Fifty-first year of the SAIMC and still the ‘Institute of Choice’: this is truly an achievement and our membership in 2009 has been growing at a phenomenal rate. Membership applications completed on our website www.saimc.org.za are automatically sent to the relevant branch chairman for approval before they are forwarded to the National Council for grading. Our secretary, Claire, has been inundated with new membership applications from all parts of Africa. I would like to personally welcome all the new members and thank those individuals who have assisted with this membership drive.
What is the National Council?
As you are aware, the SAIMC consists of National Council and branches countrywide all of whom give of their time, effort and energy at no cost. The rewards are few and far between. The greatest satisfaction comes from the network of friends and knowing that you are giving something back to this industry that we all love and work in.
In 2006 Bill Steenberg joined the Johannesburg branch committee as events coordinator; he soon took over communications where he was editing the newsletter. In March 2007 Bill held the position of vice chairman and continued as the events coordinator where, in addition to inviting guest speakers, he arranged site visits to Rand Water, SAB and to Komati power station. Bill soon found himself nominated to the National Council where he took up the role of general secretary. One of his notable achievements in this position was the inception of a Branch Secretary Conference held in Johannesburg where all the relevant persons met and sorted out the longstanding internal communication problems. Bill was earmarked for the president position, but subsequently he was offered an engineering position in Kazakhstan. Today he remains an out of town councillor and we would like to thank Bill for his contribution to the SAIMC.
Voluntary organisation affiliation with ECSA
In 2008 Johan Maartens joined the National Council to take over the role of communication with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Johan began by delivering presentations to the branches informing our members what registration means to them, their CPD points and what is needed to do to obtain them. This led to courses, presentations and conferences requiring CPD accreditation. As an affiliated voluntary organisation the SAIMC has the authority to accredit presentations at our own branch meetings, as well as accrediting outside companies' presentations and training courses. During 2008 this accreditation brought in more than R23 000 for the SAIMC. Johan has led the innovations sub-committee, which has been a lifeline for the Institute. If we had not changed with the times and market conditions we would not be here 51 years on. Today, Johan continues with all these duties and has been appointed to an office bearing position as the national treasurer.
Please note that as an ECSA registered professional you can claim CPD points by attending SAIMC branch presentations, getting involved and assisting with our student training initiatives and mentoring programme.
| Tel: | +27 11 312 2445 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.saimc.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about SAIMC |
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version