Vol. 7, No. 4 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 Executive Committee and Council 2010-11 Kim Farwell, P.Eng., was sworn into office as president of APEGGA on Saturday. She is the association’s 91st president and the third woman to hold the position. Meet the new Executive Committee and Council 2010 Summit Award Recipients The Association’s primary awards were presented by APEGGA President Jim Beckett, P.Eng., at Thursday night's Summit Awards Gala in Edmonton. By recognizing excellence in and acknowledging the contributions of individuals in our community, we also raise the public’s awareness of the engineering and geoscience professions. See the 2010 Receipients APEGGA Member Benefits Clearly LASIK APEGGA members and immediate family now enjoy a 15 per cent discount on LASIK (laser vision correction) at the Edmonton centre location. Receive free LASIK consultations and exam, and affordable financing options for your procedure. Surgeon experience of over 50,000 successful LASIK and PRK procedures. CUSTOM Wavefront technology, All Laser LASIK, state of the art facilities and welcoming spa-like environment. Mention that you have the “APEGGA 15 per cent discount” when scheduling your initial exam. Calforex (Canadian Foreign Exchange) With 26 years in foreign currency exchange business, Calforex provides market information and foreign exchange risk management strategies. Services are fast and simple, and the company is proudly owned and operated by an Alberta family since 1983. Go to Member Benefits Environment Committee Tip of the Month Uses for Fireplace Ash and Charcoal Depending on where you live, a wood heater can be a relatively Earth-friendly option for heating and be quite economical, particularly if you're fortunate enough to have easy access to a supply of wood. The ashes left behind from a wood fire are also a valuable and versatile by product – don't just throw them away indiscriminately. Here are some great uses for your ash. Remember to exercise appropriate caution and spot test etc. Fire helper Lumps of charcoal shouldn't be removed from your fireplace if possible, just the ash – the charcoal will help kick along your next fire and get it cranking out decent heat far faster than a fire is started with wood alone. You could also save it and use it for summer barbecues, instead of commercial products that sometimes have toxic chemicals added. Filter Left-over charcoal (the black chunks, not the grey/white ash) can be pounded with a hammer and then ground into a fine powder with a mortar and pestle or blender. This can then be used as a filter medium. Note that it's not quite the same or effective as activated charcoal that you buy, so don't rely on it for filtering drinking water. Pest deterrent Sprinkle ash around the border of garden beds to repel snails and slugs. Apply after rainfall. Ice Wood ash can be used as an anti/de-icing agent – a little more environmentally friendly than salt or other chemicals used these days. Making lye Lye is used in the production of soap and biodiesel – white ash produced by burning hardwood is best for this purpose. Compost Add a dusting of wood ash to each layer of your compost as you're building it up. Fertilizer Ash contains potash (potassium carbonate), phosphate, iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc. It can be quite beneficial as a natural fertilizer. Wood ash increases the pH or alkalinity of soil, so use sparingly. Black charcoal is a little different in that it has a much higher ratio of carbon – so this can be used more liberally. Dehumidifying Lumps of charcoal placed in a can punched with holes can help reduce moisture in areas such as closets, basements, under sinks, etc. Cleaning Dip a damp rag into ash and use to clean silverware, brass and glass. Ash added to a scourer can make scouring more effective. If you do intend on using wood ash and carbon, be sure not to throw plastics, cigarette butts and such into your wood heater or fireplace as it can contaminate it. Ash should be stored in a metal container with a lid. Of course, you should also wait for it to cool before using for any of the above purposes. Ref: www.greenlivingtips.com Visit the environment pages Board of Examiners Volunteer Position The APEGGA Board of Examiners is looking for professional engineers to fill the following position: Electrical Engineering — Experience Examiner The APEGGA Board of Examiners is a statutory committee created under the EGGP Act. The mandate of the Board of Examiners is to evaluate the qualifications of individuals for licensure in accordance with legislated requirements. See the advertisement More News GeoCanada 2010 GeoCanada 2010 is a once-in-a-decade opportunity for anyone who works with the Earth. Whether your focus is petroleum, base and precious metals, groundwater, geophysics, bedrock and seabed mapping, geohazards, uranium or environmental remediation, GeoCanada 2010 will present the latest developments across a complete spectrum of Earth Science professions. It is the ultimate opportunity to gain insight into your profession and the Earth, sharing experiences and knowledge with your peers from across Canada. GeoCanada 2010 will be held at the BMO Centre, Stampede Park, May 10-13, and from May 13-14 