An Important Message from 2020 SME President Robert Schafer
June 4, 2020
Dear SME Members:
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It’s the start of June this week and until this past weekend, the future looked brighter! I’m shocked by what we all have witnessed on TV over the past week. I wanted to take a moment to recognize that many people have been hurt and in some cases killed needlessly and innocently, especially in the cases of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. Minorities in the United States have always faced more barriers to achieve success, and if we want our nation to prosper and succeed we need to eliminate injustice and all discrimination for everyone.
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SME is a technical society that tries to ensure opportunities for all in its activities to educate and promote the mining and underground construction communities. I want to remind everyone here that we respect and stand by all members, staff and other stakeholders while opposing racism in all of its forms. There are centuries of deep-seated hurt in this country and voices are now being heard in some very good ways (legal and safe protests) and some not so good ways (riots and looting). Our mission at SME is to provide the best possible service to our members and at the same time treat everyone with dignity and respect. We should never tolerate the disrespect of any individual based on their race, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability status, veteran status, or sexual orientation. SME will be an organization that you can be proud to be a member of each day.
I thank the incredible staff at SME for their professionalism, fair treatment of others and the care and sensitivity used in the performance of their service to members. SME has a set of values that are imbedded in the SME Strategic Plan which the entire Society should strive to live to everyday. The values identified by the SME Board include Safety, Stewardship, Innovation, Ethics, Inclusion and Collaboration. It takes all of us working together to create an environment where these values are achieved. SME can and will be that place.
I thank SME’s stellar membership of individuals who strive for the best in all. When the SME Board developed the new strategic plan in 2020, one of the Society’s main objectives was to enhance opportunities for inclusion and diversity. We take this objective very seriously. As such, the SME Board authorized the formation of an Inclusion and Diversity ad hoc Committee at its recent meeting in February 2020. We look forward to a recommendation to move the ad hoc Committee to an on-going committee of the Society with the purpose and focus of finding opportunities and programs to fully embrace the diversity that everyone brings to the Society. See the current inclusion and diversity statement on the SME website www.smenet.org/about-sme/diversity-statement.
If anyone ever feels threatened, uncomfortable in any given situation, or disrespected, please bring it to the attention of the SME President or Executive Director. We want to operate an organization where everyone feels safe and welcomed . . . and I mean everyone!
Sincerely,
Robert W. Schafer
2020 SME President
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Mining is Evolving: #WhyISME Feature
Pablo Altamirano Soto gives us insight into living in a country where mining is one of the main sources of economic income, and his fight to uplift public opinion by educating people on modern and legal mining. Read Pablo's unique story.
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NATWeek Is Here!
Get ready for NATWeek, the June 8 - 12 virtual experience designed to feature some of the much-anticipated technical program from North American Tunneling Conference. Learn from industry experts as they share current tunneling projects, best-practices, and successes throughout North America - right from the comfort of your home office.
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Attention Photographers – UCA Photo Contest is Open
There are many misconceptions about the tunneling and underground construction industry - UCA aims to change that. Submit your eye-catching photos to the NEW UCA photo contest by June 12 and elevate the view of the industry. Entry is FREE and open to all.
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You Donate + They Match = Double the Impact
Did you know your company may match your donations? The SME Foundation identified companies that place value on giving back to communities where their employees work and live. Visit our website to see if your company is on the list and double your gifts.
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Move Mining Keeps Moving:
Save the Date!
Share your idea of how to change the public’s view of mining. Mark your calendar and get your team assembled. Together, we can show the world why mining is essential! Move Mining Season 5 will open September 9, 2020.
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An Exciting Competition for Students Grades K-12
Students in grades K-12 are invited to make and submit videos showing the importance of mining in our lives. Cash prizes will be awarded. Spread the word! Save the Date for Move Mining Next Gen, opening September 9, 2020.
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2020 Call for Nominations
SME is seeking nominations for the 2023 SME President, 2022–2025 SME Board of Directors and for the 2021-2023 SME Strategic Committees. All nominees must be current members of the Society and commit to attending in person a minimum of 2 meetings annually. Please forward a brief bio and photo for consideration to Genny Homyack, Executive Assistant at homyack@smenet.org no later than July 1, 2020.
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Ground Control Conference Cancelled for 2020
The International Conference on Ground Control in Mining July 28-30, 2020 has been cancelled. The expert volunteer authors from ICGCM created a widely anticipated program for this conference. We appreciate their hard work on behalf of the industry. You will be able to access this leading research on ground control in mining two ways:
- Conference proceedings will be available in the SME bookstore this summer.
- A webinar series specific to ground control– watch the SME website for more exciting information coming soon!
Looking forward, SME plans to safely host the International Conference on Ground Control in Mining July 27–29, 2021 in Canonsburg, PA.
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Join us for these exciting events!
Design, Development, Construction and Commissioning of the Stillwater Mine's Blitz Sand Backfill Plant.
Weir Minerals Webinar Series Sponsor
Bracken V. Spencer, PE, PMP
6/22/2020, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM MT
Your Brain on Stress and Fatigue: How stress and fatigue affect your ability to process information and make sound decisions.
Korky Vault, Training Coordinator, CSM EMCIS Program
6/24/2020 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM MT
Insights into the Relationships among the Roof, Rib, Floor and Pillars of Underground Coal Mines.
Ted M. Klemetti, Research Mining Engineer, Ground Control Branch, NIOSH
6/30/2020 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM MT
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