About Mining & Metallurgical Society of America

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About MMSA

The Mining and Metallurgical Society of America (MMSA) is a professional organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and understanding about mining and why mined materials are essential to modern society and human well being. MMSA delivers this message to two different public sectors:

public policy makers including elected officials and regulatory agencies; and

to all levels of the educational system.

Since its inception in 1908, MMSA has provided valuable information and guidance to federal, state and local governments on a number of important public policy issues dealing with mining. MMSA has also made substantial contributions to educational programs that help teachers inform students about mining and how minerals are used. In the ninety years since then, MMSA has played an important role in a series of actions benefiting the industry.

The 114 charter members who started MMSA were men of extraordinary vision who recognized the need for a mining professional society to focus on the complex policy issues facing the mining industry.

As examples of MMSA’s contributions, MMSA played a pivotal role in persuading Congress to establish the U.S. Bureau of Mines, helped institute annual financial reports for corporations to protect investors, and led the campaign to appoint state mine inspectors. This tradition of involvement in key mining policy issues continues today.

MMSA members are currently working with the Northwest Mining Association to develop information useful in legislative and public policy dialogues about mining. MMSA members have provided advice, given testimony, passed resolutions, and developed professional papers on a number of important issues including revisions to the Mining Law, mine taxation, health and safety, labor relations, economics, the environment, and education.

Today, MMSA’s members include men and women who are executives, leaders, and decision makers in engineering, law, education, and the scientific disciplines related to mining and mineral processing. Membership in MMSA provides these professionals with a unique opportunity to contribute their energy and expertise to mining public policy and educational arenas. In this way, membership in MMSA is highly complementary to membership in other industry professional societies that are primarily focused on the technical aspects of mining and mineral processing.

Membership in MMSA is by invitation based on recommendations from existing members. Candidates must demonstrate the highest level of leadership, technical competence, ethical standards, and desire to promote the interests of the Society. MMSA is actively seeking new, qualified members who are interested in contributing their energy and leadership. If an MMSA Member has notified you that you are being considered for membership, we are pleased to consider your application. To assist you in this, please click on the Membership Information link.

Policy Statement

We perceive our highest priority to be that of increasing the level of public understanding of the importance of the mineral industry to human life. We believe this message needs to be delivered to both policy makers and educators. In the public policy arena, we develop information that informs lawmakers of the importance of a vigorous mineral industry, and how the modern mining industry provides society with essential mined materials while protecting the environment during mining, closure, and reclamation. We believe decision makers must have this information in order to make sound policy decisions that affect mining.

On the educational front, we believe public attitudes are derived in large measure from prior and current educational experiences. We thus recognize the importance of providing teachers with useful, appealing, and accurate teaching materials. Our educational efforts help fund programs to improve public education about mining and minerals at all grade levels, from elementary school through university classes.

MMSA makes contributions to these educational programs from a modest endowment. MMSA constantly seeks out and provides financial assistance to programs and projects we believe will benefit the mineral industry by providing the public with sound information about mining.

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Summary of Key Current MMSA Programs
and Activities

Jackling Fund - Administration of the Jackling Fund is one of MMSA’s most important activities. This award was established in 1959 with a $20,000 bequest in the will of Daniel C. Jackling, a charter MMSA member. The Fund supports mining and metallurgy research and education through scholarships, chairs, and professorships. The Fund also advances mining, metallurgy, and general science by assisting other societies and institutions. Annual disbursements from the Fund range from $40,000 to $60,000. The principal, which is now in excess of $750,000, is invested in stocks, bonds, and money market instruments. Like MMSA, the fund is tax-exempt.

Gold Medal Award - From time to time, MMSA awards a Gold Medal to an individual for exemplary professional or public service. As shown in Table 1, twenty-eight distinguished professionals have received this Gold Medal award.

Contributions to Educational Programs - MMSA is a significant contributor to mineral education projects and organizations. The Minerals Information Institute (MII) is an example of the type mining education project supported by MMSA.

Annual and Section Meetings – MMSA’s annual meeting is typically held in February or March in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. (SME). MMSA chapters located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah also hold periodic meetings.

Mining Law Work Group - MMSA has formed a Mining Law Work Group to examine key policy issues affecting the future of the hardrock mining industry. Working in coordination with the Northwest Mining Association (NWMA), MMSA's Mining Law Work Group has recently initiated a project to develop white papers on several topics relevant to the current legislative and regulatory debates about mining on public lands. NWMA, and other industry advocates may use these papers in future public policy dialogues about mining.

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History

At the turn of the century, the United States began a long period of unparalleled industrial expansion. By 1908, the most prominent men in the natural resources industries envisioned the enormous growth and changes the country would face. A group of 114 of them joined together and formed The Mining and Metallurgical Society of America to formally commit themselves to work for:

Conservation of mineral resources

Advancement of the mining and metallurgical industries

Better protection of mine investors and mine workers

Increase of scientific knowledge

Encouragement of high professional ideals and ethics

Since its founding more than 80 years ago, the Society has grappled with virtually every issue the mining industry faced over the decades. The Society's many professional papers, resolutions, speeches and positions helped shape the development of America's mining industry and literally provided our country with its most basic building blocks.

With the country facing new problems in such diverse areas as energy consumption, urban decay, and space exploration it is more important than ever to be able to depend on a competent, responsible mineral industry. Industry professionals from business, government and academia who constitute the Mining and Metallurgical Society remain committed to its original objectives and are convinced that solutions to today's problems will be forthcoming with hard work and dedication.

Affairs of the Society are managed by a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and a Board of Councilors. Officers and councilors are elected by the membership. Local Sections are allowed to appoint a councilor. At this writing, three Local Sections have been formed: San Francisco, Denver and Arizona. Details on the operation of the Society are presented in the sections on "Constitution" and "By-Laws".
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Dedicated to:
promoting and improving understanding and appreciation of the role of the U.S. Mining Industry

Focus:
mining, minerals and their uses, related environmental issues and government policies.

The Mining and Metallurgical Society of America
476 Wilson Avenue, Novato, CA 94947-4236
Tel (415) 897-1380
www.mmsa.net