NOWRA’s fourth annual Installer Academy attracted more than 180 industry professionals and vendors to Las Vegas, Nev., for three days of learning and friendly competition Dec. 8-10.
In collaboration with NOWRA, the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment presented a two-and-a-half-day course for installers. The Consortium is a coalition of 26 colleges and universities that have combined resources to offer a wide range of onsite educational programs.
Broad reach
The Installer Academy, a how-to event, is a product of this collaboration. Product-focused training was provided by Eljen Corp., Infiltrator Systems Inc., Bio-Microbics, Inc., Jet Inc., Aqua-Test and Bord na Mona. Presenters brought their in-the-field knowledge to the participants in a comfortable training environment.
The Academy was the first NOWRA event convened by Tom Groves, the newly installed president. “NOWRA has focused this annual session on the installer segment of its membership,” says Groves. “At the Installer Academy, members can find information not available at the state level.” This event attracted participants from 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Under Grove’s leadership, the association is positioned to raise a louder voice for the entire industry in Washington generally, and with the EPA in particular. Groves believes a more proactive organization will attract new members to continue the growth trend seen in recent years. Other officers include:
• Richard Otis, vice president and president-elect
• Brian McQuestion, secretary-treasurer
• Jerry Stonebridge, past president.
Backhoe Roe-D-Hoe
In keeping with the fun nature of the Las Vegas venue, 24 installers competed in the annual Backhoe Roe-D-Hoe. One event featured a 5-gallon pail filled with sand, upon which a golf ball was placed. Contestants had to to lift the ball from the top of the sand, turn about 100 degrees, and drop the ball into a different 5-gallon pail or an orange traffic safety cone, using a soup spoon taped to a bucket tine on a Bobcat mini-backhoe.
The “threading the needle” event required operators to move a 6-inch-square metal frame along 10 feet of electrified wire. If the frame contacted the wire, a loud horn sounded. Both events were scored on the operator’s elapsed time. Points were deducted if the ball was lost and every time the horn sounded. There were additional events as well.
The Washington Onsite Sewage Association (WOSSA) sent its state champion, Andrew Gunia, to the Academy for the sole purpose of entering the Roe-D-Hoe. Gunia, owner of Advanced Septic Services Inc. in Puyallup, did his home state proud.
In addition to the $1,000 cash prize, Gunia took home bragging rights and right to wear the NOWRA Roe-D-Hoe Grand Champion belt, styled after belts worn by professional wrestlers. The belt will be displayed at the WOSSA onsite training facility, “so that all members can share in the braggin,’” Gunia says.
