1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1     What is EWRI?

The Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) is an organization whose membership is comprised of professionals engaged in multi-disciplinary water resources and environmental engineering and science and who volunteer to advance the objective of EWRI. It is an Institute within the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). EWRI's vision is to be a recognized leader in the environmental and water resources professions and to integrate technical expertise and public policy into the planning, design, construction and operation of environmentally sound and sustainable infrastructure impacting air, land, and water resources.

1.2     What is the Objective of EWRI?

As stated in Article II of the EWRI Bylaws, the objective of EWRI shall be "to provide for the technical, educational and professional needs of its members, and to serve the public in the use, conservation, and protection of natural resources and in the enhancement of human well-being by:

• Advancing the knowledge and improving the practice of engineering and the related sciences;
• Lending expertise to the development of public policy, and;
• Partnering with governmental, industrial, educational and other organizations."

1.3     Who is Responsible for the Handbook?

This Handbook is produced under the authority of the EWRI Governing Board (GB). The responsibility for making changes to the Handbook to accommodate the needs of the EWRI membership is vested in the EWRI GB. The users of this Handbook are encouraged to offer comments on its content and suggestions for its improvement directly to the EWRI GB's Governing Documents Committee or EWRI Staff. It is intended to be a living document to meet the needs of its members and leaders. It can be accessed on-line at http://content.ewrinstitute.org/inside/operations.html.

1.4     What is the Purpose of the Handbook?

The Handbook provides an operating framework for EWRI. All EWRI members are encouraged to read the Handbook to understand how to get things done within the EWRI structure.

EWRI members should also be acquainted with the EWRI Bylaws, the ASCE/Institute Operating Proceedures, the ASCE Official Register, and various Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with other organizations. The sections of the ASCE Official Register dealing with codes and standards activities, educational activities, student activities, professional activities, technical activities, and the other Institutes chartered by ASCE are particularly relevant.

Handbook appendices contain:

• EWRI Organizational Charts
• Staff Position Descriptions
• Standard EWRI Forms
• Program Assessment & Evaluation System Information (PAES)
• Tips and Tools for EWRI Volunteers

These items are included especially for those in leadership roles to form and lead effective, dynamic work groups, and to produce high-quality products for EWRI.

1.5     The EWRI Website and Information Technology Services

The website (www.ewrinstitute.org) provides an electronic entry point to EWRI for the general public and for the membership. The website features several sections including Inside EWRI, Membership, Committees, Calendar/Events, Publications, Products, Members Only and Resources sections.

Some councils and committees maintain links to the website. Most have a page on the EWRI Website to define the committee purpose, special awards and ongoing activities. Many committees use list servers to disseminate information to their membership. EWRI members use the collaborative environment of eRooms to manage committee work including sharing document drafts, email correspondence and status of committee deliverables.

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