Published date: October 2, 2023
It’s that time of year when we turn a page and welcome Fall. Leaves start to change color, daylight starts to dwindle away, the first freeze of the season starts to appear in the Northwoods which means snow is inching closer.
Coming off a successful and eventful summer starting off with the Chapter Scholarship Fundraiser and Summer Golf Outing where $1,700 was raised for scholarships and continuing with the Snow Plow Roadeo having 86 competing drivers and record setting vendor participation. Congratulations to Mike Gescheidle, Winnebago County for taking 1st place and Henry Teetz, West Allis, for finishing 2nd – good luck to both at the National Snow Plow Roadeo in Loveland, CO. to represent Wisconsin!
Our great summer continued with APWA’s PWX, where the Chapter accepted its 18th Presidential Award for Chapter Excellence (PACE) award, and the City of Eau Claire and Kraemer North America was awarded the Project of the Year Award for the High Street Bridge Reconstruction project. Additionally, at PWX, we got to watch Jason Atchison, Baxter & Woodman, walk across the graduation stage for successfully completing the Emerging Public Works Leaders Academy. The Chapter is excited to have Ela Lodzinski, Baxter & Woodman, and Britney Meyer, GRAEF, enrolled in the 2023-2024 state program while additionally Ela was selected for also being in the national program.
I can certainly say the Chapter is doing extremely well and I am looking forward to the upcoming Fall Conference in Lake Geneva. This conference has the unique opportunity to co-host with the Chicago Metro Chapter. The Conference Planning Committee has exciting and informational educational sessions lined up and fun activities planned. New this year to the Fall Conference, by popular demand, the Winter Road Maintenance Operator Certification class will be offered followed by a hands-on spreader calibration class hosted by Wisconsin Salt Wise. These two opportunities are geared for the front-line employees who do both snow/ice fighting duties along with salt spreader calibrations. CEU credits are available for both classes.
Looking ahead, planning the 2024 Spring Conference has started to take place. The Chapter is extremely excited to have a large vendor exhibition show taking place in Madison and many fun new activities taking place on the vendor floor.
Stay tuned for more exciting details.