July 2008

SCNZ Members’ Event Switches to Plan BMore than 30 members responded to the Motordrome Dare,and the first eight lined up on the grid to get the May 22 Members’Event underway with a roar. Suzette Meroiti gives lastminute instructions.Fletcher EasySteel’s Ken Hainsworth drove the fastest circuitbut never stepped onto the podium because forecasted raincompelled the racers to abandon the Schumacher karts andtake shelter in a shipping container. What was to have been atrack-side lunch became a standing-room-only affair bravelydelivered by Country Catering.Refuelled and still ready for some competitive action, the ladsgot word that there was, in fact, a Plan B: rendezvous at GardenCity Bowl, don the mandatory red-and-black footwear, andshow us what you got! Tim Watkins (pictured) showed lots ofAuckland Steel style, but top scorer was 4D Steel Detailing’sLuke “Strike” Thomson.Actually, everyone scored because of the networking and thebanter and it put them in a good mood for the meeting to follow.At the Holiday Inn on Avon, Trina Snow, of Buy NZ Made Ltd,spoke on promoting benefits of NZ made steelwork. MikeDrummond of Canterbury Finance, talked about the globalcredit crunch. SCNZ Chairman John Frear of One Steel MarketMills, updated on the global steel market,. Charlie Bartlett fromEnvironmark, talked about how members could develop an environmentalmanagement scheme, and John Kotoisuva, SCNZ’snewly appointed Mentoring Development Officer. talked abouthis vision of taking the steel industry into schools and givingstudents a vision of a career in steel. SCNZ Manager ClarkHyland brought the members up to speed with updates on conditionsof subcontract and Licensed Building Practitioners.Phone 09-263-5635, Fax 09-263-5638L2, 17-19 Gladding Place, PO Box 76403Manukau City, Manukau 2241, New Zealand