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BY DALE MILLER, P.ENG.
APEGGA President
How time has passed. It is hard to believe that I am sitting
here writing my final President's Notebook as your president.
How could the weeks and months have passed so quickly?
Last April, I indicated in my inaugural remarks that the
Association was strong and that there was no "one big
issue" that would dominate my term. I am pleased to report
that as I pass the leadership role to Ron Tenove, P.Eng.,
I believe that, if anything, that the Association is even
stronger and there still remains no dominant issue threatening
it.
In spite of this, it was an extremely busy year. APEGGA continued
its efforts of the last several years to raise the profiles
of our professions and to communicate the value we provide
to a wide range of society. As I attended meetings, social
events, branch visits and numerous other functions as your
president, I continually met with members of our professions
and others.
Our Impact
What was soon evident is that our professions impact society
like no other. I always knew that we were the technology leaders.
But I soon realized that we are also heads of major companies,
directors on boards and business leaders; that we serve as
advisers to government and industry; that we are innovators
of change, leaders in our communities, volunteers for major
organizations and service groups - the list that can go on
and on. Our contributions are indeed great.
Our contributions are significant in many areas that are
not thought of as traditional roles. I talked to members who
led research in areas such as odour suppression, members who
have written children's books simplifying the laws of physics,
and still others who have developed new technology in alternative
fuels. It is an endless list of accomplishments.
And yes, we are indeed respected by society. What we do is
often unknown or taken for granted, but our professions are
highly regarded. We can hold our head high.
APEGGA's Record
I have gained a greater appreciation for APEGGA: an Association
that has provided Alberta eighty-two years of exceptional
service as a self-governing body of professionals. APEGGA's
guiding principal has been to protect the public and it still
remains its central focus. All we need to do is look around
us and think about all the things impacted by our professions
and used by society everyday, over and over, without any concerns,
to realize how well we have succeeded. We live in a safe and
clean environment and enjoy a high standard of living, largely
because of our professions.
In closing, I must thank you, the membership, for giving
me the opportunity to represent you for the past year. I am
very grateful of your support.
I must also thank Council for their hard work and dedication
to the professions, and for making my role much easier; the
staff for tireless efforts in implementing the many programs
and policies of the association; my employer, UMA Engineering
Ltd., for supporting me and the Association these past years;
and finally my wife Rose and our family, who also made many
personnel sacrifices to support my role as President. Perhaps
now she can take my picture done from the refrigerator.
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