Celebrating Excellence
Barry Cavanaugh
Technology Alberta, Vol. 27 No. 2, Apr/May 2010
As you’ll notice from the stories in this issue of Technology Alberta, Celebrating Excellence was the theme of this year’s ASET AGM held in Edmonton in March. This phrase, however, is much more than a theme for a weekend event. It could also be used to describe this period in ASET’s history.
ASET would not have achieved the recent successes, such as self-regulatory status in 2009, without constantly striving for excellence. It’s an attitude that shaped the direction of the association during its inception some 47 years ago. And it’s an attitude that has remained at the heart of the association to this day.
As an organization, ASET has set goals and has stayed on course to achieve them. This has meant meeting adversity head-on and never settling for anything less than the highest standard. But ASET is only as strong as the sum of its members. Here again, ASET’s 17,000 members have not settled for anything less than the highest standard. Excellence can be found in every corner of the province, in 14 professions representing more than 120 occupations. Excellence is found in the workplace whether it be in the laboratory, on site with the building of a pipeline, in the control room, performing reclamation or remediation, on site where a bridge is being built, or in the water treatment plant. In each case, members are working to the highest standard to ensure the safety of the public. Excellence is an attitude and approach brought to the profession by each and every member, every single day.
Excellence was also showcased at the AGM. Every year, ASET recognizes members who have been judged by their peers as being at the pinnacle of their profession. This year’s award recipients were honoured at a Gala Awards dinner held on the Friday evening of the AGM. The list of recipients was second-to-none and provide examples of how ASET members are leaders in their fields. Dean Turgeon, R.E.T., LEED AP, is recognized as an expert in geothermal systems and is actively involved in promoting an environmental awareness to the engineering and building processes. George Al Haddad, R.E.T., is recognized for his ability to improve work processes and work flow. Peter Van’t Hoff, C.E.T., is known as a leader in the field of 3D design and has received numerous awards. Norbert Endsin, P.Eng., has had a profound impact on his students at SAIT for 31 years. As employer of the year, TELUS is a strong supporter of ASET and promotes certification and professional development.
Also at the AGM, ASET recognizes the outstanding contributions of its volunteers. At the Volunteer Luncheon held on the Saturday, Darryl Korpany, R.E.T., was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award for his dedication and contributions. In addition, outgoing councilors and members involved with Chapters were recognized for their invaluable contributions that play an integral role in the functioning of a professional association.
It’s this collective professionalism of the membership that gives ASET its strength. This collective professionalism also enables ASET to maintain its position as a leader among its peers and a role model emulated by other associations across the country.
But we don’t intend to rest on our laurels. It’s our belief that your professional organization is the best place to serve and support your professional needs. ASET will continue to prove to you that it is your professional community, the place where you will always find some benefit, the place where you and your peers interact. We will strive to be your trusted source for most of your professional needs, and your support in demonstrating that technicians and technologists who have achieved and maintain the ASET designations are far and away the very best in their field, tested and proven.
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