Every month, we put out a Fine Grind article to keep members in touch with the latest happenings, technical updates and other interesting news from the MPD division. This is the Fine Grind that appeared in the March 2017 issue of Mining Engineering. We invite you to comment, discuss or ask questions!
Amy Jacobsen, Secretary Treasurer
2017-2018 Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division Executive Committee
March Fine Grind
The Overstuffed Chair
by Mark K. Jorgensen, Chair, 2016-2017 MPD Executive Committee
I joined SME in 1977. I was in school and my roommate, who was already a member, told me that it was time to acquaint myself with the professionals in the industry. As a result, I received a membership card, and every month a great mining magazine showed up in my mailbox that I read, paying special attention to the help wanted ads in the back.
The annual SME meeting eluded me for several years, but when I finally attended my first meeting, it was a bit overwhelming. There were any number of interesting talks and a convention hall full of exhibitors that offered an amazing assortment of engineering marvels. They had everything that I needed for my little part of the world. And, to my surprise, they would always offer to buy me dinner or lunch. I met some great people who are still my friends today.
Behind all this was an organizing committee called the Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division or, as we like to call it, the MPD. I soon recognized the amount of work that went into organizing things, so I volunteered. I served for a number of years on the organizing committee for either the plant design or the comminution programs. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the people who were advancing the industry.
Some years later, I was nominated to the MPD Executive Committee and began my annual progressive service towards the chairmanship. Along the way I watched the leaders of our industry give meaning and purpose to the committee. Each one of them served with distinction and made the MPD a little better.
During my tenure, I had set forth some specific goals that I wanted to achieve. One of the goals was a rewrite of the existing bylaws, which has been mandated by the SME Executive Committee. It is an extremely big task and, unfortunately, I volunteered to rewrite them myself as a past president this coming year. There is just no other way to get this done.
Results of the MPD survey Fortunately, the members of the committee helped me redirect my energies toward what really needed to be done. This past year we conducted a survey to see what you, as a division member, saw as our mission and what we needed to do to move forward.
The results of the survey were reported in January’s “Fine Grind” article by Amy Jacobsen. What you saw as MPD’s mission was:
- Technical programing at the SME Annual Conference & Expo.
- Publications, including the Minerals & Metallurgical Processing journal and OneMine.org. Most respondents were happy with the current level of programming and information available. However, areas where the MPD could focus efforts were identified as:
- Recruitment of young engineers.
- Supporting local sections with miniconferences and vendor road shows.
- Additional social networking.
I am happy to report that MPD’s scholarship program continues to grow and provide means whereby some of the financial burden of paying for an education can be eased. Recruitment into the industry will depend on a lot of things that MPD cannot control. However, if there is an interest, we will help provide a means. We are excited about supporting local sections and look forward to this opportunity. Local miniconferences are a great thing. I imagine in times past that these conferences were more of a social opportunity leavened with malts and ales. These will be a bit different now but should provide a bit of social networking.
There is still a need to provide a workable social networking forum. The Internet is full of existing programs. And SME sponsors a forum. But we need a bit of help from the younger generation on this one and will be asking for input.
It is my hope that in the coming year we will strive to meet your concerns and move MPD forward. As I close my tenure as chair, I am grateful for the professionals who volunteer their time and talents to the MPD Executive Committee. They are a thoughtful and patient lot who are dedicated to a better mining industry. I thank you for your support this past year. I am also grateful for the many members of the many different committees who volunteer their time and expertise in making awards, scholarships and publications available to all of us.
And a final thanks to the SME staff who keep the wheels on the wagon. Thanks to all of you and for all you do.
Disclaimer: The title, “The Overstuffed Chair,” was chosen by the MPD Committee. Any reference to the current chair is strictly coincidental and does not represent the opinions of the author.
