SAIMC


SAIMC: From the president's desk

May 2013 SAIMC

Vinesh Maharaj.
Vinesh Maharaj.

2013 is really passing quickly! We are already in month five and have plenty more to achieve in the time we have left this year. There are numerous activities planned for the benefit of our members and I will be elaborating on these below.

With the completion of the AGMs the SAIMC is now proud to announce the council members for 2013. They are as follows:

1. Vinesh Maharaj: president – Johannesburg

2. Johan Maartens: immediate past president – Johannesburg

3. Solly Mabitsela: vice-president – Vaal

4. Dean Trattles: honorary treasurer – Durban

5. Vivian MacFadyen: honorary secretary – Johannesburg

6. Mothibi Thabeng: councillor – Cape Town

7. Alvin Seitz: councillor – Johannesburg

8. Howard Lister: councillor – Durban

9. Mervyn Govender: councillor – Richards Bay

10. Kobus Reinecke: councillor – Vaal

11. Eben Grobbelaar: councillor – Vaal

12. Rodgers Kayombo: councillor – Zambia

13. Johan van Jaarsveldt: councillor – Johannesburg

14. Steven Meyer: councillor – Johannesburg

15. Johan Grobler: councillor – Johannesburg

16. Selvan Murugan: councillor – Cape Town

17. John Owen-Ellis: councillor – Durban

These hardworking councillors all contribute by being members of one or more of the following subcommittees where their interests lie:

1. Finance – chaired by Dean Trattles.

2. Innovations – chaired by Solly Mabitsela.

3. Branch categorisation – chaired by John Owen-Ellis.

4. Education and training – chaired by Johan Maartens.

5. Public relations – chaired by Vinesh Maharaj.

In the coming months you will get reports on the projects these committees are working on and their progress. All members are welcome to join any of these committees so that they can also contribute! Please contact admin@saimc.co.za to advise your preference.

At the AGM Johan Maartens acknowledged John Owen-Ellis for his work on the new Constitution, Jane van der Spuy for her contribution to the SAIMC’s 55 anniversary, and Mothibi Thabeng accepted Selvan Murugan’s award for his commitment to the new web site.
At the AGM Johan Maartens acknowledged John Owen-Ellis for his work on the new Constitution, Jane van der Spuy for her contribution to the SAIMC’s 55 anniversary, and Mothibi Thabeng accepted Selvan Murugan’s award for his commitment to the new web site.

We have had our first formal meeting with the rebranding contractor and the action plan has been agreed. To ensure that they understand our brand fully, representatives of the company attended our recent Bosberaad/Imbizo. The website is in its final stages of testing and will go live at Process Expo 2013.

Our immediate past president, Johan Maartens, is passionate about education and training. He has been working untiringly on a training report for the SAIMC which will set the tone and direction of the activities for the Education and Training committee. He has incorporated elements from ECSA’s Engenius Program, the Automation Federation and also input from various universities. I would like to encourage all members to visit www.engenius.org.za to see the sterling work ECSA is doing to encourage the youth of today to join our esteemed profession. We all need to make a contribution in elevating the profile of engineering amongst the young people of today, who often are not exposed to the important work engineers do. Other professions such as doctors, lawyers and accountants are more easily understood and related to, since the youth understand better what it is these people do at work on a daily basis. Engineering is not as accessible; hence we need to take engineering to the youth! The Engenius program will provide individuals and organisations with support material to assist them in this quest.

Outgoing president Johan Maartens welcomes incoming president Vinesh Maharaj.
Outgoing president Johan Maartens welcomes incoming president Vinesh Maharaj.

I once again invite all interested parties who want to assist the SAIMC on this journey to mail your constructive ideas to me at vinesh.maharaj@saimc.net.

Hope to see many of you at the premier automation and control show of the year, Process Expo 2013. Bring your colleagues and visit us at the fantastic SAIMC stand!



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