The award left us speechless. That is why we missed contributing to the June issue. Ecstatic, fantastic, electrifying - that was the atmosphere at the Standerton Eskom Club on 18 April. Allan Aldum from Johannesburg Valve and Fittings sponsored the historical evening for our branch members. He who thought he knows all about fittings will be speechless after he attended a presentation hosted by Allan. We have seen members with between 10 and 30 years of experience, whose mouths were hanging open; they thought they knew everything. At the beginning he handed out a questionnaire with 11 questions. I do not think that any person correctly answered more than three of those questions. I myself, after 25 years in the trade - having connected countless pipes and fittings - answered only one.
Last month we learned what the cost of compressed air really is. On this night we learned how much the incorrect use and fitting of fittings waste this costly commodity. Allan has a training program in place to educate 'the educated' in the correct use of fittings. (Persons interested can contact him or the Secunda Branch for further details.)
Then the celebrations began. The chairman informed the attendees that we had won the prestigious award of Branch of the Year. He said that just as it is difficult to determine what was first, the chicken or the egg, he could not say who was the most important, the members and persons attending the functions hosted by the branch - or the suppliers who sponsor these evenings and events. He thanked them all for their support and dedication. He then handed out a Certificate of Merit to Allan from Johannesburg Valve and Fittings as well as one to NIC for their presentation the previous month. One of our members also received their Certificate of Membership. Then the certificate that the chairman received from Council as proof of Branch of the Year status was handed to the members of the Secunda Branch.
The only lady present on the night received it on behalf of the members. It was an emotional moment when Cleopatra Mthetewa had to leave the certificate behind in its new home in the lecture room of the branch at the Wika office.
There was more. Our sponsors and suppliers in the area were also so pleased that they had sponsored some gifts to be handed out on the evening to the members attending. The chairman then asked some questions related to the branch and the institute. The person with the correct answer then had the opportunity to pick a gift from the large amount on display. In the end nobody left empty handed. Again we thank our suppliers for their efforts and support.
Maybe old news by now: Tony Vis has taken the Chair at the Secunda Branch. We all offer him our support and congratulate him with this honour.
On the 17th of May Alpret Controls sponsored an evening and presented us with an outstanding talk on intelligent positioners and converters. The writer was not present on the evening, but the talk of the town was that those who were always scared of this new technology are now more at ease. It always sounds so easy when you listen to a specialist in his field. Our new look banner now hangs in our conference room together with a nicely framed certificate of proof.
What a great success our golf day was. We are the best because we have the best not only to organise the event but also the best sponsors. The day started as we had hoped and not as we feared. Never was the weather report more intensely monitored than this year. The threat of a cold front moving in was so strong that we had to provide some OBs to calm the nerves. With us making fun at the JHB Branch regarding their day raining out every year, we were faced with the threat of ours being snowed out. We seriously considered buying some coloured balls if that did happen. Lucky for us the cold struck only the next day.
We have a trophy for the winning sponsor of the day. Who will that be? We will all find out in August when we have our sponsor day. Make sure you book yourself a place at the event to be held at the Kriel Golf Club.
A grand total of 183 persons attended the day. Again we thank our sponsors and supporters, especially Lynnette and Johanna who helped us at the reception with registration of the teams and handing out the tickets, soup and OBs. They also supported our players in the field when their work was done.
This report would be incomplete without a word concerning the JHB Branch: I thought the JHB Branch was made up of educated people, but this seems only true for some of them. If my memory serves me right, the Chairman, as far back as 2000, announced that this golf day would be held annually. On 31 May 2001 he again announced that this day will be held every year on the last Thursday in May. This was then also published as such in a previous publication. The beginning of this year we also published our program for the year including our annual events. Now come on guys do not blame it on the bunny.
A lot has been said about the other branches coming to life. I think they have gone underground and contesting in secret. Where are the members of these branches? If your committees are too scared to advertise what they are doing you are welcome to take up the pen and let the rest of the branches know what is happening in your area. I heard that Welkom is picking up nicely - being from the Free State myself, I am very eager to know what they are doing - and if possible offer some assistance - if they ask.
Remember your shirts and caps. Batch orders will take preference and there might be some discount depending on the quantities ordered. Do all council members have theirs? - and what about all the branch committees?
Piet van Rensburg, piet.jvrensburg@eskom.co.za
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