Community Relations Archives

Vista resident Mason Harvey is supported by the Vallecitos Water District's blood drives. The next scheduled event is on August 15. Photo: Harvey Family blood drive

Vallecitos Water District Blood Drive Inspired By Vista Teen

July 18, 2024/in Features /by Gayle Falkenthal

San Diego County regional water and wastewater industries connect with their communities through service projects year-round.

Vallecitos Water District employees eagerly embrace community involvement in addition to their important roles in maintaining safe and reliable water through an annual blood drive.

The District will host its 28^th Community Blood Drive in cooperation with the San Diego Blood Bank on Thursday, August 15, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its headquarters, 201 Vallecitos de Oro San Marcos. Donors may schedule an appointment time at this link.

History of Community Service Through Blood Drives

The first blood drive took place in 2007. Public Information/Conservation Supervisor Chris Robbins is an enthusiastic supporter of blood donation. He has donated 17.75 gallons of blood and has coordinated many previous events. Robbins said the District faced a challenge keeping the blood drives going during the pandemic due to the many necessary safety restrictions.

Mason Harvey has been receiving livesaving blood transfusions since he was 11 years old. He is now 15 years old. Photo: Harvey Family

Then Robbins learned about a local resident, a Vista teen named Mason Harvey, with significant medical challenges who needed blood transfusions on a regular basis. He began receiving transfusions when he was 11 years old.

“I had reached the point where I needed something to invigorate my efforts to donate myself, and also schedule blood drives here at the District,” said Robbins. “One of my coworkers had heard about Mason’s health issues. I found his story so compelling, especially during the pandemic when blood donations became more complicated. It made me renew my efforts.”

Robbins and his family visited Mason during one of his regular hospital stays during the pandemic. They could only see him through a window from outside, but he knew they were there for moral support. “We couldn’t go in, but it was still good to see him up and out of bed.”

Vallecitos now hosts several blood drives annually for Mason and his family. “I made sure our staff were aware of Mason’s plight, and that we could add “MH21” to our donation so that he would get specific credit. This helps defray the cost of the family’s medical bills along with ensuring access to blood supplies when Mason needs them,” said Robbins.

Donors Can Schedule Now For August 15 Blood Drive

San Diego Blood Bank CEO Doug Morton, Mason Harvey, and Mason’s parents Michelle and Jason Harvey. Photo: Harvey Family

Mason Harvey now attends Classical Academy High School (CAHS). He is a tireless ambassador for the San Diego Blood Bank, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and the Ronald McDonald House. Earlier this year on February 21, 2024, the City of Vista declared February 21, 2024, “Mason Harvey Day” and recognized Mason for his book “Not Your Average Slice of Pizza,” and for his help in passing the Restroom Access Act into law.

Mason also serves as captain for his Take Steps team, IBDetermined, and aims to raise $10,000 for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.

“My family and I are so thankful for the donors who had given their blood to save lives like mine,” said Mason. “When I needed blood, it was there for me immediately because good people had already donated. Just one donation of blood can save up to three lives. Your donation makes a difference, and I want to say thank you to the heroes who save lives with their kind and generous donations.”

Robbins will add another pint to his blood donation totals and encourages members of the community to take advantage of the convenient location at the Vallecitos Water District to schedule a donation.

“It only takes 15 minutes to donate blood, and you could save a life on August 15. All of us at the Vallecitos Water District who donate hope our efforts will help make sure Mason grows up tall and strong like his Mom and Dad,” said Robbins.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Recognized for Community Engagement

Encinitas, CA—On January 25, Olivenhain Municipal Water District received the “Community Engagement & Outreach Program of the Year” award from the San Diego section of the California Water Environment Association during the section’s annual awards ceremony. OMWD’s outreach program highlights the importance of investing in recycled water as a critical water source.

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our hundred community members took tours of the five-step water purification process at the Demonstration Facilities. Photo: City of San Diego

Awards Recognize Water Agency Outreach and Education Efforts

November 20, 2019/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle Falkenthal

The San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recognized the San Diego County Water Authority and three regional member water agencies for exceptional work in public outreach and education efforts at its annual Bernays Awards ceremonies on Nov. 7.

The initiatives are designed to inform stakeholders and ratepayers about initiatives ensuring a safe and reliable water supply.

Water agency outreach and communication programs supporting the region’s projects using proven water purification technology to purify recycled water to create new local sources of high-quality drinking water won multiple honors.

The Water Authority’s informative “Brought To You By Water” video series, highlighting the importance of water reliability to the region’s economy, also won recognition.

Visitors learn about technology used to purify and recycle water at Pure Water Oceanside open house outreach events. Photo: City of Oceanside Water agency outreach

Visitors learn about the technology used to purify and recycle water at Pure Water Oceanside open house outreach events. Photo: City of Oceanside

The City of Oceanside won in three categories for Pure Water Oceanside:

Bronze Award of Excellence, Research/Evaluation

“Research Makes a Difference.” Pure Water Oceanside, City of Oceanside, and NV5 Inc.

Bronze Award of Excellence, Community Relations, Nonprofit/Government/Association

Pure Water Oceanside, City of Oceanside, and NV5 Inc.

