Dear All,
2020 has certainly been a year of change and upheaval on both the global and national levels with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and its profound and far-reaching effects on all aspects of our lives. I am sure that we are all facing our own personal challenges at the moment; juggling remote working, home-schooling and perhaps a level of uncertainty regarding the long, and short, term effects of the current situation.
This year has also been one of change on a personal level as I have embarked on the next step on my career journey, leaving the familiar surroundings of West Cumbria for the bright lights of London to take up post of CEO of the Safety Assessment Federation on 1st March. SAFed represents the UK independent engineering inspection and certification industry, which plays a key role in maintaining high standards of safety within the workplace. It has been, to use a Great British understatement, quite a busy introduction to this new role given the current climate and perhaps baptism of fire is a more apt way of describing it! Lots of challenges in a new and unknow environment.
For us at the IMechE West Cumbria, it is no different. Sadly, we have had to cancel our Spring programme of events as well as our AGM. However, we will be looking to reschedule these for better times ahead and are looking to embrace new technology by organise a webinar for one of our talks, to prove the concept and to provide some semblance of normality. Communications will be sent out soon on this. In the meantime, I would also direct you to the main IMechE website as there is a substantial amount of material there relating to training, STEM activities, well-being advice and library services.
https://www.imeche.org/
The Spring edition of our bi-annual Newsletter remains available for download below and it includes write-ups on past visits to Carr’s Flour Mill in Silloth, and Harrison and Harrison Organ Builders in Durham, as well as talks on NASA Asset Management, the Queensferry Crossing Project in Scotland and, most recently, on the Development and Provocations in Tidal Energy. What is most encouraging is that the numbers attending these visits and talks have remained robust with some visits and talks fully booked.
SPRING NEWSLETTER:
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Alas, the highlight of the year, the Annual Dinner, has also had to be cancelled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I’m afraid your dinner jacket or posh frock will have to stay in the wardrobe for the time being.
Our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Educational Engagement activities have also been affected but we are still looking for volunteers to help in this field. We would be delighted to get more of you involved in our STEM activities so if you’re interested get in touch, we are also seeking a STEM Co-ordinator on our committee to help focus our STEM commitments and ensure we are inspiring the next generation. Any help is appreciated, not just from us but from those who come along to enjoy our activities.
As ever, we are looking for new Members to reinforce and supplement our Committee, so if you feel like enhancing your Chartership / Fellow credentials and adding an extremely worthwhile activity to your CV (as well as wanting to help us maintain the West Cumbria branch as one of the most productive and successful Area Committees in the country) get in touch with me. We meet once a month (currently virtually) and when we resume business as usual your supper is also provide.
Wishing you all the best,
Caroline
Caroline Hamilton CEng MIMechE
Honorary Chair – IMechE West Cumbria Area Committee