2008 Annual Conference
Overview
NMRWA's Annual Conference is the largest and best water and wastewater conference in New Mexico. The Conference provides water and wastewater professionals the opportunity to learn about new trends, services and industry products. Choose from over sixty classes taught by industry experts from all over the country. Visit the exhibit hall featuring hands-on demonstrations of up-to-the-minute technology. Network with your peers, earn up to nineteen certification credits and take the certification exam for all levels. Relax and socialize in one of New Mexico's finest hotels. The NMRWA Annual Conference is the premier industry event of the year!
Hotel
Our Conference will be held at the beautiful Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, a New Mexico Heritage Hotel. This landmark destination is a full-service facility, offering room service, concierge services, two delightful restaurants, and the Q Bar, an ultra-chic lounge. Enjoy in-room massage, Day Spa and Salon services next door, Traditions gift shop, outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, exercise/ workout facility, laundry/valet services, and newspapers found at the front desk. The Hotel is located at 800 Rio Grande Boulevard, with many restaurants and shops in the heart of Old Town, located within easy walking distance. As of March 1, the Hotel Albuquerque has sold out of all regular rooms in the Hotel. You may contact them at 505-843-6300 to see if there has been any cancellations, or to reserve a suite.
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
New this year - register for the Conference online and pay using your credit card. Use Google Checkout or PayPal to make a secure transaction with no extra fees. You do not have to create your own account to use PayPal; Google Checkout requires an account, but it's quick, easy, and costs less for NMRWA. Click on the link below to purchase your event tickets.
You may also register for the Annual Conference by using the form below, or by 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, Awards 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, 2008, and you will save an additional $15 if your system has under 100 service connections. Association members save $105 on registration over non-members.
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Conference Registration Form |
Information on Classes and Instructors
The Annual Conference will feature over 60 individual classes, in-depth workshops, field trips and hands-on training sessions. All classes will be taught be highly qualified experts in the water and wastewater industry. Operators and board members will receive certification credits by attending accredited classes. We have added an entirely new training track this year, resulting in 73 separate training blocks plus our popular demonstration classes in the Exhibit Hall - the most training we have ever offered! Training tracks will include basic water systems, wastewater systems, regulations, advanced water systems, board training, management, hot topics and tribal systems. The class schedule is subject to change - check back for updates.
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2008 Class & Event Schedule |
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Class Descriptions |
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Instructor Biographies |
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 deadline to submit nominations to the Awards Committee has passed for 2008.
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Annual Awards Information |
Annual Golf Tournament
This year's tournament will be held on Thursday, March 20 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 |
6th Annual New Mexico Rural Water Taste Test
Sponsored by Bohannan-Huston, Inc.
We are looking for the best drinking water from a community water system in the State to represent New Mexico in a nationwide competition. A panel of three distinguished judges will conduct a preliminary taste test on coded water samples to select the top five entries for the final "taste-off" on Wednesday night immediately before the Annual Banquet.The Grand Prize Winner will receive $1,500 towards airfare and hotel accommodations to meet New Mexico's congressional delegation 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. New Mexico's 2003 winner, Lake Section Water Co., finished in the top five in the nation and was featured on CNN! Las Acequias de Placitas has won the NM competition three out of six years. If you think your water is the best, put it to the test!
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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 30th Annual Membership Meeting at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, March 18 and cast your vote for Association Board members and Officers. Every voting 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 7, 2008, 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 17th through Wednesday, March 19th.
We still have the following booths available: [69 70 71 73 74 75 76 78 79 80] Please contact the office to reserve a location.
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Exhibitor Registration Packet |
Operator Certification Exam
The operator certification exam will take place 8:00 am on Thursday, March 20th in the Franciscan Ballroom at the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town. You must submit an application form and test fee to the Facility Operations Section of the New Mexico Environment Department by February 19, 2008.
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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.
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
Over 20 different classes will be offered, and exhibitors will repeat their class every session so that participants may choose the order in which they attend the sessions. Class size will be limited to 8 people to maximize the opportunity for questions and to address specific needs of the participants. 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 and quality entertainment in the Alvarado Ballroom to wrap up the Conference. Relax and socialize with friends as well as meet legislators, speakers, award winners, dignitaries and other movers and shakers. The Santa Fe Allstars will be this year's featured entertainment following dinner.
