Members are the lifeblood of AWWA. It is the involvement and commitment of water industry members that make AWWA work at both the Section and Association levels. The future of AWWA depends on attracting and encouraging young professionals (YPs) to become actively involved in the association and fulfilling our vision of creating a better world through better water. YPs are interested in a meaningful career while making a difference in how the world uses, protects, and preserves this most vital resource.
So, if you are a YP why would you be interested in joining AWWA and how do you go about getting involved in the first place? First, involvement in AWWA is an excellent way of becoming knowledgeable about water-related challenges and how they are being met by the water community. Second, it offers an opportunity to develop relationships and network with your peers and colleagues in your chosen industry, and third, it provides opportunities for career advancement and leadership. These are real benefits that prepare you to better serve the water community in providing solutions to effectively manage water and advance your career. And the best way for you to get involved is to join a committee at the Section level.
By serving on a committee, you will learn to work together with a diverse group of colleagues to find solutions to water-related issues. These may include protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, sharing ideas and best practices, inspiring innovation, or advancing access to safe water. Serving on a committee will expand your networking opportunities, whether through committee activities or AWWA-sponsored social activities. Serving on a committee also opens up opportunities to develop your leadership skills and can lead to opportunities for leadership roles in your Section and AWWA Association. Most people in AWWA leadership positions started out by serving on committees and moved up to leadership roles as their careers developed. Employers generally value YPs who are involved in the broader water & wastewater community and have developed leadership abilities.
Virginia Section AWWA (VA AWWA) and the Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA) committees typically meet and/or sponsor activities at their joint annual WaterJAM conference. These activities may include sponsoring technical sessions and planning and managing other conference activities. Similar activities and technical sessions are conducted at the AWWA Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) conference at the association level. YPs who are involved in these activities can also make a stronger case to their employers for approval to attend these annual WaterJAM and ACE conferences.
The VA AWWA has a number of active committees covering a broad range of water-related interests, many of which are joint committees with the VWEA. Many of these committees provide great opportunities for YP involvement and our joint Young Professionals Committee is a great place for you to start.
Virginia Section AWWA Committees: | |
Customer Service | Publications |
Distribution | Strategic Planning |
Drinking Water Quality & Research | Water Resources and Environment |
Education | Water Utility |
Membership Engagement | Water Awareness & Outreach |
| Plant Operations | |
Joint Virginia Section AWWA and VWEA Committees: | |
Emergency Preparedness & Security | Sustainable Utilities |
Information Technologies | Utility Management |
Laboratory Practices | Water for People |
Leadership Academy | Water Reach |
Manufacturers and Representatives | Work for Water |
Safety | Young Professionals |
Student Activities | WaterJAM (Annual Conference) |
As a YP, you are invited to join the Virginia Section AWWA (VA AWWA) and get involved in one or more of our many active committees. We need your ideas, knowledge, and energy to help us become better and more effective stewards of water, the world’s most vital resource! Please contact any current AWWA member in your organization, or Geneva Hudgins at Geneva.hudgins@vaawwa.org or call (434) 386-3190 and get started today!
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