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By Carl A H Martin
Having had a jolly fine time at the IAAM Annual
Conference, it was still good to get on the plane to go home. Then we landed
in the UK at London Gatwick. After sitting on the tarmac for 15 minutes we
were informed by the captain there was a problem with the airport’s luggage
handling system and we couldn’t get to our allotted ramp for disembarking
(or “deplaning,” as our purser rather curiously kept saying).
An hour-and-a-half after landing we were allowed off the plane to be met by
a million mobile phone calls asking if we were all right and where the
blinkin’ heck we were (this from the person picking me up). Another
hour-and-a-half later, I finally got my luggage and got out of the airport,
which was a total nightmare.
You all know by now this was because of an “increased security alert” caused
(in my opinion) by a bunch of misguided people. It was rather a shame that
the trip to San Antonio had to finish this way, especially as I’d had a
rather enlightening and enjoyable week there.
Conference Recap
The most poignant time was spent attending Greg Davis’ session on mega
shelters. Having had the privilege of being the chair of a session between
Davis and Mark Hamilton (of RockSteady Security, Edinburgh), in Vienna in
April, I thought I’d heard it all, but I hadn’t realized how much I would be
affected by his dialogue again.
A DVD of the session in Vienna has now been finished and, hopefully, it will
be on the IAAM Web site very soon. If you’ve never heard Davis talk, watch
it. Also interesting was that, in Davis’ words, the Mega Shelter publication
erred on the side of situations in the USA. But having listened to Davis, a
British colleague of mine told me he was going home the next day to put into
operation something that Davis had discussed.
Thank you, Greg, for the dignified manner in which you present this subject
and for all the obvious hard work you and your colleagues have put into this
publication.
Vertigo: You too? There were several
times during the week when I had cause to doubt my own sanity. The first was
when I was persuaded by some evil people (among them John Bennett,
Australia, and Guy Dunstan, Birmingham, England) to attend the Feld
Entertainment bash at the top of the TV Tower. Having been invited, I felt I
should go, but I have vertigo.
What I didn’t know was that the lift up was glass fronted. Never has the
laminated rear wall of a lift been so interesting. After arriving at the
top, I discovered that we were at a level of at least twice the height of
the hotel! Vertigo is a strange phenomenon: If you ignore it, it eventually
relents. It just takes about 20 minutes of sheer terror. However, I’m glad I
went up.
The more serious situation for doubting my sanity was when I got up to
present the session on global issues for the “International” session. To say
I was nervous would be understating the fact. Fortunately, despite my fears,
the audience numbers were respectable, and the panel members did me proud. I
would publicly like to thank Frank Russo from Global Spectrum, Bob Hannigan
from Feld Entertainment, Peter Gruber from Stadthalle Wien and, last but not
least, Bob Mayer, past president of IAAM.
International definition. You know, it
sometimes intrigues both my European colleagues and myself as to why we’re
known as the “International” Association of Assembly Managers, when clearly
this isn’t something understood by all of the members of IAAM.
At one of the IAAM meetings, an IAAM director told Peter Gruber (DVP IAAM
Europe) that people couldn’t possibly attend meetings in Europe because
their budgets would only allow travel in the USA and, possibly, Canada. Does
this mean that all members outside of the USA must travel stateside in order
to be part of the IAAM? This isn’t international; this is members who aren’t
residing in the USA attending what is basically a USA Association.
Having said that, it was heartening to see in the audience a mixture of
members from all around the world. The discussion that followed the panel
members’ contributions, some of which was a little controversial, was
enthusiastic and enlightening. I’d love to present the session again next
year (please). To bring in more members from around the world, I’d be more
than pleased to hear from members (and potential members in Europe)
suggestions of topics for discussion.
Good friends. As usual, it was good to
be amongst old friends and colleagues I’ve known through work and the IAAM.
It also was a pleasure to meet new people and to start what I’m sure will be
ongoing friendships. It was amusing to be able teach our new president,
Larry Perkins (trust you are well, sir), a typical English greeting.
IAAM works because of the diversity of its membership, because people seek
knowledge and friendship, and because of the dedication and hard work of its
full-time staff and all the members who sit on various boards and
committees, etc.
I’m very lucky; I was introduced to IAAM because I worked for American
companies. I’m proud to be a member and have benefited immensely from being
a member, but still feel that we all — including the European members — have
a lot to do to become established internationally. We have to start thinking
globally and realizing it.
IAAM Europe has its Annual Conference in Amsterdam April 18-20, 2007. You
are cordially invited.
Carl A H Martin is director, European Services for IAAM Europe. |
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