From the President

Greetings to all!

There is no question that everyone has worked hard all year long at work, at home and at play. I originally planned to write my year-end newsletter article about the goals and successes of the Oregon Chapter, including information about progress made on the Strategic Plan, bylaws, conferences and other business. However, since I had such an unusual year in 2011, I decided to write about my experience with Lyme disease hoping that it may help others. So, here goes.

The end of the year brings the holidays – a time to gather with friends and family. Hopefully, there is time to reflect on the last year and consider the upcoming year. We don't know for sure what life will bring, but reflecting on blessings and misfortunes can help each of us. Counting our blessings is always a good thing to do, but it is the hard times that cause us grow and build our character. Some of us may think that they have had all of the "character building" experiences that we can stand. I was one of those people. Having reformulated my life several times, I thought I had already been through enough hard times that I was prepared for just about anything life would throw my way. I was wrong. I got Lyme disease and every fiber of my being was affected. That was in March of 2011, and I had no idea what a very serious, long-term illness was like. I didn't understand that a person could be so sick, for so long. Doctors warned me that with Lyme disease you don't just take a pill and get over it. Yikes! I was back to searching for the reasons things happen.

So many times I heard others say things like, "He just had surgery, but he still has a smile on his face and a good attitude." Not me. I was cranky and glum and I knew it! I felt physically horrible and I didn't want to face any more "lessons" in life. I thought I'd had enough lessons from my previous struggles in life. However, I found that there was more to learn and character to be built within myself.

I had no idea the physical and emotional strength it takes to get through a major illness. During the darkest, most painful times of my illness, I searched for something to hold onto, something that would help reveal the message that I was supposed to learn. I meditated, prayed and looked for wisdom from others.

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As it turns out, my teacher was sitting right next to me the whole time. Her name is Randi and she isn't a doctor or a nurse. She is my dog. My dog with the funny boy/girl name, a big nose and an extra long tail.

Animals know. They know when you are happy, and they know when you are sad. They know when you are ill and when you are well. When it was time to go to bed, she came with me. She lay in bed next to me like a human and would stare at me as if she were communicating a deep understanding and empathy through her eyes. Certain days of my disease were particularly hard. Just the sheer presence of having an animal at your side, not requiring anything of you, not asking for attention, was enough to make you feel as if you were not alone. She even nuzzles me and touches me with her paw, as if to say, I know and I understand. It nearly brings me to tears each time.

Animals teach. They teach us about acceptance and conditional love. While I was going through my experience with Lyme disease Randi stayed at my side. Taking care of her was good for me. It gave me a purpose and got me out of bed when I needed to get up. There were days that I didn't want to play and she accepted it and didn't let her disappointment show.

She taught me too many lessons to write here, but I thought I would share just a few:

• Enjoy the simple pleasures of a walk.
• Follow your instincts. (or your nose)
• Never underestimate the value of a belly rub.
• Be loyal and faithful.
• Always drink plenty of water.
• Sometimes it is best to just sit close and listen.
• Be quick to forgive.
• Avoid biting when a growl will do.
• Keep digging until you find what you want.
• Run and play daily.
• Accept all of life's treats with gratitude.
• Life is short; pet often.
• Love unconditionally.

If you have questions for me or about Lyme disease, feel free to contact me. Best wishes to all.

Mary Meloy

Greg Miller Receives Bowes Award

By Kurt Corey, 2010 Bowes Award Recipient

The William A. Bowes Award is the highest chapter award given by the Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association. It bears the names of 34 individuals, one for each year since the inception of the award in 1978.

This year's recipient is Greg Miller. On October 19, Greg lost his courageous battle with cancer; the award was presented posthumously at the fall conference and to his wife, Marcia, at a Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting on November 22.

Those who knew and worked with Greg would characterize his approach as one of:

• Devotion to environmentally sound and sustainable practices
• Commitment to consensus building
• Dedication to innovation and excellence

Greg completed his engineering studies at the University of Washington. He joined the Army Corps of Engineers in 1969, where he was subsequently one of the leaders in the efforts to incorporate women into all-male Army units. He achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring from the Army after 25 years of service.

