The A. W. W. A. and Its Sections

The A. W. W. A. and Its Sections

Portions of the proceedings of the American Water Works Association’s fortieth annual convention, of which we have printed excerpts in this issue and last, are interresting in the side lights that they throw upon the relations between the association and its sections, and the necessity which is shown for a closer cooperation between these sections and the parent body. One disappointing feature of this convention was the lack of reports from these various sections in the portion of the sessions set apart for this purpose. There would seem to have been no reason for this omission as the place for these reports was plainly designated in the Wednesday afternoon division of the program. Possibly the program committee did not give the section officers sufficient notice to prepare their reports, but this does not seem so, as a designated form was issued, containing a series of questions as to the work of the section during the past year and what it had accomplished in furthering the good of the association. However, be that as it may, the fact remains that only two of the sections made any definite reports—the Iowa and the Illinois. The other sections, with the exception of the Minnesota, were silent as to what had been done by them during the preceding year. Mr. Cappelin, for the Minnesota, made a short report, but nothing was given by him as to details. One might almost conclude, judging from this silence, that the other sections were inactive. This, we know, from the reports received by FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING of the activities of these sections, is far from true, and that they are very much alive, which makes it all the more unfortunate that they were not heard from at the convention. On the other hand, a very encouraging sign was the announcement of the formation of two other sections—that of the Canadian and the Californian.

As pointed out by the retiring president, Carleton Davis, in his annual address at the Tuesday session, the influence of the sections in the affairs of the association must of necessity be increasingly great. These subdivisions form the rallying points at which the members situated in the various parts of the country can readily get together, to talk over the affairs of the association and matters connected with water works practice. They also form the opportunity to those of the members unable through distance or lack of time to attend the convention of the parent association, to meet their fellow members, listen to and discuss papers and subjects of interest to water works men, and in short, reap the advantages which lack of attendance at the convention had robbed them of. Thus the sections form a species of middle ground between the member and the association and are, in consequence, of growing importance in the life of the organization.