A Message from the Vice President
By Professor Waldemar Hachich
This would have been the time for the message from the Vice-President for North America. My message from South America had to be put to paper ahead of schedule because of John Seychuk’s misfortune of having to face some temporary strain, which ultimately led him to resign his post last August.
I cannot, therefore, refrain from saying a couple of words about John. We have worked very close for the past three years, especially as members of the Advisory Committee for the Pan-American Conference held in Venezuela in 2007. John and I have had long, enlightening discussions about the Pan-American Committee — a particularity of North and South America, the only two ISSMGE regions that have a common Regional Conference —, and proposed a revision of its statutes to make them more realistic and pragmatic, especially with respect to the choice of the Casagrande Lecturer. And John is the person to interact with, if common sense, sound engineering judgment, and pragmatism are at issue. All our joint proposals have been approved at the Pan-American Committee meeting held in July, 2007. Interacting with “BBJ” has been both stimulating and rewarding. ISSMGE — and myself in particular — will miss his most qualified opinion here in the “New World”.
Enthusiastic as ever about the geotechnical activities in the three North American member societies, John would probably have concluded his report on a high note: “the three societies in the region keep moving full steam ahead, as one can easily infer from a visit to their Web pages”. Hope we continue to exchange opinions and views, John. Peace! Welcome to the group, Dennis Becker, and let us work together for a memorable Pan-American Conference in Toronto, 2011.
South American societies are also moving full speed ahead, amidst a relatively favourable prospect for many of the economies in the region. Unfortunately, however, South and Central Americans have a tendency for being excessively discreet in publicising their achievements. As an example, only about half of the member societies have active websites.
One of the societies has ISSMGE fees in arrears, a situation that we are endeavouring to see resolved before Alexandria. Perhaps even more worrisome is the lack of communication experienced for some periods of time with some of the societies, since being a member of ISSMGE should not be seen as just a matter of paying fees, but also of demonstrating engagement in the aims of ISSMGE.
Most of the twelve member societies are not large in terms of number of members. Geotechnical communities in some countries in the region are restricted to 30 to 50 individual members. The economies of the region have always been characterised by ups and downs. During the down periods
there is, in general, little geotechnical activity and therefore little incentive for involvement of our colleagues in associative affairs. When, on the other hand, there is some surge in investment for infrastructure — and we are talking about a region where a very significant portion of the population is still longing for basic infrastructure — most of them get so much involved in professional activities that writing papers and participating in meetings of Technical Committees and conferences would demand time that they could not hope to afford. In general they do, however, tackle geotechnical challenges with zest and creativity worth being widely publicised.
Uncertainties and difficulties notwithstanding, most South American Member Societies have appointed members to Technical Committees (both ISSMGE and Joint TCs), and have had their appointments endorsed by the chairmen and by President Sêco e Pinto. ABMS (Brazil), SOCHIGE (Chile) and SCG (Colombia) are the societies in the region that currently have core members in the TCs. ABMS also has two chairmen (JTC1 and TC41).
Download ISSMGE Bulletin – Volume 2 Issue 3 (pp. 1-2)
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