In 1993, Greg moved to Washington County to begin his career of service to the Northwest. He was initially hired as a project manager, was promoted to operations manager in 1998, and in recognition of both his knack for technical insight and his years of practical experience, was promoted to the county engineer position in 2003. During his nearly 20 years with Washington County, Greg established his organization as a leader in environmental initiatives and quality engineering. His use of cutting edge technology and emphasis on consensus building allowed Washington County to excel in both innovation and excellence.

Greg's legacy includes:

• The use of warm-mix asphalt which has become a common model sustainable practice in Oregon and the Northwest
• The design of water projects to balance the needs of the environment with road quality and habitat improvement
• The integration of wildlife preservation amenities into county road projects to recognize the importance of the natural balance of the ecosystem; and
• Cooperative planning – Greg worked diligently to coordinate with government organizations, developers and residents in the planning process and find solutions for all involved parties. Notably, the Bridgeport Village project created an unprecedented multi-agency partnership.

Greg also made a lifelong commitment to continuing education:

• His commitment to the American Public Works Association was extraordinary. He regularly utilized APWA as a resource for his staff through teleconferencing, technology sharing, and robust attendance of his staff at state and national APWA events. Greg served as a member of the Oregon Chapter Board of Directors from 2001-2005 including his election to the position of Chapter president in 2005 during which he led the Chapter to its sixth consecutive PACE (Presidential Award for Chapter Excellence) Award. He was a past member of APWA's Government Affairs Committee and, at the time of his passing, was a member of the board of the Oregon APWA Scholastic Foundation. In 2008, Greg received the APWA Julian Award for Sustainability and Public Outreach. And in 2009, the Oregon Chapter paid homage to Greg's many accomplishments by nominating him for the National Top 10 Public Works Leader of the Year Award.
• Greg was also a mainstay with the Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors promoting public works activities and the professional application of land surveying. In recognition of his leadership, that organization named Greg their Engineer of the Year in 2010.
• He assured his staff kept up with the profession through their participation in the Institute of Traffic Engineers, together with conferences hosted by Oregon's T2 Center, and similar activities with an eye toward excellence in public works service delivery.
• In all, Greg contributed significantly to the advancement of not only his colleagues, but of the overall profession of public works. He was recognized as a mentor to younger engineers seeking career guidance and participated in an informal mentoring program at Washington County with the goal of training those within his organization to help further their careers and the success of Washington County.
• In addition to serving Washington County as County Engineer, Greg was a productive contributor to his local community through a number of important civic participation activities including volunteering annually at the MATHCOUNTS competition.

In the nomination form for the Top 10 Public Works Leaders Award, one of Greg's peers noted, "The manner in which Greg approaches his work and the respect that he offers to others is a true testament to our profession." And that about says it all.

We salute Greg for his many contributions and achievements and for his compassion for others. We honor the memory and accomplishments of our treasured and faithful colleague, and a truly remarkable man, Greg Miller.

Public Works Institute Offers Credentialing Opportunities

As of December 2011, 79 people in Oregon have graduated from the Northwest Public Works Institute. That's a significant number but it has greater significance if you're one of the 77 and have paid attention to the latest news about the Donald C. Stone Center.

The Stone Center provides a credentialing opportunity to all of those who have graduated from the institute. Those folks are eligible for both the PWS (Public Works Supervisor) and PWM (Public Works Manager) designations. Of course there are other things you have to do to satisfy the requirements but a major hurdle is graduation from an approved institute, and 77 of you have already done that.

More information on the Donald C. Stone Center is available in the December 2011 issue of the APWA Reporter which contains several articles about the subject.

Enjoy reading John Ostrowski? There's more! Click here to read "Ostrowski's Outlook," published in the Washington State Chapter newsletter.