The February 2011 conference of the International Erosion Control Association, or IECA http://www.ieca.org/, was a wonderful experience. Held in Orlando, Florida, it started off with a whole day of technical training workshops on Sunday 20th, followed by three days of a half-day workshops and papers from Monday to Wednesday. It concluded on Thursday 24 February with a half-day of tests for people seeking accreditation for the erosion control training they have done. There was also a great Expo of nearly 150 technical services over the Tuesday and Wednesday.
Light entertainment included the hydrodeo, a lunchtime competition involving expert use of a hydro-seeding sprayer hose to wrangle large exercise balls out of and back into a corral and then of the cannon mounted on the back of a spray truck to knock over a series of plastic bales. There was also some really very good country and western music performed by 'The Suspended solids', aka some of the IECA staff and committee!
Technical topics covered preventing and controlling soil erosion, removing sediment from construction site runoff, testing water quality, site inspection techniques, low impact urban design and development, meeting the many stringent controls under the Clean Water Act and integrated catchment / watershed management.
One of the topics of most interest to me was on branding. Judith Guido was the highest-ranking female executive in the US Green Directory and has a strong association with the IECA. Her half-day workshop was on 'Your brand as a powerful business asset', focusing on brand integrity with specific reference to companies working in the environmental area. It was marvellous! Find out more about Judith and her work at http://www.guidoassoc.com/. Other topics of interest related to training, compliance and risk.
My own paper went down very well and I look forward very much to attending future IECA conferences.
I was very touched by the number of people at the conference who asked about the devastating earthquake in central Christchurch, New Zealand. Many of them had been to New Zealand and many more people told me they had always wanted to visit. It is not the first time I have noted the courtesy and kindness of Americans, but this was particularly heart-warming.There were many expressions of sympathy and goodwill to those in New Zealand affected by this disaster.
On a more cheerful note, wait for my next alligator in storm drain story.... coming up in my next blog - with live footage!
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