Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2015 - (Page 27) tHe POwer OF aSSOCIatION rural water's Impact in washington, DC t BY Nrwa StaFF The National Rural Water Association is just a name without its membership and grassroots efforts. Alone, it has no influence or recognition. The power of this association, as a collective group, is the primary reason we have a seat at the table with the key policy makers on Capitol Hill and within the leadership ranks of federal agencies. The broad expertise and experience you bring to the table provide this association with the strength and respect necessary to have an effective voice to influence and impact policy and funding issues in Washington, D.C. The results speak for themselves. In the last federal appropriation cycle, Congress approved millions of dollars in funding for technical assistance, critical financing for water and wastewater utilities, the creation of a new technical assistance program within USDA, and many more. On the regulatory front, with your input, changes were made to EPA regulations that were important to our rural communities. In 2014, Congress reached out to many of you, the Rural Water leaders in the states, on policy and legislative issues as they debated and assembled the 2014 Farm Bill. You testified before Congress on funding and policy issues related to EPA. You testified on legislation to address the West Virginia chemical spill and were able to provide clear examples where rural communities had established measures and procedures on their own accord to protect their communities. Your impact was significant. The power of this association is like the power of every association, which is what happens when people join together with a common objective. The result is a force that accomplishes objectives that no one person could accomplish on their own. All of the power of this movement comes from you, the grassroots. All of our accomplishments come from you, and only by organizing together with a common purpose can we realize the power of an association. In our case, we - all rural and small community people - have joined together to improve the welfare, economy, health, environment and living standards of rural America. We did that through our grand enterprise of providing drinking water and sanitation to rural people and communities. Our work, dedication and leadership have allowed us to realize great accomplishments that would not have occurred without our associations. In an era of stagnant or diminishing federal resources, competition of available funding has increased. Your track record on the effective and efficient use of these limited resources, including through public and private partnerships, will continue to be an asset when determining what programs or initiatives receive Congressional support. With your continued efforts and commitment, Rural Water's impact will continue to grow and ensure our voice is heard in the halls of Congress and within the federal agencies. We had a good year in 2014, and we anticipate, even with so many newly elected officials, that once they recognize the results of your efforts in rural America, we will have another good year in 2015. ● rural water 27 Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2015 From The President By Charles Hilton, NRWA President Putting the Power of Association to Work By Fiona Soltes The Team Myth By Gerry Sandusky The Power of the WaterPro Community By NRWA Staff Rural Water’s Impact in Washington, DC By NRWA Staff Save Money, Protect Your System and Keep Your Customers Happy Joining their Voices: Rural Water Rally The 16th Annual Great American Water Taste Test Cloud Seeding: A New Take on an Old Idea By Sandy Smith How the Cloud is Revolutionizing the Future of Water Utility Management By Kristie Anderson Regulatory Update By Mike Keegan, NRWA Analyst Throwing My Loop By Michael Johnson Index to Advertisers/ Advertisers.com From the Ceo By Sam Wade, NRWA CEO Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2015 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0218 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0118 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0417 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWA0016 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0317 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0217 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0117 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0416 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0316 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWA0015 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0216 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0116 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0415 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0315 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0215 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0115 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0414 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0314 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0214 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0114 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0413 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0313 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0213 http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NRWQ/NRWQ0113 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0412 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0312 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0212 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0112 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0411 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0311 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0211 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0111 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0410 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0310 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0210 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0110 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0409 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0309 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0209 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0109 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0408 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0308 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0208 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/NRWQ0108 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com