programs for students, especially as a wave of lifelong water industry workers are set to retire in just a few years...READ MORE
CLICK HERE to watch MWDOC’s video on the importance of environmental literacy.
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FAVORITE TWEETS AND POSTS |
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"We want problem solvers who are capable of resolving societal and environmental problems. Thats what we want ALL students to become so they become leading decision makers in their community and the society as a whole." - Dr. Jerry Lieberman || Learn More: https://youtu.be/e5OJaow1N5k
- Twitter, November 10
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Orange County leaders joined Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) last month to commemorate the completion of the Trampas Canyon Dam and Reservoir, marking an important step towards water supply resiliency in south Orange County. "Trampas Reservoir allows the district to maximize recycled water use and brings us closer to our goal of no discharge to the ocean," said SMWD Board President, Betty Olson. #SpotlightSunday || Read more: https://bit.ly/31EnEZs
- Instagram, November 1
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Did you know? For hundreds of years water was delivered through WOODEN pipes. Today, while water mains are either steel, concrete, or PVC, some historical wooden pipes are still being recovered! #WaterSupply #Infrastructure || Learn more: http://bit.ly/2FHxDUM
- Facebook, November 28
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