July 10, 2020 - In This Issue:
Leadership Opportunities
WEF House of Delegates: A great leadership opportunity is available! Are you a current or past member of the NYWEA Board of Directors? If so, perhaps you would be interested in serving as a member of the WEF House of Delegates. If you are interested in this three-year term, please submit a letter of interest with your resume to Patricia Cerro-Reehil at  pcr@nywea.org  by Tuesday, August 4 . 

Vice President-Elect:
How would you like to be President of NYWEA in 2024? Please consider this an invitation to throw your hat into the ring! If you are interested in a long-term, career-enriching opportunity we hope you will apply for this important leadership position. All members are eligible to apply. Please submit your resume with a cover letter that highlights any of the attributes noted in the Officer Responsibilities below. Submissions should be sent to Patricia Cerro-Reehil at  pcr@nywea.org  by Friday, August 14 . 

Officer Responsibilities:  The Nominating Committee will take  the following items into consideration (no one is expected to have all of these items in their resume):
  • Leadership skills.
  • Vision and managerial skills.
  • Active and viable state committee chair.
  • Active and viable state committee involvement.
  • Continuous membership tenure greater than 7 years.
  • Chapter endorsement (in writing).
  • Active member of Chapter Executive Board.
  • NYWEA award recipient.
  • Chapter representative.
  • Chapter officer.
  • Regular attendance at state meetings.
  • WEF Board of Directors service.
Upcoming Safety Focused Seminars with Nellie J. Brown, MS, CIH
NYWEA's Member Education Committee is hosting a series of safety focused webinars in the next two weeks.
 
Tuesday, July 14 & Thursday, July 16, 11 am-1 pm (EST)
Occupational Chemical Exposure
2-Part Webinar Series 
Approved for wastewater contact hours, 4 Hours RTC (for those that participate in both 2 hour webinars). Water contact hours are requested, but still pending review by the NYSDOH. Topics covered include: 
  • Physical hazards of chemicals: fundamentals, terms, applications.
  • Health hazards of chemicals: fundamentals, terms, applications.
  • Acute and chronic exposure.
  • Using MSDS information to compare risks and find safer alternatives.
  • Hierarchy of controls: ventilation, PPE, work practices.
 

Tuesday, July 21, 11 am-1 pm (EST)
Confined Space Entry
This webinar  is a single 2-hour session. Approved for 2 wastewater and 2 water contact hours. Topics covered include:
  • Overview of the problem:  what is a confined space?  How serious is the issue?
  • Requirements of the standard; permit-required versus nonpermit-required spaces.
  • Types of confined space hazards.
  • Protection and prevention by permit entry procedures: case histories; short scenarios.
August 6 at 1 pm (EST)
Lunchtime Conversation with President Bill Nylic
President Nylic is following up on his presidential theme "Making Connections with Members" and will be holding a lunchtime conversation. This will be an opportunity to meet Bill on a personal level, and learn more about him and what's going on in NYWEA. 

News Updates
Drinking Water
 
Wastewater
 
Environment
Blue-green algae, in all its glory, pops up in the Finger Lakes region 

Politics
COVID-19: New CDC Water Worker Website  
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have worked hand in hand to ensure the American public has the information they need to stay informed with respect to using water resources.

CDC recently posted a  new coronavirus website for sanitation and wastewater workers. Additionally, EPA regularly updates its  coronavirus website, which provides information on drinking water and wastewater. In addition to information for the general public, this website includes resources for state, local, and tribal agencies and intergovernmental associations. 

Having fully operational drinking water and wastewater services is critical during the COVID-19 national health emergency. EPA supports our nation's water and wastewater employees who help protect human health and the environment every single day.

For the latest information from EPA about COVID-19, see  www.epa.gov/coronavirus.
Job Openings

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