Wisconsin Chapter

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2013 Summer Outing Scheduled!

Mar 12, 2013

Mark your calendars for our annual summer outing and new member drive on July 18. Building off our continued success the summer outing is returning with golf and other opportunities to participate. This summer’s event will include networking, education, recreation, a new member drive and fundraising for the chapter college scholarship fund. Event details are still in the planning stage but some items are known. The event will be held at the Rolling Meadows Golf Course in Fond du Lac.A representative of the DNR will address a current topic of interestTo allow more opportunities to participate additional activities are under consideration. If you have suggestions please feel free to contact us. The outing is planned to coincide with an Executive Committee meeting and will include an educational presentation on a current topic from a representative of the DNR. We will be offering dis [ ... ]

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Madison Boys & Girls Club TOPS Program Seeks Internship Opportunities

Feb 26, 2013

Looking for a summer intern? Consider this unique program opportunity in Madison!

The program coordinator has provided this information for interested parties in an email to our Education and Scholarship Committee:

The AVID/TOPS program works with students who are striving to attend college, and are often their first in their families to take this journey. The Boys & Girls Club TOPS Summer internship program is designed to expose our students to careers requiring a four year degree.

Research has shown that if a student has an idea of what career they would like to pursue prior to attending college that they are more likely to go on to and graduate from college. It is our hope that by providing our students with hands on work experience with Madison area employers that they will be able to develop more of an idea of which areas they would like to study and which careers they would like to pursue.

The program runs for six weeks starting the week of June 24th and goes through August 2nd. Students go through a job training program with us prior to the internship starting and a Boys & Girls Club TOPS Student Coordinator will be working with you both throughout the summer to ensure that your internship experience is going well. The number of hours varies based on the needs of the employer, usually somewhere between 10 -20 hours per week, and we ask our employers to pay the student a minimum of $8.00/hour. Many of our employers work exclusively with one student while others have taken on up to four during for the six week period.

Informational handouts can be accessed below and provide an idea list of ways that employers have structured their internships in the past. While some companies have the student work with one specific department, others have the students work with several different departments – sometimes a different department each week – to both give the student a variety of experiences and to give your staff less of a workload. Both methods have been extremely successful.

We are currently securing our internships for the summer of 2013, and we are hoping to confirm all of our participating companies in the next few weeks. At this point we are just looking for participation confirmation, and then the specifics of the internship can be developed over the next few months. I would be more than happy to meet with interested parties in person to discuss this exciting opportunity further and to answer any questions you may have about hosting a high school student this summer!

Thank you so much for considering working with a college bound Madison teen this summer, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Kate Tricker
TOPS Program Manager
Boys & Girls Club of Dane County
4619 Jenewein Rd.
Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711
Phone: 608-204-9722 Ext. 749 Fax: 608-204-9798
Email: ktricker@bgcdc.org
Donate: Support the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County

Summer Internship Overview Handout for Employers - 2013_1.DOCX

TOPS Summer Internship Example - 2013_1.DOCX

TOPS Summer Internship Example - Multiple Departments 2013_1.DOCX

Looking for a summer intern? Consider this unique program opportunity in Madison! The program coordinator has provided this information for interested parties in an email to our Education and Scholarship Committee:The AVID/TOPS program works with students who are striving to attend college, and are often their first in their families to take this journey. The Boys & Girls Club TOPS Summer internship program is designed to expose our students to careers requiring a four year degree. Research has shown that if a student has an idea of what career they would like to pursue prior to attending college that they are more likely to go on to and graduate from college. It is our hope that by providing our students with hands on work experience with Madison area employers that they will be able to develop more of an idea of which areas they would like to study and which careers they would li [ ... ]

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Christine Walsh Elected National Homeland Security ConsortiumTri-Chair

Jan 27, 2013

Wisconsin Public Works First Responder Christine Walsh Elected as National Homeland Security Consortium Tri-Chair!

