2012 Membership- Letter from Mark Adams, President-
Become a COWA Member!
2011 was a fantastic year for COWA thanks to our supportive Members and to our Partner relationships. Partnering with numerous local agencies as well as with USEPA Region 9 enabled us to deliver 14 educational events in 2011, PLUS our first Annual Exhibition and Educational Forum in 3 years. Thank you, thank you, thank you! But we can do more. Our Industry still has a lot of work to do and many new jobs to create and COWA is totally committed to our Members in this pursuit (learn more). Our 2012 Professional Training Calendar introduces another new valuable program “Low Pressure Pipe and Drip Dispersal Design”. Along with our existing Agency Partner training hosts, COWA will be collaborating with a new Partner this year, the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) to coordinate their Annual Educational Conference in San Diego. We will be working with NEHA and NAWT to bring a premier California OWTS Technology Exhibition and produce over 15 hours of online OWTS related educational materials during the 2012 NEHA AEC.
We are happy to announce new membership benefits for 2012. You can now manage your membership profile, track COWA trainings and events,reach out to other COWA members through one to one emails, and choose whether you want your membership profile made available to other COWA Members. You will continue to receive reduced member rates for trainings and events, receive regulatory updates, and other industry news and information. We will also be introducing our new quarterly online newsletter featuring articles entitled, COWA Update, Member News, Working for You, Hot Topics, Cool Projects, New Products, and Lessons Learned. Look for the first issue coming soon.
We are excited to announce our endorsement of two valuable business insurance programs, the Alteris SeptiCover business insurance program for our Pumper Members, and very reasonable rates on Errors & Omissions Insurance for Designers and Inspectors Both of these creative insurance options are available through the agent/broker of your choice.
COWA was on their game informing Members of the release of the latest version of the proposed state regulations (AB885) before the SWRCB sent out their notice. A week later we held a member dinner meeting to discuss the key elements of the draft regulations. We have been and we will continue to track developments of these regulations as they unfold. The introduction of our “Outreach” program last year is another example of COWA’s commitment to assist local authorities with the important public education component of the new regulations.
In the Fall of last year, COWA renewed our contract with OWM, the team of Evelyn and Kit Rosefield as Association Administrators. With this renewal OWM will be taking on more responsibility including managing all communications. Please note the new mailing address below and feel free to call Evelyn or Kit with questions or input at 530 513-6658.
COWA remains financially secure but your membership is very important. It is important financially as it allows the organization to continue to provide the necessary education and training opportunities, information, representation, etc. But it’s also important to show others that our real strength is in the individuals, companies, agencies, and organizations that make up the onsite wastewater industry within this state.
So please take a moment to become a member.
Mark Adams
COWA President
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