In the field (sort of):  Top 3 Things Seen and Heard at APWA Congress 2011

So, the other day my boss says, “You write about being in the field, how about getting out there yourself?”  Great idea! 

So after an unfortunate incident involving myself, an end loader, a Branson, Missouri tour bus, and a fiber optic cable bundle serving a majority of states west of the Mississippi, I set focus on a venue more appropriate  for an office savvy individual like myself. 

Thus I found myself in Denver, Colorado attending the 2011 American Public Works Association (APWA) Congress.  Let’s just say it was an awesome experience being able to hear public works professionals from all over the country discuss their own trials, tribulations, and successes while also being able to play with cold patch indoors! 

While it might be a side effect of oxygen deprivation, I left the conference with a few interesting themes that I’m pleased to share with you:

Social Media – It’s not just for your kids anymore.  Social media is steadily creeping its way into local government, enhancing municipal organizations’ ability to communicate with young and old alike.  And with statistics like these, it’s not hard to see why. 

As of May, 2011, 83% of internet users aged 18 to 29, and 51% of internet users aged 50 to 64 ** were actively engaged in the use of social media.  Having access to these demographics is particularly attractive to local governments that have difficulty funding communication outreach efforts to the communities they serve. 

While it might not be right for all communities, and there are potential legal ramifications depending on the media type employed, it appears to be an excellent communication tool for local governments to investigate.

Asset Management / Inventory – This topic is soooo hot right now!  Every presentation I attended dealing with Public Works processes incorporated developing a complete inventory of your assets, and establishing a way to keep track of what you are doing to them. 

Another commonality was the concept that, if you have the budget and political firepower to implement an enterprise-wide asset management system, that is the way to go. And if you don’t, the concept of “Start somewhere” was prevalent. 

Many organizations touted the fact that their foray into asset management began with one department, or even one asset. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  Starting small and show successes early can be a key step in adopting an excellent Asset Management System and Inventory

Pride in what you do – This may seem obvious, but I found it very interesting that several speakers highlighted this concept in their presentations.  No one enjoys being under-valued or unappreciated in their job.  The fact that the infrastructure Public Works provides and maintains is a foundation on which society can grow and flourish should not be dismissed.  As the presenters at the APWA Congress echoed, take pride in the fact you create and maintain such a crucial component of society.

Needless to say, it’s all good stuff!  But of the three, I find the last, pride in what you do, to be the most intriguing…and surprising.  Perhaps a bit sappy, but nonetheless, I think it’s something all of us tend to overlook. 

When I think about it, Public Works projects have had some of the largest impacts on society throughout history.  A network of paved roads greatly assisted the Romans to amass one of the largest empires the world has ever seen.  The creation of sanitary sewer networks in London had a large impact on reducing Cholera outbreaks in the 1800’s, and established the high pressure water networks that allow my daughter to take 45 minute showers every morning!

With that in mind, I will take pride in every fiber strand I splice over the next few weeks.

As a side note, does anyone know where I can get a timer valve for my shower?

**Source: Pews Research Center’s Internet & American Life Projects Surveys, May 2011, http://wiredprworks.com/2011/09/07/how-gray-is-social-networking/#