A Proud History: Over 100 Years of Service
In 1916, on Ladies Night at the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers (AIME) meeting at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, the women passed the hat for money to assist the fighting men in the trenches of World War I. By 1917, 50 women formed the Woman's Auxiliary to AIME and continued their charitable war efforts. In 2008, WAAIME became a division of SME where they have continued their tradition of providing scholarships and supporting humanitarian causes.
A Passion for Service
The WAAIME objectives, as written by President Mrs. Lou Henry Hoover in her letter to her membership in February 1959, remain:
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To render service to the country and to the community through all that pertains to the interest of the professions of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineering.
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To promote philanthropic work and the interchange of ideas amongst its members.
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To devise and promote ways and means of procuring a fund and to maintain such fund for the purpose of assisting promising students to obtain a technical education in Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineering and their allied subjects.
More than a Division: A Community
The WAAIMEs have continued their philanthropic endeavors throughout the years, including: purchasing books for mining camps, building libraries, awarding scholarships, providing emergency funding for university students, and supporting programs for teacher's education.
WAAIME Division Annual event photos
Many thanks to our generous sponsors!
Click here to view the photos on SME's Flickr page
2024 WAAIME Committee
Susana Palomino, Barbara Filas, Margaret Mansanti, Lydia Hull, Jaqueline Herrera
WAAIME Division Meeting Minutes
2023 WAAIME Division Annual Meeting Minutes
2022 WAAIME Division Annual Meeting Minutes
2021 WAAIME Division Annual Meeting Minutes
2020 WAAIME Division Annual Meeting Minutes
2019 WAAIME Division Annual Meeting Minutes
2016 WAAIME Division Annual Meeting Minutes
MEMBERSHIP
WAAIME membership is open to any SME member. Simply choose WAAIME as your Division choice after joining SME. You may also become a member of WAAIME by contacting WAAIME@smenet.org.
WAAIME Executive Committee
The WAAIME executive committee is a five-person committee. One international representative and four domestic members at large. The WAAIME membership nominates these members each November. The international representative serves a three-year term, the remaining committee members each serve a term of four years with the fourth year rotating into the Chair position. All five have equal voting rights, with the Chair presiding.
The Executive Committee is selected by nominations by the WAAIME membership annually. If you would like to nominate an individual to serve on the Executive Committee, or would like more information, you may email the WAAIME Division Coordinator at WAAIME@smenet.org.
Local Sections in mining communities in the U.S., Peru, Chile, and Mexico with each section governed by their local officers make up the WAAIME Division of SME. Each section, as well as the parent organization, has several committees, including Scholarship, Membership, Programming, and other special committees.
If you have additional questions, please contact:
WAAIME Division Coordinator
Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle
Englewood, CO 80112
Email: waaime@smenet.org
WAAIME Division Committees
The Committee shall have oversight of all activities within the WAAIME Division.
| Name | Position | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara A. Filas, PE | Chair | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2026 |
| Margaret Mansanti | Past Chair | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2026 |
| Lydia M. Hull | Scholarship Committee Chair | 03/01/2024 | 02/28/2026 |
| Susana Palomino De Herrera | Representative | 03/01/2023 | 02/28/2026 |
| Jaquelin Herrera | Member | 07/25/2024 | 02/28/2028 |
| Rachel Grimes | SME Staff | 05/31/2024 | 02/28/2030 |
| Name | Position | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lydia M. Hull | Chair | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2031 |
| Line-Audrey Nkule | Vice Chair | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Pamela Swendseid | Vice Chair | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Ms Diane Murray Lightwood | Member | 03/18/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Dr. Kelli Mccormick, PhD, CPG | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Rachel Micander | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Margaret Mansanti | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Gill Worsey | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Dr. Elizabeth A. Zbinden | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Ms Blanche Blattner | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Jean O. Davin | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Bonnie Webb Groppo | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2030 |
| Nadia Miller | Member | 03/18/2025 | 02/28/2030 |
| Carol Trutt | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2031 |
| Megan N. Wheatley | Member | 03/01/2025 | 02/28/2030 |
| Luz Del Carmen Morales | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Susana Herrera | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Sherry S. Cushman | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Lilian Escobar Gonzalez | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Susan Harwood | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2031 |
| Winfrey Hearst | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Gail Lafrentz | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Daphne D. LaPointe | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Laura Luevanos | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Elisabeth M. Price | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2031 |
| Darlene S. Ramsay | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Maria Isabel Saavedra | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Toni A. Wantland | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Hilda Bradshaw | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Winnell Burt | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2031 |
| Dixine Hale | Member | 08/03/2015 | 02/28/2030 |
| Margaret Ann Bays | Member | 08/03/2016 | 02/28/2030 |
| Karen F. Jass | Member | 05/21/2018 | 02/28/2031 |