The Connector - Fall 2008 - (Page 7)

RWAU Fall 2008 President’s Message Doug W. Evans, RWAU President The Simplest Mind Is Not Mine! O ften times, rooted within our professional and personal worlds, lay incessant requirements for passwords needed to gain the forbidden paths to our computers or other personal information. The internet and computers, including cell phones and the like, require us constantly to supply a user name and password. Almost every one of these requires a password in a different format or length, with a certain amount of letters, number, capitals and symbols. Once upon a time, I had a secret trove of paper, hidden in an inconvenient place, full of these little bits of information. of my very own hand! Which I did, once upon a time… Now I could simply end this article here… After the tenth time of attempted password access, the “little device” locked me out for good and erased my data (thinking me the dark evil intruder)…me: its owner, master and god. After sinking into a whole lota hole for a while, I realized that my clever side had a lot of “splaining” to do to my pragmatic side. Einstein once said, “Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid. Human beings are incredibly slow, Now-a-days, I fear that we are defined by a password or code or number – harder to remember and even harder to understand. So, with my latest Blackberry, I noticed that it has a cool password protector program to enable me to enter all of my usernames, passwords, credit card numbers and any other confidential information in one place. And of course, this little gem requires only one password to access it. What could be better, a singular repository of all critical confidential information, encrypted to the highest standards (not even the CIA can crack) and protected with just one password, which only I know. I would make this “my greatest, most ultimately intense” password ever—nobody could ever figure this one out! I would then simply shred my little shards of paper and napkins containing this data and trust in this modern technical miracle. A resource that I even back up regularly – just in case I lose the phone or whatever. Flawless technical magnificence indeed – right in the palm inaccurate and brilliant. Together they are powerful beyond imagination.” He never knew that this axiom assumes that you can remember who you really are, a precedence to achieving the unified power. Now-a-days, I fear that we are defined by a password or code or number – harder to remember and even harder to understand. Another quote by the same man is even more germane here, “Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.” Now I must spend weeks recreating my lists, and about the time I finish – I will surely remember the all-important master password, probably in the middle of an early morning shower. We spend a lot of time and effort in the water and wastewater industry developing master plans, emergency plans, contingency plans, etc., all in an effort to deal with some impending natural or unnatural disaster. But 7 I now know that even the best planned efforts and intentions can fail on something as simple as a lost or forgotten password or procedure—especially if it is known by only one person. Don’t ever trust your whole system security to one person, namely yourself. Let others share with you their plans, and share yours with them. The Rural Water Association has spent a lot of effort working with others in the state to develop the UT-WARN system to assist you with personnel and equipment resources in the event of an emergency. Information on this program can be found by visiting the Association WEB page at www.rwau.net. This program is the best way to gain the support of others in the industry and not be left alone (like I was) in difficult times. It has been made as simple as possible, but not too simple. And I, for one, need to unlearn the years of complexity I have deeply seated within my mind and adopt a more simple approach to this industry. And one way of removing complexity is by having many partners on your side with the same industry goals and objectives. Even when we forget who we are, there is a simple answer, and it derives its power in numbers – not just one mind. Visit www.rwau.net/training for our 2008 Training Schedule The Connector http://www.rwau.net http://www.rwau.net/training.html

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Connector - Fall 2008

The Connector - Fall 2008 Table of Contents President’s Message Executive Director’s Comments Letters From Readers Legislative Update Rural Water News Making an Impression Diana Waite Love Your Neighbor Erin Borger Sanitary Surveys – What to Expect: Part II Chuck Jeffs Water Wise Utah Mary Dickson Where in Utah? Index of Advertisers

The Connector - Fall 2008

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