By Julia Steenberg
It’s been a year filled with change and challenges for all of us. It is with some relief that I am saying good-bye to 2020. I know I am not alone in feeling this way. I am grateful for the vaccine breakthroughs and the promise of more normalcy in the year to come. Just like in other difficult times, I hope you all will be able to look back on 2020 and have a few good memories to cherish. Maybe it was having more time with your family, maybe it was those endless dog walks, or maybe it was not having to worry about the Minnesota winter commute. I am sure you’ll think of something.
I’ve enjoyed reading the newsletter articles from several of you throughout the year about how your role has changed in the pandemic. They all showcase how we’ve found a way to continue to work safely, step up and meet the state’s challenges, and continue to teach and reach people’s lives for the better. I am proud to be a part of MGWA and thankful to have gotten to know many of you better throughout this last year (albeit via Zoom).
The first MGWA virtual conference was a great success. Thank you to the Board and MGWA management staff for all their efforts. Without you, it would not have gone so smoothly! For first timers, we didn’t know quite what to expect, and we were thrilled with the turn out. Thank you to all who registered and attended! The funds raised didn’t quite match our in-person conferences but will go a long way towards keeping MGWA efforts going during these times. I hope you enjoyed learning as I did about protecting and managing our groundwater quality in urban environments. Speakers did a great job; topics were relevant and timely. Thank you for all the good questions and feedback. If you missed any of the talks or would like to watch them again, you can now find them on the conference webpage https://www.mgwa.org/conferences/mgwa-2020-fall-conference/.
We have plans in place to use a virtual format again next spring. I am looking forward to Tony Runkel taking on the role as president. His expertise and experience with Minnesota’s hydrogeology over the last 30 years will be an asset to our organization, and I look forward to the conferences next year.
It’s that time of year, if you would like to contribute to the Foundation, you can make a cash donation at https://www.mgwa.org/mgwa-shop/foundation-donations. There you can make donations to the specific scholarships, awards and educational activities sponsored by the Foundation.
Remember to set up AmazonSmile and support us every time you shop at no cost to you. Make sure AmazonSmile is turned on in your settings if you have an Amazon account.
Also remember to renew your membership for 2021 https://www.mgwa.org/mgwa-shop/.
Enjoy the holiday season and have a very happy new year!
MGWA is committed to developing a just, equitable, and inclusive groundwater community. Click on the button below to read MGWA’s full diversity statement.
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