The Maintenance Engineering Society of New Zealand (MESNZ) has continued it's program of evolving and developing its member services, keeping abreast of unprecedented membership growth.Membership is now aiming for 300 and a healthy buzz surrounds the organisation. Our latest developments prompt a general email-out to members, to ensure you are all kept informed.
Website. If you haven't done so already, visit the MESNZ website www.mesnz.org.nz and check out the many features it has to offer. For the general public, features such as a trade directory, classified listings, technical library, news, events, training and even a blog page are available.
For MESNZ members who have created their own online account, additional features are available in the website Members Lounge. Conference papers, conference photos, the electronic maintenance journal, MESNZ magazine articles, society news, MESNZ documents, OHSIG submission papers and MESNZ members contact lists are available only to MESNZ members. If you haven't created your account yet, or have forgotten your account details, you can contact me on craig@transform.net.nz , (09) 299 3357.
Blog Page. Yes, your society even runs its own blog page! This new addition to the website is now up and functioning. the concept suits engineering perfectly as discussions can be broken down into your own specific areas of interest. This is a natural extension to the MESNZ function of networking and sharing experiences on common issues. The blog is in the public domain and can be a great success if well supported.Click on the MESNZ Blog tab on the website and follow the instructions to log yourself on.
National Conference. If you haven't heard about the National Maintenance Engineering Conference yet, you soon will! This inaugural national conference is set to become the definitive annual event for the engineering industry, offering the cheapest 2 day conference in New Zealand with the most valuable take-home learning available to attendees. In the current tough economic environment pressure on training budgets is intense. MESNZ recognises this and has responded by setting the attendance fee at only $580 pp +GST for MESNZ members! Compare this with commercial events reaching $2000 and you would agree, this is the most budget friendly way for engineers to keep their personal development up while touching base with the latest in industry developments.
The inaugural November 12/13 event features international RCM guru Dr Bob Platfoot, EMA's Paul Jarvie discussing health and safety law, EECA showcasing government energy project funding, expert papers on HSNO compliance, maintenance planning, electrical efficiency audits, employment law, culture change, team management and peer papers on PM implementation and welding failures. Stemming from its Practical Maintenance Management Conference beginnings, the conference social networking night promises to continue that special MESNZ flavour with event boffins Leanne Powley and Judi Cranston scheming more fum and merriment to be had by all.
The event will be staged at Hamilton's Novotel Tainui, a 5 star establishment right in the heart of the city and for the first time, will feature a preconference public trade exhibition on the afternoon preceding the conference. MESNZ's Leanne Powley is back in the driving seat again, fresh back from a hugely successful stint managing the annual conference for VANZ.
The conference is designed for engineers and tradesmen. Real men, out there in industry practically applying what we all understand in theory. Whether you are responsible for a bakery in Wairarapa, an oil rig in Taranaki, or a high rise in Auckland, the National Maintenance Engineering Conference will put you in touch with the people that understand your work situation, your peers.
If this is not enough to whet your appetite, then the closing celebrity speaker will certainly keep bums on seats right to the end. Graham Lowe is an iconic kiwi figure, taking New Zealand (and Australian) rugby league to dizzying heights in the 1980's. But there is more to the man than just sporting success and some of his experiences, observations, philosophies make a moving an memorable tale, worth the attendance just in itself.
So there it is, your inaugural national event, the 2008 National Maintenance Engineering Conference. According to Leanne, early indications are that the event will be a sell out, so don't delay, show you support and register for the event today. Registration brochures can be found in the DEMM magazine, online at http://www.mesnz.org.nz/nmec/ or by ringing Leanne Powley on (09) 298 7987 leanne@nzvenues.com We have a team of MESNZ teletalkers ringing maintenance engineers about the conference at present, so remember if you get called, these lovely ladies are working for you.
Lobby Function. MESNZ resolved at the 2007 conference to undertake lobbying on behalf of our members. This important function serves to give members a voice on a whole range of issues, that can be heard right back to the halls of power. A relationship has been established with the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA), allowing us to tap into their existing extensive network and synergies.
In the first instance this has seen the society take a place on the OHS Industry Group (OHSIG) in a vital role protecting the interests of maintenance engineers in health and safety matters. A direct link is made available to members via the society website to view and make submissions on. As an MESNZ member, you may download the submission papers and make comment on them. MESNZ will listen to your feedback and use this as a basis for our input into laws, regulations, codes and developments. Currently, we have submissions on Proposed Changes to the Approved Code of Practice for Load-Lifting Rigging and A Principal’s Guide to Contracting to Meet the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
