West Shore Water Producers Association
Statement of Purpose
The operators of water plants treating Lake Michigan water were first invited to meet and discuss mutual problems in Racine in 1931. The first meeting was so successful that the group decided to meet regularly. Each meeting was held in a different city and a tour of the water plant was included. To most of those attending, the visit to each plant was a valuable experience. New ideas were obtained which were put to use when the men returned to their plants. In some cases they felt their plant and methods were better. They talked with operators from other plants and discussed their problems.
They became personal friends of the other operators.
Ideas, information, and, in many cases, material was exchanged or loaned.
The group, which was later named the West Shore Water Producers Association, continued to meet about three or four times a year under the enthusiastic guardianship of the Corresponding Secretary, George Prindle. Looking at other plants, talking with the operators, good fellowship, and the chance to talk freely and off the record at meetings was the reason for its continued popularity.
To those attending, each meeting was a valuable experience; and they looked forward to the next meeting.
Officers were chosen each year, but regular dues, memberships, or bylaws were not considered necessary. Salesmen of water works materials and equipment were not excluded, but were considered guests of the group and were not expected to entertain the members or promote sales at the meetings.
The first project sponsored by the West Shore Water Producers Association was the short filter run study which was run during 1958 and 1959 by the U. S. Public Health Service; and, in which, fourteen of our member plants participated. This was not out of line with our policy of working for a solution to common problems.
As long as we continue to discuss mutual or common problems or participate in projects designed to solve such problems, we will be following the policy which has kept us together for so many years.
It is our belief, however, that we should stay out of politics, whether it be local, state, regional, federal, American Water Works Association, or any other group. We should not sponsor projects which are controversial and on which members of our group may be on opposite sides. We should not act as a group to force the adoption of legislations or throw our weight around on such subjects as lake pollution or diversion.
We did not organize for this purpose, and if we use the organization for this purpose now, we may split our members into factions with different objectives.
We can’t afford to lose the friendship, cooperation, and mutual benefits obtained from our Association, so let’s stick to the original objectives of Walter Pierce, John McCarthy, Jim Ashworth, George Prindle, and others, which were:
1. Discussion of mutual problems among operators treating Lake Michigan water. 2. Exchange of ideas by means of inspection trips to Lake Michigan treatment plants. 3. Cooperation among operators by exchange of information, suggesting solutions to problems, by loaning material, equipment, or even personnel in emergencies.
4. Advancement of knowledge in water works practice through association with others in the same profession.
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