Chairman's Introduction

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to write a brief introduction to the year ahead for the thriving IET Local Network in Surrey and our 2009-10 events programme.

Our 2008/9 season was another successful one. We ran 10 major events, including the Christmas Lecture entitled “Life on Mars”, which attracted an audience of around 360, and the Debate Evening “Blackouts or Breaking the Rules” which attracted an audience of over 180. We also ran a Professional Registration Workshop and and Clinic to explain how to become a Engineering Technician, Chartered or Incorporated Engineer which was fully booked.

On the road and in the air for 2009/10

This session’s programme has a number of events involving vehicles and transport. The first is a joint event with the IMechE in September 09 at Brooklands, which includes a display of Aston Martin cars.

Events later in the year cover TFL traffic technology, airport scanners and the Children’s Christmas lecture about Project Bloodhound and the Land Speed Record.

All of our Network’s events, whether organised by the main section, our Young Professionals or the Retired Members, are open to all, and the general public are most welcome to join us.

Make professional registration your goal for 2010 with our help

We will be continuing the Professional Registration Workshops and career oriented events that we began last year. These workshops give you the opportunity to talk directly with Membership Advisors on a one-to-one basis and find the easiest routes to become Registered, Chartered or Incorporated.

I recommend registering early as these events have a limited capacity and are very popular.

Get involved

We always welcome suggestions, especially concerning topics that you would like to see covered. These can be made via the suggestions section on the web site or by getting in touch with any member of the committee. If you would like to have more influence on the programme please consider joining the Network committee; we are always on the lookout for new members. Our Secretary, Colin Cunningham, will be pleased to hear from you.

Ways to get more from your IET membership

Looking briefly away from the Local Network, I’d like to let you know about a couple of developments that might be of benefit:

• IET Connect, the IET’s Benevolent Fund, has expanded the support it offers to members, and now offers outplacement services for those who have been affected by redundancy. IET Career Manager
• The IET has launched Career Manager, an online system that allows IET members to build a competence profile and record supporting evidence. This is likely to be of particular use for recording professional development and assisting with registration applications. IET Connect

Finally may I thank your for your support during the past year. I look forward to seeing you at one of our events.

Michael Austwick

Chairman, lET Surrey Local Network

September 2009