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ANNUAL REPORT 2003

ANNUAL REPORT 2001

ANNUAL REPORT 2002

Overview:  

The period under review, June 2003 to May 2004, can be seen as dualistic in nature.  On the one hand a number of initiatives reached their goals, culminating in concrete contracts and results, while at the same time WISA was involved in doing the groundwork for its future through the continuation of its Strategic Planning process.  

During this period WISA signed long term contracts and agreements covering all its main sources of income, excluding the Biennial Conference, reached agreement with the publishers of Water,Sewage&Effluent concerning its continued free distribution to all members, and in a number of ways not only improved services to members, but also gained financial advantages to better ensure the continued financial sustainability of WISA.  

Focusing on the future, the continued processes of the Strategic Planning process are in place and the recommendations of some of the Strategic Planning Committees are in the process of being approved.  This process afforded us the opportunity to evaluate WISA, its goals and functioning from the ground up and has already manifested itself in the shift of focus inherent in the new mission statement.  The wording Building Expertise, Sharing Knowledge, Improving Quality of Life; accentuates the “human connections” and responsibilities of the water industry, stressing aspects such as training and capacitating, as well as acknowledging the priority of the welfare of consumers while not neglecting scientific research and exchanges.

It underscores the fact that while technical and scientific expertise is paramount for success in all facets concerning the water cycle that the end-consumer is humanity and remains paramount.  

Other aspects that emerged during the strategic planning process, though not yet encapsulated into formal recommendations are already being pursued.  Our networking with other like-minded organisations is yielding results in the three parallel conferences that will be offered during Afriwater 2005 that is the result of our vastly improved relationship with the IWA, and its South African representative, the IWA-SA.  This will hopefully to lead to a formal relationship with the IWA, the premier truly international association for water professionals.  

The largest development however took place in the minds of our members – the more heartening as this cannot be centrally engineered – which illustrates itself through the increased focus on consumer related issues presented at WISA 2004, as well as the fact that 45% of the present Board of Directors hails from what is termed PDI’s and 33% are women.  Particularly as WISA took a decision not to chase quotas but to trust in democratic processes – based on competence and merit – to naturally grow and evolve demographical representivity.  The results bear out the soundness of this decision.  For the fourth consecutive year active membership has also grown, despite a vigorous process to clean the database of members delinquent in subscriptions.  Especially heartening is the fact that the largest growth occurred in the categories of Students, and Associates.  Bearing in mind that these categories represent the youth and young professionals, this bodes well for the future of WISA as a sustainable professional association.  

The Chief Executive Officer completed his original contract but complied with a request from the Board to extend his contract until May 2004.  A second has subsequently been signed, albeit on revised terms, including a three-month notice period because of his changed personal circumstances, till the end May 2005.

Events:  

Afriwater 2003  

This took place for the first time at the Sandton Convention Center and as usual took place simultaneously with Afribuild.  It is an adage in the industry that any change of venue or schedule takes three years to create a new mind association.  This proved to be the case.  Because of the particularly close working relationship that has been built up with the organisers over a number of years, we were able to sit down and critically evaluate results to ensure that Afriwater 2005 would be a huge success.  Afribuild will no more be held in conjunction to place all focus on Afriwater and the delegates to the three parallel conferences that will be held simultaneously will also enjoy access to the exhibition.  

The organizers offered WISA a free stand at the exhibition and it was decided to accept the offer.  For the first time then, WISA staffed an exclusive stand and the SAIWA Division also used the opportunity to play a continuous screening of their promotion video that was very professionally compiled by one of their committee members, Jake Presley.

Patron Members:  

As is known no company can apply to become a Patron Member of WISA, these are debated and decided upon by the Board.  eThekwini Municipality , through eThekwini Water, was invited to become a Patron Member of WISA and accepted the honour.  

Neil McCleod, a well-known figure in the water sector, both here and abroad – especially through the work he is doing in North Africa , heads this utility and WISA has pleasure in welcoming them as a Patron Member.

Publications:  

Our problems to ensure the continued free distribution of the magazine Water,Sewage&Effluent was mentioned in the last Annual Report.  It is therefore with pleasure that it can be reported that a contract was signed with the publishers to continue free distribution of the magazine to all members of WISA.  We need to thank the publishers, and especially Gerald Garner, for the positive manner in which our negotiations were conducted resulting in a deal that is of mutual benefit.  

