Thoughts from the chair, and the Surrey Centre's upcoming plans
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Chris Guest, Surrey Centre chair shares his thoughts and updates members on some of the centre's key forthcoming developments:
Now that the mince pies are digested and resolutions abandoned (cynic? - moi?) I am nevertheless pleased to welcome in 2008. The turn of the calendar always seems to provide a ‘clean slate’ for the year ahead. I sincerely hope that your New Year will be happy and successful.
The CIOB Surrey Centre is halfway through the current programme and I hope that you will be ‘infused with enthusiasm’ (is that the right way round?) to come along to those remaining. It is always a pleasure for me to meet up with and have a chat with members. I thought I would take this opportunity set out below some of the Centre’s medium-term plans.
Annual Dinner
You may have noticed that the dinner was postponed this year. The event does have a future but needs something of a ‘kick-start’ to really set it rolling as an annual event. Our colleagues in adjacent centres have admirable and long-established events from which we are learning, so, with the aim of celebrating the Institute’s 175th anniversary, we shall be holding a special dinner in May 2009. This will be linked with our joint event on sustainability with Woking Borough Council (see below) and will also allow us to make presentations to the winners of the associated construction projects competition. More details of the event will be provided to you later in the year.
The Gordon White Student of the Year
This award was inaugurated to recognise an individual achievement in construction studies and named in memory of a man whose efforts contributed so positively to the Institute and all those who studied under him at Guildford College. We are most grateful to Gordon’s family who continue to support the award.
The winner this year is Michelle Morris and her achievement will be marked by the presentation of the award at a small dinner to be held on 08 February 2007. Any of you would be most welcome to attend: please contact Paula Hazell or myself for details. The award will be made again for the academic year ending in 2008. Any nomination will be considered.
‘Keen to be Green’
The event held jointly with Woking Council and the LA21 Group in October was a success and will be enlarged and repeated. We have given ourselves some breathing space by setting the date for the next one as March 2009. The event is intended to be for the public benefit by bringing to them information about ‘sustainability issues’ and providing an opportunity to inform and dare I say, educate them about our Institute and our industry. Sometimes, it seems to me, people do not fully appreciate the built environment (rather as a fish might take water for granted).
I look forward to meeting you at our future events in 2008 and please do ‘buttonhole’ me for a chat.
Best wishes
Chris Guest
