Community leaders from across Pennsylvania will gather at Dickinson College in Carlisle, at the annual PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network Grantee Meeting, June 10-11, to network and share lessons learned from successful 2013-2014 local projects. The 2014 meeting theme is "Making a Splash for Clean Water."

The WREN annual meeting is designed to bring together community groups and water suppliers to share experiences in drinking water protection and watershed education and learn about resources available to improve local projects.

Attendees will include representatives from WREN Grant community partnerships that are conducting drinking water protection and watershed education projects. In addition, select public water suppliers working with or interested in DEP's Source Water Protection Technical Assistance Program will also attend.

After a welcome by League of Women Voters of PA President Susan Carty, featured speakers will include Paul Heimel, County Commissioner for Potter County, who will discuss the power of collaboration in his presentation "It Was Clean When It Left Here." 

The theme helps convey an ethic and a promise to ensure that headwater streams in the County will remain pristine. DEP Executive Deputy Secretary for Programs Dana Aunkst will join us to share an update on water policy in Pennsylvania and Department initiatives. 

Other featured speakers include: Dennis Risser with an update on USGS groundwater studies, water funding resources by Matthew Karnell of the Commonwealth Financing Agency and Tess Schlupp of PennVEST; emergency response to protect water supplies with Jason Minnich of DEP; and transportation corridor considerations with TJ Cunningham of PennDOT District 3.

Don Peperak of North Fayette County Municipal Authority has graciously offered to demonstrate his custom surface water treatment model.

National communications expert and perennial favorite with WREN grantees, Eric Eckl, President of Water Words that Work, LLC, will cover proven techniques to plan successful pollution prevention campaigns.

Eric will highlight ways to get results with best practices and messages that help turn simple actions into big steps to make a difference in communities.

Green Infrastructure offers many benefits: reducing stormwater runoff, recharging groundwater, beautifying towns, and reducing stress on aging infrastructure. Charlotte Katzenmoyer, Director of Public Works for the City of Lancaster, and Dan Zimmerman, Township Manager of Warwick Township, will share their expertise in working with partners and municipalities to implement beneficial community water projects.

Extraordinary conservation leaders are needed now more than ever. Kevin Cogan, of Rotary Club District 7390, has returned from a recent trip to Haiti, and we are delighted to have him join us to share ways to build partnerships with civic organizations such as Rotary International for clean water.

In addition, sessions are planned on using social media tools, community engagement strategies, and an entire showcase of water models and displays that take community water education to the next level. 

The WREN Meeting is always valued by participants for the opportunity to network and learn with like-minded water education volunteers and professionals and for the varied resources offered. The conference is by invitation only for recipients of WREN grants.

Consider joining us for 2015 - it's not too early to begin planning your community water education project with local partners.  Start now and get ready to apply for a WREN Grant in March 2015!

(Reprinted from the Spring issue of Water Policy News is now available from the PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network.)

6/2/2014