2006 Annual Conference Archive Page
Overview
NMRWA's Annual Conference provides water and wastewater professionals the opportunity to learn about new trends, services and industry products. Network with your peers and obtain up to 19 certification credits.
Hotel
Our Conference will be held at the beautiful Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, a New Mexico Heritage Hotel. This landmark destination has been the location of the NMRWA Annual Conference for the last four years under the Sheraton name. Recently renamed, the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town has had $14.2 million dollars in renovations since 2001, including a new pool/jacuzzi and the popular Q-Bar. The Hotel is located at 800 Rio Grande Boulevard, with many restaurants and shops located within walking distance. Best of all, the Conference room rate will remain at $75.00 per night for attendees! Reservations must be made before March 1, 2006, and be sure to request the New Mexico Rural Water Association Annual Conference room rate. Please call the Hotel Albuquerque at 505-843-6300 and ask for reservations. Make your reservations early, as the number of rooms available on some nights may be limited. Call our office if we may assist you with any problems or special needs.
Other nearby hotels include the Best Western Rio Grande, 1015 Rio Grande Boulevard, 843-9500, and the Hotel Blue, 717 Central Avenue NW, 924-2400. Mention the New Mexico Rural Water Association Conference to secure the best rate.
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Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town Website |
Conference Registration
You may register for the Annual Conference by using the form below, or calling the office at 1-800-819-9893. A full conference registration includes access to all classes, the Technology Exhibit Hall, and one ticket to all meal functions. Extra tickets may be purchased for spouses or friends for the Exhibitor's Meet & Greet, Networking Luncheon, and the Annual Banquet. Golf Tournament registration is not included in the full conference registration. Please complete one form for each conference attendee.
You will save $20 by registering and submitting payment before March 1, 2006, and you will save an additional $15 if your system has under 100 service connections. Association members save $100 on registration over non-members.
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Advance Registration Form |
Information on Classes and Instructors
The Annual Conference will feature over 60 individual classes, in-depth workshops, and hands-on training sessions. All classes will be taught be highly qualified experts in the water and wastewater industry. Operators will receive certification credits by attending accredited classes. Major topic tracks will include water operations (2 concurrent tracks), wastewater operations, regulations, management and leadership, safety, governance, planning, and operator certification fundamentals. The class schedule may be subject to change.
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Class & Event Schedule |
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Class Descriptions |
Annual Awards
The Association recognizes the achievements of Rural Water's best at the Annual Awards Luncheon. Anyone may nominate water systems, board members, operators, managers or special individuals to receive an award. The Awards Committee is currently seeking nominations for 2006. Nominations must be received by February 1st, 2006. Email your nomination here.
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Annual Awards Information |
Annual Golf Tournament
This year's tournament will be held on Thursday, March 23 at the beautiful and challenging Isleta Eagle Golf Course. The tournament format is a four-person scramble with a shotgun start at 8:00am. Many prizes will be given, including a chance at a $10,000 hole-in-one, and a $2,500 putt. You may sign up for the Tournament at the Registration booth. Prizes will be awarded in all categories at the Tournament Luncheon. The course is located at 4001 Highway 47 SE, exit 215 off I-25 south. For more information, call Isleta Eagle at 1-888-293-9146.
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Annual Golf Tournament Registration Form |
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Isleta Eagle Golf Course |
New Mexico Rural Water Taste Test
Sponsored by Bohannan-Huston, Inc.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive $1,500 towards airfare and hotel accommodations to meet New Mexico's legislators and enter their water in The Great American Water Taste Test, sponsored each year by the National Rural Water Association during the Rural Water Rally in Washington, DC, April 2 -4, 2006. New Mexico's 2003 winner, Lake Section Water Co., finished in the top five in the nation and was featured on CNN!
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NM Rural Water Taste Test Rules & Information |
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NRWA Water Rally |
Membership Meeting
Be sure and attend the 28th Annual Membership Meeting at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, March 21 and cast your vote for Association Board members and Officers. Every voting water system member is entitled to send a delegate to the Membership Meeting. Delegate forms must be received in the NMRWA office by 5:00 pm on March 10, 2006, and must be completed and signed in accordance with our bylaws to be accepted.
