PRESIDENT'S CORNER
by Leonard Butler

Winter 2006

Membership in the Colorado Rocky Mountain Chapter grew in 2005 by more than five percent. This placed our chapter with a small number of chapters in SWANA achieving this growth measure. I attribute this positive membership growth to increasing interest in the value of the programs available to solid waste professionals from SWANA. In Colorado, these programs included technical luncheons, regional outreach and a statewide annual meeting. It also recognizes our leadership to be in one of the first chapters to donate funds to the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund and willingness to host a local site for a National SWANA Testing Day.

The training materials presented locally are available on the Chapter’s web page at coloradoswana.org. The Chapter’s web page is intended for our member use. If you have a job announcement or want to query other members about best management practices, please contact John Briest. The national organization has expanded its internet capabilities to deliver training online for those unable to travel. These online programs included SWANA Faculty led E-Courses, monthly E-Sessions, and self-paced E-Study Courses.

The Chapter Board’s plans for 2006 are already underway. The Board wants to repeat last year’s successful regional training with other possible outreaches in ongoing cooperation with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Technical luncheon programs are also in the planning stage. The first luncheon program will be offered on February 21, 2006 and is intended to cover new requirements of SB 05-141. An overview will be presented how the requirement will affect a facility’s waste characterization plan by Jerry Henderson and Cindy Smith of the Department.

We will continue to maximize use of the internet for e-mail blasts in 2006. For those members without access to the internet, we will use your fax numbers to communicate. One of the first e-mail blasts sent out this year addresses scholarship opportunities for professional development of chapter members. I think you will find more about this program in this newsletter.

As we begin 2006, I would like to welcome a new Board Member. Ms. Susie Gordon, a Senior Environmental Planner with the City of Fort Collins was elected to the Board in December 2005 and will bring additional solid waste expertise to our technical programs. The Chapter Board solicits your continued interest in hearing from you and what value can be delivered to assist in your professional solid waste management responsibilities. We look forward to working with you in this New Year!

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