The American Public Works Association (APWA) announced today that member Christine Walsh, Director of Operations for Beloit, Wisconsin, has recently been elected one of the Tri-Chairs of the National Homeland Security Consortium (NHSC) for 2013. Walsh will serve in the APWA Tri-Chair position for one year alongside the Consortium’s two other chairs, the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Tri-chair, Captain Tom Sands, Deputy State Director, State Police/EMHSD, FEMA’s State Administrative Agency - Michigan Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division, and the Tri-Chair representing the Governors’ Homeland Security Advisors Council (GHSAC), Gilbert Orrantia, Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security. Tri-Chairs lead the coordination and facilitation of the Consortium’s semi-annual meetings.

(Christine Walsh photo - Courtesy of APWA)

Walsh’s leadership positions within APWA include serving as Chair of the Emergency Management Committee and representing public works on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Education Task Force and the Homeland Security Task Force. Walsh was named one of APWA’s Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year in 2011. She has represented APWA on the NHSC for four years.

The NHSC consists of 21 national organizations comprised of state and local safety, security and health professionals along with elected officials and the private sector, and represents the array of professions that deliver the daily services vital to the safety and security of the United States. It represents first and secondary responders, as well as those who will provide the sustained effort necessary to respond to any major emergency, including leadership and direction by elected and appointed officials.

For APWA media queries, please contact Laura Bynum, M.A., APWA Media Relations and Communications Manager, at lbynum@apwa.net.

About APWA
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 28,500 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, has an office in Washington, D.C. and 63 chapters in North America.

About NHSC
The NHSC exists as a forum for public and private sector disciplines to coalesce efforts and perspectives about how best to protect Americans in the 21st Century.

Wisconsin Public Works First Responder Christine Walsh Elected as National Homeland Security Consortium Tri-Chair!The American Public Works Association (APWA) announced today that member Christine Walsh, Director of Operations for Beloit, Wisconsin, has recently been elected one of the Tri-Chairs of the National Homeland Security Consortium (NHSC) for 2013. Walsh will serve in the APWA Tri-Chair position for one year alongside the Consortium’s two other chairs, the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Tri-chair, Captain Tom Sands, Deputy State Director, State Police/EMHSD, FEMA’s State Administrative Agency - Michigan Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division, and the Tri-Chair representing the Governors’ Homeland Security Advisors Council (GHSAC), Gilbert Orrantia, Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security. Tri-Chairs [ ... ]

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2013 Chapter Sponsorship Program Announced!

Dec 14, 2012

Thomas Grisa Selected for National APWA Top Ten

Aug 21, 2012

Thomas Grisa, City of Brookfield, has been named a 2012 Top Ten Public Works Leader of the Year. This continues the Wisconsin Chapter’s streak; it is the fourth year in a row that a member has been awarded this title.

APWA annually recognizes ten of the most outstanding public works professionals from across the U.S. and Canada for their career-long dedication and service, professionalism, and expertise in public works infrastructure. AS one of the most coveted and prestigious awards presented by the Association, the Top Ten Public Works Leader award is given to honor the public works professional’s career, in which she or he demonstrated excellence in public works, services and infrastructure in his or her community through advancement of public works services and technology.

Tom’s credentials certainly stand up to his predecessors. He began his public works career in 1986 working for two engineering consulting firms in the Chicago/ Milwaukee areas where he conducted sanitary sewer evaluations, facilities planning studies, and wastewater treatment plant analyses. He accepted the position of Assistant City Engineer for the City of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin in 1993 where he led the engineering division of the Public Works Department. In 1999 he was hired as the Director of Public Works for the City of Brookfield, where he currently serves today. “In the difficult years of revenue caps, Tom has cooperated with the leadership in finding ways to continue to provide the excellent services which distinguish Brookfield, while limiting costs,” said Mayor of the City of Brookfield, Kathryn C. Bloomberg.

Throughout his career, he has worked cooperatively and collaboratively with elected officials, department heads, public works staff, state and federal agencies, citizens and citizen groups, nongovernmental organizations and neighboring communities. His philosophy is that more can be accomplished by working together than can be accomplished individually. This attitude has paid dividends to the City of Brookfield, the Milwaukee metropolitan area, and the state of Wisconsin. Accordingly, Tom has also been appointed to numerous technical advisory committees and leadership positions in the Milwaukee metropolitan area where he has developed synergistic partnerships with many to increase service levels while reducing overall costs.

