IDE Bus drops off and picks up this week

This week sees the last few IDE members going through their emails, finding the one from Electoral Reform Services with the voting details in it, and reading the biographies of those wishing to stand for election to the Council of Management and Vice President before they place an electronic tick in the relevant voting boxes and sit back and await the results at the AGM. They did this last year and probably the year before, but why is this year different?

This year is an important election and a major junction for IDE members getting full recognition in the construction industry as true "Engineers" as we head down the road to a Demolition Degree and Chartered Engineers.

During his Presidency, Duncan Rudall has steered the IDE bus along the road towards these goals and done a very good job in the driving seat. After the AGM he will sit behind the new driver, Dave Darsey, and Dave's assistant (either Gary Bishop or Richard Dolman) as the bus trundles along the route and he will make sure the bus gets to the destination.

When the bus stops at the AGM it will drop off a couple of passengers who have a few years of experience of IDE matters, Steve Jack & myself, and pick up a few passengers who will be new to it all having been given a travel ticket by the Membership. When you cast your votes you will be giving someone that ticket so please consider the following before you vote:-

• Will they be able to stay on the bus for the whole of the route?
• Will they concentrate on where the bus is going and the massive amount of work to get it there?
• In their application for travel on the bus did they tell the truth? As this bus does not want fare dodgers & wheeler dealers.
• Do they understand that the IDE is for individuals NOT corporate entities and that the IDE Council has a "duty to it's members"?

These are very exciting times at IDE as the degree is now a whisker away so if you haven't used your vote, and if not why not, use it NOW and use it well.

"It's goodbye from me and it's goodbye from him"

Next Friday sees the 2016 IDE AGM when Dave Darsey succeeds Duncan Rudall as President and either Gary Bishop or Richard Dolman becomes Vice President, but it's also the day when Steve Jack steps down from the CoM after over 20 years round the table and I also step down after 10 years round the table!

Will we be glad to step to down? I am sure that Steve will agree when I say that it will be strange not attending CoM meetings, but we both believe that now is the right time to go to make way for a younger element on CoM who can continue our work and take us to chartered status.

The days saved by not attending the meetings will be used by Steve to improve his golf and by me to improve my fishing as we both move towards retirement.

When I asked Steve about his golf this week he said:-

For some time, my wife's had this ridiculous idea that I'm playing too much golf. Actually, it came to a head at about 11.30pm last night. She suddenly shouted at me: "Golf, golf, golf. All you ever think about is bloody golf!". And I'll be honest, it frightened the life out of me. I mean, you don't expect to meet somebody on the 14th green at that time of night.

And for myself:-

This week I was asked to do a very important after-dinner speech. I said: "Do you want me to be funny?" They said: "No, just be yourself."

Goodnight!

A message to all members as IDE Council elections are looming

This year sees changes at the top of the IDE with David Darsey taking over the President's jewel from Duncan Rudall and places on the Council available in the election.

The nomination process is now complete and all members have received their voting papers via email along with full biographies of those standing for election.

This year, for the first time for eight years we have an election for Vice President that is between Gary Bishop and Richard Dolman and your choice is very important to the future of the Institute. During Duncan's presidency we have moved to within a whisker of chartered status and we now have a demolition degree from 2017 and we cannot let the progress end.

Both candidates will do the job in their own way with Gary bringing his steady hands from his time as NFDC and NDTG President with him and his ability to consider proposals and to discuss and debate those proposals to find the best solution for the members, whereas Richard brings experience in organising IDE events and sitting on IDE Council and couples that with an enthusiasm for the IDE membership and all things demolition. Please read both biographies carefully and consider who deserves your vote.

The voting papers will indicate that you have votes to use on your selections and I would urge you all to vote and to think carefully as to how you use those votes. If, for example, you really like three candidates then just vote for those three as if you cast your "spare" votes for others who are not your preferred choices then you could, inadvertently, end up voting candidates into office who were not your preferred choice. As in effect using all of your votes "dilutes" the election process.

Please read the biographies from all of the candidates and decide if what they say is factual and is in the best interests of the IDE before placing your vote with those who have the IDE at heart.

Please remember that the IDE is an organisation for Individual Demolition Engineers and not company organisations and that the core membership is individuals working within our industry. During my time on the Council and during my Presidency I tried to make the IDE an institute for the people, please vote for individuals who want it to remain that way and who have the best interests of the IDE and it's core members in mind.

South East IDE Regional Meeting confirmed for July 16th

This is a quick reminder that a South-East Regional Meeting is being held by the IDE on Thursday, 16th July between 4-6pm.

If you would like to attend, the venue address is as follows:

The Tilbury Room
Hilton Dartford Bridge Hotel,
Masthead Close,
Crossways Business Park,
Dartford DA2 6QF

In order to attend, you need to email The National Secretary at info@ide.org.uk. And it's well worth attending, with David Matthews from Pro-Edge Ltd. speaking about Plant & Commercial Vehicle Visions Camera, Nicola Elvery speaking about Occupational Health, and IDE Past President Steve Jack discussing Demolition within the Nuclear Environment. Gary Bishop will also be present for a chat, and attending counts as 2 hours of CPD.

