September 2000

Learning from each other, networking, comparing experiences, exchanging ideas…that’s what Congress is all about.

And that is what many of you say is the number one reason the yearly International Public Works Congress and Exposition is so valuable.

In response to this, for the fourth year in a row, special times will be set aside for these informal discussions with knowledgeable facilitators to help each group get the most out of each session.

These “Roundtable Discussions” are scheduled Monday and Tuesday from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. on the exhibit floor.

To make certain you can join a group discussing exactly what you want to either know about or have input to share, the tables will be divided and clearly marked by subject matter.

Each session will be initiated by the facilitator with a brief overview of the subject matter, and then the floor will be open to the entire group. From there on, the facilitator’s only role will be to pose a few thought-provoking questions and elicit contributions from the group for determining and developing possible solutions. The possibilities and directions are endless. No two sessions will be the same.

The subject matter of each roundtable has been determined by member interest as well as its particular appropriateness for the sharing of information among members.

The following is a list of roundtable topics from which to choose.

Topic: Training and Productivity Improvements

Facilitator: Jack Siderer, Philadelphia Department of Streets, Philadelphia, PA

Topic: Municipal Sweeping

Facilitator: Bob Hammond, Superior Sweeping Service, Kalamazoo, MI

Topic: Winter Maintenance Operations: Snow & Ice Control

Facilitator: Larry Frevert, City of Kansas City, MO

Topic: Traffic Calming

Facilitator: Jerry Dabkowski, Greenhorne & O’Mara, Inc., Tampa, FL

Topic: Utilizing Education Programs to Generate Revenue for APWA Chapters

Facilitator: Patricia A. Kutt, American Public Works Association, Kansas City, MO

Topic: GASB 34 and Asset Infrastructure Management

Facilitator: Y. Raj Silalingam, Global Engineering & Management Services, Yorba Linda, CA

Topic: Employee and Staff Motivation

Facilitator: William “Mike” Asbury, Shafer, Kline, & Warren, Overland Park, KS

Topic: Demographics and Demand for Staff in the Public Works Sector: How are Others Coping & Strategizing for the Future?

Facilitator: Guy Boston, City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Topic: Dealing with Abandoned Utility Lines

Facilitator: Warren Andrews, City of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Topic: Good Ideas for Partnering: APWA Chapters and LTAP/T^{2 Centers}