The Michigan Water Quality Association’s Annual Conference started the way most conferences do, with a trip to the greens. The day began with 40 golfers participating in an exciting golf scramble. Whitaker-LaChance Ins. Agency sponsored the Hole in One contest with a $10,000 (USD) prize; two golfers came close but no one won. The most talented (and bravest) golfers endured to secure their awards:
- Closest to the Pin: Lance Kohley (Kohley’s Ecowater Systems, Muskegon Heights, MI)
- Longest Drive: Stu Lewis (Besco Water Treatment, Battle Creek, MI)
- Longest Putt: Brad Bayes (Bayes Water, Sparta, MI)
- Winning Team (Score = 64): Tim & Brian Auseon (American Copper & Brass, Hillsdale, MI) and Allan Millward (Mosaic Potash Hersey, Hersey, MI)
Luck was on our side that day. The rain did not come until the golf scramble was over and all 56 attendees were dry under a very secure tent. But when it rained, it poured. There was plenty of lightning and did I mention a tornado warning (and a couple of touchdowns in the neighboring town) that for some reason made several of the vendors and members want to take shelter in the clubhouse until the storm passed. There were also a few, perhaps less intelligent attendees (like myself for example), who thought the risk of being spun away was worth taking, rather than sprinting for safety through a Niagra Falls-like deluge.
During the excitement, the Moti-Vitality booth was one of the most popular of the 14 vendor booths. As much as I hope it was because of the excellent training services we offer, I think that it might be because we had live radar up on the TV I use in my booth. The storm was pretty short lived and soon everyone returned to eat a phenomenal meal and hope their number ticket was pulled before all the cool door prizes were gone.
Terry Bayes of Bayes Water was Master of Ceremonies for the evening, while Rick Wiener of Wiener Associates discussed the upcoming political season in Michigan and how that would affect the industry. Guy Gruett of Water-Right, Inc. gave an excellent and very informative presentation on WQA’s Battelle Study. A brief Board of Director’s meeting concluded the official event. No new officers were elected at the meeting but next year, one (possibly two) position(s) will be available. The organization requested that more members become involved in the process and consider taking on the responsibilities of directorships.
All in all, the obvious hard work that went into the event made for an exciting and successful MWQA conference. MWQA would like to thank members and vendors alike for their continued support. Details of the next annual conference will be released when arrangements are finalized. — Kelly R. Thompson, CWS-VI