South-East IDE Regional Meeting next month!

A South-East Regional Meeting is being held by the IDE next month on Thursday, 16th July.

The venue is The Tilbury Room, the address is as follows:

The Tilbry Room
Hilton Dartford Bridge Hotel,
Masthead Close,
Crossways Business Park,
Dartford DA2 6QF

IDE Past President Steve Jack and Gary Bishop will be hosting, with the meeting kicking off at 4pm and finishing at 6pm. If you would like to attend then please get in touch with the IDE National Secretary by emailing info@ide.org.uk

Changes at the top of the NFDC

Today, March 1st sees not only a new month but also a new President of the NFDC as William Sinclair takes over the chain of office from Gary Bishop.

William, MD of Safedem Limited, will take control of the NFDC at today’s AGM at the Dorchester and John & Jill will be there to see him do so.

Gary Bishop has been NFDC President for the last 2 years, coming into the chair in March 2011 just a few months after John became IDE President in November 2010, and the two have worked together at many events promoting the demolition industry and the need for competence and experience in that industry. Gary set out to do many things in his time as President and we are certain that when he hands over the heavy chain to William it will be done with a quiet satisfaction that he achieved what he set out to do in his two years and Gary can retire from the main job to enjoy quiet nights drinking a nice Rioja with Sarah and their girls Amy and Gemma, whilst still remaining involved as Immediate Past President of the organisation.

William, well known to readers of this website for his masterful demolition of tower blocks by explosives, most recently at Red Road, will bring his own views to the Presidency. From our dealings with William on many projects over the last few years, most notably Red Road and St. Nicholas House in Aberdeen, we will expect him to have many exciting ideas, to bring innovative thoughts to the table and to be a problem solver, all ideal attributes for the top job in what are still difficult times for this industry of ours.

We would like to congratulate Gary Bishop on a good two years, Martin Wilson on becoming NFDC Vice President, and finally our very good friend and colleague William Sinclair on taking the chains of office that may come with a heavy responsibility, but will be perfectly safe on the shoulders of a “Canny Scot” who will wear them with dignity and pride.

NFDC Extraordinary General Meeting today at JCB Headquarters at Rocester

Today sees NFDC CEO Howard Button, NFDC President Gary Bishop and most NFDC member company representatives attending the EGM at JCB World Headquarters in Rocester.

It is unusual for NFDC to hold an EGM but, bearing in mind that the business meeting at the Madeira convention was small, an EGM gives the opportunity to discuss relevant burning issues prior to the changeover in Presidency on March 1st 2013.

As associate members of NFDC we are not allowed to attend but we understand from various sources that the agenda includes a number of contentious items with regard to rearrangement of the regions, secretarial matters, the site audit scheme, and future conventions, all of which will require a vote from the members today.

We are certain that the debate will be long and hard and whichever way the votes go we hope that all matters are resolved by the time William Sinclair moves into the Presidency.

Mark Anthony, the NFDC Press Officer, will be attending the meeting and I am sure that his report wil be on the NFDC website and demolition news sometime tomorrow.

Changes at the top of the NFDC

Today sees Jill and I catching an early train to London to attend the NFDC AGM at which I will deliver an address on behalf of the IDE and propose a toast to the NFDC at the luncheon that follows.

The AGM will see changes at the top of NFDC and here at C&D we would like to congratulate the following:-

Dave Darsey on two years as President where the NFDC has continued to grow and raise the profile of the demolition industry throughout the UK and into Europe. During his time as President Dave has stamped his personality on the role whilst keeping his hands firmly on the controls so that NFDC continued to grow and prosper under his Presidency and here at C&D we would like to congratulate Dave on a job very well done and we will remember the times we enjoyed together at NFDC Charity Balls, with his lovely wife Sarah, and on official business overseas at Demcon 2010 and the Demolition Awards 2010.

Well done Dave, now take the time to sit back and watch rather than being in the hot seat and take time with Sarah and the children to chill out and not worry about audit schemes, health surveillance, conventions etc etc.

Gary Bishop on becoming the President with strong views as to where he would like the NFDC to go during his presidency and the dedication to the role that will ensure that the NFDC is in safe hands. Also to Sarah who will be at his side throughout his term in office and be the steadying influence that he may need if times get rocky. We have enjoyed many hours in the company of both of them and I hope that we will continue to do so over the time of his presidency and continue with our personal training regime to become masters of Rioja!

William Sinclair on moving up to Vice President to assist Gary with the duties of the office of President and to stand in for Gary as required. William will bring his own skills to the role of Vice and will be excellent in that position. His wife Tracey will be there to help him if things get difficult and we hope that they will both be present at functions throughout the UK over the next few years so that we can continue to enjoy William's excellent company as we have done over the last few years, particularly when at the EDA in Istanbul.

Martin Wilson on taking up the position of 2nd Vice President that will see him take the first steps on the road to the NFDC Presidential office. Martin will bring dedication and confidence to the position of 2nd Vice and a willingness to work hard for the NFDC over the next 8 years.

Congratulations to all.