6.1. ERMUSR 02-15-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Meetings and Workshops Major Meetings MMUA conducts three major membership meetings each year. Winter Legislative Meeting (Bloomington, Mar. 2A- 26). The winter legislative meeting focuses on policy issues and includes our annual state capitol rally. Members meet with legislative leadership as well as their indi- vidual legislators over the course of the morning. The meeting also includes presentations on a variety of timely topics. Featured presentations included "What Main Street Is Looking for from Utilities," "Solving Min- nesota's Transmission Dilemma," and "North American Gas & Power Overview." Summer Meeting (Arrowwood, Aug. 23- 25)'. The MMUA summer meeting is our largest membership gathering and includes the annual business meeting. The meet- ingfeatures aday and a half of professional education, a trade show, presentation of awards, and ample oppor- tunities for networking and socializing. Featured pre- sentations included "Implications of New Environmental Regulations for the Electrical Power Sector," "Keeping the Public in Public Power," and "State Budget Problems and the Impact on Minnesota Cities." Technical and Operations Conference (St. Cloud, Nou. 30 -Dec. 2). MMUA's newest major meeting is geared toward managers, superintendents, crew leaders, and others who are responsible for the daily operation of municipal utility systems. Last year's meeting featured presentations on leadership, surviving a major disaster, working with FEMA, accident analysis and prevention, and OSHA's new crane & derrick standard. Schools and Worhshops As usual, MMUA presented a variety of schools and workshops over the course of the year. Schools presented at the MMUA Training Center feature hands-on techni- cal task training with a strong emphasis on safe and efficient work practices. The following four schools were co-sponsored with the American Public Power Associa- tion and the Minnesota Rural Electric Association. •Overhead Distribution School. The most recent addition to the overhead and underground school is the journey- men leadership class. This class is designed to challenge the veteran lineworker with an enhanced curriculum to further develop leadership and technical skills. Underground Distribution School. See note above. • Transformer School! including a preconference work- shop on single phase transformer theory. This workshop is considered one of the best in the country. The program offers plenty of hands-on instruction with one of the fin- est instructors in the industry. Llke many MMUA schools, the Overhead School takes place at the MMUA Training Center. • Meter School. MMUA has developed extensive meter training facilities at the training center, and this work- shop is considered among the best. The program pro- vides challenging instruction for all levels of experience. Additional MMUA Schools • Substation School. This year's school emphasized sub- station operations and maintenance. • Locator School. We had very good attendance at this workshop in 2010. • Firstline Supervision. In 2010 we saw 13 new students come into this program designed to provide the first line supervisor with leadership skills needed in today's com- petitive market. MMUA Regional Worhshops • Effectively Managing Your Workplace. Presented by Vernell Roberts. • Electrical Workplace Safety: A Comprehensive Ap- proach. Presented by Bruce Westergaard. Communications and Publications Communicating with our membership and the general public is one of the fundamental reasons for MMUA's existence. MMUA Associate Executive Director Steve Downer plays a central role in fulfilling this function. Over the course of the year MMUA researched and answered numerous questions in regards to operation of municipal utilities. At times, the answer was gained through posting on an online survey on the MMUA website. As is the case every year, MMUA produced a number of information publications in 2010, including 11 monthly 14 - 2010 Year in Review