Tom has achieved many accomplishments during his nearly 26 years of public works service. A few of his achievements include implementation of computerized tracking of activities and costs for all operations in the Highway Division, upgrading Brookfield water meters to automatic read meters using radio technology, and upgrading the water utility SCADA communications from phone lines to radio, saving thousands of dollars on phone charges while increasing reliability. Tom has also shown innovation in his career by developing a new way to categorize storm events. After experiencing four 100-year storms in Brookfield in 12 years, resulting in numerous questions from residents about the unlikely nature of this phenomenon, Grisa searched for an alternative way to describe these storms. Finding no method out there that wasn’t based on probability, Mr. Grisa looked at how scientists describe other natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes. He developed a mathematical formula to convert the frequency of a storm to a severity index; the larger the number, the more severe the storm. This method emphasized the severity of the storm and not its (supposed) rarity. Tom has spoken on this concept to local, regional, and national audiences and has had his white paper published in the APWA Reporter.

The Top Ten plaque was presented to Tom at the APWA Golf outing. Tom is truly an example of an outstanding public works leader.

Congratulations, Tom!

By Rachel Burnham, APWA Wisconsin Chapter Awards Committee

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Bruce Slagoski Named National Professional Manager of the Year

Aug 21, 2012

Bruce Slagoski, City of Beloit Operations supervisor, has been announced as the winner of the National Professional Mange of the Year – Public Works Emergency management Category Award. He will be awarded this honor at the APWA 2012 International Public Works Congress & Exposition n Anaheim, California August 26-29, 2012.

This is the first time a member of the Wisconsin Chapter has won this award. The Professional Manager of the Year Award in public Works Emergency Management seeks to inspire excellence and dedication by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of public works emergency management professionals. The primary focus of this award is the recognition of exceptional leadership in the field of public works emergency management.

Without a doubt, Bruce has the qualifications to be worthy of this distinguished award. He has worked for the City of Beloit for the past 16 years in a variety of different positions. As a manager of streets, snow, forestry, and traffic control, Bruce has done an excellent job of integrating emergency management into all aspects of his role as Operations Supervisor.

His work also extends beyond his day-to-day responsibilities. Bruce has become a leader throughout the state on emergency management issues; one of which includes developing a Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement for Wisconsin. He was also on the design team for the first mock disaster held at the Beloit College. Bruce has not only assisted Wisconsin to be better prepared to respond to emergencies, but he has worked in multi-agency incident command centers on occasions that respond to evens including murder and hostage incidents, fires, hazardous spills, and flooding. In fact, the City of Beloit has experienced three Federal Emergency Declarations of which Bruce was a part of the Incident Command Structure (ICS).

As part of his community service, Bruce plays an active role in city emergency planning for special events. He volunteers at parades, farmers’ markets, and school events and was even awarded Volunteer of the Year from Governor Doyle and the City of Beloit’s Downtown Association in 2004 and also in 2010.

Bruce has worked on various teams for several memorable events. He is a member of the South Western Wisconsin Incident Management Team (IMT), and participated in the Emergency Operations Center in 2011 at the Wisconsin State Capitol during strikes against Governor Walker. Bruce also participated in the multi-disciplinary incident command structure with the United States Secret Service Agency when John Kerry visited Beloit during his run for the presidential candidacy. He has also represented the American Public Works Association on several Emergency Services Sector (ESS) committees for the Department of Homeland Security.

Bruce was recognized at a City of Beloit Council Meeting on Monday, June 18, 2012. He exemplifies exceptional leadership in the field of public works emergency management and APWA, the City of Beloit, and the State of Wisconsin are lucky to have him as a part of our team.

Congratulations, Bruce!

By Rachel Burnham, APWA Wisconsin Chapter Awards Committee

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APWA WI Chapter Scholarship Fund Change Coming!

May 29, 2012

The Executive Committee has placed in motion a change to the Scholarship Fund that is designed to make it sustainable over the long term and provide opportunities for members, organizations, and others to support the fund for as long as we are able. This November the membership will be asked to vote on a By-Law change that will separate the funds donated to the fund from the chapter general operating budget, regulate the management of the fund, and provide overall goals for the program.