Silver Award of Merit, Events, and Observances (7 days or fewer, Nonprofit/Government/Association)

“Pure Water Oceanside – World of Water,” City of Oceanside and NV5 Inc.

“Providing our water customers with quality and creative communications is a cornerstone of our transparency efforts,” said Cari Dale, water utilities director for the City of Oceanside. “By being recognized by PRSA for our passion, creativity and innovative methods to communicate about Pure Water Oceanside – a program that will provide a new, local source of high-quality drinking water as soon as 2021 – our public outreach work is validated in bringing such an important and beneficial project to Oceanside.”

Visitors to the East County Water Festival on Sept. 8 tour the East County Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility. Photo: Courtesy Padre Dam MWD

The East County Advanced Water Purification Program, which includes the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, City of El Cajon, County of San Diego, won with NV5 in two categories for its East County Water Festival. It received an Award of Excellence in the Creative Tactics category and was also named a “Best of Show” winner among all Bronze entries.

“As a public entity of the communities we serve, it is imperative that we communicate effectively the benefit and need of key water projects,” said Melissa McChesney, communications manager for the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. “Our outreach team has done an outstanding job sharing with our communities the importance of the East County Advanced Water Purification Project. I am thrilled to see this essential work recognized by PRSA.”

Attendees enjoyed a variety of family-friendly activities at the third annual Pure Water Day. Photo: City of San Diego

The City of San Diego won a Bronze Award of Excellence for its Community Outreach in the Nonprofit/Government/Association category for its work on behalf of Pure Water San Diego’s Phase 1.

“The City of San Diego and Katz & Associates were pleased to have Pure Water San Diego’s community outreach efforts recognized by PRSA,” said Amy Dorman, deputy director, Pure Water Operations. “The Pure Water San Diego team formed community-specific working groups to gather informed feedback on how to avoid or minimize construction impacts from future Pure Water pipelines.”

The Water Authority’s regional outreach and education program, “Brought to You by Water,” was recognized with several awards.

The B2UbyH2O program was designed to expand Water Authority relationships and help stakeholders across the region recognize the critical value of safe and reliable water supplies for our economy and quality of life.

The program won Bronze Bernays Awards in the Video/Video Program and Creative Tactics categories for a series of videos featuring local leaders discussing the importance of water to their business or industry.

The series also won Silver Bernays awards in the Public Service category and the Reputation/Brand Management category.

Denise Vedder, director of the Water Authority Public Outreach and Conservation Department, was honored as the Public Relations Professional of the Year for the PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter. The honor is presented each year to a public relations practitioner who shows dedication to bettering the public relations field through innovative thinking and successful planning.

Past winners include Diana Lucero, director of marketing and public relations, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and Chris Wahl, president, Southwest Strategies.

Vallecitos Water District Senior Construction Systems Worker Steven Klein hosts the latest "Work We Do" video, describing his team working on a valve replacement. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Vallecitos Water District ‘Work We Do’ Videos Connect With Community

October 24, 2019/in Facilities & Operations, Features /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Vallecitos Water District is moving beyond traditional bill mailers and tri-fold brochures to communicate with its customers in a more effective and dynamic way by using video.

Vallecitos Board President Hal Martin conceived the idea to create “Work We Do” videos to help customers see and understand first hand the complex work Vallecitos water professionals perform to ensure reliable water and wastewater services. Viewers see and hear from the workers in the field as they complete tasks such as replacing outdated equipment or using smoke testing to detect sewer leaks and protect the environment.

“I’ve seen the quality of staff videos and I realized it was the perfect way to show our customers exactly what we do,” said Martin of the series and the initiative.

Watching crews in action providing the community with reliable drinking water and wastewater services, protecting the environment, and developing the next generation of water workers, makes customers better informed citizens about the area’s vital infrastructure in a transparent way.

The video series also includes helpful information such as how to read water meters.

Online tools transforming community outreach efforts

Vallecitos Water District maintenance professionals perform a valve replacement project featured in the district’s latest Work We Do video. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

“We’re working to change our Public Information Department and keep up with current technology,” said Chris Robbins, Vallecitos public information and conservation supervisor.

Robbins said the goal is to feature each department within the district and focus on topics that lend themselves to visual communication. Videos run three minutes or less to keep the audience engaged.

The latest ‘Work We Do’ video in the series features a recent valve replacement

Finished videos are posted to the district website, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. The videos can also be seen on the City of San Marcos news channel, San Marcos TV. Videos are also shared through water industry news websites such as Water News Network.

Alicia Yerman, a Vallecitos public information representative, shoots and edits the video series. She schedules time to join crews at work when performing a specific task. She also plays talent scout, finding a knowledgeable employee who can describe the work on camera.

Not all staff want to talk, but Yerman is able to coax at least one Vallecitos staff member to be the ‘on camera talent,’ and she also has a knack for bringing out their best. She finds ways to make staff more comfortable being on camera—either by asking questions or placing staff members in comfortable settings.

Yerman and Public Information Representative Lisa Urabe were recently certified as drone pilots. Future videos will feature district work from a bird’s eye point of view.

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