On behalf of the Southern Africa Section Board, I would to welcome all members to the New Year, and our website. We are hard at work developing a great plan for 2020 which will include technical presentations & social events and I hope that we will be able encourage each one of you to attend at least a couple of our gatherings this year.
Last year, was full of challenges for the Board and things did not go as planned. I would like to encourage each of you to contact a Board member and discuss with that Board member what it is that you would like to see us do to draw your attention, and other members and non-members to the SPE and our events.
One of my ideas to get members interested in attending our meetings is to have a draw at random meetings in which the winner of the draw will receive Section customized merchandise. If there is sufficient interest in this then we will do it more often.
We will also increase face-to-face networking is the key to our member’s success especial our student chapter members. If one does not know more than just one someone, it is more difficult to advance one’s career. In addition is always a good learning experience to conduct educational site visit and field trip. We have a number of interesting geological sites around the Western Cape where our members can visit to view outcrop that we will be the scheduling this year. These sites offers unique learning experience by seeing and touching outcrops, etc. The social events we are thinking about should provide the perfect atmosphere for networking and making new friends in our industry.
I look forward to seeing you at our Distinguish Lecture Talk in February 11 by Bruce James, Titled: Using the Movement of Fluids in Geological Time to Improve Reservoir Characterization.
Sbusiso Mkhize
Chairperson: Southern Africa Section