An Invitation to You

By Thad Plumley

I want to extend a personal invitation to you. Don’t worry; I think you’ll like it. In fact, I know it will blow you away.

I would like you to attend with me “An Evening at the National WWII Museum” on December 8 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The National Ground Water Association is hosting the event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and you will be able to explore the world-class facility while enjoying a full dinner and drinks.

You don’t want to miss it. I’ve been to countless museums around the country, and the National WWII Museum is among the best I’ve ever walked. It’s spectacular. What an opportunity for us to be there at night with the place to ourselves.

Since you’re in New Orleans, I figure you can stick around and join me at Groundwater Week 2025 which is December 9-11 too. It takes place at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center less than one mile from the museum.

Thousands of middle school students visit Washington, D.C., each spring to learn about its rich history and take in the monuments, landmarks, and museums. After being at the National WWII Museum multiple times, I think young people should have to walk its halls and take in its exhibits too. It’s that well done. It’s powerful and important.

But Groundwater Week is important too. It’s an opportunity for you to learn or see something that can impact your career and business.

There are multiple days of workshops being led by groundwater industry experts, the Exhibit Hall is nearly sold out and so will be packed with the latest innovations and tools, and there are countless events taking place to meet and network with groundwater professionals from all around the world.

I’ve always thought those one-on-one meetings with fellow attendees are where some of the best and most important learning takes place.

Oh, and you can double the hall size and number of water professionals you are used to seeing at Groundwater Week. NGWA is co-locating its show with the Irrigation Association, so IA’s Irrigation Show Exhibit Hall is beside Groundwater Week’s. You can walk those aisles and mingle with IA attendees at no additional cost. Bring comfortable shoes!

So how does all that sound? What about a little history, a handful of CEUs from workshops, a look at some shiny rigs on the Exhibit Hall floor, a few po’boy sandwiches washed down with Abita beers, and too many beignets to count?

Be honest: that sounds like a pretty awesome week, doesn’t it?

I’ll see you there.

Thad Plumley is the editor of WWJ and the director of publications for the National Ground Water Association. He can be reached at tplumley@ngwa.org, or (800) 551-7379, ext. 1594.