(Full version available at www.saimc.org.za - makes interesting reading)
Yes, the slumbering giant otherwise known as the Durban Branch has in fact been clandestinely going about its affairs good-naturedly down here by the sea. The scribe has been missing all previous print deadlines, possibly due to an acute attack of Natal Fever. This affliction is proven incurable, and is known to allow sufferers only infrequent bouts of remission. So here is an attempt to account for all those past months of activity that has hitherto appeared missing.
The January 2002 meeting got off with a bang, so to speak, with attendees being exposed to fire and safety issues via video footage of the spectacular pyrotechnic results of incidents in the petrochemical sector.
27 February saw the holding of the Annual General Meeting of the Durban Branch, held at the usual venue, the German Club in Westville in Durban. Following dinner, Prof Ed Boje treated us to an insight into China.
The March meeting saw a presentation on the OSH Act by Ian Prosser, Assistant Manager with the Department of Labour.
The May meeting took the form of a site visit to the International Convention Centre in Durban. Virtually everything is automated and monitored in a fully equipped control room, from fire monitoring systems, evacuation systems, airconditioning control, access control, etc. This installation comprises extensive integration of various open and proprietary hardware and software systems. Unfortunately support from our members was not good and only four members partook in the tour. Come on guys, your SAIMC needs you!
Sponsorship and presentation material for our June and July meetings was arranged by Logan Mudaly, a principal engineer for Reliability Engineering, Engen Petroleum (Petronas affiliated).
June's meeting saw Metso providing the much needed financial support for the night, and allowing Logan to launch into his presentation of a detailed paper covering online testing of existing air operated FCE (field control elements).
In July, following the previous month's enthusiasm, Logan Mudaly continued to impart the results of his work to the audience, this time covering 'Reliability improvement of the existing DP Cell method of pressure, level and flow measurement'. Again Logan successfully arranged sponsorship for the evening form Engen. Sincere thanks to Logan and Engen.
I was privileged to attend my second Council meeting in Randburg on 31 July 2002. It was great to see that the body that keeps the flame burning certainly is a bunch committed to furthering the aims of the Institute.
August saw a visit by Johannesburg-based engineering software organisation Caddman. Its product comprises a fully integrated suite of tools for creating intelligent plant schematics and instrumentation design details for plant design and maintenance.
In September, the local company Lechintech brought some open innovative thinking to the fore by presenting its ideas and advice to budding inventors who wish to take an idea from concept to reality in our industry.
In October, Tony Holme - a long time associate of all of us in this industry, and member of the SAIMC Council - came down to check on us on the occasion of our Branch Meeting. His travel expenses were covered by Citect Africa, which he represents in the sales and marketing field. His presentation, 'Scada Systems - A Basic Overview', was such a breath of fresh air to us who attended.
It is a blight upon us that we have to cure! That is, the pure downright lack of interest that sometimes afflicts the members of the Durban Branch. Now please do not take offence guys, but your branch needs you. Your committee gives valuable personal and business time to your organisation; this means that they give this to you, the members. This month's meeting was so poorly attended, that the Branch Committee felt compelled to waive the R1000 sponsorship fee requested of sponsors this month.
Durban Branch's annual dinner dance
I challenge all branches to better the fun factor enjoyed by all present at this year's event. This year's festivities took place at Durban's flagship venue, the International Convention Centre, the ICC. The usual format of not having an outside guest speaker or stand-up entertainer was chosen in order to minimise formalities and maximise time for networking and, well, just downright enjoying oneself. We had 140 guests at this year's event, markedly up from previous years.
We had a visitor, who was in our midst enjoying himself immensely, and who carefully organised to be seated next to myself. We are not quite sure who he was collecting intelligence for, but rumour has it that it was for some inland branch or even for council itself. Having had the pleasure of my company requested for the SAIMC Annual Banquet in November, I had guessed that there would be an attempt to show the Durban Branch up when it comes to annual events. Thank you Johan Steyn, thanks from the Durban Branch for your effort in attending, and for the detailed feedback on current council affairs that you presented.
Great live music was the department of Shaun Marais, who this year phoned me up 30 minutes before the event, to ask if we would mind if he brought along an accomplice musician to add to the festivities. Did we mind? It was a great combination.
November saw what was one of our most interesting presentations of the year. Opus Technologies, in the form of Estelle Schaffer, sponsored our event. Estelle took the mystery out of fuzzy logic. The past has seen one or two papers on this topic, but none with the depth and clarity that Estelle was able to engender.
This event brings the 2002 activities of the Durban Branch to a close and the Branch Committee would like to use this opportunity to thank sponsors for their interest and efforts in supporting the Durban Branch during the year. The Committee looks forward to the New Year with enthusiasm, and we wish all our members and sponsors a peaceful and prosperous 2003.
Kevin McElroy, kevin@eastcoast.co.za
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