The Connector - Winter 2009 - (Page 16) Winter 2009 RWAU How Good is Your Word? Curtis Ludvigson, RWAU Management Technician H ave you ever found yourself in the disappointing situation of having someone lie to you? Of course, you have. Unfortunately we live in a time when people lying to people seems almost commonplace, expected and even accepted. Why is that? Whatever happened to the “good old days” when a handshake was as good as a written contract, and when a “man’s word was as good as his bond?” How do you feel when someone lies to you? Well, I suppose that feeling would vary, depending on what the lie was about and, even more so, who lied to you. I know that for me, I am very hurt when it comes from someone who I thought I could believe and trust. Or someone who I thought was my friend, someone I thought I could count on. I imagine you feel somewhat the same! Now let’s turn this around. Have you ever lied to someone? I’d bet you have. Does this suddenly take on a different affect when you are the guilty one? So really now, how good is your word? Some of you have heard me talk before about your responsibilities as elected officials, managers, office personnel, operators, etc. Well, plain and simple, one of those responsibilities is to be truthful with folks. They deserve nothing less! The people who you represent, whom you serve, whom you work for, are counting on you to be strictly honest. Do you have a tendency to ignore the laws, your ordinances, resolutions, or bylaws, when a relative or someone you particularly like wants to do something that requires your approval? Do you have an agenda of getting family property approved for development? Do you pull whatever strings you can in order to get a family member hired by your entity? Keep in mind these types of things are often not just unethical, but are often also illegal. They are obvious conflicts of interest, and in some cases people are guilty of nepotism. Certainly anyone who runs for office would not win the election if they told the folks that these are the reasons they put their name on the ballot. How are your ethics? When it comes to keeping your word, ethics is really what I am talking about. Sometimes things are illegal, but not keeping our word is always unethical. I believe this is something people in general need to work on, but people who serve the public are certainly expected to be honest, ethical, keep their word and live up to promises made. Let’s all do a self-evaluation and see if we can do better. Good luck and as always, Happy Trails! Water is our most precious resource HAVING TROUBLE LOWERING YOUR UNACCOUNTED-FOR WATER? MAKE EVERY DROP COUNT With the UFR (Unmeasured Flow Reducer) Proud Member of DUAL-CHECK MODEL INSTALL THE UFR (Unmeasured-Flow Reducer). Not only will adding the UFR help the leak detector on the meter work better than if used without the UFR, it can also increase the measurement of billable water between as much as 5 and 10 percent. • REDUCE WASTE • INCREASE REVENUE U.F.R. technology provided by Flow Control Accessories LTD - Patent Pending – NOBODY does Brass better than A.Y. McDonald – INLINE MODEL 800.292.2737 | FAX 800.832.9296 sales@aymcdonald.com | www.aymcdonald.com The Connector 16 http://www.aymcdonald.com
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