Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2008 - (Page 10)

FROM THE PRESIDENT BY RODNEY TART, NRWA PRESIDENT NRWA’s 2008 Rally in the Nation’s Capital and Building Relationships THIS YEAR WILL prove to be another promising but challenging year in achieving National Rural Water Association’s legislative goals. Rural Water’s Board of Directors has set some very ambitious legislative objectives, including funding increases for all of our on-site assistance initiatives and more funding for the federal grants and low-interest loans that we all depend on. Our success in meeting these objectives is dependent on our annual grassroots advocacy campaign to persuade Congress to pass favorable legislation. NRWA recently launched our 2008 legislative agenda, and a key strategy is to have all our members make contact with their respective congressmen and senators while they are out of session and home for breaks, weekends and other local political events. The bulk of the influence and persuasion that allows for us to accomplish our agenda in Washington happens back home. By the spring, when we meet in Washington for the annual Rural Water Rally, our initial “back home” meetings and briefings should be completed. Congress should be familiar with Rural Water’s agenda by then, and we can use the rally to remind them, once again, how important Rural Water initiatives are back home, thank them for their support and ask for their continued support in the annual congressional budget process (which begins around the same time as the rally). A s N RWA president, I have made it a priorit y to encourage state board members and others to begin a more aggressive grassroots movement in building these relationships back home. Congressmen and senators like to hear from their constituents and know how they can help. You may feel that your voice is not important and you can’t make a difference with all the competition for the congressmen or senators’ time. However, by organizing your peer rural water communities in a team effort, you can be heard. What’s important is the message you bring to your elected officials. They need to see firsthand how your rural water association works best for your community (and all the other small communities in the state) and how you rely on Rural Water technical assistance in providing safe water and a clean environment. Whether you know your congressman or not should not deter you from asking for his or her support and meeting with him or her. If you do not know where your congressman’s office is, simply go online or ask your state rural water association for help in setting up the first meeting. Most representatives have more than one office in their district, and there is likely a local office near your water utility. >>12 NRWA recently launched our 2008 legislative agenda, and a key strategy is to have all our members make contact with their respective congressmen and senators while they are out of session and home for breaks, weekends and other local political events. 10 • First Quarter 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2008

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2008 Contents From the President Afterburn: Nexters' Impact in the Workplace Retirement Will Have to Wait From Sewage, Added Water for Drinking Rural Water and the Farm Bill Fiduciary Responsibility: It's All About Trust Water Industry Supports International Rural Water Association Regulatory Update The Rural Water Washington Rally in April Throwing My Loop A Precious Thing Called Water Index to Advertisers Advertisers.com From the CEO

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2008

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