My two years as President of the Groundwater Resources Association has afforded me many opportunities, not the least of which was the chance to formulate some extraordinarily profound theories based on my personal experiences and observations. Upon my departure as President, I am compelled to share Theory No. 86, developed after a good deal of experimentation and thought-provoking conversation at numerous dinner meetings. Theory No. 86 states: It is impossible to get a good martini in a Chinese restaurant.

If you think about it for a long time, you will come to realize that this theory is a simple yet brilliant allegory for the interrelationship between effective groundwater management and the survival of California. This relationship can be proven by way of mathematical formula, but a rather untimely lack of space in this issue of our newsletter prevents me from working through that right now.

• Instead, let me highlight some of GRA's true accomplishments over the last two years:
• We attracted over l OO new members interested in California groundwater issues
• Jim Graham was appointed GRA's first Executive Director
• We increased our involvement in groundwater education, including participation in the creation of the Water Education Foundation's California Ground Water Map
• Ground Water Model, and new Ground Water Tour in March 1996, we cosponsored the Association of California Water Agencies' seminar on conjunctive use
• Our Southern California branch hosted a workshop with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region, on their Interim Site Assessment and Cleanup Guide book.
• Our education committee cosponsored workshops in northern and southern California on groundwater management planning
• We sponsored legislation pertaining to groundwater issues
• Our branches held numerous dinner meetings with distinguished speakers, including Jay Lehr's talk entitled Environmental Cleanup Reevaluated: Are We Compromising?
• The Board of Directors provided comments to the State Water Resources Control Board on Resolution 92-49 (nonattainment zones) that were considered and adopted in the revised resolution (containment zones)
• The Association received a grant from the U.S. EPA to prepare a guidance document for groundwater management in California
• We cosponsored a California hydrogeology seminar, including a review course for the hydrogeologist certification
• We co-hosted a successful annual meeting with the Association of Engineering Geologists in Sacramento with over 600 attendees.

I am proud to have been at the helm of the Association during these accomplishments, but none would have been possible without the efforts of our dedicated board members, officers and volunteers -- they are the true backbone of the Association and I would like to express my sincere appreciation for their help and contributions. Two particular individuals that deserve specific mention are Vicki Kretsinger, our past president, and Susan Garcia, our future president; they have worked tirelessly to organize and promote GRA's seminars and annual meeting, among other things, and I look forward to helping implement Susan's new vision for the Association.

On a final note I must say that the single most rewarding accomplishment of my career to date has been my tenure with GRA. My involvement with the Association has given me the opportunity to be involved in protecting California's most valuable resource while developing personal relationships and friendships that I anticipate will last a lifetime. I can think of no greater reward, and for that I am truly grateful.