The chapter scholarship fund was started with a generous gift from William Rheinfrank. Over the years the chapter has provided tuition reimbursement to its municipal members, allowing them to complete the Public Works Management Institute, Public Works Supervisory Academy, and other professional development. Additionally, the chapter has been able to award 24 scholarships the past years to students nominated by our members who are prospective members of the profession. This has been done by preserving and building on the original gift given to the chapter. The proposed changes are designed to ensure these programs continue into the future.

In order to provide sustainability to the fund so that it can meet or exceed what it has accomplished to date, the Executive Committee voted to propose a By-Law change to ensure the Scholarship Fund will grow and provide a level of comfort to donors that their gifts will live on in the future for the purpose it was donated. This change will be presented at our July meeting and voted on in November.

The By-Law change includes:

Purpose and Goals of the Fund – Public Employee Development and Student Scholarships
Administration – Separate from the Operating Fund, Administered by the Education and Scholarship Committee
Accounting Requirements – Accounting and Reporting Requirements
Longevity of Gifts – Provides for Continued Use of Gifts for the Purpose Given

Watch for the bylaw changes to be published in upcoming newsletters.

Additionally, the Executive Committee is separately working on establishing the means to continually grow the fund so that it becomes self-sustaining; awards are funded out of the earnings and specific donations to the fund. These ‘means’ will include special events, ability for individuals or organizations to donate, and instructions on gifts through estate planning. The By-Laws change and the efforts of the Executive Committee are all geared to make the fund sustainable and provide a level of assurance that gifts, donations, or bequeaths given will be used for the development of our profession well beyond the day they are given.

The Education and Scholarship Committee and the Executive Committee ask for your support of this By-Law change in November!

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Request for Member Input - 2011 Community Events

May 22, 2012

APWA Members ~ This is a call for your help! I am preparing an application for the APWA PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR CHAPTER EXCELLENCE (PACE) on behalf of the Wiscnsin Chapter and need to know about community events that you, or your public works department, completed in 2011. Please take a look at the following requests for information. If you participated in anything in your community (in 2011) - or know about something from your community that we could include, please let me know ASAP (ahnaray.bizjak@city.fitchburg.wi.us). This nomination is due June 1, so I am asking for you to send this information to me by Tuesday, May 29!If you do respond to any of the 5 items listed below, please provide the date of the event, a brief description, who participated, and include a photo (if you have one). Public Works Promotion - Defined as National Public Works Week, [ ... ]

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National Public Works Week 2012 - WI Proclamation

May 22, 2012

Scott Walker, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, has proclaimed the week of May 20 - May 26, 2012 as Public Works Week throughout the State of Wisconsin. The official proclamation is accessible at: 2012 Wisconsin National Public Works Week Proclamation

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APWA WI Introduces Itself to Wisconsin Legislators

Mar 26, 2012

The APWA WI Public Relations committee led preparation of a letter written to introduce the legislators to the American Public Works Association and to familiarize them with the activities and resources our Wisconsin Chapter members can offer. The letter was sent to various members of the Wisconsin State Legislature on February 2, 2012, and also informed the legislators that the Wisconsin Chapter intends to host a meet and greet session with them in mid-May. APWA Letter to WI Legislators 2012 Look for more information to be coming in the next month as we finalize the location and date for the meeting and the topics of discussion.

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2012 APWA North American Snow Conference - Agency Sponsorships!

Feb 27, 2012

The Agency Sponsorship program will allow your organization to send multiple staff to the Snow Conference at a low cost. They will be able to view exhibit floor displays without having to register for the full conference. Talking directly with vehicle managers and materials suppliers about up-to-date products and equipment will strengthen their understanding and overall ability to contribute to your snow and ice control program.Levels of Agency Sponsorship5 passes for $100 15 passes for $250 35 passes for $500 75 passes for $1,000The Snow Conference is a great chance for front line personnel, supervisors and managers to meet directly with vendors, see and evaluate new products, and learn tricks of the trade from each other. In these tough economic times, it can sometimes be hard to reward employees and keep them motivated. An agency sponsorship is one way you can reward your hard working employees by letting them attend the Snow Conference Exhibit Floor for a day!

