Well this is my first year as president and I look forward to serving the Great Rivers Chapter. I consider myself as a third generation soil conservationist. My grandfather, a pastor in the upper midwest, received the “Distinguished Service Award” from the “National Association of Soil Conservation Districts” for his work in developing the national “Soil Stewardship Week” and “Soil and Water Stewardship Sunday.” My father, a farmer in Iowa, served as chairman of the local USDA Soil Conservation District. He implemented many farming conservation practices and received awards for his conservation work from the Soil Conservation District, Izaak Walton League, and the Jaycees. Now, it’s my turn and I hope to distinguish my service with the IECA.
In February, I attended the IECA Annual Conference in Minneapolis. In addition to presenting myself, I found the other seminars very educational and rewarding. With presentations and vendors from around the world, I gained a new perspective on many erosion and sediment practices. The technologies for erosion and sediment controls are always changing for the better, and the vendors displayed many of those new products. If you were not there, you missed a great opportunity. But do not despair, the Great Rivers Chapter is hosting the IECA Annual (World) Conference in Kansas City in February of 2023.
After two years of limited training opportunities, we are looking forward to a couple of excellent events in the Great Rivers Chapter in 2022. First, we will have the “Great Connections Stormwater Conference” in the St. Louis Area on July 26-28, 2022; the conference brings together the resources of two IECA Chapters, the Great Lakes Chapter and the Great Rivers Chapter. Then, we have the Great Rivers Chapter Fall Conference on October 18-19, 2022, in Omaha.
I hope to see you at one or all of our great training opportunities in the Great Rivers Chapter in the next year. P.S. Bring a friend.
Paul Mueller
President of the Great Rivers Chapter