The year has been passing rapidly, and we at the institute have a tremendous amount of activity to report on. Firstly, our newly established website is gaining acceptance rapidly, with members registering as on-line users and taking advantage of the value it offers.
As communicated previously, the website offers an on-line membership application facility, also making it convenient for members to update their existing details. The site also features technical applications from the industry, a calendar of SAIMC events and on-line ordering of SAIMC merchandise as well as convenient perusing and booking for the various institute events on-line.
One of the key features is the forum where members are afforded the opportunity to post their application problems on-line, requesting assistance from recognised industry experts in areas such as level, flow, temperature, pressure and closed loop control.
It is important that members register as site users to ensure that we have their latest details, which will facilitate easy and direct communication between the institute and you, our valuable members. I look forward to seeing more of you registered on the website and becoming members of our on-line community.
Secretariat
After four years with our current secretariat, CTR, council have elected to review our current administrative position to ensure that it still meets the requirements of our membership. With this in mind, we will be issuing a formal tender document to all interested parties, inviting them to propose their services as the end-to-end administration provider to the institute. This includes membership administration as well as financial assistance in the form of standard accounting practices, collection of subs and database administration.
This initiative is intended to review our current performance to you, our valued members in our efforts to add more value and to make your interaction with us simpler. Should you believe that you are able to add value to the institute in this sense, please feel free to communicate this to our general secretary: Mr Vivian McFadyen on [email protected]
Innovations sub committee
As has been communicated previously, our innovations sub committee has been extremely active in devising new and improved ways for the institute to add value to its members. A variety of topics has emerged and are being vigorously pursued by the various members of the relevant committees.
We will be scheduling a bosberaad in the foreseeable future to strategise and formulate the institute's future goals. Should you feel that you are able to add value to the institute and its members - in either the innovations sub committee or the bosberaad - please feel free to contact me on [email protected].
SAIMC Annual Banquet
The annual SAIMC banquet yet again promises to be the flagship industry event of 2005. Substantially different to previous years, the banquet for 2005 promises to be an event where old friends meet and are educated in the past and future of measurement and control. And what is more, this year's event will also cater for the wives/husbands that are normally onlookers to our activities.
Branch activities
Our various branches have, as usual, been active in securing educational activities for our members. These included the customary technological presentations as well as enlightening site visits. An example of the active participation of our members was the recent Johannesburg Branch Winter Golf day, which had a great turnout and was enjoyed by all.
I would like to offer a particular word of appreciation to all participants and sponsors in making this a truly memorable event.
This being said, I need to emphasise the lack of activity in our branches in regions such as Rustenburg, the Vaal Triangle and Mosselbay, which while being particularly strong M&C environments are sadly lacking in their SAIMC activities. Should any resident of these regions feel they are able to add value to the SAIMC and M&C practitioners, they are welcome to contact me on [email protected]
Education and training
Since inception, education and training has always been at the forefront of objectives of the SAIMC. Our various branches have dutifully served this objective with initiatives such as the Schneider and Apollo awards being awarded to deserving students.
Renewed focus is being placed on the Negretti Awards. These aim to recognise the efforts of practitioners in our field. Should you believe that you have authored a technical paper that adds value to our industry, please forward it to [email protected]
Of particular importance are the institute's current activities with the South African Qualifications Authority and the M&C Standards Generating Body. We will see the institute playing an increasingly active role in the standards and educations environment. A variety of activities are in the pipeline, and we believe that we will have some encouraging things to report in the near future.
Video series
Finally, it is with tremendous excitement that I am able to announce the agreement reached between the SAIMC, Penmac and TurboTrain. We are to create a series of videos/DVDs aimed at educating students and scholars on the importance and possibilities in the measurement and control environment. This is an initiative that has been in the making since Penmac approached the institute early this year, and promises to deliver a whole new suite of practitioners into our environment. Should you wish to participate in this initiative, please contact Eric Carter on [email protected]
Here is wishing you an exciting month in measurement and control.
Cornu Perold, president, [email protected]
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