Texas Water 2016

Tuesday, April 19
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In remembrance of our friend and colleague Curtis Smalley, we have named the annual environmental event in his honor.

This year’s Curtis Smalley Environmental Volunteer Event will be held Tuesday, April 19 from 9 a.m – 12 p.m. Join your peers and other Fort Worth community volunteers and students, as we remind the public of the importance of our water resources.

The Environmental Event planning committee is working to create an experience that is interactive and hands on for all that participate. The event will take place at Gateway Park, which is located on the bank of the West Fork of the Trinity River. It will be a three pronged rotational event that will include a litter clean up, an interactive and educational booth portion, and a mural art project that will be a lasting testament to the event and its participants.

Each rotation will last approximately 45 minutes. Several area schools are participating in the event and the booth portion will be divided into a children’s area and an adult area. No artistic ability is required for the art project portion. If you can paint by number you can add to the mural!

Tarrant Regional Water District has a litter abatement program called Ten on Tuesday, and we hope to make this the best Ten on Tuesday ever! Volunteers will need to wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Remember that you will be picking up trash and working with paint, so don’t wear your Sunday best! Water will be provided by two hydration stations and reusable water bottles will be provided.

Wednesday, April 20
6:30 a.m. packet pickup time | 7 a.m. start time

Run, jog, or stroll for a 5K through the beautiful city of Fort Worth on April 20 at the Texas Water Fun Run. 2016 will celebrate five years of this fun run, where water and wastewater professionals, like yourself, are bonding with co-workers, colleagues and friends over a little bit of healthy exercise, sweat and competition. To celebrate these five years, Texas Water is looking to make this fun run the best one yet, so you do not want to miss out!

By participating in the Texas Water Fun Run you are directly impacting and supporting the water and wastewater industry in Texas. All proceeds go directly towards Young Professionals and students to help pay for travel to conferences, education materials and any other items to help YPs and students provide value to the water and wastewater industry. This support is possible through the partnership with the Dodson’s Drive Sponsorship Fund, honoring the life and work of Kenneth Dodson. “Kenny D,” as he was known to his friends, was a tireless supporter of YP education and growth throughout Texas during his 35-year career. You too can make a difference like Kenny D by participating in this fun run.

Be on the lookout for more information coming soon regarding the course, individual/team sign up and other sponsorship.

Join us on an exciting tour of some of unique vacation destinations in Fort Worth. The two-day package includes continental breakfast, transportation, luncheon and entrance fees, as well as a ticket to the conference-wide event Thursday evening.

The Guest Program costs $125 on or before March 28 and $135 after.

Wednesday, April 20

For starters, we will convene for breakfast in the Sheraton Hotel. After getting acquainted, we will travel in a chartered bus to an exciting day starting with a tour of the Bureau of Engraving’s Fort Worth location (the Bureau of Engraving and Printing does stipulate that visitors, including children, are subject to security screening prior to entering the Tour and Visitor Center. Cell phones, electronic equipment, back packs, cameras, weapons – including knives, pellet guns, mace, etc. – explosives, food, and drinks are prohibited). It promises to be a fascinating look at the birthplace of billions of dollars. From the safety of an enclosed walkway, we will be able to see what takes place in the production floor. In addition, the Bureau of Engraving has produced a film, interactive exhibits and displays showcasing the exquisite art and fascinating history of currency. Also located in the visitor center is the Moneyfactory Gift Shop, where you can purchase souvenir items including uncut currency sheets and other specialty currency products. Lunch will be at Houlihan’s, an American-style restaurant to get “fueled up” for Texas Motor Speedway.

Start your engines and bring your camera for numerous photo opportunities at the Texas Motor Speedway, where Pit Road, Luxury Suites, Gifts and Victory Lane are all part of the tour. Depending on weather and availability, there is the possibility of riding on the 1.5 mile track with its 24 degree-banked turns. CART races were cancelled after drivers complained about achieving 5-6G forces in their 900hp cars on this track! Based on qualifiying times in 2004, 2005 and 2006, it was once recognized as the fastest non-restrictor plate NASCAR track. 

Thursday, April 21

Thursday will be a tasty tour day! After breakfast, we will start the tour with the Schakolad Chocolate Factory class, where we will have a chance to make our own custom treats to take home! Afterwards, we will dine in luxury at Chef Jon Bonnell’s WATERS Bonnell’s Fine Coastal Cuisine. A widely recognized Texan, Chef Bonnell combines his heritage with his education (Vanderbilt University and the prestigious New England Culinary Institute). He has authored cookbooks and been featured on national morning news and food network shows. While the emphasis is on wild, seasonal, and sustainable seafood, the menu will satisfy every palate with game, beef, and vegetarian options.

Finally, we will cap off the day with a tour of the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum – listed as #22 of TripAdvisor’s top 129 things to do in Fort Worth! Among the permanent exhibits in the museum, we will see the Flightlab, History Wall, a rare Douglas DC-3 airliner and more. These exhibits range from detailed history to hands-on fun ending at the museum gift shop. The chartered private bus will deliver us back to where we started.

Thursday, April 21, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Come and enjoy a Night at the Museum! Re-explore the renovated Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Its modern and lush open spaces will host our conference night out in its beautiful atrium and innovation rooms.

You will have the opportunity to attend a Noble Planetarium show and discover the stars. The planetarium is an immersive all-dome video combined with fiber optic dual-hemispheres star projector to see more than 7,000 stars to the southwest. A preshow area features satellites, meteorites and several large plasma screens showing real time photos from NASA telescopes. 

You can also experience a special traveling exhibit-THINK. Created and developed by IBM, THINK is a 6,600 square-foot interactive exhibit designed to showcase how technology and innovation have transformed the world. THINK engages visitors through a unique combination of experiences, including a 30-foot “gesture wall” using colorful visualizations of information. In addition to the self-guided interactive tour, THINK provides a theater space and game stations for technology driven education and entertainment.

This will be a night to remember! Come and join us to discover the stars and immerse ourselves in interactive technology at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

A Conference Night-Out ticket is included with Full Registration or with the Guest Program. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at the cost of $65 on or before March 28; $75 after.

Sponsorships and advertising during Texas Water 2016TM are a great way to keep your name in front of the top leaders in the Texas Water community.

Your sponsorships and advertising also demonstrate your continued commitment to supporting WEAT and TAWWA and the membership of both organizations. You can sponsor specific events during the conference and/or advertise in the conference publications.

If you are an exhibitor, your sponsorship and advertising helps build points towards both purchasing access in the future.

Take advantage of the following online features designed to assist you in your pre-show planning.

• Pre-show checklist for exhibitor manager
• Exhibitor Service Manual
• Register your booth personnel
• Update your booth profile

Take advantage of the following online features designed to assist you in preparing for your session(s).

• Update Biographical Information
• Update Profile
• Upload Photo
• Upload Handout
• Request AV