SAIMC - volunteers, members and communication all key
November 2011Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
SAIMC president, Johan Maartens, is someone committed to the goal of improving the value offered by the organisation to its members and patrons. In his communiquéé this month, he takes a critical look at transformation within the Society and the effectiveness of the various initiatives that have been put in place to ensure the process stays on track.
As an SAIMC member, I found it refreshing to see bureaucracy set aside in this honest attempt to evaluate the usefulness of Council’s initiatives over the last few years. As a council member, I found it satisfying to review the progress that has been made, and to realise that there is still a lot more that needs to be done.
Set up by Council to evaluate the Society’s performance against the objectives defined in its constitution, the SAIMC Innovations Committee identified last year that, while value was being added for members through the regular technical evenings, site visits and social events, these actually only honoured a small portion of the constitution. One of the key elements found wanting was an effective communication platform that members could use to share information efficiently. In order to address this, the website was redesigned to give members more interactive functionality and control. It is not ideal yet, but it is a step in the right direction.
Another useful communication initiative is the monthly newsletter generated by the various branch committees to keep members up to date of events happening in their region. Invariably, these form the bulk of the SAIMC news section published every month in this magazine and what stands out for me as editor, is the enthusiasm and diligence of the committee members who give up their time to author them every month.
Nelson (Horatio) once ruffled the feathers of the admiralty hierarchy with his outspoken views on the superior value of volunteers over ‘pressed men’ in battle. Our less bloodthirsty quest also depends on people willing to volunteer for the cause; what can easily get forgotten is that the Society would almost certainly cease to exist without the effort of those who give up their time to serve on the various committees. It is thanks to them that technical evenings and site visits get organised, golf days materialise and we get together at the end of every year at the annual banquet. That said, unlike those of a British man-of-war, the objectives of an organisation like ours can never be accomplished by the volunteers alone, success comes when these efforts are in harmony with the expectations of an interested and committed membership base. This is borne out by Johan in his conclusion: “There are still many items on our to-do list and some will have to wait until 2012. In the meantime I urge everybody who has great ideas to register on our website www.saimc.net. Go to Forum>Council >Strategy and let us hear your voice.”
I concur; there might be other ways to evaluate the Society’s performance realistically, but what better than direct feedback from the people whose interests it is there to serve. After all, since peer-group organisations like SAIMC ultimately belong to the members but rely on the volunteers to act as custodian, constructive communication between all is key for success. (See ‘From the president’s desk’ for more.)
The importance of environmental monitoring and visibility at data centres Legrand
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Data centres are one of the most energy-intensive building types, consuming up to 50 times the energy per floor space compared to a typical commercial office building. With organisations embracing advanced technologies, data centres powering these technologies are under increasing pressure around the globe to increase capacities and improve efficiencies.
Read more...From the editor's desk: First break it, then fix it Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
Welcome to another year with SA Instrumentation & Control. May it be a happy and healthy one where you can rise to the challenges ahead and still enjoy all the good things we have in this country.
...
Read more...Analysers for use in high ambient temperature environments
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
The 993X series of analysers from Ametek Process Industries are now IECEx Zone 2 certified for use in locations with up to 60°C ambient temperature. Built with IP66-rated enclosures and using an integrated cooling system, they can be installed outdoors or in minimally temperature-controlled enclosures, reducing complexity while lowering capital and operating costs.
Read more...ATEQ is adapting to evolving markets ATEQ South Africa
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
ATEQ is a global company that has established itself as a world leader in leak test technologies and industrial quality control equipment. The company’s mission is to help its customers remain compliant with regulations and maintain product quality through its range of support services.
Read more...From the editor's desk: Killer science Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
I couldn’t resist watching The World Industrial Reporter’s video on Ten Scientists Killed By Their Own Experiments. Some of them would have deserved the Darwin Award for taking themselves out of the ...
Read more...The art of precision measurement
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
To achieve precise, reliable measurement results when scanning component parts, use is frequently made of reference points. In optical measuring processes, these permit the referencing of three-dimensional objects during the digitisation.
Read more...From the editor's desk: The inhuman truth Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
Among all the hype about generative AI, an over-the-top app that attracted my attention was NewsGPT. This claims to be a bias-free news channel with no reporters, and is an alternative to normal news. ...
Read more...Vibration test system supports international space industry TANDM Technologies
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Dragonfly Aerospace has launched EOS SAT-1, one of seven satellites in the world’s first agricultural-focused constellation. With optimisation of resources being a key component for Dragonfly, it called on TANDM to assist in creating and heavily expanding its environmental testing capabilities by providing a vibration test system that allowed it to perform in-house vibration and shock testing.
Read more...From the editor's desk: Some random thoughts Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
In the afterglow of the Olympics, my most enduring memory is the men’s 100-metre finals where the top four were separated by three hundredths of a second; and Noah Lyles beat Kishane Thompson by four thousandths ...
Read more...Sensor technology for brewing Endress+Hauser South Africa
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Brewing is a delicate balance, blending tradition with innovation. Now, modern sensor technology is stepping in to perfect the art of fermentation.
printer friendly version