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February, 1997 Newsletter |
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February, 1997 Newsletter |
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General Membership Meeting
The Toronto Branch held its annual general membership meeting on Monday, November 18, 1996. Attendance was low, but was understandable in that there was a problem with Canada Post on the delivery of the meeting notice. Andrew Stanley, Ontario’s Board of Review Representative was present and he enlightened us on many aspects, such as the status of the Operating Engineers Act and regulations and the "privatization" of the Pressure Vessels Branch of the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations. He also spoke on the S.O.P.E.E.C. examination system that is being introduced in Ontario and the status of the existing O.T.A.B. examinations. The awards presentation saw Don Purser receive the Honourable Service Award.
At the meeting a new executive was also elected. Your executive elected is as follows:
Mark Page - President
Don Purser - First vice-president
Mike Roberts - Secretary
Ralf Klopf - Treasurer , Past President
Carl Wienecke - Auditor
George Sarris - Auditor
Ralf Klopf - Ontario Area Representative
Mark Page - Ontario Area Representative
Tim Delory - Member at Large
Andrew Stanley - Member at Large
Wesley Dolphin - Member at Large
Simrat Bhullar - Member at Large
David Brown - Member at Large
Mr. Garth Bell was appointed at the January Executive meeting to the position of Second vice-president.
We thank all of the above mentioned people for offering their services to the Toronto Branch. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ralf Klopf for his many years service as the President of the Toronto Branch. Ralf has given many hours of his time to fulfill this position. He had been the Toronto Branch President for nearly ten years and had always put the profession of Power Engineering at the top of his list. Ralf is still very active in the Toronto Branch and by no means is he reducing his commitment to the members of our Branch. Thanks again Ralf for a job most excellently done. The names and phone numbers of the executive members are included at the end of this newsletter. If anyone would like a question answered of have a question given to the Chief Officer or Assistant Chief Officer of the Pressure Vessels Department, please do not hesitate to call.
In Memory
It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing away of two of our members. Mr. A. Chomyszyn of Rexdale and Mr. Garth Swayze of Toronto.
M.S. Walk for Life
The Super Cities Walk for Multiple Sclerosis takes place on April 20th this year. The Toronto Branch will once again be involved in this walk. We will be walking in the Scarborough walk which starts and finishes at the Scarborough Centennial Recreational Centre at 1967 Ellesmere Road. The 5 km route will travel through local residential streets and the 10 km route will venture further to Thomson Park. The check in time is 9:00am and the walk starts at 10:00am. Last year members of our Branch enjoyed this walk very much. If you are interested in walking with the Toronto Branch team please call the M.S. Walk information line at (416) 922-6600 to receive your registration package. Please indicate on your form that you will be walking with the Toronto I.P.E. Team and give Ralf Klopf a call to let him know you will be participating.
Golf Tournament
The sound of wind flowing through leaves. The feeling of the warm sun on the back of your neck. The soft new grass under your feet as you stroll threw the beautifully landscaped hills of Glen Eagle golf club. Can you just imagine it? It is understandable if you can’t, this winter is turning out to be enough for everyone. But spring will be here even if you can’t picture it now, which means that the Annual Toronto Branch Golf Tournament is approaching. This years event will take place on Tuesday May 13 at Glen Eagle Golf Club just north of Bolton on Highway 50. Clear this day on your calendar now because it is one great day that everyone seems to enjoy.
Golf Tournament Hole Sponsorship
The Toronto Branch Golf tournament is accepting Hole sponsorships for all holes in the tournament. Sponsors will see their name on a 11"x 17" full colour sign which will be located on the tee off of the holes. Hole sponsorships are $200.00 per hole or two holes for $300.00. Anyone interested in this offer is asked to call Mark Page at (905) 775-4267.
Legislation Report
The IPE is now in possession of the Examination Reference Syllabus for the S.O.P.E.E.C. engineering examinations. Write to us at the newsletter address for copies. We also have the profiles on disk and would be willing to E-mail out an attachment to you. This is a new service we are offering so please be a bit patient with us as we get it up and running. John Siggers, Assistant Chief Officer can be reached at (416) 325 2168 for information on where and how to write the examinations.
Passing the SOPEEC examinations will qualify you for inter-provincial status. From what I understand the status of our existing Ontario certificate has not been decided on for inter-provincial status, but the tendency is towards not grandfathering the certificate and so some provinces would give us a certificate of one class lower than the Ontario certificate we hold.
Several members recently have expressed concern to me about this approach. They ask what’s the difference whether the pulp mill or steel mill or refinery or school you received your qualifying time in is in Ontario or in Manitoba or BC? I think this is a good point. Maybe we need to look at this issue again from the point of view of getting certificate equality with the rest of the country.
Please let me know your thoughts on this issue. Things are moving a little faster on changes to the
Operating Engineers Act. Under active discussion are amendments to the present Act that have to do with changes to supervision requirements of refrigeration facilities. We are studying the details now o£ different proposals. The aim is to provide a level playing field for manufacturers of different types of equipment while maintaining adequate supervision. One proposal presently under discussion does away with the distinctions of plant, installation and compressor or unit size, and simple looks at total refrigerant on site. This plan would also not distinguish between different refrigerants and would incorporate into the Act a requirement to follow ASHRAE and B52 guidelines. Lower limits for the need to be registered would rise. As I said we are still studying this proposal, but it appears it would be better than the draft Act proposals which would mandate almost no supervision requirements at all in existing Ontario plants.
Membership
The Toronto Branch Membership had risen substantially in 1996. What this means is that we have once again been awarded with the Ontario Branch Membership Cup. Thank you all who are actively spreading the word of the Institute of Power Engineers. To date there are a number of members who have not sent in their membership renewal. Please do not hesitate to renew your membership. If there has ever been a time that your membership is crucial, this is it. The present government seems to look at size of organizations when making decisions. Manufactures and service industries are looking for ways to cut costs. Lobby groups are making presentations to the Board of Review in hopes to de-classify or reduce staffing requirements for plants in Ontario. The I.P.E. is standing up for you in all these areas as outlined in our Board of Review representatives report. Please show your support for your profession by renewing your membership. Institute of Power Engineer members are recognized as being aware and prepared in the ever changing field of Power Engineering. We are listened to when we speak and it is because of your membership that we are able to accomplish this.
Toronto Branch Meetings
The Toronto Branch will be holding a meeting for it’s membership shortly and are looking for topics of discussion or an educational seminar. We have been approached by a Technical Representative from Croman, which is the central distributor for Woodward Governors Products in Eastern Canada. He has offered to speak on this subject and is willing to modify his presentation to suit the most common applications of our members. If you would like to have input on this presentation please contact Ralf Klopf who will be making the arrangements for this engagement. Even if this subject does not pertain to your current plant or profession, all information is useful and you never know when this information may become useful. As it was said above, I.P.E. members are more educated and well rounded Power Engineers, can you afford not to be included.
Andrč-Philippe Gagnon
The Toronto Branch may secure some very special seats for its members. Andrč-Philippe Gagnon is returning to the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The show will be scheduled for some time in May or the early part of June on a Wednesday night at 8:00pm. Tickets will be only $60.00 each for prime seats. If you are interested please let Ralf Klopf know within two weeks so he can secure this offer.
Internet Web Site
The Toronto Branch will soon have a web site up and running. We find this to be very exciting and look forward to using this media as a way to communicate information to our members. Look for more information in future newsletters.
