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President's Message
Outgoing President Lisa Ann Rapp
Director of Public Works
City of Lakewood
President's Farewell Message
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of our Southern California Chapter for entrusting me to lead our organization in 2009. It has been a remarkable year full of challenges and highlights.
Wow! Who would have thought that we would be celebrating tonight knowing that we will be hosting the 2012 APWA International Congress in Anaheim! When I began my year as President, it was not even a sure thing that we were going to apply to host 2015. But it has been a heck of a roller coaster ride! I will always remember, and be proud that during my year as President, we achieved this honor.
And now, there is a lot of work ahead of us to develop committees, raise funds, and organize volunteers. I would like to give special recognition to our Congress Co-Chairs, Jeff Cooper, of Winzler and Kelly, and Natalie Meeks, City of Anaheim. I am leaving the Congress in the very able hands of our dynamite public/private partnership. I urge all of you to get behind them with your full support.
I also believe that our chapter has made a lot of progress on other goals we set for ourselves. We have included sustainability in our roster of committees and as part of our regular business, we have improved our use of technology, and we have strengthened our existing committees. I am sure we will continue to improve our operations in these key areas.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the officers and directors who have supported me throughout this year. You all have been wonderful to work with, and I know that we have a great group of leaders who will be advancing through the various offices. Our Chapter is in good hands in the future. And big thank goes out to our committees, and particularly our committee chairs, who work so hard to develop and stage our programs, educational seminars, and special events. These generous professionals, who have given many hours, have done a truly wonderful job. I would like to give a special thank you to Chapter Administrator Maureen Lull for her great advice, counsel, and support before and throughout this hectic year.
And even though they are not here tonight, I would like to thank the Lakewood City Council and City Manager Howard Chambers, as well as my Department staff, for allowing me the time to serve as Chapter President. They have been very generous and supportive.
So just what happens to old, spent chapter presidents? They join that elite group of old war horses called “the old guys”. Guess that’s me now….. And I’m planning to follow my role model Shahn Ahmad, this year’s President’s Award winner, and remain fully engaged, serving our chapter, preparing for the 2012 Congress, and helping the next generation to expand and grow our profession.
Now, I am sure you are all anxious to hear from our New Chapter President. George Alvarez has been planning and preparing, and he is ready to go! Our chapter is in good hands, and I know that you will all join me in welcoming him to his new job! George – the gavel (and the microphone) are all yours! Good luck and good bowling!
Incoming President George Alvarez
City Engineer
City of Santa Ana
President's Message Given at the Dinner Dance 1/30/10
Good evening and thank you all for attending our 12th annual installation and dinner dance. This is a wonderful event and I hope you enjoy yourselves tonight. It gives me great pleasure and honor to serve as your 2010 Chapter President. I am excited about the opportunity to be Chapter President in what I would call to be a very exciting time for our Chapter.
This evening I’d like to first thank the dinner dance committee for their planning efforts to make this, as always, a successful event.
• Trish Pietrzak • Shahnawaz Ahmad • Angela Neumann • Lisa Rapp
• Francesca Fuentes • Julienne Chene • Joyce Klenner • Jim Biery
• Maureen Lull
I’d also like to thank our past President, Lisa Rapp, for her leadership and guidance in 2009. During her term she formed the Sustainability Committee and of course, was successful in bringing 2012 Congress to Anaheim. Lisa is now our Newsletter Editor. Thank you Lisa for all you’ve done.
Three years ago, while serving as one of your Chapter Directors, I was asked by then president, Ismile Noorbaksh, if I’d like to be President of the Chapter.
I told Smiley that I’d get back to him on Monday. As I thought about it over the weekend, I said to myself, “This is an opportunity to give back to the local Chapter of APWA the community, and those professionals in the industry that I have known for many years”. I also felt privileged and honored to be asked. So of course, I said “Yes”.
In 2012, the Southern California Chapter will be hosting the Congress at the Anaheim Convention Center. As you know, this takes a lot of work, many volunteers, and fundraising efforts. We’ll need about 250 volunteers. Volunteers will not only be from this Chapter but our neighboring Chapters, as well. The Chapter is now in the implementation stage by organizing the various committees to assist with all the planning efforts. Shortly, you’ll receive an email & newsletter notification to apply to serve as a Committee Member or Chair for one of the 2012 Congress Committees. This is an opportunity for each of you to get involved with APWA and the opportunity to meet new members and of course have fun.
I also ask you to consider volunteering to serve on one of the Chapter’s Committees, such as Career Guidance, PR, Membership, just to name a few. That’s how I first got involved with APWA. I thoroughly enjoyed serving on the Career Guidance Committee and working with high school students to promote careers in public works.
Now, I’d like to inform you of my goals for this year.
1. While the chapter plans and organizes the 2012 Congress, my primary job as your President is to focus on the Chapter’s regular business. This would include:
- Conducting the monthly chapter and board meetings
- Overseeing the work of the Chapter Committees
- Conducting other business, as needed.
2. I will also support the planning and fundraising efforts for Congress 2012 by participating in the Steering Committee and playing a role in one of the Committees.
3. I plan to strengthen the chapter’s committees by having them report to the board on a regular basis, thereby making them more accountable and successful.
4. Promote careers in Public Works by mentoring high schools and college students. To this, we need more APWA members to be champions by working with local high schools and colleges. Also, we need to establish a connection with local universities.
Please enjoy your evening and, again, thank you for participating in tonight’s dinner dance