Johannesburg branch
We did it again!
For the second year running, the Johannesburg Branch won the much sought after Branch of the Year Award for 2000. The award was made by Dave Howcroft, then outgoing President of the Council, at the Annual General Meeting that took place on 11 April 2000. Aside from one hiccup in 1998, we have now taken the award in 1997, 1999 and 2000, making it the third time in four years that Johannesburg was adjudicated the best SAIMC branch in the country.
A clear warning was sounded by the Secunda Branch, who came second in the competition, that they would be a force to be reckoned with this year. This makes one wonder what has happened to all the other branches around the country when Secunda, who are only in their second year, challenges the oldest and biggest branch in the country for top honours. As far as the Secunda Committee are concerned, guys, this year we can see you coming so we will just go up a gear to maintain the lead.
Other news is that the founding meeting of our East Rand Sub Branch was held on 10 April. A committee will be chosen at their next meeting so make sure to be there on 8 May 2001. For more info please contact Paul van Heerden of Rand Instruments at (011) 816 2777, 083 655 0626 or [email protected]
Important note
The date of our Business Breakfast has been moved back. It was to take place on 31 May, but as one of our other branches decided to have their Golf Day on the same date, we decided to move it back to the last week in June. Further notice will be given as to the exact details at a later stage.
Other dates to remember are our Wine Tasting evening on Wednesday 11 July and the site visit to the BMW Plant in Roslyn on 18 July. The BMW site visit is not to be missed and as we have limited space available, it is imperative to put your names down ASAP to avoid disappointment.
Lastly, three of our Johannesburg Committee members have been nominated to Council: Tony Jacobson, Cornu Perold and Johan Steyn. Tony and Cornu have accepted, but this chairman has decided to concentrate on branch matters for the remainder of this year. Tony has already tendered his resignation from our committee, but Cornu, to use his own words, will not leave the hottest committee in the country, even if it means he has to serve on both Council and Branch level.
Johan Steyn (Chairman), [email protected]
On a lighter note, there was more: - Letter to the editor:
Dear Mr Editor, I would like to make use of your SAIMC section to openly convey a message to the Chairman of the Branch that came Secunda, er - second:
Just to let him know that we will be shifting the date of our Business Breakfast (Our most important function on the year) out of respect for his Golf Day, that somehow mysteriously moved from the advertised date of Friday 25 May to Thursday 31 May.
(For the record, our year programme was published in the February 2001 issue of SAI&C magazine and reference was made to the Business Breakfast again in the March issue.)
Now I have to warn him that the very vibrant and easily excited members of the Jhb committee could interpret this as a hostile act on the part of the Secunda Branch and start murmuring among themselves, demanding retribution.
Please be assured that I will do my best to contain their aggression, but any further surprises might just push them over the edge.
One last point: the Jhb branch will host their Annual Golf Day (A very prestigious and eagerly anticipated event widely respected for its excellence) on 26 October 2001 (Yet to be officially published). We trust it will not clash with your programme - Mr Secunda Chairman, Sir.
Thank you
Johan Steyn, Chairman, Johannesburg
Secunda responds to Johannesburg's letter to the editor:
Dear Mr Editor, I feel moved to say something to bring focus to the heart of the issue:
I can almost experience the fear that the Johanesburg branch must feel for what is to happen in the year to come. The stuttering towards the end of its Chairman's opening sentence is a clear indication thereof...
As mentioned so often we acknowledge that the Johannesburg Branch is our parent. Is it not true in real life that parents must bend for their children and change plans to accommodate and support them? We also have minds of our own and should be allowed to change it if the need requires it. At least it was published that there was something major planned for May, give or take a week or so.
I would like to share a few ideas with the Johannesburg Branch, something that they can chew on and remember to avoid the flaring tempers and flowing of tears when the day comes:
* Although experienced, a parent grows old and weak as years go by - the strength fades. This is to allow for the young to grow strong and take over where the parent has left off.
* Life is like a rotating wheel. The part that is on top today is at the bottom tomorrow.
* Plants grow to be strong to produce strong seeds, then they die to provide the compost for the seeds to grow in, to be able to produce stronger seeds again.
The lesson from this: Do not fight the unavoidable, do not get upset and do not stress. We know that the Johannesburg Branch's effort this year will be noticed, after all - the older JHB Branch gets, the harder things become - and the competition is very strong.
Thank you
Piet van Rensberg, Chairman Secunda
Secunda branch news
The members of the Secunda Branch welcome Richard Teagle as our new President of Council. We wish him an outstanding year in the chair and offer our dedication and support to him in achieving the goals that he set for our institute. As with our past presidents the invitation stands to visit our branch and attend our functions at any time through the year.
To Dave Howcroft, our Past President, we give thanks for his support and guidance of the past year. He shared with us some of his ideas and ideologies that will remain with us for many years to come. Thank you Dave, you have lead through example.
The Secunda Branch congratulates our parent branch, Johannesburg, with their achievement of the Branch of the Year Award. It is always nice for children to boast and brag about their parents. To all our members at the Secunda Branch we also say 'exceptional'. Our second place is definitely a feather in our caps.
For April we hosted a site visit to Instrotech. What an experience this was. The view from the attendees was that it is not so much what Dave and his team were manufacturing, or the outstanding quality of the product or the value for money that you get, but it was other factors that impressed them most: the team cohesion, commitment, friendliness, support and joy in their work. Those were the things that were the talk on our way back. Thank you once more Dave and your team for a very pleasant day.
To all our sponsors for the Golf Day a massive, provisional thank-you. We hope the day does not RAIN out and that everyone will enjoy it.
From now on do not just watch this space - watch the Secunda Branch!
Piet van Rensberg (Chairman)
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