Training
15 December 2008
This webpage will be devoted to those training dates that are either in process or inked. In one way or another I will be contributing to the training either by by being a presenter or working behind the scenes.
- Currently setting up an Activated Sludge Process Control workshop in conjunction with the West Washington Region of PNCWA Water Quality Lab Education Section and Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington March 23-27, probable dates. Pending: inking instructors for the activated sludge sludge classs. Have Dr. Ken Kerri agreeing as well as Woody Muirhead from Brown and Caldwell. Cross your fingers. This is one class I would not miss. Also, the Aquatic Microscopy Workshop may proceed the Process Control Workshop. I’ll be teaching this class
- Microscopy Workshop at Eastern Municipal Water District, Perris, CA 5-6 Feb 2009. The class may already be full, contact me directly.
- Annual California Water Environment Association Conference 28 April-1 May 2009 Palm Springs, CA. Will be making some laboraty presentations during the Preconference Lab Workshop scheduled for Tueday April 28th from 0830-1700 hrs. Also, I will be making one presentation for the lab during the conference. Use the following link to download Conference Brochure as PDF http://www.cwea.org/conferences/2009/AC2009_Conference_Brochure.pdf
Aquatic Microscopy Workshop
The class was small in comparison with other workshops I have been lucky enough to be able to direct and influence in one way or another. Lucky in many respects–which I will get around to writing about later. In many ways, it was a win-win situation for everyone attending the workshop. It allowed me the luxury of spending more time per person plus the flexibility of easing down on the amount of material being presented. One drawback about presenting such workshops is the specific end time. There are a number of people, that in one way or another, have a need to leave a 3-4 day workshop early on the last day; which most of the time ends up being a Friday. OK, knowing full well that a class ends on a Friday would you make preparations to check out of class just in time to be able to catch a flight–just in time–or would you finagle your way out of a situation so that you can get home on time? The class ended earlier than expected due to such a situation. Is it being inconsiderate, mindful, tactful? I can truly understand the preparations a person undertakes to make the time for such training: expecting to be fully immersed in a specific subject. Being presented with material that will, someday, be useful in one way or another. On the other hand, you have those individuals that, due to last minute preparations, being incognizant of time, place, or factors, truly is grasping at straws. It is not fair for the person that has made the time to be denied the contact.
I can understand sitting in a class for 8 hours trying to assimilate information that, sometime soon, may make some kind of sense. It is at times overwhelming. I remember sitting in such a classroom. Fresh out of college, starting out in wastewater, being presented with such information. To be fair, the information made no sense at all, or at the very least, seemed quite disconnected to what I was doing. The person presenting that information was Woodie. Sure, at that moment in time, it was a break in the monotony of lab work. Got out of the lab. Truly. Almost 20 years later, Mr. Muirhead comes back to haunt those ghosts of past. That vicious cycle did come back to hit me hard on the face. Splatter me with bug shit!
====================================================================================================================================
13 May 2009
I am in the process of getting ready to present two workshops; that is right, deuce, dos, deux, zwei workshops! Working on the specifics but the first workshop may be late July 2009 whereas the second workshop is tentatively due for late August 2009. Both will be in California. A third one may be possible in November 2009 in Oregon. Stay tuned as details are worked on and t’s are crossed and i’s dotted.
====================================================================================================================================
16 June 2009
Wastewater Microbiology/Biology Workshop
The San Francisco and Santa Clara Valley CWEA Section Laboratory Committees are sponsoring the workshop on 29-30 July 2009. I will be the presenter with topics ranging from microscopy basics, filamentous bacteria morphology, aspects of nitrification/denitrification, wastewater alga and toxins, case studies, and a whole lot more. Yes, it is a two day workshop with 6.5 hours/day of California Water Environment Association approved contact hours. Access the workshop flyer by using the following link:
http://santacruzproductions.com/Documents/Wastewater%20MicrobiologyBiology%20Workshop.pdf
This is one of the best for your buck training workshops around. Plus, you get a free copy of the wastewater organisms database DVD.
====================================================================================================================================
1 August 2009
I am still recovering physically from the two day Microbiology/Biology Workshop held in San Franscisco area. Being capable of standing in front of a crowd for 6-7 hours is one thing, talking for about the same amount of time, well, it is a fatigable chore. I’ve often told people that ask me questions about my presentations and how I go about preparing my material. I intimate what is perhaps one of the most important aspect of teaching this type of class. The first thing I mention is the exhausting portion of the presentation. Make sure that you are capable of standing for extended periods of time! I admire teachers in many respects, but doing this type of work can be physically and mentally draining and tiring–It is something I would not want to do on a daily basis.
Doing the presentations every so often during the course of a year does break up the monotony of the daily vicious cycle of going to a 9-5 job plus it gives me the opportunity to visit somewhere that I have never been to nor contemplated a sojourn as well as meeting people that I’ve only had the pleasure of exchanging information via e-mail. The workshop was well attended; well over 70 people participated in the two day workshop.
There was an interloper that decided to join the workshop each of the two days at exactly the same time of the day–right before lunchtime. It would waddle from its daily swim in the moat of the San Ramon golf course to the nearby Wedgewood Banquet Center where the workshop was being held.
It seems that demand for attendance to this workshop was great that non-paying individuals would try to sneak a peek at the presentations. Sorry swan, you needed to pay your fee in order to participate. The first day of the workshop he made his grand entrance and disrupted the class. I had to stop because everyone’s heads were turned towards the windows staring at the swan.
San Ramon Golf Course Grounds
San Ramon Golf course was an excellent site for holding a workshop in many respects. Lunch was provided each of the two days with lots of choices for even the most finicky. Being from southern California, the weather in Dublin and San Ramon was a welcome respite from the 100+ weather. Mornings were a treat with temperatures in the mid 50’s, overcast with a fine mist falling. Afternoons were in the mid 80’s with beautiful blue skies and no smog in sight. Sigh, the thought of going back home to hot, humid weather was overwhelming.
Backside view of class attendees watching presentation
2 September 2009
Oregon Operator’s Conference
The Oregon Lower Columbia Section (http://lowercolumbia.pncwa.org/) of Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association ( http://www.pncwa.org/) is holding its 2009 Operator’s Conference at Spirit Mountain Casino in beautiful Grand Ronde, Oregon. I have been invited to participate and present several of my PowerPoints. The registration for this event can be accessed by using the following link: http://lowercolumbia.pncwa.org/registration.pdf The Conference proceedings can be accessed at: http://lowercolumbia.pncwa.org/conference.pdf
