SCWUA

Join the City of Upland, the City of Pomona, and the San Antonio Water Company for the 6th Annual San Antonio Canyon Watershed Clean Up Day.  On July 10th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., bring your friends and your tennis shoes and help keep the forest and the water supply clean.  All clean up materials and refreshments will be provided.  Meet at Shinn Rd., across from Station 25 at 3000 N. Mountain Rd., Mt. Baldy.  For more information, please contact Christine Sluss at (909) 802-7421.

Tony Poli, retired General Manager of Rowland Water District, was President of SCWUA in 1993. In the following article, he shares memories of his early years in the association.

Since I started in the water field, the water association has been, and continues to be, the local organization for water officials and those related to the water industry to meet monthly and discuss water issues and share ideas. The philosophy driving the association has always been to improve the industry through education, mentoring, and leadership, all of which is beneficial to the day-to-day operations of the various water agencies, companies, and departments. I have been fortunate to be a part of the association’s transformation from a “Good Old Boys” fraternity to a modern day inclusive network of industry associates. I can look back and remember those times when things were not as they are now but as they were then. It was an era of friendships forged through mutual respect, of free advice, and of deals sealed with a handshake. The memories will remain a source of pride, and sometimes red-faced embarrassment; all of which I remember fondly.

Some good times were spent with SCWUA members and their families on field trips, campouts, and Christmas parties. There was the camping trip to Lake Skinner where we sat at night around the washing machine tub fireplace that Don Leath brought. Enjoying the heat that came through the small holes of the tub we listened while Phil Crocker and Dale Kyle told stories about the time that someone placed a few chickens in the hotel room of Walter Weight and how someone else tried to tap a gas main. There was even the story about a company car being rolled on the way back from an AWWA conference (no injuries; the occupants were well sedated). Billy Temple knew a body and fender man who fixed the company car as good as new. Who among us “Old Timers” can forget the twirling of dinner plates on the floor just as one of our presidents, guest speakers, or honored retirees would take a turn at the podium. At Christmas parties there was the hapless president seated center stage while the entertainers, “Belly Dancers” performed their routine which always included some small act to make him miserable and make the audience roar. Association meetings often provided entertainment by invited guests as well as by members. Upon occasion Walter Weight could be heard talking to himself while trying to adjust his squealing hearing aid during the middle of a guest speakers’ presentation. There was the time that Walter and guest performer, Iron Eyes Cody, tried to top each other’s stories about the past. Everyone knew that both of them were telling tall tales. And at one of Walter’s birthday parties we had to delay the celebration while our program chairman, Bob Bowcock, gave directions to the Swiss Chalet to the limo driver of George Burns, our star entertainer; George never arrived. Pee Wee Herman did show as a guest performer, and integrated the president (me) in his routine which included some emasculating jokes.

As I remember the association in my early days it was a bit like a college fraternity with a few shenanigans for a laugh and a good time but, when an industry member was in need, caring, knowledgeable people surfaced and some of the industries finest were present to mentor, advise and assist with solutions.

Like any organization that has been around for 78 years, SCWUA has a great history. Although the history as retold through membership generations, is quite colorful and entertaining. This space on the website will be a place to remember stories from the good ol' days, talk about the history we are making now, and get updates on the members that are leading us into the future.

Several active retirees have been asked to contribute "I Remember When" stories. We have also asked current members to contribute stories about current experiences. And as always, we want to know about any current promotions or job changes. If you would like to contribute a story or have any ideas, please be sure to submit your ideas to scwua@scwua.org or call us at 909.392.6598 and leave us a message. We will be sure to include your ideas.

The one thing I have always wondered is how great it must have been to know Walter Weight. He must have been a great guy. I hear that when he retired, his friends from SCWUA took up a collection and bought him a car. Is this true? If you have memories of this, leave your comment below!