Service to Others Charles Dimmick, CPG-03886
Every summer from 1946 through 1952 I attended a YMCA camp in the mountains of northwestern New Jersey. Either written upon or carved into the mantle over the very large fireplace in the middle of one side of the main lodge was this inscription “We are born not for ourselves but to help others”. Seeing this message every day for two or three weeks every summer, the words became embedded in my mind, and I have never forgotten them.
Putting this message into practice is not always easy. Sure, it is no problem if you assume that all you have to do is be nice to those people around you that you like anyway, but what about people who you don’t like, or who don’t like you, or who do things that you find to be hate- ful or disgusting? The Golden Rule says we should do unto others as we would that they should do to us. It doesn’t say we should do unto others only if we like them. And don’t forget the other ver- sion of the Golden Rule: Do not do unto others what you don’t want them to do to you. And in scripture we find clear instructions about this. We are told “You
have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
There must be some good in every person if only we would make an effort to find it. And yes, sometimes it is a real effort. E.W. Hoch*, about 100 years ago, said:
“There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us, That it hardly behooves any of us To talk about the rest of us.”
But we need to go beyond talk, and seek to find and serve the good in even the worst of us. This will not be easy, and often we will fail, and find ourselves confessing “we have left undone those things we ought to have done, and we have done those things we ought not to have done”. Nevertheless let us continue to strive to seek good in all persons.
Finally, it turns out that there is a reward for us in doing this. Several studies have shown that being kind and helpful to others has benefits for our own
mental and physical health, whereas being mean and selfish may contribute to unhealthy conditions for us.
*Editor’s Note: Newspaper owner and Governor of Kansas, 1905-1909
Charles Dimmick CPG-3886 was awarded Honorary Membership in AIPG in 2003. He has degrees from Colorado School of Mines and University of Florida, and a Ph. D. from Tulane. He retired from Central Connecticut State University as full Professor of Geology in 2005, and from his hydrogeological consult- ing business in 2012. Charles was extremely active in AIPG, both in the Northeast Section and in National, having served as Editor in 1993-1994. During his term AIPG published its “A Citizen’s Guide to Geological Hazards.” Charles has been very active in community service throughout his career; he continues to serve as vice-chair of the Cheshire Inland Wetlands Agency, starting his 44th year with the agency, and is also treasurer for the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Wetland Commissions. This short article summarizes, for those entering the profession as well as those already in it, his belief in the importance of service to others.
Fundamentals of Professional Ethics: Elements and Examples
Live Webinar - March 28, 2017 @ 1:00pm Eastern Time (1 hour)
Presenter:
David M. Abbott, Jr., AIPG Certified Professional Geologist 4570
Everyone is in favor of good moral and professional ethical behavior but few have thought about them rigorously. What constitutes common morality and profes- sional ethics? This webinar will explore the basic concepts and definitions of and the differences between common morality and professional ethics. This includes the distinction between moral rules and moral ideals. What steps are used to determine the legitimate basis for an allowable viola- tion of a moral or ethical rule? What is the relationship between ethical behavior and integrity? Case histories will illustrate the concepts presented and the methodology of ethical analysis.
AIPG accredited - 1 hour webinar = 1 Professional Development Hour (PDH) or .1 CEUs
Live Webinar Prices:
Register online Ethics Biography
This short course is offered by David M. Abbott, Jr. Mr. Abbott’s first paper on pro- fessional geoscience ethics was published in 1989. Since then, he has presented many papers and talks on the subject. Beginning in November 1995, Mr. Abbott began compiling a column, “Professional Ethics & Practices,” for the AIPG’s mag- azine, The Professional Geologist, and the column has appeared in each issue since. Mr. Abbott serves as the Chairman of AIPG’s Ethics Committee, which is responsible for inquiring into allegations of ethical misconduct by AIPG members and, when appropriate, prosecuting cases charging violations of AIPG’s Code of Ethics. Mr. Abbott is also a member of
the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s Ethics Committee.
Mr. Abbott holds an AB in Earth Science from Dartmouth College and an MS in geology from the Colorado School of Mines. He spent 21 years as a geologist for the US Securities and Exchange Commission in Denver assisting natural resources entities to comply with the SEC’s dis- closure requirements and investigating and assisting in the prosecution of min- ing and oil and gas frauds. Since 1996 he has been an independent consultant specializing in natural resource disclosure issues, resource and reserve classifications and their application to specific depos- its, and professional geoscience ethics. He is a Certified Professional Geologist by AIPG, is a Chartered Geologist by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Geological Society of London, holds the European Geologist title, and is licensed as a Professional Geologist by Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
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