Indiana Hoosier Chapter of SWANA

President's Report

MAY 2026

Hello to all, I don’t know about you, but this year seems like it is flying by. We are already past Memorial Day and heading toward summer. Now if we could just string together a few dry days in a row. Hopefully all of you have had a productive year so far. We haven't sent out any updates for a while now, so there are many upcoming events to cover.

First, some exciting news:

For a couple of years now, the Hoosier Chapter has been without a Chapter Administrator to keep things running smoothly and make sure that we’re responsive to the needs of our members. While the board is capable of managing the operation, the board decided that we could improve the continuity of the organization and free up the board members to focus on growing the organization and expanding the services that we provide to our members. So, beginning this month we have hired Stuart Kushner (Kushner Consulting) to be our Chapter Administrator. You will start seeing and interacting with Stu more often over the coming months as he works in to his new role, and you will have the opportunity to meet him in person at some of our upcoming events. Please join me in welcoming Stu to the Hoosier Chapter.

Next, upcoming events:

The Hoosier Chapter will be holding our June Landfill Operator Certification training on June 4th, and then the annual Golf Outing is on June 6th. Space is limited for both events. See the Calendar of Events below in this newsletter for more info.

Right after that, we have our second annual Member Give-Back fun event. On June 25th, the Hoosier Chapter is hosting a day at the Indianapolis Zoo. Members and up to three guests can get in for free. The day includes a buffet lunch in the Hulman Riverhouse, a presentation from City of Indianapolis Office of Sustainability about their sustainability efforts, and a special animal encounter just for us! See the Calendar of Events below for more details, and register today. Space is limited for this exciting event!

The last thing I want to share with you now is just to let you know that we have scheduled our Fall Conference. We don't have the agenda finalized yet, and we are accepting proposals for presentations. This year the Hoosier Chapter Fall Conference will be at the Spring Mill Inn at the Spring Mill State Park near Mitchell. This year's conference will be on October 15th, so mark your calendar and watch for registration information.

In case you haven't experienced it yet, our website now incorporates new communication tools. Some features that will require you to login as a member. If you have trouble logging in to the site, please reach out through the Contact Us menu in the upper right corner of the screen. Logging in as a member will allow you to access members-only features of the site, as well as automatically applying members-only pricing to event registrations on the site. We are even looking at adding a Classified section, where members will be able to post jobs as well as job-shadow and internship opportunities. When you create your new login, it is important for you to use the email address that is connected to your SWANA registration or your official SWANA ID# since that is how we are able to connect you to our membership list. We're excited about this change and look forward to being able to bring you valuable information on a regular basis. Explore the site and let us know if you have any questions.

Remember to follow us on LinkedIN. I hope to see you again soon!

Curt Publow - Hoosier Chapter President

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Calendar of Events

It's hard to believe it's spring already, but registration for all of these events is open now! If you haven't already, register today!

Thursday, June 4: Indiana Landfill Operator Training, Indianapolis, IN
Friday, June 5: Hoosier SWANA Golf Outing, Greenwood, IN
Thursday, June 25: Hoosier SWANA Member Zoo Trip, Indianapolis Zoo

Click the button below to see more details

events

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Member Benefits

Save 20% on SWANA On-Demand Courses

Advance your career on your own schedule with SWANA on-demand courses. Save 20% per course when you enroll using the discount code: SWANAONLINE26

This discount is available until June 30.

Summer Zoo Event

Hoosier Chapter's Annual 'Give Back' fun event for members. This year, we picked a day when the Zoo is hosting Animals and All That Jazz, a weekly summer music program that is open to anyone at the zoo. This means that the animal exhibits are open until 7 pm! Hoosier SWANA will provide free admission to members and up to three guests. The Hoosier Chapter will also be hosting a meal and presentation at the Hulman River House between 2 and 4 pm. Members can show up early and leave in the afternoon, come later and stay all the way till the music ends at 8:30, or come early and stay late. You choose.

Classified Ads

Keep an eye out for a new Classified Ads feature of the Hoosier SWANA website, which will allow members to list internship and job shadow opportunities.

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Safety Update

Rear-load collection remains an essential part of the solid waste industry, even as automation continues to grow. That’s why safety awareness for drivers and helpers remains as important as ever. In this Safety Update, you will find a closer look at the most common hazards facing rear-load crews, including struck-by incidents, blind spots, slip and fall risks, and compaction dangers, along with key “non-negotiable” safety practices that help keep teams safe on every route.

Take a few minutes to read the full update and reinforce the shared commitment to making sure every team member gets home safely at the end of the day.

Thank you to Jake Mortensen (GFL Environmental) for providing this update!

READ THE FULL UPDATE

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