September 27, 2010
For Immediate Release

2010 award winners announced at WaterPro Conference

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The West Virginia Rural Water was named the Association of the Year and President Fred Sheldon Man of the Year at the National Rural Water Association’s Tribute to Excellence awards ceremony, held on Sept. 27 in New Orleans, La.                

Awards were presented, including:

Source Water Peer Leadership Award: Tim Walls, Rural Water Association of Arizona; Training Specialist Peer Leadership Award: Shelly Hammons, Idaho Rural Water Association; Circuit Rider Peer Leadership Award: William Secoy, Florida Rural Water Association; Wastewater Peer Leadership Award: Chris Groh, Wisconsin Rural Water Association; Executive Director Peer Leadership Award: Gene Whatley, Oklahoma Rural Water Association; Accounting Peer Leadership Award: Laura Schwartz, Iowa Rural Water Association; and Member Services Peer Leadership Award: Laura Vidal, Alliance of Indiana Rural Water.

Exemplary Efforts in Environmental Protection: Paw Paw, Michigan.

Quality On Tap!  Leadership in Public Relations: West Virginia; Merit Plaques to: Alabama Rural Water Association, Minnesota Rural Water Association, Delaware Rural Water Association.

 Excellence in Training and Technical Assistance: Minnesota Rural Water Association; Merits Plaques to: Michigan Rural Water Association, West Virginia Rural Water Association, Louisiana Rural Water Association.

 Excellence in Member Services: Florida Rural Water Association; Merits Plaques to: Alabama Rural Water Association, Delaware Rural Water Association, New York Rural Water Association.

 Excellence in State Legislation: Florida Rural Water Association; Merits Plaques to: Alabama Rural Water Association, Kentucky Rural Water Association, New York Rural Water Association.

 Excellence in National Legislation: Wisconsin Rural Water Association, Evergreen Rural Water of Washington; Merits Plaques to: New York Rural Water Association, Atlantic States Rural Water & Wastewater Association, Idaho Rural Water Association, Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems.

Excellence in Magazine: Louisiana Rural Water Association; Merit Plaques to: Pennsylvania Rural Water Association, Oregon Association of Water Systems, Alabama Rural Water Association, Mississippi Rural Water Association.

Excellence in Printed Newsletter: Missouri Rural Water Association; Merits Plaques to: Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems, Minnesota Rural Water Association, Maine Rural Water Association.

Excellence in Electronic Newsletter: Wisconsin Rural Water Association; Merit Plaques to: Missouri Rural Water Association, Rural Water Association of Utah, South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems.

 Excellence in Website: West Virginia Rural Water Association; Merit Plaques to: Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems, Alabama Rural Water Association, Ohio Rural Water Association State Association of the Year: West Virginia Rural Water Association; Merit Plaques to: Florida Rural Water Association, Wisconsin Rural Water Association                

Gary Rhoades of Evergreen Rural Water of Washington, Tracey Hunter of Evergreen Rural Water of Washington, Ken Blomberg of Wisconsin Rural Water Association and the California Rural Water Association were each honored with the new President’s Award, presented to those who have given exceptional effort to rural water.

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