Appreciation Week Must Go On: Virtual Recognition of Arizona Water Professionals

April 9, 2020
AZ Water Professionals 2020 Graphic with a list of water careers

Authors: Juliet McKenna, P.G., Principal Hydrogeologist, Montgomery & Associates; Arturo Gabaldon, President, Community Water Company of Green Valley; Rosanna Gabaldón, AZ State Representative, Legislative District 2; Bob Hollander, Environmental Resources Manager, Water Services Department, City of Peoria; Crystal Thompson, Communications Manager, Central Arizona Project; and Sheri Trapp, Communications Specialist, AMWUA

Arizona residents certainly know the value of water. Professionals in the water industry understand that protecting and managing Arizona’s water supplies are essential to the state’s future, which requires an educated and well-trained workforce. The thousands of professionals in the water industry include engineers, hydrologists, hydrogeologists, water and wastewater operators, biologists, and experts on policy, economics, business administration, law, and communications. These water professionals are on the front lines, providing and ensuring safe and reliable water for Arizona. For the second year, Arizonans will honor the work and dedication of professionals in the water industry during Arizona Water Professionals Appreciation Week, officially designated by the Arizona House of Representatives as April 12 – 19, 2020. Watch the March 18 reading of the House Proclamation on the News page of arizonawaterprofessionals.com. After the success of last year’s inaugural Arizona Water Professionals Appreciation Week, the 2020 appreciation week was scheduled to follow the same format, coinciding with the AZ Water Annual Conference in Phoenix and kicking off with a special event at the Capitol. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AZ Water Conference has been postponed to July, and the event at the Capitol has been cancelled. Because water professionals across the state still deserve to be recognized, Arizona Water Professionals Appreciation Week will go on as a week of virtual appreciation.

Whether you’re a water professional or a water user, we invite you to participate in the second Arizona Water Professionals Appreciation Week. Organizations that employ water professionals are encouraged to celebrate their staff during the week of April 12 – 19. In this unprecedented time, when many professionals are working from home in isolation and everyone is trying to practice social distancing, it is important now more than ever to show appreciation for the work they do. Send an email, send a card or flowers, or add a tagline to your email signature honoring water professionals. With a little creativity, we can promote a week of virtual recognition. See the Water Professionals Recognition Toolkit below for ideas on how you can participate. This recognition week also aims to highlight career opportunities in the water industry, increase awareness of Arizona’s unique water resources, and emphasize Arizona’s commitment to clean and sustainable water supplies into the future. Demonstrate your support and commitment at arizonawaterprofessionals.com.

Last year’s Arizona Water Professionals Appreciation week featured the reading of House Resolution 2002 honoring water professionals throughout the state. Water companies, municipalities, and other water-related organizations also tagged #AZWaterProfessionals on social media and organized events to celebrate their employees. Thousands of water professionals were issued lapel pins, sponsored by private water companies, at events across Arizona. Dozens of organizations and individuals signed up to register their support. Adding this year’s supporters, the list has surpassed 50 businesses, organizations, and agencies that have pledged their commitment to water professionals around the state. Visit the Supporters page at arizonawaterprofessionals.com to view the complete list. No one can dispute the value of water. Let’s show our water professionals they are just as valuable.

Water Professionals Recognition Toolkit

Following are some ways to show your appreciation for Arizona Water Professionals during their special week of virtual recognition. Do you have additional ideas? Let us know! Contact us at info@arizonawaterprofessionals.com.

  1. Get Social! #AZWaterProfessionals
    • Share on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
    • Add a line to email signatures: “We support Arizona Water Professionals.”
    • Feature water-related positions and/or employees in the field on your website.
    • Download the impact graphic and use it in your newsletters and on social media.
    • Pledge to host a tour, open house, or event (once it’s safe to do so).
      • Advertise and host an open house at a plant or recharge facility where you can highlight your employees’ work.
      • Invite elected officials, the business community, media, your customers, and the general public.
    • Show your employees some love.
      • Purchase pins, when available at future water meeitngs, recognizing them as valued Arizona Water Professionals.
      • Send them email messages and ecards (or actual cards) recognizing their contributions to the water industry.
      • Send flowers, plants, or treats to employees in a temporary work-from-home status and brighten their home office and their day!
    • Issue a local/state proclamation or resolution.
      • Provide elected and appointed officials an opportunity to champion water professionals in their communities. A sample resolution, modified from last year’s House version, is available at arizonawaterprofessionals.com.
    • Commit to mentoring students and young staff.
      • Start a mentor program for young professionals in your company or agency. Even if you cannot mentor someone in person at this time, schedule a phone call or a virtual meeting to impart your knowledge and experience to rising water professionals.
      • Partner with local universities, community colleges, and technical programs to promote careers in the water industry.
      • Develop a presentation to deliver at a local school either online or in person next semester – from elementary to high school to university classes. Tell them why your work is important to the water industry in Arizona.
      • Serve as a guest lecturer in an online class.