SME REGISTERED MEMBER CATEGORY INTRODUCED

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) is pleased to introduce SME Registered Member as a new membership category. This membership option was developed in response to members who need such an affiliation in order to perform specialized functions related to reserve estimation and reporting.

Members who qualify will satisfy the overseas requirement that, to be recognized as a competent/qualified person, they must belong to a Recognized Overseas Professional Organization (ROPO). SME Registered Members agree to observe and be bound by a code of ethics. Members are therefore subject to disciplinary action if they are found to be in breach of the code of ethics.

With the creation of the Registered Member category, SME will be eligible for recognition by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other international regulators for the purpose of reserve reporting. SME has begun the process to become a Recognized Overseas Professional Organization. The approval process will take a few months before SME’s membership will be acknowledged by various international regulatory agencies. Additional announcements will be forthcoming when these steps are completed.

This new category is in addition to the existing SME membership categories and only those members who qualify and wish to enhance their professional status should apply.

"SME considers this new category to be a benefit not only to our individual members, but also to the industry as a whole", states SME President, Barbara Filas.

SME Registered Members will need to meet qualifications, provide license, certification, or three verifications, agree to abide by the code of ethics, and pay the Registered Member Fee.

An application, including qualification requirements, code of ethics, fees and verification form can be found at:

http://www.smenet.org/memapp/member_app.cfm