IRWA CHAPTER 1: FY2019/20
May 30, 2020
President’s Message
Natasa Lenic, Ch. 1 President
“May we live in interesting times”, said Robert Kennedy back in 1966, and it sure stands true today. IRWA is adjusting the format of 2020 annual conference which is not going to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Instead, there will be a couple of virtual meetings in June: Virtual Annual Meeting of the Members on June 21st, and Virtual International Board of Directors Annual Meeting on June 24th. Look for your email invitations on how to participate.
Similarly, regional caucuses which are usually held at the annual conference in-person will be in virtual/audio format this year. Region 1 Chair, Yoli Matranga, SR/ WA invites us to join the virtual Region 1 Caucus on June 22nd (dial in information will be forthcoming). Ray Mehler, SR/WA, R/WRAC, is serving as Region 1 Secretary/ Treasurer this year and is nominated to be Region 1 Vice Chair next year. He has provided an update for us (please find it on page 24). I thank you, Ray, for representing our chapter and our members so commendably on regional and international levels.
As you know, and may have expected, our chapter nominations/elections are usually conducted in April/May and a new slate of officers for next fiscal year is elected at our May General Membership Meeting. Unfortunately, this in-person meeting has been canceled this year, and electronic ballots were emailed by our Secretary, Diana Knezevic, SR/WA, to all voting Chapter 1 members. Please make certain that you cast your votes by the deadline, May 29, 2020. If you did not receive the ballot email or could not vote electronically, please let me or Diana know, and we will send you a PDF ballot.
It feels that this year was cut short as the COVID-19 stay at home orders shut down all in-person activities we planned for months of March to June. Prior to March, however, we were on point of getting our committees actively involved and have presented three seminars: State of Relocation in July 2019, Fall Seminar in October 2019, and Valuation Seminar in February 2020. Our Communications Chair, Amy Betonte, RWA, JD, has summarized our events, as she did throughout the year, once again for this newsletter. I am fortunate and humbled for Amy’s dedicated participation and friendship as she was informing you with everything Chapter 1 has to offer. I want to express my sincere thanks to David Richman, R/W-RAC, Brian Everett, and Bill Larsen, SR/WA, for chairing the three seminars we presented this year. They have done a fantastic job and I could not be prouder of our achievements. Another invaluable member, who deserves a ton of gratitude for our successful social events this year, is Julia Miranda, our Luncheon Chair, who with the help of her committee, worked tirelessly to make our in-person events run smoothly and infused some fun in the raffle prizes and luncheon selections.
Without exception, every committee chair prepared the updates this year for inclusion to our newsletter and I thank you all for your service and keeping us informed and educated. This was, and is, the best group of professionals to serve on Chapter 1 board and I want to personally thank you all here: Alexandra Nguyen-Rivera, SR/WA, Education Chair for organizing and advertising ever increasing number of classroom courses; Frances Impert, SR/WA, Asset Management Chair for preparing newsletter articles and helping with selection of seminar speakers; Ray Mehler, SR/WA, R/W-RAC, Project Management Chair for providing committee updates for every newsletter, actively participating at the Fall Seminar and introducing a valuable subject committee to our members; Maya Hamouie, Young Professionals Chair who launched this committee with happy hour events and innovative ideas to involve new members and professionals starting in right of way with our chapter and IRWA; Diane aunched this committee with happy hour events and innovative ideas to involve new members and professionals starting in rightofway with our chapter and IRWA; Diane Dominguez, SR/WA, Membership Chair for advancing our chapter values and mission and recruiting over 50 new members this year; Cheryl DeMucci, SR/WA, Transportation Chair for providing newsletter updates and participating in seminar speakers selections; April Harvey, SR/WA, Pipeline Chair for providing regular committee updates and organizing the Pipeline Seminar which had to be postponed due to COVID-19 (but look out for April’s excellent work next year); Diana Knezevic, SR/WA, Engineering and Surveying Chair since her duties as Chapter Secretary did not keep her busy enough, she also provided updates from the engineering and surveying world via newsletter articles and seminar participation; David Graeler, Esq., Educational Conference Bid 2024 Chair for throwing our hat in the ring for hosting the annual IRWA conference in 2024 here, in Los Angeles – there is some uncertainty as to the Minneapolis chapter deciding to possibly host a conference next year since theirs was canceled this year – either which way it works out, David will secure our bid for 2024 and will have more updates shortly; Bill O’Braitis, Environmental Chair for keeping us informed via newsletter contributions and participating in seminar topics/speakers selections; Mike Yoshiba, Esq., Law Chair for providing newsletter “legal case of the month” contributions religiously and without fail, and for advice with seminar speakers, as well as, volunteering to speak at our March joint luncheon with AI prior to being canceled; Janella Cordova, Utilities Chair for providing newsletter updates and moderating speaker panels at the seminars and actively participating at the international utilities committee; Steve Parent, SR/WA, Oil & Gas Chair for participating at the seminars and providing newsletter updates; Janelle Parra, SR/ WA, Local Public Agency Chair for providing newsletter updates and actively championing our chapter in selecting seminar speakers and topics of interest; Artin Shaverdian, Esq., Nominations and Awards Chair for working diligently to encourage our members to apply for International Awards, for nominating Chapter 1 for Region 1 awards, and for running the nominations and elections and Chapter awards which are to be revealed in June, as well as, volunteering to speak at our luncheons and participate at the seminars; and Doug Harman, SR/WA, Newsletter Chair for countless hours of gathering information, providing advertising opportunities and publishing this newsletter for our enjoyment – and Doug deserves a standing ovation for his efforts and accomplishments. My heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you, my friends.
I also wish to acknowledge the countless hours and efforts of our Executive Officers: Ann Kulikoff, President-Elect; Craig Justesen, Treasurer; Diana Knezevic, SR/WA, Secretary; and Marilyn Stuart, SR/WA, R/W-NAC, Professional Development Chair, who have all carried out their roles with utmost professionalism and enthusiasm and who will take Chapter 1 to new heights next fiscal year. Chapter 1 is in good hands! It was my pleasure to serve and work with you this past year as your President. If I were to leave you with a wish as we conclude this year, I would wish you courage; courage to once again offer and accept handshakes, courage to hug tight people who matter in our lives, and courage to live your hopes and dreams, as our Creator intended.
Natasa Lenic, SR/WA, R-W/RAC
LACAL Consulting, Inc. (323) 951-9887
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