During the course of the year the present blue” brochure was totally updated, and for our participation at Afriwater a new brochure – concentrating more on the benefits for companies of membership – was prepared and printed.  

Also for the same exhibition an amount saved on the Strategic Plan process was used to acquire six pull-up exhibition posters.  These are obviously also available for the use of Branches and Divisions at their own functions and events and will be used at WISA 2004 as well.  

The interactive presentation about WISA that can fit on one stiffy, and is constructed like a web page, was also fully updated during the course of this reporting period.  There are thus a number of attractive visual aids available to spread information regarding WISA and to assist with the recruitment of new members.  

The new edition of the WISA Directory also saw the light of day during the period.  Covering all categories of membership, individual as well as non-individual, it is divided into geographical areas as well as per the expertise and thus fields of interest of members.  In future this Directory will be published every second year.  

Work has already begun on a new handbook for publication during 2005.  This will mimic the format of the highly successful Handbook for Wastewater Treatment Works but will be for potable water and will eventually also be available on CD in Acrobat Reader format.  Prof Frik Schutte of the University of Pretoria is the editor in charge and its main contributor.  The publication of this handbook will mark the first publication by WISA focusing on potable water.  The WRC supplies the funding for this projects’ research and we need to thank them, and especially Jay Bhagwan, for making this possible.

Administration:  

After struggling with a hopelessly outdated computer network at Head Office we at last were able to put in new computers.  While not state of the art because of cost considerations, they are about 9 times faster than the previous ones and as such provides for ample improvements in the speed with which our network can function.  They should suffice for the next six to seven years as upgrading over time, especially concerning the operating systems, were planned into the specifications.  We owe a huge than you to Alewyn van Staden of Ceenex, (who affords WISA their technical expertise for free as a social responsibility contribution) who baby-sat the whole process.  

After almost two years of effort and submissions, WISA was granted tax exemption status by the SA Revenue Service.  As WISA differs from most professional associations in the sense that its membership criteria is not built on a single, or closely related, academic qualification, a case had to be made that the work focus of differently qualified professionals also provide enough specialization to justify special consideration.  I need to add that throughout this process the personnel of SARS were most helpful and a credit to their profession and the Service.  Much work still needs to be done to ensure that we stay within the bounds and parameters specified, but in the long run this should be seen as a major factor to ensure the sustainability of the organization.  

The contract of the present CEO was also extended till the end of May 2005 but because of his personal circumstances, with a three-month resignation clause.  The process to find a replacement will start very soon.  

On a somber note the present Treasurer, Nigel Walker, who has been with WISA in this capacity for 11 years had to tender his resignation because of business pressures.  Nigel was well known to all, especially also because of his specialist expertise concerning the conference industry which assisted WISA tremendously in organizing the Biennial Conferences.  Through the years he has to a certain extent become the “institutional memory” of WISA and he will be sorely missed.  Indicative of his central role within WISA is the fact that he could not be replaced by a single person – instead, a committee will take over his financial responsibilities.  WISA, and its members, owe Nigel a great deal of thanks and gratitude for his unflagging dedication and focus on what is best for WISA.  

As mentioned in the Overview, a number of contracts were signed to solidify and legalise “understandings” that existed.  As part of this a contract was signed with Exhibitions for Africa that covers events such as Afriwater and the WISA Biennial Conference till 2007 and 2006 respectively.  A number of agreements were also signed with Brooke Pattrick Publishers that not only cover Water,Sewage&Effluent and the WISA Directory but also occasional publications and services.  

In another first, WISA has also taken out public liability insurance – underwritten by Lloyds.  All our Branches and Divisions are involved with workshops, seminars, technical tours, etc. as part and parcel of the services that WISA offers its members.  While all reasonable care is taken to ensure the safety of participants, accidents do happen.  Rather than the possibility of accidents becoming a factor to diminish the variety of events WISA offers on an ongoing basis, the board has decided to cover organizers of such events in their personal capacities by taking out this insurance.  Although costly to maintain it is felt that it is far more prudent to spend the money on guaranteeing peace of mind to organizers and participants than to hope and trust that an accident will not happen.

