The American Institute of Mining,
Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers
The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. Report of the 1997 President Leonard G. NelsonThe year 1997 recorded several milestones pertaining to the sale of the United Engineering Center and the future of the United Engineering Trustees. In addition, further progress was made in the implementation of AIME's Member-Direct policy and AIME's Long Range Plan. I am pleased to report to the AIME Community on the significant progress made in these areas and other pertinent developments.1997 Annual Meeting
A highly successful
AIME Annual Meeting was held in Denver, Colorado in February hosted by the Society for
Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. The AIME Keynote Session, moderated by Robert W.
Schafer, Vice President for Exploration at Kinross Gold, featured three distinguished
speakers and was very well received. The annual banquet served to recognize the recipients
of Honorary Membership as well as the other prestigious AIME Awards.
Tradition
As part of the AIME
Long Range Plan, the Board approved the recommendation that the hosting of the AIME Annual
Meeting will rotate among the Member Societies to coincide with the presidential rotation,
e.g., SME in 1997, ISS in 1998, SPE in 1999 and TMS in 2000. I thank all Member Societies
who have so graciously hosted AIME and acknowledge their cooperation in planning for the
future.
Government Affairs
through AAES
AIME government
affairs activities continued during 1997 through the American Association of Engineering
Societies (AAES), located in Washington, DC, after the AIME Board decided at its February
meeting to continue its membership in AAES. This decision was prompted by a successful
turnaround of AAES' financial position achieved through its Get-Well Stay-Well Plan. AIME efforts in AAES involved a total of ten volunteers, each representing a Member Society, serving on the various AAES Councils, Commissions and Task Forces. During 1997 the Founder Society Presidents, Presidents-Elect and Executive Directors met with members of Congress (leadership in the Science and Technical Committees in both the House and the Senate) as well as with the President's Science Advisor. I wish to thank Franklin B. W. Woodbury and his Committee for their continued efforts and express AIME's gratitude to all Washington-based volunteers for their active participation in AAES. Overarching and
Member-Direct Programs
At the August 1994
Board meeting, the Trustees adopted a policy that provides funding to AIME's overarching
programs and member-direct programs. Overarching programs are defined as those that carry
out the purposes of the Institute and may include participation by one or more of the
Member Societies. Member-Direct programs are those carried out by the Member Societies.
Approval of specific programs are those that clearly carry out the purpose of AIME, as
described in its bylaws (Article I, Section 2). The selection of specific projects and the
balancing of programs is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. For 1997, the Board
approved total funding in the amount of $685,710.
Long Range Plan and
Board Retreat
The AIME Board of
Trustees, at its November 1995 meeting, approved a Long Range Plan, together with a plan
to implement the goals and objectives in the areas of
I am pleased to report that with the impending sale of the United Engineering Center, the 1995 Long Range Plan has been completed; and on December 16, 1997 the AIME Board held a retreat to commence the next cycle of planning. A follow-up retreat is scheduled for March 1998 at the Toronto annual meeting to complete the strategic thinking and finalize those recommendations to be acted upon by the Board. Inter-Society Affairs
United Engineering Trustees I am pleased to
report that on July 30, 1997 the agreement was signed to sell the United Engineering
Center and on September 25, 1997 the Supreme Court of the State of New York approved the
sale and the distribution of proceeds to the Founder Societies. The Court also approved
the reconstitution of the UET into the United Engineering Foundation.
Founder Societies
As part of the plan
submitted to the Court, the Founder Societies have concluded that
the building at 3 Park Avenue in New York City will be able to house all five Founder
Societies. It is planned that such move will be concluded by September of 1998 at which
time closing on the UEC sale will take place.
ABET The Institute also
retained its relationship with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
(ABET), as an affiliate body, and AIME is represented by its Executive Director who serves
as an official observer at the ABET board meetings.
Finance You are invited to
review the audited financial statement for the AIME Corporation for 1997 (ending November
30, 1997), which includes required new reporting for the endowment funds of not-for-profit
organizations. In spite of moderate market conditions, AIME assets increased 2.6% from
$14,767,535 at the end of fiscal year 1996 to $15,152,031 at the end of fiscal year 1997.
In Memoriam It is with deep
personal sorrow as well as a great sense of ongoing loss to AIME that I note the untimely
death of J. Keith Brimacombe, 1999 AIME President. Dr. Brimacombe, a member of the United
Engineering Board of Trustees, 1995 ISS President and 1993 TMS President died at age 54 on
December 16, 1997, the day of the AIME Board of Trustees Retreat which he was instrumental
in organizing.
He was recognized as one of the innovative giants of 20th century metallurgical process engineering. An AIME News interview with Dr. Brimacombe appeared in the October 1997 issues of the Journals of the AIME Member Societies. Perhaps Charles E. Slater, retired ISS executive director, said it best: "Keith possessed a rare combination of intellect, energy and engaging personality, which made him extremely popular and effective as a leader." In Appreciation It has been an honor
for me to serve as your AIME president, to have had the opportunity to associate with and
be assisted by the many fine people who comprise the AIME family, and to have had the
privilege of representing AIME on many auspicious occasions. I reflect with great
affection on my visits to the local sections and on the opportunity to strengthen AIME's
ties with its member societies and with the other Founder Societies.
I appreciate the cooperation of the Board of Trustees of AIME. I also extend my sincere appreciation to the member societies' boards of directors and executive directors, the staffs of AIME and the member societies, committee members and others for their dedicated support during the past year. I also congratulate and pledge my full support to 1998 President Roy H. Koerner and the new Board of Trustees. Leonard G. Nelson
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