Wayne Nash thinks it's time to do more to make sure there will be enough young blood to take over the drilling industry in the future.

Those of us who have been fortunate enough to spend our lives in the drilling industry often sit around trade shows and meetings bemoaning the fact not enough young people are coming into the industry. The way most of us see it, when we're gone, there won't be nearly enough young blood to take over. This will leave an industry with a long and proud history without a future, and the public without the most abundant, most secure water supply available.

Many of us have spent our time writing articles or giving seminars. A lot of the time, the seminars are little more than an hour-long advertisement for the presenter's product. It is time to do more.

There are a small group of men who have worked their way to the top of their chosen profession and have proven it to their peers. I refer to the National Ground Water Association's Certified Master Ground Water Contractors. Many MGWCs present seminars, write articles, and generally help and promote our industry.

At present, there is no comprehensive, hands on, complete curriculum for drillers in the United States. I call upon my fellow Master Contractors - with the help of a college, junior college or technical school - to form, organize and help staff a program that would, in the space of a year or two, turn a green but motivated young person into a competent businessperson and an excellent driller.

Most Master Contractors are well enough off, and their businesses are well enough run to take a few weeks each year to pass on their many decades of experience to the next generation. I think we owe something back to the industry that provides our success. There are details to be worked out, curriculums to be designed, schedules to be made, etc. But the first step is to agree to the commitment that our industry needs to plan further ahead than the next well. I welcome your comments.