Jan
1
Ari M. Michelsen, 2010 Greeting
January 1, 2010 | Posted by smcclung
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Ari M. Michelsen, President AWRA
I am pleased to offer New Year’s Greetings for 2010. This New Year brings many opportunities and challenges to the water resources community, but first, a confession.
I am an economist, the first as AWRA President in more than 20 years. While everyone doesn¹t view the world and water resources from the same perspective as economists, this highlights the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature and membership of AWRA. Together, we can and are making a real difference in improving water resources science, education, and management. It is a privilege for me to be a part of the leadership team of this stimulating and dynamic organization.
The AWRA leadership team and membership will be undertaking many exciting activities and exploring additional opportunities to advance interdisciplinary water resources science, management, policy, and professional development in 2010. As a sample, activities this year include implementation of a new five-year strategic plan, three major interdisciplinary conferences, expanded and continuing involvement with AWRA’s State Sections and with U.S. and international water resources organizations, development of AWRA water resource position statements, and, of course, publication of IMPACT focusing on special topical issues and the increasingly highly ranked Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) (thanks to the authors and our editors). More information on these and other activities is provided below and will be in forthcoming correspondence.
One of the most exciting undertakings is the implementation of a new five-year Strategic Plan for our Association. The Plan, which has been under development over the past year, has five focused goal areas including: expanding our leadership role in the understanding and use of multidisciplinary water resources science, education, management, and policy; advancing the concepts and use of integrated water resources management; expanding provision of valuable educational and communication opportunities to enhance the capacity of water resources professionals and students; and organizationally, ensuring AWRA has the structure, finances, process, and culture necessary to support the organization’s long-term vision and goals. At the heart of the Plan is AWRA’s core mission to advance multidisciplinary water resources science, management, and education, for the betterment of humanity and the environment.
As always, excellent opportunities will be provided by AWRA in 2010 for community, conversation, and connections in water resources at three major conferences. The first is the GIS Specialty Conference, March 29-31, in Orlando, Florida, which is the sixth in a series offered by AWRA recognizing the advances in, and importance of GIS as a fundamental tool for interdisciplinary analysis, planning, and management of water resource systems. The Summer Specialty Conference will bring together water resource professionals to address Tropical Hydrology and Sustainable Water Resources in a Changing Environment, August 30-September 1, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, another great location. The final meeting this year is the AWRA Annual Conference, November 1-4, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Delaware and New Jersey State Sections of AWRA are organizing a great annual conference full of information and opportunities to connect on the latest water resources topics covering a wide range of multidisciplinary research, policy, planning, management, and technical issues. I hope you have the opportunity to participate in one or more of these conferences and look forward to meeting you there.
I look forward to working with each of you. Your membership and active participation in AWRA make all of these activities and accomplishments possible and brings success in achieving AWRA’s member needs and goals.
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