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8.1 Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) The Florida Stormwater Association (FSA), Inc. is a non-profit corporation organized pursuant to Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. FSA was created in 1994 as the Florida Association of Stormwater Utilities (FASU) to serve stormwater management professionals in both the public and private sectors. Subsequently the name changed to FSA to better reflect the goals of the organization. Membership in FSA is open to any local government, water management district, academic institution, or private corporation that has an interest in stormwater management. Organizations (not individuals) join FSA and membership benefits are available to all persons affiliated with the jurisdiction or company. A 20-member Board of Directors and four-member Executive Committee govern the Association. Day-to-day responsibilities for managing the Association belong to the Executive Director. Staff are located in Tallahassee. FSA provides a variety of services to its members, including the following. 8.1.1 Training and Education One of the primary missions of FSA is training and education. The association conducts two statewide meetings each year, including an annual conference and a min-year seminar. The annual conference is held in June, and is a two and one-half day event that includes an exhibits program, in addition to workshops and general sessions. The mid-year seminar is held in early December, and is a two-day meeting that focuses on selected topics of interest. FSA conducts special training events from time to time on a contractual basis. For example, the association has conducted workshops on stormwater utilities for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the St. Johns River Water Management District. In 2003-04, FSA is conducting a series of workshops on Total Maximum Daily Loads for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. FSA can also provide information on a range of training and educational activities offered by various governmental and professional organizations, such as those identified in this chapter. These activities, which are monitored but not sponsored by FSA, include seminars on various technical and professional subjects, educational outreach programs, professional conferences, and other activities related to the development of a successful stormwater utility program. 8.1.2 Technical Assistance In 1995, FSA published its first survey of Florida stormwater utilities, which updated one conducted by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation in 1989-90. The FSA survey covered a wide range of topics that are of interest to stormwater managers and policy-makers. The FSA survey is now conducted every two years. A report of the findings of each survey is published in June of each odd-numbered year, which includes a one-page synopsis of current utility rates and ERU sizes. This information is updated frequently and is available by calling the FSA office or visiting this web site (www.florida-stormwater.org). 8.1.3 Information Sharing FSA's e-newsletter, FastTracks, is published monthly. It is designed to include one or two key technical articles, plus other (shorter) briefings that are non-technical in nature. FSA's web site, www.florida-stormwater.org, offers members a wide variety of informational and communications services, and contains the following features:
8.1.4 Legislative Advocacy FSA monitors the activities of the state agencies and the Florida Legislature, and is actively represented during each Session. The Association supports or opposes legislation based on its potential impact on local stormwater programs. FSA participates as an amicus curiae in judicial challenges that are of statewide significance.
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