Longtime water district employee retires

SPIRITED SEND-OFF-Arlene Post, seated, prepares for her retirement after 11 years with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. Post is surrounded by her team, from left, human resource manager Hector Valdez, administrative assistant Linda Casey and customer service manager Carol Palma. While the operations and scientific undertakings of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District sometimes confound the general public, Arlene Post managed to take complicated information on water issues and make them understandable to the public, even to children.

Post, 58, has been the water district's director of resource conservation and public outreach for 11 years. Post has announced her retirement, and today is her final day on the job.

"The legacy and the values of this organization-I'm speechless," Post said. "The people who are behind the scenes and assuring customers safe and reliable water and have their waste water responsibly treated are not often acknowledged, but are among the most responsible environmentalists."

No stranger to public service, Post joined the water district in 1995, following a lengthy career she launched with government agencies in 1971.

For 18 years, Post served as an editor, writer and publicist for the New York State Office of Parks, working on historic preservation projects. She also worked for the New York State Department of Education as a grant administrator, and for a short time served as director of communications for Oregon's Department of Transportation before heading back to New York.

Some of her best experience, however, came while she was attending college and working as waitress and bartender. She said she learned how to listen and interact with people and provide them with proper service.

Post moved to Westlake Village with her husband and began a new career with the water district, first as a public information officer.

Post said she hopes to remain active in national water associations and work on part-time projects for the district. But after 35 years of working, she said she'd like to take life easier and accomplish some personal goals, including a remodel of her home.

In addition, Post said she plans to focus on a special hobby- riding the rails. She said that she and her husband have planned a train ride in a private car to Colorado.

"We're certainly pleased for her, but there will be a loss to the organization, and in many respects, a loss to the community," General Manager John Mundy said. "(Post) has enabled the district to be very successful in bringing a number of topics before the community, including water conservation issues, watershed and permit activities."

Mundy said Post had become a good friend and will be hard to replace.

"I know we're going to miss her quite a bit," said Jeff Reinhardt, the district's customer service and public affairs manager.

Post was part of a communitywide effort to ensure that the district complied with the strict demands of its watershed operating permit. Over the years, the district has championed many educational programs, including newsletters, special events and tour programs.

"My entire career has been working for organizations that are public service oriented and have missions to improve people's lives," Post said. "It feels very good to me to have spent my time in that way."