Engaging Members from Young to Old Mona Cavalcoli & Carol Walczyk, NJ Section Carl Larrabee, FL Section And others…

Presentation Overview NJ Section’s Student-related activities NJ Section’s Retired Professionals Committee activities FL Section Mentoring Program All Join In – questions, discussion on challenges and successes in engaging younger and older members

NJ Section: Engaging the Young Very Active Student Affairs Committee – Good participation among local colleges and universities Active (and gaining momentum) YP Committee Active Student Chapter at NJIT (NJ Institute of Technology)

Key Opportunities to engage college students Section Conference: – Poster Competition – Student Trivia Bowl – Networking opportunities – Student teams for tank building – Volunteer opportunities (registration desk, bookstore, taste test contest, etc.) Scholarships “Why Work for Water?” traveling presentation New: Filter Competition

Engaging Young Professionals YP Committee: began as segment of Membership Committee Became Full Committee about 2 yrs ago Coordinate with SAC on all Conference Activities – put college students and YPs together Coordinate Fresh Ideas Competition Coordinate networking events – new WTP Tour + Happy Hour series Past program “Lunch & Learn” Teamed YPs with RPs on presentation opportunities at Conference

Engaging Older Professionals Retired Professionals Committee: began as a dedicated effort to provide opportunities for involvement “Living History” program Booth/table at Conference Teamed YPs with RPs on presentation opportunities at Conference

Engaging Older Professionals “Living History” program – Video done each year, interviewing 2-4 individuals with long-term experience and knowledge of the industry – Video done by local high school – Video shown at RP booth at Conference each year Challenge to make this more useful and bridge gap w/students

Younger-Older Engagement: FL Section Mentoring Program Developed in last months Using application form that provides combination of professional level/personal interests Section Staff and Committee/Board Volunteer(s) pair Mentors and Mentees and do /phone follow up – Use priorities like: proximity, gender, employer, level of activity in Section, personal interests

Younger-Older Engagement: FL Section Mentoring Program Program still in early stages, which allows for personal attention to pairings Challenges: – Establishing criteria for matching – Getting program off the ground – Finding a champion – Going forward: Increasing participation

Younger-Older Engagement: FL Section Mentoring Program Early Successes: – Actual pairings: anecdotal feedback from Mentees that they value having an experienced contact available to them Measuring Future Success: – Grow number of ‘pairings’ – Ultimate goal: Mentees continue to be engaged in Section and go on to be leaders/officers

What Others are Doing: KY/TN – active Students Committee and Student Chapter: some fund dedication VA – Similar to KY/TN; model water tower competition SC – Active committee; 2 chapters; model water tower; judge posters, science fairs CA/NV, IN, KS, IL – Early stages of starting chapter(s); CA/NV has 4 chapters under YP comm; set of guidelines for chapter (CA/NV) NC – 2 chapters, formal chargers, section provides some funding for activities Intermountain, NEWWA – No chapters, active student committees and activities/events for students CT – 2 chapters, but activity ‘iffy’ and need push from Section MN – No chapters, no committee; active students due to active teachers/professors

What else? What are the challenges: To student chapters? Student committees? Getting students involved? Keeping them involved? What are other Sections doing to engage older or retired professionals? What are the challenges to that?

What Else? What are the incentives: What attracts students? What are the activities that get them engaged? What advice can we give to Sections just getting started with student chapters or activities? How can we create opportunities for older members to stay involved? How can we facilitate more knowledge transfer? How can Sections and the Association work together to engage younger and older members??