Dan Sleeth’s Incoming Chair Speech

It’s an honor to speak with you today, and to step in as your next section Chair. I would like to thank Michelle Cheek for her service as chair this past year, and to Nick Belmont, our new Chair-elect whom I look forward to working with over the next year. I would be remiss if I didn’t take the time to thank the many folks who have been by my side during this incredible 37-year journey as a water professional. First and foremost, my wife Caren, thank you for always being in my corner! TEAM SLEETH! To my employer Covington Water District for supporting me and providing the necessary time to meet the commitment. My family for never giving up on me, and to my four amazing daughters for putting up with my terrible Dad jokes.

Today I wanted to speak with all of you about a passion of mine, a topic that I believe is of the utmost importance for the long-term health of our organization and quite frankly the world we live in. That topic is serving the greater good. Throughout history, great leaders and ordinary people alike have dedicated their lives to making the world a better place for everyone. As professional water & sewer workers we fit that mold, we work in public health, not for exuberant pay, or lavish bonuses, but rather for the communities that we live in and work for.

But what exactly does it mean to serve the greater good? At its core, serving the greater good means putting the needs of others before your own. Sounds familiar, correct? Many of us in this auditorium do exactly that. It also means recognizing that we are all connected and that we have a responsibility to work together to build a better world. It means being willing to make sacrifices, to work hard, and to never give up in the face of adversity. As water professionals we are facing adversity right now in the form of water shortages, and forever chemicals. PFOS, PFOA, and the long list of forever chemicals has forever changed how we perform our duties.

Water & Sewer Professionals around the world are the perfect example of working for the greater good. The men and women who work tirelessly 24/7/365 to provide safe, clean, reliable drinking water & sanitation to our communities, often working long hours under incredibly difficult conditions. Their dedication to the well-being of others is truly inspirational and serves as a reminder that we are essential.

But serving the greater good is not just about heroic acts in times of crisis. It is also about the small everyday actions that we all take to make a difference in the lives of those around us. It could be as simple as volunteering on one of our many section committees, or serving on one of our sub-sections, maybe even running for the board of trustees, possibly even chair. These actions may seem small, but they can have a ripple effect that extends far beyond their immediate impact. My journey at PNWS started by serving the distribution committee, then small systems, King County sub-section, board of trustees and now chair.

So how can we all serve the greater good? It starts by recognizing that we all have a role to play in making the world a better place. It means being mindful of the impact that our actions have on others and striving to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us. Positivity breads positivity. It means looking for the common good in someone regardless of race, creed, color or political belief. It means working together towards a common goal and possibly even making some personal sacrifices for the common good.

I’m not saying this is easy, but I think it’s a tangible and achievable goal that we can all work towards. Putting the needs of others before our own, recognizing our interconnectedness, and by being willing to work hard and make sacrifices. We can build a better world for ourselves and for future generations whether it be in our personal relationships, our relationships with our co-workers, the general public or even our fellow association members. Lend a hand, pitch in where there is a need, help your network. And if your network is rock solid and doesn’t need any assistance, we would be happy to show you where you could assist this section and our association.  So let us all commit to serving the greater good, creating a diverse and inclusive section, and let us work together to create a brighter, and more compassionate world for us all.

Thank you.