APWA News Spring 2011/ Vol. 47 No. 1
In This Issue
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From the President
It is an honor to serve as president of the Oregon Chapter of APWA for 2011. I have been involved in the Oregon Chapter since 1985 and have served on many committees over the years. My experience has been at both at the local and national level. I am pleased to bring my public service, committee involvement and experiences on National APWA committees to the table to serve as president.
As we launch into 2011, I provided some goals and vision ideas to the board that I would like to share with you to encourage your continued participation in APWA. First, I feel that we should provide excellent services to our members. If we can do excellent work in our committee, conference and board activities, it will provide a professional atmosphere in which Oregon APWA will operate.
Secondly, and as the board will attest, I believe in efficient and effective meetings. In this economy, we are expected to do more and more with less and less. Meetings can be an area of continued improvement related to time management and effectiveness.
Next is the strategic plan which includes as follows: "We strive to represent APWA National by embracing and demonstrating APWA's core values of diversity, inclusiveness, partnership, service, accountability and sustainability."
And finally, I believe in having a great time networking with fellow members of APWA. Our conferences and educational sessions are a wonderful opportunity to share information, compare notes, examine projects and even share a funny story. I encourage lots of networking.
Our strategic plan is a priority for the board as it guides the work that we are doing on a day-to day basis. Several action items are completed or in the process of being completed. It is my goal to advance the action items in the strategic plan to a point that it will be updated with many accomplishments at the end of my term of office. Ongoing hot topic items at this point in time are the National Sustainability Conference in Portland, the joint Oregon-Washington Spring Conference in Vancouver, planning for Oregon Chapter's 50th anniversary, strengthening the Conference Steering Committee, and integrating the professional development segments of our education program, such as the NW Public Works Leadership Institute. Improving communications is an ongoing goal and we have created e-groups with include officers, board members and committee chairs in an effort to broaden involvement in chapter activities.
As president of Oregon APWA for 2011, I invite your comments, suggestions and questions. I would love to chat with you over the phone at 541-480-6947 or email me in Bend at mmeloy@bendcable.com. I look forward to the remainder of the year as we implement the strategic plan, gather at conferences, and see each other at education sessions.
Mary Meloy, President
2011 APWA Spring Conference:
Hope to See You There!
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The APWA joint Oregon-Washington spring conference is just around the corner – March 29 through April 1. It will be an action-packed four days at the Vancouver Hilton Hotel and Conference Center.
Here are a few highlights.
Tuesday
The conference starts Tuesday with two all-day pre-conference workshops, an afternoon golf tournament at Camas Meadows and Presidents' Welcome Reception in the evening at the Hilton.
Wednesday
In the morning there will be a technical tour around Vancouver and chapter committee meetings. The kick-off lunch will have keynote speaker Ian Hill, who is partnering with APWA on the Leadership in Changing Times training series.
The great technical sessions will begin in the afternoon along with more than 110 vendor exhibits. The evening will bring a wine-tasting scholarship fundraising event, opportunity to talk with Ian Hill one-on-one and the Exhibitor Hosted Social including entertainment by local jazz musician Tom Grant.
Thursday
Starts with a fun run and continues throughout the day with more excellent technical sessions and vendor exhibits. At lunch we will hear from APWA National President George Crombie, Oregon Chapter President Mary Meloy, and Washington Chapter President Jill Marilley.
For the first-timers to an APWA conference there will be an introduction wine social in the evening. There also will be a no-host social prior to the Thursday night banquet where a hypnotist is the featured entertainment.
Friday
Starts with breakfast, is followed by the chapter business meetings and continues with more great technical sessions. Concurrently, both the APWA Region IX delegates and the APWA Emergency Management Committees are holding their spring meetings at the conference hotel. The wrap-up of the conference will occur at the closing luncheon where fantastic door prizes will be given away.
2011 Oregon APWA Trainings and Events
March 23 – APWA Portland Luncheon
March 29 - April 1 – APWA OR/WA Joint Spring Conference, Vancouver Hilton,
Vancouver, Washington
April 19 – APWA Willamette Valley Luncheon, Eugene
April 20-22 – Street Maintenance & Collection Systems Spring School,
Seaside Civic & Convention Center
April 20-21 – Utility Locator Training Seminar
(runs concurrently with spring school),
Seaside Civic & Convention Center
May 15-21 – National Public Works Week
May 18 – APWA Portland Luncheon
June 21 – APWA Willamette Valley Luncheon, Eugene
July 20 – APWA Portland Luncheon
Aug. 16 – APWA Willamette Valley Luncheon, Eugene
Sept. 18-21 – APWA National Congress, Denver
Sept. 21 – APWA Portland Luncheon
Oct. 11 – APWA Willamette Valley Luncheon, Eugene
Oct. 18-21 – Oregon Chapter Fall Conference,
Eagle Crest Resort, Redmond
Nov. 16 – APWA Portland Luncheon
Dec. 6-9 – Public Works Essentials,
Red Lion at the Convention Center, Portland
Dec. 13 – APWA Willamette Valley Luncheon, Eugene
For the latest information on trainings and events, go to www.oregonapwa.org/training
Liane Welch Nominated for Top 10 Leader National Award
The Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association is proud to nominate Tillamook County Public Works Director Liane Welch for APWA's national Top 10 Leader Award.
The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding career service achievements that advance the public works industry and who are dedicated to serving the community. Welch is a proven leader in innovative and strategic implementation of sustainable practices, imperative crisis response communication and internal staff motivation.
Tillamook County has experienced more federally declared storms than any other West Coast jurisdiction in North America. These storms have led to landslides and road closures that require Welch to provide emergency response leadership as an Incident Command Team member.
Welch operates on a shrinking budget and has demonstrated leadership and creativity in economical and sustainable asset management. Welch has won two APWA Julian awards, one in 2005 for the Sunderland Recycling Program in Portland and one in 2010 for bioengineering erosion control techniques in the Tillamook County Road Department.
"She has improved the quality of life for the citizens of several communities, inspired numerous staff to achieve their potential, and given unselfishly of her own time to make Oregon a better place," Oregon APWA President Mary Meloy wrote in a letter of support for Welch's nomination.
A full copy of the nomination can be viewed on the Oregon APWA web site on the chapter awards page, www.oregonapwa.org/awards
Monthly Oregon APWA luncheons are a great way to keep up on the latest projects and trends.
Meetings alternate every other month between Portland and Eugene. 
