Many thanks to Chris Brahler and his committee for their kind invitation to dinner and to Bernie Krzys and his Benjamin Media team for a great exhibition and conference. It's almost a given that they would break new records and so they did! It was really good to see some of the founding committee members, Richard Thomasson, Tom Iseley and Bill Gray and they only look a day or two older than their photographs in the excellent booklet published by NASTT to celebrate the occasion.

The NASTT booklet is an excellent read, in a section entitled “2010....and beyond” various past chairmen describe the impact of education and training over the years, a subject that NASTT does very well through courses developed and delivered at national and regional events, the contributions of its university links and fundraising events, particularly the Educational Fund Auction, which has raised over $US300,00 since 2002 to support the student chapters. Richard Thomasson, Bill Gray, Tom Iseley, Glenn Boyce, Ray Sterling and Michael Addritt all had a contribution to make on the importance of training and I particularly liked Mike’s observation about promoting trenchless being like missionary work. It rang a bell for me during the event in a conversation with Sergio Palazzo and Paolo Dequech from ABRATT who asked specifically how ISTT could help them provide educational programs in Brazil to improve the understanding of trenchless in their fast emerging markets. To be effective ISTT, in partnership with Affiliate Societies, has to get over the barrier of language and multicultural business practice to instill a level of understanding of the basics of our technologies to help inform the dialogue between owners, engineering firms and contractors. In “2010...and beyond” Tom Iseley referred to the excellent Good Practice Courses being developed and Chris Brahler, looking forward, highlighted the environmental benefits and the greening of underground construction by increasing use of Trenchless Technology.

I am pleased to say that NASTT’s Mike Willmets and ISTT’s John Hemphill have had some constructive discussions about access to training materials and future developments of the resources so that for future events such as the International No-Dig in Singapore or looking further ahead to events in Berlin or Brazil which may be enhanced with workshops and round tables we can bring together the experience of our Affiliated Societies and find better ways of dissemination for the public benefit. I had planned this month to visit Russia to assist RSTT and their partners Sibico with No-Dig Moscow, but a mishap in our postal system robbed me of my passport at a critical time in the visa process. My apologies to the organisers, I had been looking forward to battling with the Moscow Metro and meeting many of the old friends from 2008. I am sure it was a good show.

Since the last issue of Trenchless International we have heard of the passing of Donald Rees who was a founding member of ISTT and served as a Guarantor for many years. Don, a pioneer in tunnelling, CCTV and in so many other aspects of our business continued to prompt your Executive Sub Committee with thought provoking letters and advice well after he had retired to Portugal. At the inaugural No-Dig in London in 1985 Don presented a paper titled “Is there a No-Dig future?” If you can get hold of a copy of the proceedings “Trenchless Construction for Utilities”, do revisit his keynote address and you will see that his contributions hit the target, dead centre!

If not before, I hope to see you all in Singapore in November – I will be visiting at the end of June to work with our partners Westrade and the Public Utilities Board to promote the event and build on their detailed planning for what promises to be a memorable show.

Best wishes.