NASC Agency Sponsor.pdf

agency sponsor letter WI chapter - email.docx

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Canada and US Enact Cross Border Mutual Aid Agreement

Feb 7, 2012

EM Advocate - Monthly newsletter from the National Emergency Management Association

Central and Prairie Regions Enact Cross Border Mutual Aid Agreement

The state of North Dakota and the Canadian province of Manitoba are the first two signatories to the State-Province Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Agreement. The MOA is intended to facilitate cross border mutual aid assistance. Congressionally approved cross border agreements between the U.S. and Canada already exist in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. The State-Province Agreement is complementary to those agreements as well as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) and the Canadian Council of Emergency Management Organizations (CCEMO) Memorandum of Understanding Interjurisdictional Emergency Management Assistance.

Eligible participating jurisdictions may include any or all of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Also, any or all of the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan. The Agreement allows additional states and provinces to join upon execution or adoption.

NEMA is helping to facilitate congressional approval of the agreement which is being met with support on the Hill. Next on the horizon is the establishment of a North American mutual aid agreement that includes the Canadian provinces, U.S. states and Mexican states.

Related web sites

Canadian Council of Emergency Management Organizations - http://www.conferenceboard.ca/networks/cemt/default.aspx
Emergency Management Assistance Compact - http://www.emacweb.org/
International Emergency Management Group - http://iemg-gigu-web.org/mou-e.asp
National Emergency Managers Association - http://www.nemaweb.org/
Connecticut General Assembly - http://cga.ct.gov/2011/pub/chap517b.htm
Maine Emergency Management Agency - http://maine.gov/mema/response/mema_response_iemac.shtml

Provided by Bruce Slagoski, APWA-WI Emergency Management Committee Chair - (608) 364-2929 Ext 7008

EM Advocate - Monthly newsletter from the National Emergency Management AssociationCentral and Prairie Regions Enact Cross Border Mutual Aid AgreementThe state of North Dakota and the Canadian province of Manitoba are the first two signatories to the State-Province Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Agreement. The MOA is intended to facilitate cross border mutual aid assistance. Congressionally approved cross border agreements between the U.S. and Canada already exist in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. The State-Province Agreement is complementary to those agreements as well as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) and the Canadian Council of Emergency Management Organizations (CCEMO) Memorandum of Understanding Interjurisdictional Emergency Management Assistance.Eligible participating jurisdictions may include any or all of the states [ ... ]

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January 2012 = APWA Award Submittal Time! Go Electronic!

Dec 9, 2011

Save time, money, and energy on your 2012 Award Nominations! New this year, National APWA will only be accepting nominations electronically; no hard copies will be accepted. The Wisconsin Chapter will be following National’s lead with this new electronic submittal process. Instead of printing multiple copies of your completed submittal and sending them in the mail, we are asking applicants to e-mail the nomination, in a combination of various files, to the Awards Chair. If you have a project that you’re proud of, apply for a Project of the Year Award today! Nominations are due to the Wisconsin Chapter by Tuesday, January 31, 2012. The 2012 Award forms have been updated and are now available on the Chapter website: WI Chapter Awardshttp://wisconsin.apwa.net/c/awardscommittee/For questions, contact:Ahnaray Bizjak, Awards Chair608-270-4262ahnaray.bizjak@city.fitchburg.wi.us

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2012 Summer Conference

Nov 23, 2011

Mark your calendars for the 2012 Summer Outing, Conference and new member drive on July 26/27th. Building off the success of last summer’s golf outing and without a spring conference the golf outing is returning in an expanded format with more opportunities to participate. This summer’s event will include networking, education, awards, and a new member drive. While planning continues the following items are known: The event will be held at the Deer Valley Lodge in Barneveld, WI.The hotel has a water park for your family to enjoyGolfing will be held at the adjacent Deer Valley Golf Course.There will be biking on the nearby Military Ridge Recreation TrailThere will be a Community CleanupEducational Sessions and an Awards Banquet will be heldThe event will coincide with an Executive/Standing Committee MeetingWe will be offering discounted rates to encourage new members to experience our [ ... ]

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