Happy New Year everyone! Where did the time go?  I hope that everyone was able to find a way to make enough money to survive another year.  I personally understand how difficult it is to run a business and try to stay profitable. My wife, Candy, and I are offering service after hours, weekends and holidays.  By doing this we have been able to bring in some much needed capital and to get the replacement well that we not have had a chance to bid.  Business as usual may not be enough.

In my conversations with many this past year, I have noticed that the companies that are weathering the storm with the least amount of hardship are the ones that are willing to offer a variety of services.  With the internet and the “green” movement, the public has more information than ever before.  As a professional, it is up to you to help them sort through what technologies are beneficial to them.   Some of the services that seem to still be in demand are geothermal, water sampling, water treatment and basic well and pump service. 

Taking advantage of educational opportunities is an excellent way to maintain an advantage over your competitors.  The 2010 Convention this year is offering education the entire day of the show.  There will be two walk through DOT inspections on the convention floor during the show as well as 6 one-hour seminars on the convention floor for manufacturers to educate and showcase their products.  This will be in addition to our regular educational program.  Candy and I personally invite you to attend our 82^nd Annual Convention in Grand Rapids and let us know what you think about the changes you see in the format.  Convention committee has been working hard to pull together this year’s show along with looking at different venues for future shows.

Another educational opportunity is MGWA’s Fundamental and Technical Course, February 9, 10 & 11 in Lansing.  The Fundamental Course is no longer just for individuals taking their exam, but is also geared toward educating your service technicians on trouble shooting jet and submersible pump systems.  This year we will add capacitor and relay testing to the course.  

The MGWA has been hard at work this last year on your behalf, last spring attending the Washington Fly-In, attending several stake-holders meetings with the DEQ and other stakeholders formulating  regulations regarding geo-thermal  drilling to help protect our ground water resources, on which we all rely.  Rules were formulated that would have insured that all loops were drilled by Michigan Registered Contractors. Unfortunately, the Director of the DEQ declined signing these proposed rules that would have been a good starting point to regulate an industry that has a very high potential to contaminate our drinking water aquifers.  With the DEQ/DNR in transition, it is up in the air where this issue will go.

You all should have received a mailing regarding HB 5319.  It is imperative you oppose this bill to put all Michigan groundwater into a public trust.  This amounts to the state stealing your property without compensation.  Please contact your Representatives in writing to oppose this bill.

In closing, I would like to thank you all again for your support and say that without you there is no Michigan Ground Water Association.  Please take the time to encourage anyone involved in the water well industry that is not a member to become one and get involved.  Everyone’s help is needed.  For those of you that want to know what the association does for you.  Attend some meetings and find out.  If you’re not getting the information you want from your district meeting, call me or the MGWA office and let us know.  We’ll do our best to help you. 

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your president.

Robert R. Webb II

MGWA President