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Delegate Form |
Exhibitor and Sponsor Information
Showcase your product or service at New Mexico's largest water and wastewater conference. Consider becoming a sponsor and support small systems across the State. Host a training session or demonstration class. Click on the link for more information or call our office. The Technology Exhibit Hall will be open Monday evening, March 20 through Wednesday, March 22.
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Exhibitor Registration Packet |
Operator Certification Exam
The operator certification exam will take place 8:00 am on Thursday, March 23rd in the Franciscan Ballroom at the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town. You must submit an application form and test fee of $15.00 to the Facility Operations Section of the New Mexico Environment Department by February 20, 2006.
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NMED Facility Operation Section website |
Exhibitor Demonstration Classes
Exhibitor Demonstration Classes will be offered on Tuesday afternoon, and allow for hands-on instruction in a small group setting. The classes will take place inside the exhibit hall, where exhibitors will offer 30-minute demonstration classes at their booths. There will be five time blocks and participants will attend a new session for each block. A separate stamp card with special instructions will be included in the registration packets.
We have changed the instructions for the demo classes so please take note. Pre-registration is required to participate in the Exhibitor Demonstration classes. You must sign up for the particular demonstration classes and time you would like to attend at the exhibitor's booth. Sign up sheets will be located at the designated exhibitor booths on a clip board. Ask the exhibitors to sign up for demonstration classes. Once you have signed up for the class be sure to mark down the class and time on the back of your demonstration stamp card. To maximize your credit hours, sign up for all five demonstration classes. Registration is first come, first served. Space is limited and early registration is appreciated.
Demonstration classes will follow this schedule:
1:30 - 2:00 Session 1
2:05 - 2:35 Session 2
2:40 - 3:10 Session 3
3:15 - 3:45 Afternoon Break
3:45 - 4:15 Session 4
4:20 - 4:50 Session 5
At least 16 different classes will be offered, and exhibitors will repeat their class for every session so that participants may choose the order in which they attend the sessions. When signing up, participants will fill in their own schedule according to this order. Class size will be limited to 8 people to maximize the opportunity for questions and to address specific needs. When each 30-minute session is over, the exhibitor/instructor will stamp the cards and the participants will proceed immediately to the next booth on their schedule.
Annual Banquet
Enjoy a fine dinner in the Alvarado Ballroom while listening to the spiritual flute music of Blackhill. Most of you know him as Taos Pueblo Utility Chief Water Operator, Albino Lujan. Midway through the dinner, Bobby Scott, President of the National Rural Water Association, will present the distinguished John Paden Award to Senator Pete V. Domenici for his exceptional service to the water and wastewater systems of New Mexico. Martha Torrez, Program Director of the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development will present the USDA Annual Service Award.
Join the New Mexico Rural Water Association for a great night of Spanish, Country and Latin Music with �The King of New Mexico Music,� Tobias Rene! The performance will be held at the Hotel Albuquerque Alvarado Ballroom, 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM, on Wednesday March 22nd. Extra tickets are available for $15 per person, cash only. Conference registrants receive free admission to this event! Tickets may be purchased in advance at the registration booth of the NMRWA conference in the East Atrium of the Hotel Albuquerque. Tickets will also be sold at the door if the concert is not already sold out; advance purchase is recommended due to the limited number of tickets.
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Flyer for Tobia Rene |
Important Dates
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| Feb 1 | Deadline to submit nominations for operator / system awards |
| Feb 20 | Deadline to submit application to NMED for certification exam |
| March 1 | Cutoff date for Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town room block |
| March 1 | Last day to receive early bird registration prices! |
| March 1 | No refunds given after this date |
| March 10 | Delegate forms must be received in the NMRWA office by 5:00 pm in order to cast a vote at the Membership Meeting |
| March 20 | Opening session begins at 8:00 am |
| March 20 | Exhibitor's Meet & Greet -- opening of the Exhibit Hall |
| March 20 | Rural Water Taste Test -- win a trip to Washington, D.C. | March 21 | Membership Meeting -- make a difference, send your voting delegate |
| March 22 | Annual Banquet -- great food and entertainment |
| March 23 | Operator Certification Exam -- put all your training to the test |
| March 23 | Annual Golf Tournament -- held at the Isleta Eagle Golf Course |
2006 Conference Sponsors
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