Strategic Planning:  

During the September Council meeting the CEO gave a presentation about the objectives and goals that have emerged from the Strategic Planning process and also presented a business plan based on that about reaching the objectives and goals.  Council accepted this and a number of committees were created to further refine the objectives and goals and to also come forward with final proposals to Council about implementing the business plan.  

The committees were constituted as follows under different chairpersons:

Structure and Management;                                Willie Lötz

Governance and Ethics;                                      James Chimpelo

Income:                                                           Nigel Walker

Membership:                                                     Marlene van der Merwe-Botha

Image and Stature - Marketing & Liaison:               Randall Adriaans

Image and Stature – Legislative:                          Tony Turton

Services – Branches:                                         John Clayton

Services – Education & Training:                          Machiel Steynberg

Infrastructure & IT:                                           Marc de Fontaine

The proposals of the Management and Structure committee have served before the Board while the Infrastructure and IT committee has already made a presentation to Council.

Membership Affairs:

The Senior Fellows Committee under Mrs Noeline Basson as Chairperson, has made recommendations to Council and the following Fellows were elevated to Senior Fellows:  

Prof At Pretorius,

Mr Neil Macleod,

Dr Ralph Heath,

Mr Nigel Walker,

Mr T Pelepele,

Mr Mike Muller,

Mr Johan Wagner.

Through the history of WISA the elevation to a Senior Fellow have been the ultimate accolade that the association could bestow on a member, and the committee that makes the recommendation comprise of other Senior Fellows who jealously guard the integrity of the process.  The members elevated to Senior Fellow thus deserves our most sincere congratulations.  

All Senior Fellows can also wear the logo of the institute in a gold colour.  These colour coded lapel logo’s were introduced during this reporting period as it was felt that not only should members of WISA be able to recognize other members on sight, but that members should also feel proud to exhibit their ranking within the association.  

Another innovation that was introduced with good effect is that an Advisory Panel to the Board comprising former of Presidents was created.  The Panel is voluntary and participation is limited to Presidents who served during the preceding 10 years.  Through their active participation they are able to provide input to the present Board concerning issues with which they are familiar, or about which they have special knowledge.  

The Aqua Vita Est (Water Is Life) award was instituted during this period.  This award honours members and non-members who have made a tangible contribution to WISA.

Subscriptions:  

Bursars:

As previously mentioned the whole structure, criteria, contract, and selection process for WISA bursaries were examined and finally the recommendations approved by Council after the Committee chaired by Heidi Snyman finished with its deliberations.  The year 2003 was the third year that the revised system functioned to ultimately select four bursars.  

The bursars in 2003 were:

Mr Mlungisi Ngema in his fourth year at the University of Zululand , studying BSc undergraduate (Hydrology & Computers).

Mr Lindokuhle Zuma in his third year at Technikon Witwatersrand, studying National Diploma (Analytical Chemistry).

Mr Brian Jonkers in his last year at the Peninsula Technikon, studying Chemical Engineering.

Ms Portia Seemane in her fourth and last year at Technikon Pretoria, studying B-Tech Chemistry. She was offered the bursary for the second time and was a hard worker during her studies.  

It is with pleasure that it can be reported that all four WISA bursars successfully completed their courses.  During the 2003 the next set of applicants (for 2004) were also processed and a further three students selected for bursaries.  During the course of 2003 the Branches and Divisions were encouraged to publicise the availability of the bursaries to ensure that a greater geographical representation of applicants could be considered.  This proved very successful and the applications literally ranged from the Western Cape to Limpopo , and from KwaZulu-Natal to North-West Province .  This emphasis on geographic representivity is but one of the ways in which WISA continually strive to acknowledge that it is rooted in the whole of South Africa and not limiting its efforts to selected well-populated areas.

Election:  

At the end of the year it was necessary to conduct a full election, as there were more nominations for the two vacancies that opened up on Council than could be accommodated.  This in itself was a heartening development as the previous year no election was needed as the number of nominations and the number of vacancies cancelled out each other.  We welcome this increased interest on the part of members to partake in the governance of the organisation.  The two candidates who eventually proved successful were Mrs Alison Chapman and Dr Heidi Snyman.

Council Composition:

The Council for 2003 / 2004:

Membership:

MEMBERSHIP

Grade Distribution