URGENT NOTICE Dear Member, March 18th 2010 is the date set for the West Midlands branches AGM, and I would like to bring a few matters to everyone’s attention prior to the meeting. Your committee held a meeting on Monday 25th at which several members of the committee confirmed that at the AGM they intend to stand down from the roles that they have filled for the required term of 2 years (and in some cases longer), they are as follows: Chairman Paul Calladine – (standing down) Vice Chairman Mark Bruce – (standing down) Branch Secretary Sharon Jones – (standing down) Jason Kilroy will be resigning as a committee member and as booklet co-ordinator; Ian Jones of Stokey Plant Hire has offered to take over the role of booklet co-ordinator. Dave Coxon will also be resigning as a committee member and as council rep, Rachel Stone of Lafarge has offered to stay on as Treasurer and will also be happy to be our council rep. For your branch to continue we need to fill the role of Chairman and Secretary and would ask you to seriously consider if you are in a position to take on either of these roles. Or alternatively recommend colleagues who may be interested. Without these positions being filled the future of your branch could be in jeopardy. Please contact myself if you can help, or if you are able to attend the AGM Yours faithfully Sharon Jones (branch secretary) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Institute of Quarrying is the International professional body for quarrying and the related extractive and processing industries. Membership is open to managerial and technical staff and others employed in or training for positions of responsibility within the industry.  Other specialists associated with the industry are eligible as are those who supply plant, equipment, materials and services. The Institute is organised through 13 branches in the United Kingdom. The West Midlands Branch covers a geographical area roughly stretching from North Staffordshire in the north to Hereford and Worcestershire in the south, Shropshire in the west through to Birmingham in the east. The principal officers and their contact details can be found on this website. The main aim of the Institute is to promote education and training within the industry to encourage improvements in all aspects of quarry operation and business management through the initial extraction to processing, marketing, restoration and after use. Throughout matters relating to safety, health and the environment are a special concern. The Institute of Quarrying operates its own professional development scheme (CPD) and papers are presented at branch meetings, the institute’s annual management course and the annual conference held each year in October which qualify for CPD hours The West Midlands Branch of the Institute of Quarry exists to provide a service to its members within the broad aims of the Institute of Quarrying. Through the West Midlands Branch on average 5 technical evenings and 2 site visits are organised in each year running from September through to the following May. All of those activities will form the basis of the individual members’ professional development and will count towards the Institute’s CPD scheme.  In addition to the training and educational aspects, the West Midlands Branch provides a number of social activities which gives an opportunity for those involved in the industry to meet on an informal basis and which provides opportunities for networking.