September 2007 Issue
President’s Notebook
The Season of Learning Returns
BY JOHN McLEOD, P.ENG.
APEGGA President
Summer is winding down and many of you will have returned from various journeys
and holidays. I hope you are home safe, with plenty of adventures behind you
and fond memories to carry forward.
School, college and university students are heading back to their books. As the season of relaxation and summer jobs and placements ends, the season of learning and study begins. Perhaps the rest of us should follow the example students offer — and return to our jobs and careers with a dedication to educational renewal.
On that front, your Association can help. A popular office and school supplies store promotes itself with a big red button. Back to school is as easy, the retail giant says, as pressing the button. APEGGA has its own kind of easy button.
APEGGA provides an ongoing array of professional development opportunities. As well, branches offer luncheons and seminars at the local level, which are also great opportunities to learn while you earn Continuing Professional Development credits.
Of particular note are two high-end seminars on two completely different topics. Dr. George Jergeas, P.Eng., of the University of Calgary, is presenting on how to achieve excellence in the delivery of megaprojects. This remains and will continue to be an important topic for many among our membership.
The other presenter, Katharine Bondy, will help you develop strategies for optimizing performance within the different generational demographics represented in the modern workplace. Workers and professionals are being encouraged to work well past traditional retirement age, and fresh faces are advancing quickly in our vibrant economy. Obviously, this means an understanding of how to work well with different generational types is important, these days.
Each of these events is run through APEGGA’s Professional Development Department as a one-day seminar, once in Calgary and repeated in Edmonton. The megaproject seminar is Sept. 17 in Calgary and Sept. 19 in Edmonton, and the workplace seminar is Sept. 18 in Calgary and Sept. 20 in Edmonton.
Mentoring Conference Returns
Registration is also underway for Celebrating Mentors, APEGGA’s second
annual National Mentoring Conference. This event opens in Calgary with a banquet
on Oct. 25 and a full day of presentations on Oct. 26.
In a few short years, APEGGA has become a mentoring leader among the professions,
through this conference and through a formal mentoring program run by our Professional
Development Department.
The conference draws people from the across the country and from disciplines
and professions beyond our own. The broadness of this event’s appeal speaks
volumes about its importance and the role your Association plays.
How important is mentoring? I think all of us can point to experienced role models who took an interest in our careers and gave us the sound example, advice and guidance we needed. Although informal mentoring relationships can be very positive, studies do show that formalized mentoring — with written goals, expectations and measurables — are even more effective.
I must also note that your Council believes in the importance of mentoring, too. In fact, at the June meeting, Council approved a new Summit Award, called the Outstanding Mentor Award. This puts great mentors on the same stage as great educators, researchers, practitioners and innovators, and deservedly so.
Check the information box with this column for how to find out more about professional development opportunities and the mentoring conference.
Nominations Needed
If I’ve got you thinking about some of the mentors who made a difference
in your life, good. The deadline for nominations for the 2008 Summit Awards is
the end of this month, and the new Outstanding Mentor Award was approved in time
to be one of the categories.
Your Association also seeks nominations in the other 11 categories. The Centennial Leadership Award, the Frank Spragins Technical Award, the Community Service Award, the Project Achievement Award and all the others — we rely on you to make sure we have a good selection of worthy nominations, year after year.
The official call for nominations appeared in the July PEGG, and the paper continues to carry monthly features on the 2007 Summit Award winners. You’ll find everything you need to know online.
1A2A Ramps Up
Busy times lie ahead for APEGGA staff, your Council and your Executive Committee.
As many of you know, the province has amended the Engineering, Geological
and Geophysical Professions Act to accommodate a new regulatory framework,
bringing ASET into the self-regulatory fold through a new Professional Technologist
designation.
Much work remains. Staff members are developing regulations for the One Act, Two Associations model, and a special task force will oversee implementation. On the task force are members of the ASET-APEGGA discussion team that forged the original — and historic, I might add — memorandum of understanding between the two organizations.
Technologists who attain the P.Tech. designation will be able to practice independently in the routine application of industry-recognized codes and standards, within a specified scope of practice. This gives those technologists who want the designation and can attain it a new level of independence, which I think will enhance public protection.
This new era marks the end of what was at times a heated debate between ASET and APEGGA over the role of technologists within the engineering and geoscience families. I believe the energies of both organizations are better spent on things other than arguing, and I am pleased that we’re putting those days behind us.
Ipsos Reid Survey
And where will our energy go?
Ipsos Reid conducted surveys of the public, members and permit holders for APEGGA last year, and the results are generally positive. The public for the most part holds the professions in high regard, and only 12 per cent of members are dissatisfied with APEGGA’s performance, the research indicates.
Still, there are many areas that demonstrate we need to engage you more in
the work and roles of the Association, and that we need to make ourselves more
relevant to you and your careers. For example, more than one in five members
give APEGGA poor performance ratings in public promotion
and leading on issues.
As a page 3 story about the survey notes, APEGGA rates well in comparison to similar associations. That’s not good enough, however, and we’re using your opinions for further improvements to the 10-year strategic plan and our business plan.
Busy times lie ahead. Clearly, school is back in.
If you have questions or comments about these or any other issues, contact me at president@apegga.org. All feedback is much appreciated.
MORE INFORMATION
Mentoring Program & National Conference
Arlene Lack
Mentoring Coordinator
alack@apegga.org
Phone 1-800-661-7020
Or 780-426-3990, Ext. 2820