Council Business: Discussion and approval of a) Minutes from our Oct. 29, 1998 meeting and b) financial update
Ad Campaign: Review of last meeting’s Board’s decision to counter negative advertising through an industry-wide institutional ad campaign likened by some members to the "Had your milk today?" campaign of America’s dairy farmers. The review discussion will be followed by a presentation from media consultant Joe Slade White. The scope and methods of financing an ad campaign will be debated and direction of the WIC on this issue determined.
EO 12803 Review: The WIC is leading a contingent of organizations (NAWC, USCOM, NCPPP) in a meeting with Haig Farmer on Dec. 2, 1998 (following day). You will be updated on Haig Farmer’s report of his meeting with OMB in which OMB has, apparently, given EPA latitude to determine policy. Our Board must give direction to WIC representatives of the Industry for our meeting with Mr. Farmer to assist us in convincing EPA to, a) not consider concession fees "lease-like" and, therefor, subject to EO 12803 review, and, b) simplify the reporting and review protocol of an EO 12803 review.
Enterprise Conferences:
Billing and Collection: Discuss and determine if WIC wants to host a seminar to be sponsored by Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. (FGIC) division of GE Capital focused on billing and collection, especially delinquent accounts. FGIC believes that new services and savings from the financial services sector could benefit WIC members. WIC has begun working with FGIC, very informally, to create a new collection service which would remove the burden from the water industry of collecting delinquent accounts from "hardship" customers. This conference could be held as early as March 1999.
Deregulated Energy: Update on this "members only" conference is scheduled for Feb. 11, 1999, at the Hilton Hotel in Newark Airport. The conference will focus on cost reduction now, and as deregulation is phased in nation-wide.
International Projects Pre-Qualification Session: Update on a work-session for as many as 15 projects which are in various stages of development. Most are expected to reach RFP stage within 18 months. The work-session will be held on January 12, 1999 at Chemonics International’s headquarters in Washington, DC. World bank and other international affairs government advisors will join project managers and international bankers to present, what I believe will be, a thorough, interactive, project review to a small, highly focused, audience. A new Standard & Poor services may be revealed at this work-session. S&P is contemplating pre-rating international projects prior to issuing RFPs.
Peer Seminars: We will form a small committee to begin work on up to 4 "peer" seminars of public and private water and wastewater treatment plant operators.
Full and Associate Memberships: Review of effort to attract to the WIC: US Filter, Saur UK, Aqua Alliance (AWT - PSG) and Asurix (Enron). Receipt from the membership of personalized letters for Associate Membership candidates to be packaged in a folder and mailed by WIC.
Office Space and Fund Raising: Discussion of fund-raising by WIC to pay $1500 to $2500/month for a Manhattan office for WIC.
Proposed date for next Board meeting: January 15, 1999