It's always a pleasant experience to find that someone agrees with you, particularly when you are expecting to find challenges or even opposition. That was the experience of the executiv, board recently as we first visited the offices of AWWA, GCSAA, and NGWA, and then hosted a meeting that include, representatives of those associations together with ten other national associa lions concerned with water issues.

The meetings were an outgrowth of the work on the Strategic Plan. The Board of Directors, several past presidents, interested members, and former board members met in February to revif our progress over the past three years. We determined that the areas of concen tration -- legislative influence; education and certification; improved communication to members, our industry, and the public; and continued development and maintenance of industry standards -- were appropriate and in line with our missior statement and membership wishes.

However, despite the progress we had made in each of these areas, we found that you, our members, and the industry at large, were not aware of all the things that we were getting accomplished. Moreover, there was a public perception that irrigation was a water waster and even a polluter. This was evident in the outcry about agriculture's pollution of streams and rivers, and the immediate crack down on landscape watering any time there is a water shortage. There art persistent efforts by some organizations to have government tear down dams to return the rivers to natural conditions.

How do you change industry and pub kc perceptions? We decided to take action in two directions:

• better communication about our activities and their value to our member
• develop relationships with water related associations to explore coordinat ing activities.

Our September meetings were the beginning of this exploratory process. We found that all of these associations were concerned in some way with public misperceptions. We were in agreement on the need to educate the public and the public policy makers about the impact of key water issues. They were in agreement that there was a need for a central clearing house for the water industry to be proactive on issues, data and policies that impact water. While productive, the exploratory process will need to continue a while longer before we decide what concrete steps can be taken.

As we are working on the second part of our strategy, better communication with you, it occurred to me that one of the earliest complaints I had heard when I first came on the board was "Why should I join the Irrigation Association? What's in it for me?" Let me tell you what we are doing:

Legislative Activity - we've continued to provide and encourage sound water policy within the Federal Government. We have developed three outstanding brochures on the value of irrigation in agriculture, landscape, and golf. We are working with the World Bank to have their irrigation specialists from around the world join the IA in a tour of irrigated agriculture in the U.S.

Although the renewal of the Clean Water Act has been tabled for this session of Congress, we have continued to monitor it closely. We are watching out for your interests closely at the Federal level. If we can network with some of these other associations on water issues, it will give us a greater voice in Congress.

Educational Activity - By the end of 1998, we will have held 110 classes with attendance of more than 2300, a 23 percent increase over last year. In addition to classes within the industry we are working with both community and four-year colleges to include irrigation-related classes in their curricula. This will increase the availability of trained employees for your work force and a better educated public.

Contractor certification registration has jumped 126 percent over last year. This has been driven by education and a marketing effort. This also should provide the industry with a proven educated work force.

Communication Activity - Communications to and dissemination of information about our industry and our technology has greatly expanded via both print Irrigation Business & Technology magazine and the Fax of Irrigation - and the Internet. We have added IBT Online, and are starting to place ads on our search engine.

The search engine has had 116,265 searches through this month and we have had 422,596 visitors to our home page. This communication vehicle provides you with the information you need about water and the industry and can also stimulate interest about your business or organization.

We are making great progress in all of these areas. We think this should answer any questions about what the Association has done for you.

What are you doing for the Association? What are you doing for the industry? We need your help. How can you do this?

First by answering some of the many surveys that we are sending out this year. We need to know what you think about the Association and what you think about the industry.

Secondly by attending the Expo in San Diego - bigger and better than ever. Take part in your Common Interest Group meeting and join a committee. They need your input.

This past year has flown by; it has been an incredible experience.

Thanks for listening.