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LIGHTNING

About the SAIEE Lightning Chapter

Purpose of the Lightning Chapter

The purpose of the LC is to identify and draw on the pool of relevant experts in South Africa (expertise of academics and industry) as a combined force in Electrical Engineering with the aims of:
 
  1. Empowering its members with knowledge and networking opportunities.
  2. Fostering a growing interest in lightning and related subjects.
  3. Improving the knowledge and awareness of SAIEE members and of the public with respect to lightning, lightning safety and protection.
  4. Supporting communication for researchers, academics, industrialists and commericial sectors to share knowledge, data and information, human resources, facilities and other resources for the betterment of the LP sector.
  5. Communicating developments in technologies, standards and regulations (national and international) relevant to the subject of earthing, lightning and lightning protection.
  6. Encouraging industry-wide collaboration in advancing the knowledge, skills development and competencies within all areas of interest where lightning impacts the lives of South Africans.
  7. Encouraging the publication of national experience at local and international level.
  8. Assessing current knowledge gaps within SAIEE members and future skill needs within the South Africa engineering and scientific community, especially with respect to lightning safety of people.
  9. Supporting/assisting the government on the development and promotion of relevant policies on LP.
  10. Supporting/assisting SABS on the development and implementation of standards for LP.
  11. Developing ways to achieve these aims via a periodically updated roadmap and in doing so increasing the recognition of the SAIEE.1(#_ftn1)
 
1(#_ftnref1) This includes ensuring that the liability of the SAIEE due to advice given is reasonably limited, e.g. by including disclaimers in distributed material, webinars and the like.
 
 

Structures of the Chapter

 

 

Office Bearers

 

Purpose:

 
Terms of Office:

Office bearers, with the exception of the Chairperson, shall serve one two-year term, with the option of the extension for up to one further two-year term.

The Chairperson may only serve one two-year term as Chairperson, and must have served in another office bearer role to be eligible for the role of Chairperson. The Chairperson may, at their discretion, serve in another office bearer role, apart from Vice-chairperson, for another two-year term after ceasing to be the Chairperson
 
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Eligibility:
 
Chairperson: be a Fellow, Honorary Fellow or Senior Member of the SAIEE. In the absence of a willing volunteer who meets this criterion, Council may be approached to approve a Member.
 
Other office bearers: be an SAIEE member of any grade.
 
Office bearers who do not regularly attend meetings, actively contribute to these meetings or reasonably perform tasks assigned to them may be asked to resign from their role.
 
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Vice-Chairperson and Secretary may be the same person, if the amount of work dictates this and if agreed by the person concerned and at a LC meeting with the required quorum.

Chairperson

The Chairperson of the LC shall:
  • Set and approve meeting agendas.
  • Chair all meetings.
  • Organise the work of the LC in such a way that it is completed rigorously and efficiently in order to ensure that it is up to date.
  • Approve outputs to be communicated taking into account views expressed by members.
  • Ensure that a quorum is established at all meetings as defined in this document.
  • Ensure compliance with the requirements of this Terms of Reference.
  • Ensure that resolutions are taken on sound engineering principles and ethics.
  • Validate all LC minutes and reports as being a true representation of what was decided.
  • Provide feedback on LC activities to the Power and Energy Section and Technology and Knowledge Leadership Committee.

Vice-Chairperson

 

The Vice-Chairperson of the LC shall:

  • Assist the Chairperson in organising the work programme of the LC.
  • Support the Chairperson for the functions falling within the remit of the Chairperson’s role.
  • Stand in for the Chairperson in his or her absence.
  • Prepare the timelines and monitor these to ensure that the work of the LC is up to date.
  • Liaise with SAIEE staff and office bearers to ensure alignment between the work of the LC and the short and long term objectives of the SAIEE.
  • Deputise for the Chairperson with respect to providing feedback on LC activities to the Power and Energy Section and Technology and Knowledge Leadership Committee and attending meetings.

Secretary

 

The Secretary of the LC shall:

  • Arrange meetings and circulate appointments and meeting agendas.
  • Ensure that accurate minutes of meetings are taken, circulated and approved.
  • In the absence of the Chairperson and Vice-chairperson, preside until a temporary chairperson is elected.
  • Communicate decisions and ensure implementation to report back to the LC members in the next meeting on actions taken on them and updates.
  • Be responsible for maintaining accurate documentation and ensure that the records are made available when required by authorized persons.

Web Administrator

 

The Web Administrator of the LC shall:

  • Liaise with SAIEE administrative, IT and marketing staff to:
  • Ensure that the LC page on the SAIEE website is regularly updated with Chapter information such as upcoming events
  • Coordinate online events, e.g. webinars.
  • Arrange marketing of LC activities.

Membership Administrator

 

The Membership Administrator of the LC shall:

  • Ensure that the membership list of the LC is kept up to date.
  • This includes maintaining an up-to-date mailing list of LC members

Standardization Coordinator

 

The Standardization Coordinator of the LC shall:

  • Report to the LC on developments with respect to relevant developments, e.g. recently released standards and newly formed standards work groups.
  • Facilitate adequate industry representation on relevant work groups.
  • Request the establishment of new work groups, where a need is identified
The responsibility of this role is to liaise with the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and other relevant bodies.
 

Contact Information

Contact the SAIEE Lightning Chapter via:

(e) lightningchapter@saiee.org.za
(w) https://bit.ly/SAIEELC