Speaker: Robert Weil, PE, Water Production Manager, City of Decatur, IL
Why should water professionals educate our lawmakers?
Brett Fritzler: If we don't educate lawmakers, they'll receive their information from news outlets and social media.
Brett Fritzler: It's important that knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the water industry reach out and educate lawmakers so that they are well equipped to make informed decisions.
Randi Kohlbauer: Education is just the first step. In order to advocate for something, you need to educate the people that you're talking to. Without education, we don't know what we're talking about, and they don't know what we're talking about, and we get nowhere.
Robert Weil, PE: our, in our In our utility, we sustain life with clean water and being able to talk about it with people that can make a difference is very important.
Tell us about your experience at the Day at the Capitol.
Brett Fritzler: I had the opportunity to meet with state representatives and senators. I was also able to engage in the legislative process by helping educate lawmakers on the biggest issues impacting the water industry today. It also made me realize how many people and groups were reaching out to their representatives to be heard, and that if we want to be heard as well, we need to do the same thing.
Randi Kohlbauer: We got to see a lot of people, talk to a lot of different representatives, get different opinions and thoughts on what's happening and where the future of water is.
Robert Weil, PE: I would recommend any water personnel at any level to participate in this if it comes around again.
