Partnering

by Adam J. Zabinski, PE, President

In previous issues of CLEARWATERS I have taken the opportunity of the President's message to talk about our organization and what makes it strong, to review the history of environmental protection and our place in the process, and offered some thoughts on the future and how we can work to improve the waters of New York. Although I have touched on it a few times before, I take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of partnering with other organizations both to strengthen NYWEA and to forge a more effective force to protect our waters.

Our best future
involves working with other organizations
to achieve our objectives.

Partnering comes in several forms—with formal arrangements leading to agreements between organizations defining each one's role -and informal—where the groups agree to assist each other in accomplishing an environmental goal long-term or on a given issue. Regardless of the type of partnering type, the common thread is cooperation and working together.

NYWEA is a member association of the Water Environment Federation, an international organization of state and national associations similar to ours. WEF has 40,000 members, and we in NYWEA are about 5% of the total. We also have formal agreements with the New York Section of the American Water Works Association, Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Association, the New York Section of the American Public Works Association, and the New York Conference of Mayors. With these organizations we routinely share information, mailing lists, and participate in each other's meetings. Each organization has its expertise and primary constituent base covering various areas of interest, which makes our working together so fruitful.

There are many groups that have an interest in protecting the waters of New York. It is obvious and natural we work together to be more effective. Unlike NYWEA, which uses education as our principal tool to gain support on issues, many of these other groups can get involved in direct political action through lobbying and demonstrations. Working together serves all our interests and provides more avenues to accomplish environmental benefits. With most organizations opportunities are likely to be on individual cases rather than broad-spectrum alliances. But who can foresee the future?

As part of NYWEA's effort to bring together various groups and obtain new perspectives, the theme of our Winter Meeting is "The Future of Environmental Protection". USEPA and NYSDEC will present their perspectives on upcoming regulations and initiatives. The Audubon Society, Environmental Defense (formerly Environmental Defense Fund), Natural Resources Defense Council, and Sierra Club will be making presentations on what each feels is the next important issue to focus on in New York. I look forward to many more opportunities to share views with these and other groups around the state.

Our best future involves working with and through other organizations to achieve our environmental objectives. Every individual and each organization has a unique perspective on all the issues, and forging these into a unified front will make protection of our New York waters so much easier and satisfying. As the adage goes, "A burden shared is half a burden and a joy shared is twice a joy." This is no less true in the environmental arena. We need to actively reach out to other groups, solicit their assistance, and offer ours whenever we can.

This is my last message to CLEARWATERS as President. I want to thank everyone who has participated with me this year to make my term such a rewarding experience. We have attempted much, succeeded with most, and still have a full plate for the future. I can ask for nothing more.

Be involved!
Participation makes membership much more rewarding!

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