December 2014
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The Power of Recognition – Celebrating the Season & NACWA's Members

As we celebrate the holiday season, it’s only fitting that we also celebrate our shared long history of celebrating the significant accomplishments of the individuals, facilities, and utilities of the clean water community. A couple of years ago, NACWA reached out to clean water agencies across the country with a ‘NACWA is. . .’ campaign. Through it, we extolled the benefits of membership. Along with nonstop advocacy; invaluable analysis; and, collaboration we acknowledged that:

NACWA is. . .Recognition Well-Deserved

Those who know me well know I am a strong believer in well-deserved recognition and accolades. From where I sit, NACWA’s awards programs provide clear evidence of agency, facility, and individual commitment to service, innovation, exceptional utility management – and, of course, to our nation’s waters. They acknowledge a job well-done, serve as a means to help our agencies and individuals realize the true value of their work – and perhaps equally important – inspire others to view today’s challenges as opportunities to find new and innovative ways to provide leadership in their communities. I like to think of it as The Power of Recognition.

Since the early 1980’s the Association’s awards program has evolved from several singular awards to four distinct awards programs recognizing Member Agencies, their facilities, and individuals who’ve really made a difference to our Association, to the environment, and to water quality. Today, NACWA’s National Environmental Achievement Awards, Peak Performance Awards, and Excellence in Management Recognition Program celebrate Member Agency achievement and shine a bright light on the numerous ways through which our members protect water quality and provide undeniable environmental benefits. At the our 40th anniversary in 2010 we welcomed an inaugural class of 40 inductees into the NACWA Hall of Fame, the most recent addition to the well-deserved recognition the Association provides.

When you think about it, all this recognition amounts to a significant commitment of time from our Member Agencies, hours and hours of review by our dedicated Awards Committee, and ultimately a veritable cascade (water pun intended) of awards over time. While The Power of Recognition is immeasurable, it can be quantified. In NACWA’s case, it translates into. . .

There is an incredible amount of good work taking place at NACWA’s Member Agencies – and within the broader clean water community. It is incredibly important that it be recognized. NACWA is . . . recognition well-deserved.