Engaging and Retaining Membership
Through Partnerships and Programs
Michael T. Brown, P.E.
Barbara Martin
www.paawwa.org
“Keystone of the Drinking Water Community”
Outline
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PA Section Overview
Partnership For Safe Water
PAWARN
Operator Training
Membership Specials
Other Programs and Partnering
PA AWWA Overview
• Created in 1948
• 1,900 members, 250 operator
members
• 150 utility members
• 6 Districts with Trustees
• Board of Directors
• WUC, Ed Tech Council Chairs
• 2 full-time staff, 2 part-time
staff, 3 Partnership reps
PA Water Industry
• Approx. 9,000 public water systems serving
11 million people (88% of residents in state)
– 10,000 Water Treatment Facilities
– 350 Surface Water Filter Plants
• Municipal systems serve approx. 80% of
water customers
• Majority of funding is through local rates
• Strong SRF Program - Pennvest
• Most pressing issue:
– Aging infrastructure
PA AWWA’s Experience using the
Partnership for Safe Water to
Engage Members and Drive
Growth
What do these Utilities have in
Common?
PA AWWA Members and
Partnership for Safe Water
Subscribers
Partnership for Safe Water
• Partnership for Safe Water mission:
– To improve the quality of drinking water delivered
to customers of community water systems by
optimizing operations.
• Two programs
– Treatment plant optimization (1995)
– Distribution system optimization (2011)
• www.awwa.org/partnership
Eligibility
• Treatment program
– Surface water filtration plants of all
configurations
• Distribution program
– Any system that applies a disinfectant
• Size – no limitations, large or small
• AWWA membership not required
AWWA Members
• ~80% of Partnership subscribers are
AWWA members
• Partnership subscribers are approximately
5% of all AWWA utility members
• Partnership can be an opportunity to
recruit new members
AWWA Members
• Partnership subscribers are engaged
members!
– 6 Section Chairs
– 10 on AWWA Board
– Many Trustees and other Section board roles
– Well represented among Fuller Awardees
PA AWWA Involvement
• Only 12 Sections
with mention of
PfSW on website
• Only 3 besides PA
have more than a
link
PA AWWA Partnership
• 1996: received first sizable grant from PADEP
to administer the PfSW in PA
– Funds for public relation and education
• Goal to optimize surface water plants and
make them more efficient
• Five-year grant at $75,000 per year
• Staff 3 Contract/Part-time Partnership Reps to
promote and assist with the program
Pennsylvania Subscribers
• 119 plants (50 utilities)… most in
country!
– Serve 87% of PA filter plant
population
– 27% of subscribers
– 64 award winners
– 50% AWWA utility members
• 19 distribution systems
– 14% of subscribers
– 84% AWWA members
(utility/individual)
“Partnering” in the Partnership
PA DEP grant
supports PA AWWA
administration of
Partnership for Safe
Water program.
Support from state,
PA-AWWA, and
members help to keep
the program
successful.
AWWA/PA
AWWA
Water
Utility
PA DEP
Benefits to PA DEP
• Better cooperation and
relationships
• Increased compliance
• Cost savings
AWWA/PA
AWWA
Water
Utility
PA DEP
% with Commendable Rating
Benefits to Utilities
• Improved water quality and public
health protection
• Preparedness
• Positive recognition
• Consumer confidence & support
• Improved internal communications
• Operator enthusiasm
• Cooperation with other utilities
• Cost savings
AWWA/PA
AWWA
Water
Utility
PA DEP
AWWA Benefits
• Member engagement
• Revenue
AWWA/PA
AWWA
Water
Utility
PA DEP
Member Engagement
• Recognition
• Assistance
• Training
• Networking
=Added Value
PA AWWA
recognition for
joining program
(York Water Company)
PA AWWA and DEP
provide Partnership
awards in addition to
AWWA awards
(Ephrata Area JA receives
Directors Award)
PA AWWA Partnership reps
Bob Donnelly and Gordon
Miller provide onsite
assistance
Section Activities have Included
• Partnership Mixer – award
ceremony at section
conference
• Partnership Summit
• Newsletters
• Marketing materials
• Custom awards
• Optimization
conference (2010)
• Training
• Training credits
PA AWWA’s
Anniversary mug
and member directory
15th
PA AWWA’s Phase IV
“waterdrop” award
Service Providers, too…
• PA AWWA looks to service providers to
sponsor Partnership events:
– Revenue to support mission and section
activities
– Opportunity for vendors to exhibit and present
to a highly engaged utility audience
– Networking
Tips for Leveraging Partnership
from PA AWWA
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Realize this will be long-term
Work with state/provincial regulators
Provide positive recognition
Add value through Partnership activities
Utilize your AWWA resources
Engaging Members through
PAWARN
What is a WARN?
