President's Message (April 2010)
Technology Alberta, Vol. 27 No. 2, Apr/May 2010
Dave Merralls, R.E.T., P.L.(Eng.)
As you may know, the AGM held in March is a time to celebrate the success of the previous year and it provides an opportunity to prepare for the year ahead. During this time of transition, the new executive and Council members also assume their roles, including the beginning of my term as President.
I look forward to the challenges of leading the organization and our membership into the brave new world of being a functioning professional association. It will not be easy; in fact the heavy lifting is still ahead of us, executing our responsibilities as a professional organization and providing leadership and assistance to our membership to transition from voluntary society membership to their new professional membership responsibilities.
ASET Council and your Association's staff have many activities and initiatives planned or in the early stages of execution that will be rolled out this year to keep our members out in front when it comes to providing technology services to others within the province and across Canada. This is a debt owed by us all to past council members, staff and volunteers, and as a member I am truly grateful for the efforts put in by others so that I now find myself taking over the reins of a very well-run team.
As an organization, ASET enters this year in healthy shape. It is a privilege to be following the leadership of Kevin Harrison, whose guidance helped maintain the organization’s reputation as a responsive association within the province of Alberta as well as an innovator on the national stage.
This year’s AGM in Edmonton demonstrated again the Association’s depth and breadth. The caliber of this year’s ASET award recipients is second-to-none. All are recognized as leaders in their fields and are stellar examples of the contributions that our members are making in different sectors across the province.
One of my first official acts as President during the AGM weekend was hosting the Volunteer Luncheon that recognized the contributions of volunteers for their service to the association including roles with Council, the chapters, on boards, on committees, at tradeshows, as mentors, and more. Volunteers are considered among the best ambassadors of an association and based on the caliber of our members who contribute on these various levels, ASET is definitely in a strong position.
Since the AGM, I have had the privilege of representing ASET on both provincial and national levels. Within Alberta, ASET hosted an induction ceremony in early April to welcome new members to the profession. As I presented each inductee with their certificate, it was difficult not to feel a sense of professional pride and to think back to the time when I joined the Association. Coincidentally, the following week brought back more nostalgia when the Calgary Chapter hosted a meeting at the SAIT. During the evening, I was one of four members invited to reminisce and share with students the story of why we joined ASET. Response from students was extremely positive with more than 40 in attendance. We hope to build on this success during the 2010-1011 academic year, again at SAIT and with our other post-secondary partners across the province.
On the national level, we met with our CCTT counterparts in Toronto in April to discuss the issues facing the national federation. Dealing with these issues will also be a priority over the upcoming year.
Also during upcoming year, as a self-regulating profession we will be focusing on continuing the process of bringing many of the aspects outlined in the legislation to fruition. This includes the areas of discipline, the P.Tech.(Eng.), continuing professional development, and others.
During my term as President, I look forward to meeting you and other colleagues across the province. I also encourage you to consider getting involved with your professional association if you are not already participating. ASET has various ways to get involved from serving on a committee to volunteering at a tradeshow or attending a Chapter technical tour. It’s a unique way to network with colleagues, practice continuing professional education, and to make a difference in your workplace.
Feedback from members is also important to help us ensure that we are being responsive so I welcome you contact me or my colleagues at the ASET office with your suggestions, comments and questions. Over the course of the year, please stay tuned as I aim to keep you appraised about what’s happening at ASET.
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