Proceedings 2002/2003 - IRSE

NINETIETH ANNUAL REPORT 105
There are also links to the Australasian, Central
European, Hong Kong and Southern African
Sections, with an additional link to the Dutch
language site operated for members in the Benelux
countries.
The new North American Section, formed during
2002, also has its own web page on the IRSE
website. The capability of downloading the North
American Section’s application form directly from
the web page has been supplemented with ‘US
Letter’ size IRSE membership forms and information
packs. These can also be downloaded without the
need for reformatting page sizes, thus proving to be
an invaluable aid to the North American Section in
recruiting new members.
The IRSE website is helping the Institution
maintain strict change control over many important
documents, for example the IRSE Membership Form
and the Information Pack. As each document
undergoes any change, the ‘source document’
(master copy) is put onto the website, thus ensuring
that the latest version is always available. Categories
of licences, scopes etc for the IRSE Licensing
Scheme are similarly controlled via the website.
A number of items of information are now on the
website as reference documents to members, such
as the Articles of Association and the Byelaws. The
list of publications available for sale is also usefully
stored on the website and can be downloaded
directly. A trial is underway to determine whether
members would wish to have copies of the
Institution’s newsletter, IRSE News, available
electronically on the website.
Late in 2002, a new feature was added to the
website that, although not for members’ general use,
has proved beneficial to the IRSE Council and
officials. A “Restricted Area” of the website, with
strict access controlled by encrypted usernames
and passwords, allows authorised users the
opportunity to view information that would otherwise
only be available by being sent copies by
post.
The Website Manager is David Crabtree, who is
also the Institution’s Publicity Officer and a Council
member. David continually strives to improve the
website and is always keen to point out that
constructive feedback is welcome, providing a
useful way of gauging visitors’ needs for the
website.
Recruitment Activity
The Recruitment & Publicity Committee has met
four times throughout the year and is grateful to the
companies who have sponsored these meetings by
the provision of the venue and hospitality. Work continues
in the active promotion of the Institution’s
activities throughout the profession.
The recruitment CD-ROM “Introduction to the
IRSE” has proved very popular and has been
updated and revised to reflect current requirements.
To further aid the recruitment process a simplified
version, capable of e-mail transmission, is also
available. Council is grateful to Stuart Angill for
production of this CD-ROM.
A new format recruitment poster, in two complementary
versions, has been produced in A3 format
and copies are available from the IRSE London
office.
In association with the revised Articles of
Association and Byelaws, approved at the Annual
General Meeting in April, the application form has
been completely revised and is available to download
from the website. The information pack has
similarly been extensively revised to incorporate the
grade structure changes and includes guidance
notes on completion of the application form.
The Institution’s publicity stand is deployed at
appropriate exhibitions and conferences to advertise
the Institution, to inform visitors of what the
Institution has to offer, to provide information packs
and to take orders for Institution publications. The
publicity stand was deployed at the Railtex 2002
Exhibition held in November 2002 at the Birmingham
National Exhibition Centre. Thanks are expressed to
the volunteers who manned the stand throughout
the three days of the exhibition.
Council is appreciative of the efforts of Derek
Edney and the members of the Recruitment &
Publicity Committee for all the work they do to
promote the activities of the Institution and to
encourage people to become members.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER BODIES
Engineering Council
The Institution is a fully nominated body of the
Engineering Council, licensed to register Incorporated
Engineers and Engineering Technicians.
During the year the Institution registered five
Incorporated Engineers and two Engineering
Technicians.
Necessary revisions to the Institution’s Articles of
Association to take account of the Institution’s
nominated body status and the introduction of new
byelaws to assist the administration of the
Institution’s affairs were adopted by special
resolution at the Annual General Meeting held on
19th April 2002.
Institution of Incorporated Engineers
The collaborative arrangements with the
Institution of Incorporated Engineers that permits
joint membership of both Institutions at reduced
subscription levels has been continued.
The Council is grateful to the IIE for its ready help
and co-operation in providing accommodation and
services at Savoy Hill House for IRSE use.
Institution of Railway Operators
The Institution continues to liaise with operating
colleagues in the development of their new
Institution of Railway Operators that was formally
launched in May 2000.
Hazards Forum
The Institution continued its membership of the
Hazards Forum, a multi-institution organisation set
up to bring together a variety of engineering and
scientific disciplines, to discuss issues arising from
man made and natural disasters and to improve