If we had to have a poll amongst the hundreds of hardworking people out there we all know as 'reps', and asked them to nominate the number one irritation in their lives, I would wager a bet that we would have an overwhelming winner. I am talking about that entity slowing us down, making life difficult, upsetting our schedule, the time killer, the most effective stress generator known to reps all over the country. No, it is not the secretary or storeman, nor is it the buyer, the harpy at reception or even the security guard, although the last one comes a close second. It is the number one time waster in modern industry, the most effective method ever devised to prevent trained professionals from doing their work; I am talking about 'The Meeting!'
Just think about it for a minute; you have your Production Meeting, Safety Meeting, Strategic Alignment Meeting, Morning Meeting, Afternoon Meeting, Hazop, Critical Analysis Meeting, let us plan a meeting Meeting and any other name you can come up with Meeting. When do these people ever work? I have been to a factory where the whole engineering department went for a 4 day 'bosberaad' at some overpriced bush camp, trying to analyse why production is down and costs are up. Huh?
Granted, meetings are important, we have to have a forum for discussing problems, finding solutions for those problems and to create a catalyst for new ideas. Then again, any meeting that is longer than two hours is a seminar, and is poorly planned anyway. Can we please stop having meetings and get on with the job.
Branch of the year competition
For the past three or four years, this competition has been dominated by the Secunda and Johannesburg Branches, in fact the others seem to be so totally outclassed by these two outfits that they are too afraid to even participate. During our last Council meeting, some ideas were discussed on how to get the other branches to at least participate in this very prestigious event. What we decided was that each year Council will host the winning branch to an official award ceremony to the value of R5000,00. This ceremony will be held at a venue to be selected by the branch itself, and the award delegation will travel to this venue to host the ceremony and hand over the Branch of the Year Award to the winning committee in the presence of their local members and guests. The delegation will consist of one or two Council members, as well as a representative from the current holders of the award, who will be required to relinquish the banner to the new 'Champions'.
It was also decided to take a new look at the points format as it is at present, some of the structures are going to be amended and the points awarded for specific achievements will be increased. As an example; a bigger emphasis will be placed on the growth in membership at branch level, and thus more points than are presently available can be scored by recruiting new members. As soon as all the details have been finalised, the new scoring sheet will be sent to all the branch committees. We hope that come the end of 2003, we will see more than two entrants for the competition!
Annual banquet
The most prestigious event on the SAIMC calendar is without doubt the annual banquet hosted by the National Council. It is set to take place on 10 October 2003 at Gallagher Estate, and will coincide with the Blue IQ Means Business Week. Our guest speaker for the evening will be none other than the 'Cousin' himself, Barry Hilton, and bookings for tables is now open. Companies and/or individuals wishing to sponsor tables for their VIP guests or just book single seats, can do so now by contacting me at the e-mail address below.
Finally
As this was prepared, yet another cash in transit heist took place at Cresta Shopping Centre in Randburg. A few weeks earlier, a cluster of cockroaches attacked a cash in transit vehicle on the M1, and casually proceeded to hack open the roof of the vehicle with axes to get to the loot inside.
What is wrong with these security companies? It is blatantly obvious that their methods, staff, equipment and training methods are hopelessly inadequate. The SANDF has hundreds of Ratel armoured vehicles rotting in military vehicle lots, why not use those to transport the cash? And hire military trained personnel. Let us see these vermin overturn one of these by ramming it with a stolen BMW, let alone hack through bulletproof armour with an axe. And make a law: Any vehicle coming to within 10 m of the Ratel will be hosed down with a stream of 20 mm HE rounds. End of problem.
Johan Steyn, SAIMC President, johans@kubler.co.za
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