b'Member News November 2019 25VolunteersExcellenceRetired member David Dick, 90, has beenAware of the increasing age profile of the on the IET South East Scotland Afternoonexisting committee, David took action to Meeting and Events (SESAME) Committeerecruit new members to SESAME. As a since 2008 and has chaired it for the lastresult, the committee had a sudden, very seven years. refreshing intake of new members, taking up the roles of Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. We deliver eight events every winter: four talks, complemented with fourStunned at winning the Excellence Award, technical visits, he said. I chair ourDavid said: To be honest, I couldnt monthly committee meetings and weunderstand why Id get an award for doing have in-depth discussions about thesomething thats so enjoyable. In my career themes we want to cover and who wedIve chaired dozens of committees, but this like to invite as our guest speakers. Weis the most rewarding one by far.focus on presenting very interestingDavid Dick CEng FIET, Chair of SESAME Committeetalks on topics at the cutting edge of new technology. We always select exceptionally high-quality speakers whoWith David stepping down as Chair of our Committee we felt that Davids can share their knowledge and answercontribution to the Institution over the years merited wider recognition questions with consummate ease. within the IET, but we were unsure how to best achieve this. The IET David chairs the talks, including theVolunteer Core Value Awards e-mail inviting nominations landed in my Q&A session at the end. He has alsoinbox at exactly the right time presenting us with the perfect opportunity. stepped in at short notice to replaceWe are delighted that our nomination of David has been successful.speakers, delivering talks based on his personal interests in engineering, science and education. Ian Smith CEng MIET,Scotland South East Network Committee volunteerTeamworkThe members of the Registration andthe fact that we can deliver high-quality Standards Trainers teamMike Lynch,training.Often I meet people who have Gerard ONeill, Ray Smith and Brianbeen on a training session as part of Penfolddo a fantastic job of supportingan assessment teamreceiving their all registration and Fellowship processpositive feedback is very rewarding.training to newly appointed and existing volunteers. The teams objective is to explainThis group clearly demonstrates the registration process and provideone team working between guidance on the role of volunteers.themselves and staff, in terms Ray said: All four of us deliver annual training days, roughly every otherof sharing ideas and accepting month, with a break during the summer.changes. We would not be able We use our experience of variousto carry out this activity without volunteer activities to pass on practicaltheir support, commitment and tips to new volunteers and refresherThey regularly refresh the case studies course attendees alike. used in their training, to make sure theyengagement.remain relevant and reflect the latest The team and staff meet up at leastprocedures, processes and terminology.once a year, to review training feedbackLou Parfrey, from the past 12 months and see ifMike said: Im very proud of the wayIET Registration & Standardsthey can improve on what they deliver.the team has grown together and ofSupport ManagerFind out more about all of our latest winners at: theiet.org/meet-our-volunteers'