at the ERCB Core Research Centre. More information -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CCWESTT: Leading the Way 2010 Empowering Women, Building Communities Some 400 attendees will enjoy two full days of keynote speakers such as Betty-Ann Heggie, Heather Bishop, Bani Dheer and Lydia Surasky-Matte, professional development workshops, networking opportunities, panel discussions and sightseeing. Professionals from the public and private industries, human resources, academics, students, entrepreneurs – everyone is welcome. Encourage your workplace or organization to be a sponsor or join the 10 in 2010 Challenge. May 13-15, the Fairmont Hotel, Winnipeg More Information -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2010 CSEG Student Industry Field Trip Land Management, Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation, and Networking The CSEG Outreach Committee has organized the second annual CSEG Student Industry Field Trip, scheduled to take place in the Calgary area, throughout the day of June 24. This unique occasion provides university students studying geophysics a chance to explore the major disciplines handled by geophysicists in the energy industry. The experience includes tours and presentations from major land management, acquisition, processing and interpretation companies. Participants will be given a chance to interact and discuss questions with professional geophysicists at the four venues. It is also an opportunity to network with other geophysics students and future professionals from schools all over Canada. The cost to participate is only $25, and includes breakfast and lunch along with a post-event social. Register Online For more information contact Chris Steinhoff at crsteinh@ucalgary.ca or students@cseg.ca. Fast Find Articles Executive Committee and Council 2010-11 2010 Summit Award Recipients APEGGA Member Benefits Environment Committee Board of Examiners More News Sidebars PEG Magazine PEG Online Branch Events PD Events and M.I.T. Seminars Golf Tourneys Sponsorship Drive PD Opportunities PEG Magazine The digital version of the PEG magazine is online, with identical pages and hotlinks, too. Or go directly to these feature stories: Meet your new Council Mentoring conference shifts to international focus APEGGA makes mobility inroads PEG Online Our all-new PEG Online is your connection to current APEGGA events and other news. This revamped and relaunched section of our website includes APEGGA news releases, student columns, our Where in the World blog and much more. Branch Events May 6 – Calgary Branch PD Evening – Applying the Business Execution Disciplines May 11 – Edmonton Branch Luncheon – Edmonton's LRT Plans May 18 – Calgary Branch Luncheon – Going for Black Gold May 19 – Calgary Branch PD Evening – Internationally Educated Graduates - APEGGA Licensing Requirements: An Information Session Register Online PD Events and MIT Seminars Correct Writing - Grammar Fundamentals May 5-6 Edmonton May 10-11 Calgary Difficult Conversations May 12 Edmonton May 14 Calgary Taking Charge of Your Career May 17 Edmonton May 18 Calgary Requirements for Licensure for M.I.T.s May 19 Edmonton May 20 Calgary Professional Presence: It Matters May 20, Jun 8, Edmonton May 21, Jun 15, Calgary Accounting and IFRS for the Non-Accountant Jun 10 Edmonton Jun 11 Calgary Register Online PD Events Golf Tourneys Golf season is almost upon us once again. Plan this season's golfing activities using this schedule and check back often for new additions. Sponsorship Drive 2010 APEGGA Calgary Branch Golf Tournament Increase member participation and networking opportunities by reducing the cost of the golf tournament. Many categories available for sponsorship. Call 403-262-7714 for package details. Sponsorship deadline is June 30. APEGGA Calgary Branch Golf Tournament Thursday, Sep 9 Player registration starts in May Lynx Ridge Golf Club Registration & Driving Range 1 p.m., play at 2 Steak dinner Call 403-262-7714 Featured PD Opportunities Showcasing professional development opportunities that aren’t directly tied to the Association. These events happen in Alberta, across Canada and around the world. 13th Annual Sustainable Building Symposium: Building Your Future – Alberta Chapter - Canada Green – Building Council – May 11 & 12 EDMONTON – May 12 & 13 CALGARY www.cagbc.org/chapters/ alberta/events/conferences.php The 7th Annual Friends of Science Luncheon –Global Warming: Where’s the Alarm? May 17, Metropolitan Conference Centre – 333–4 Ave SW, Calgary contact@friendsofscience.org or 403-830-1735 Oil Sands Trade Show & Conference – Sep 14 & 15, Suncor Community – Leisure Centre, MacDonald Island, Fort McMurray www.oilsandstradeshow.com Oil Sands Trade Show & Conference – Sep 21 & 22, Northlands Park, Edmonton www.bvents.com/event/ 205172-oil-sands-trade-show-and-conference View All PD Opportunities APEGGA Head Office 1500 Scotia One 10060 Jasper Ave. N.W. Edmonton AB T5J 4A2 Tel: 780-426-3990 1-­800-­661-­7020 (within North America) Fax: 780-426-1877 Email: email@apegga.org Website: www.apegga.org Calgary Office 2200 Scotia Centre 700 2nd Street S.W. Calgary, AB T2P 2W1 Tel: 403-262-7714 Fax: 403-269-2787 © 2010 The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Change of E-mail