SME’s Government and Public Affairs Committee under John Hayden’s guidance has developed numerous
briefing papers on technical issues which are geared toward elected officials and staffers. The committee started four years ago under the leadership of John Marsden, now SME President. After two years as chair of GPAC and leading into my year as SME president, I hope to see a broader usage of our briefing papers and other initiatives to help change “Minds about Mines” in America. At a recent coal conference in Evansville, Indiana, we placed an exhibit to showcase the SME briefing papers to help spread the word about their existence and uses. We have placed similar exhibits at several other conferences and would encourage other SME members to do the same. It can be as simple as placing a few copies on a table at a meeting or conference or creating a small poster board display to showcase the papers. Take any opportunity to discuss in public meetings. The briefing papers can be used on issues with any group to help better inform the public. The Minerals Education Coalition (MEC) also has a number of
Fact Sheets that can be useful in public meetings on discussions of mining and minerals issues.
In closing we ask SME members to get active in the initiative to better inform our public about where they get the raw materials to sustain their communities and lifestyles.
SME members Edmundo Laporte and Jason Stoltz of ECSI, LLC discuss SME Briefing Papers watched by Eve Roberts and myself.