Looking through the names of my predecessors is a humbling experience. There is no way that anyone can fill the shoes of these people, but one can take the baton and blaze new trails, in our time, and with the assistance of our enthusiastic members who are rich in knowledge and experience.
Last year, immediate past president, Johan van Jaarsveldt, was instrumental in getting the SAIMC registered as a Section 21 company. This is a milestone for the SAIMC and also a turning point. Now, we are tasked not only with the responsibility to expose our members to new technologies and tools, we also have to ensure that the SAIMC is run according to the rules of good corporate governance.
The activities of the SAIMC spread across many companies, and, just as in the case of ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa), it is our responsibility to ensure that our platform abides by the international anti-bribery and corruption campaign.
Because of this, the SAIMC is implementing business conduct guidelines that are in addition to the Code of Conduct of ECSA (I know many of our members are already registered with ECSA).
Some of the issues that I would like to highlight are:
1. It is unlawful for companies to provide, give or promise anything of value directly or indirectly to an SAIMC member in order to:
a. Obtain or retain business.
b. Seek improper business advantage.
c. Influence action by individual, company or government action.
d. The SAIMC has therefore also decided that the maximum value of a prize given by an outside company for presentation to an individual at golf days and other competitions is limited to R300.
2. Authorisation, cooperation, assistance or the non-reporting of such a crime could lead to immediate expulsion from the SAIMC.
3. It is unlawful for SAIMC members to negotiate prices of products at any technology evenings or other SAIMC functions.
4. The SAIMC has zero tolerance for bribery and corrupt conduct.
5. Gifts (of less than R300) should be provided openly. Multiple gifts to the same person during the course of the year should be avoided.
We are appealing to our patron members and branches to assist us in our efforts in combating corruption. This is a serious subject and we trust that we will be able to rely on you to contact us immediately if an offence is suspected.
I had to get that out of the way and now would like to focus on something much more positive – our objectives going forward. We are looking to our Innovations Committee to assist us with the following goals for the next two years:
1. Working with the First Lego League to bring our technology to school level.
2. Establish a bursary scheme to assist youngsters to study in our field.
3. Revisit the issue of branch funding to ensure that every branch is able to support our goals for the next two years.
4. Work with the IIG to ensure that our members get a balanced exposure to the different technologies that are available.
5. Work with MESA SA to bring this exciting methodology to our members.
6. Work with the Process Road-Show and Process Expo teams to strengthen the bonds between us.
7. Standardised reporting for branches.
8. Revisit ‘Branch of the Year Award’ to align it with our goals as communicated by outgoing president, Johan van Jaarsveldt, earlier this year.
I would like to make use of this opportunity to thank each and every person for their valuable support in the past, and also the trust that you have placed in our new council. We have an open door policy, so feel free to contact us with suggestions, critique and of course compliments.
| Tel: | +27 11 312 2445 |
| Email: | ina@saimc.co.za |
| www: | www.saimc.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about SAIMC |
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version