Irvine Ranch Water District Professionals Discuss Science and Engineering Careers
Donning her white laboratory coat and prescription safety glasses, IRWD laboratory supervisor Mindy Bergen explained to a roomful of seventh graders what it takes to pursue a career in science.
“Stay curious, always ask questions and question the answers,” Bergen said, adding that she received her chemistry degree from UC Irvine, the site of the annual Middle School Science and Career Options Conference on December 17.
She used a student volunteer to demonstrate from a kit how much chlorine was present in a water sample she brought with her. She explained that IRWD’s state-of-the-art Water Quality Lab uses high-tech instrumentation to test samples of both drinking and recycled water.
Bergen was joined by IRWD engineer Barkev Meserlian, who gave a presentation on the nuts and bolts of civil engineering and the level of education it takes for his field.
The Irvine Unified School District has held the annual conference for 22 years, with the goal of increasing student interest and awareness of science-related careers. IRWD has sent representatives to the conference since its inception. In addition to IRWD, professionals from the careers of physics, medicine, medical research, food science, veterinary medicine, wildlife protection, ecology, dentistry, nursing and mechanical engineering participate.
More information about IRWD educational programs is available on our website.
The Gift That Keeps on Giving – Beautiful Garden
Hoping to give a gift that keeps on giving this holiday season? Think about giving a beautiful garden that saves water and lowers your water bills.
Visit www.irwdcalscape.org, a one-stop shop with garden tours and galleries and a searchable plant database with a garden resources section. The planting guide provides helpful tips on how to establish native plants and offers tours of two dozen CALscape gardens found throughout the IRWD service area.
Remove your water-thirsty grass and receive $1.50 per square foot of lawn removed for a minimum of 250 to a maximum of 10,000 square feet.
Irvine Ranch Water District Board Names President, Vice President for 2014
The Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors at its annual organizational meeting December 17 selected Steven E. LaMar to serve as President and Peer Swan to serve as Vice President for 2014.
“I’m looking forward to an exciting 2014,” LaMar said. “We have a lot of things going on.”
LaMar was appointed to the IRWD Board of Directors in February 2009 to fill a board vacancy and was elected to a four-year term in 2010. He served as Board Vice President for 2013 and previously served as Board President in 2011. LaMar currently serves on the Finance and Personnel Committe and the Water Resources and Policy Committee as well as various Ad Hoc Commitees.
LaMar is a water policy and planning expert with more than 20 years of experience on statewide business and industry committees and has directly participated in many major water policy forums. He has served on statewide task forces and advisory committees on drought planning, desalination, the California Bay-Delta, the California Water Plan and on water reliability and conservation issues. LaMar is president and owner of LegiSight, LLC, located in Tustin, CA, and is also a principal for Spinner LaMar Associates since 1993. He has served as a water policy leader in the California Building Industry Association for 20 years.
LaMar has extensive water policy service. He was a member of the California Water Plan 2009 Advisory Committee and a member of the Delta Vision Stakeholders Coordination Group. He was Chair of the Economic Work Group for the 2006 California Landscape Task Force. He served as member of the 2005 State Water Desalination Task Force, the 2000 Governor's Advisory Drought Planning Panel and Chair of the California Building Industry Association's statewide Water Resources Subcommittee and Task Force.
LaMar has been honored for achievements and was the recipient of the 2001 Ernest Hahn Achievement Award from the California Business Properties Association, and the Building Industry Association of Southern California's Gary Anderson Memorial Award. LaMar holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Pittsburg State University and a certificate from the Environmental Management Institute, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency environmental training program administered by the University of Southern California. He and his wife, Jeanne, live in Northwood in Irvine.
Swan was elected to the Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors in 1979. After a term as Vice President of the Board, the Directors elected him President, a position he held from December 1981 until December 1995 and again during 2006. Swan currently serves as chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee and the Water Banking Committee and serves on other standing and ad hoc committees.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
Don’t Miss Out on the Children’s Water Education Festival
Organizers continue to take reservations for the 2014 Children’s Water Education Festival, scheduled for March 26 and 27 at UC Irvine’s Alderich Park. Teachers of third through fifth grade students within the Irvine Ranch Water District service area are encouraged to register for the event.
The Festival presents a unique opportunity to educate students about local water issues and help them understand how they can protect water supplies and their environment. Since its inception 18 years ago more than 100,000 children from schools throughout Orange County have been able to experience the Festival and all it has to offer.
Last year's festival hosted students from nearly 72 public, private and home schools from 20 Orange County cities. More than 65 organizations devoted their time and resources to assist in educating budding young environmental stewards. A total of 782 students from the IRWD service area attended the two-day event in 2013.
The Festival is provided at no cost to Orange County schools. Third through fifth grade teachers and students are invited to attend. Information is available by calling (714) 378-3257, or at info@childrenwaterfestival.com.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
Rain Doesn’t Stop Shadetree Volunteers
Threats of rain, and later, a storm, didn’t dampen the spirit of 95 volunteers who turned out to plant, prune and weed the stock at the Shadetree Partnership nursery on December 7.
“We had a great day with intermittent sprinkles and then at 10:30, a nice rain,” said Shadetree coordinator Leslie Bonkowski.
Ninety-Five hardy volunteers rolled up their sleeves to do whatever work was assigned to them. The groups were from University High School, three chapters of the National Charity League, Woodbridge High School’s Eco-Warriors, San Clemente Tree Foundation, Irvine Youth Action Team, the Pacific Academy, Omega Chi Epsilon and various Scout troops.
In addition, an Adopt-a-Row plaque was unveiled. The volunteers replanted 661 trees, shrubs and groundcover into larger containers in the greenhouses. They also added identification tags to the stock and raked leaves from the rows of trees.
Shadetree Partnership holds monthly events at its nursery, located on the UC Irvine campus. The next event is scheduled for January 11. Anyone needing volunteer or service hours is always welcome. Each volunteer receives a Certificate of Participation.
More information is available at the IRWD website.
