July 20, 2004 -- The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has announced that Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority, of Greenville, SC, is among the winners of its 2004 Awards for Excellence in Government Finance. Finance Director Rick Robertson received the Communications and Reporting award in the category of Management and Service Delivery for the production of "The Freshwater Freddie Ultimate Water Guide for Kids" on behalf of Western Carolina. Robertson was presented with the award at GFOA's annual conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Tuesday, June 15. The Communications and Reporting award honors publications, reports or other media designed to improve the understanding or awareness of the finances and operations of the organization.
Western Carolina's award-winning innovation, "The Freshwater Freddie Ultimate Water Guide for Kids," is used to support Western Carolina's public education program, which is an ongoing effort to increase awareness about the importance of wastewater treatment processes and protecting the aquatic environment of Upstate South Carolina. The full-color information piece includes various facts about water, environmental issues, games, and experiments to help children understand water treatment. The booklet also helps customers understand the importance of the services Western Carolina provides. GFOA chose the piece for the award due to its ability to educate and recognizes that any organization that offers a service to the community could benefit by using similar guides in educating the public.
The Awards for Excellence in Government Finance stress practical, documented work that offers outstanding leadership to the profession and promotes improved public finance. The awards are presented annually by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving over 12,000 government finance professionals. GFOA has offices in Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.
Photo Caption: GFOA President, Ed Harrington (right), presents Rick Robertson (left), Finance Director for Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority, with the Management and Service Delivery 2004 Award for Excellence in Government Finance at the association's annual conference in Milwaukee, WI.
