As promised, the Secunda Branch has taken up the challenge and is back in serious business. We hosted our first branch meeting on 13 March.
Festo sponsored the evening and delighted us with its new technology in high-speed soft stop positioners and a totally new concept in actuators. All attendees were amazed at this high-speed actuator and I believe they will all have thought of some good uses for these devices.
The good news is that the interest in the Witbank branch is growing and they will soon have their AGM. Watch your e-mail for details and invitation. Some bad news was received when Pieter van Rooyen, our treasurer for the past three years and newly-elected branch secretary, resigned. We wish him success with his new endeavours in e-commerce and his plans in that area. Johan Maritz, from Proconics, filled the position of Branch Secretary.
The expected invite from Kendal Power Station materialised and Johan Steyn and myself did a presentation to all the control and instrument maintenance managers of the various power stations. This was very well received by all. It is clear that they are also very concerned with the loss of skills in the trade and the poor quality of skills that are now coming into the trade. The invitation to the SAIMC was, therefore, not only to find out about the institute to gain members, but more as a cry from industry to support its initiatives in training by doing something from the Institute as well.
Our second branch meeting was held in Standerton. This is one of the two of meetings in the year that are held closer to where our members live. Cedric Brown from SAM did a presentation on software tracking and how to make sure that the correct revision of software is used in the plant. Everybody found it very interesting and eye-opening.
The best event of the year is on, as promised. On 29 May the Secunda Branch will host its famous Golf Day and like every year this will be the talk of the year. Places are taken up very quickly and everyone interested must contact the organisers as soon as possible.
Congratulations to our new president, Johan Steyn. The Secunda Branch promised to give you all the support you will need during the year to come. We wish you strength to take up the challenge and to also make a success of every goal that you set for yourself. To our outgoing president, Graeme Bell, we say thank you for a year's hard work that took a lot of effort to bring the Institute back on track. Through your leadership our secretariat and database was sorted out and this alone is well appreciated by our members. You have set a standard, and if all equals this standard, this will become the Institute of the future.
As our Chairman always says: "nothing is said if we do not talk about the JHB Branch". Today we congratulate them on their winning the Branch of the Year Award for 2002. Well done guys, you deserve it. Again it was a shame that they only had to contest this with the Secunda Branch. The competition seemed to be a tough one this year and the fear was that either the Durban or the Cape Town Branches posed a threat but again they neglected to fill in their score sheets. Guys, we need some competition here.
Golf shirts in all sizes, white and navy blue and golf caps in blue with the SAIMC logo are available. Advertise your Institute and show that you are proud to be a member. Please fax your order to Piet van Rensburg at 017 615 2615.
The Secunda Branch: The Institute is our business.
Piet van Rensberg, piet.jvrensburg@eskom.co.za
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