• WARN = Water/Wastewater Aegency
Response Network
• Born out of Hurricane Katrina response.
• Electric companies were very good at
responding but water/wastewater
response was not well organized.
• EPA charged with organizing industry.
What is PaWARN?
• Utilities are organized within the State
– By a Mutual Aid Agreement
– To assist each other with resources
(personnel or equipment)
• Respond and recover more quickly from
natural disasters and other emergencies
What can PaWARN do?
• Supply “industry specific” equipment
during emergencies.
• Help alert water systems of cascading
emergencies – spills, floods, etc.
• Help water & wastewater systems recover
by providing resources and personnel.
Partnering for PaWARN
PaWARN Structure
• PaWARN is a 501(c)3 with a 13 member board
made up of PA water and wastewater
professionals
– Several board members very active in Section
including past chairs
• Advisory members can make recommendations
but voting power remains with utility professionals
• Part-time staff
• Primarily funded through dues
Who is a WARN?
• Approx. 90 utilities
• Approximately 7.5 million Pennsylvania
residents receive their water/wastewater
services from PaWARN member systems
• Accounts for about ½ of the state’s
population
• Roughly ½ are PA_AWWA member utilities
PaWARN in Action
• Dec. 27-28,
2012: Schuylkill
County
Municipal
Authority
• Major main
break
PaWARN in Action
• System is running out of water.
• Need odd-sized clamp to make the repair.
• Emergency request is posted on the
PaWARN website.
• Within 3 hours, Northampton Borough
Municipal Authority supplies clamp that
enables SCMA to make the repair.
Testimonial
• “We experienced a real emergency that
prompted the use of the PaWARN system
to assist us. The system worked exactly as
designed and we were able to avert
disaster.”
Patrick Caulfield, Executive Director
Schuylkill County Municipal Authority
How does PA-AWWA Benefit from
PA-WARN?
• Recognition
• Strengthened relationships amongst utility
members and operators
• Collaboration/Cooperation amongst competing
associations
• Carry-over to Section Programs
– Partnership
– Conferences
– Training
Success of Operator Training
Program
• Increased training in fall & spring
• Partner with PA DEP for new regulation training
– Public notification
– Lead & copper
– Long-term Disinfection
• Operator Certification Exams
• 2-Day Operator Track at Section Conference
– Increased conference attendance
Success of Operator Training
Program
• Non-dues revenue
– Approx. $70k profit in 2013
• Increased “value” to membership
• Opportunity to engage non-member
utilities
• Opportunity to reach non-industry
Value of Membership Discounts?
• 2011: $30; 79 new/95% retention
• 2012: $50; 20 new/73% retention
• 2013: $72; 15 new/87% retention
New Operator Members
Operator Members
400
350
• Allow Sections
to determine
their own fees?
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Better Together
• Joint training with Sections and other associations: WWOAP,
PMAA,PRWA, WEF and PWEA
• Work with organizations to provide additional networking
opportunities for Operators and Young Professionals
• Partner with DBIA for conference since 2012
– 10% increase in conference revenue
– Positive feedback from attendees and vendors
• Partnering with Neighboring Sections?
– ACE Reception
– Joint Annual Conference
– Challenges
Engagement and Revenue
Through Specialty Conferences
and Events
• Greatest need for additional revenue is Fall
(Annual Conference in Spring)
• Past specialty conferences
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National Partnership Summit 2010
Great Lakes Summit 2012 (10 sections participated)
PA Partnership Summit 2013
PA Infrastructure Conference Scheduled for 2014
National Partnership Summit Planned 2015
• District meetings and events
Other Opportunities for
Engagement
• WUC
– Very active
– Value to membership
• Committee restructuring
Keys to Success
• Increase AWWA Operator and Young
Professionals memberships.
• Keep membership fees competitive at the Section
level…especially for Operators.
• Increase the value of membership.
• Keep members engaged and active.
• Collaborate with other organizations.
• Have the flexibility to provide training to multiple
groups.
Like all Sections…
• Our priority objective is to continue to recruit
new members, retain those members, and
increase revenue to remain viable.
Questions/Discussion
Mike Brown
mtbrown@gfnet.com
www.paawwa.org