ASET Technology Alberta Spring 2021 - 39

technology, art and community

Something that's aided Cheeseman's
writing is a habit of taking notes relating
to his career. " As a professional, I
always kept a legal diary, not just who
knows who, and who had an affair with
who, but a legal one at work, all serial
numbered pages and so on. And those
have been good for going back and
getting detail, " he says.

Technical writing is no stranger to Cheeseman. If picking the
name of a Canadian or international technical association or
branch of government out of a hat, there's a fair bet he'll have
done work for it. The organizations for which he's written reports, standards or papers include the Canadian Standards
Association, Federal Communications Commission, Telecommunications Industry Association and TAC, to name just a few.
On how he's been able to land so many interesting jobs around
the globe, Cheeseman chalks it up to having the right attitude.
" How I got into all these jobs was basically an attitude of: I
might not know anything, but I always put my hand up and
say, 'Yeah I'll do it.' And I still am a bit that way, " he reflects.
He also points to ASET's inception and community as a resource that has assisted with his growth.
Since joining up with ASET, Cheeseman has been heavily
involved in lending his expertise. He's served on Council
three times, chaired the R.E.T. committee for both ASET and
APEGA, and taught ethics for ASET to people preparing to
write professional practical exams. This has been a mutually beneficial process, as he says there's always something
learned from taking on these roles.

This eye for detail shines through in his writing. In his story,
" A networking parable, " for instance, Cheeseman captures
the minute aspects of the places and people he met in what
he describes as " a strange networking exchange " with the
chief of a small village in Zambia. Describing the time he
fixed the chief's radio and provided him with aspirin tablets
for the pain of an old snake bite, Cheeseman was awarded
an unexpected gift for his efforts (which won't be revealed).

For instance, Cheeseman says that " every time you're
on Council, you get some lessons in management and
lessons in governance, and I absorbed all of those, and
they've most definitely made me a better manager and,
well, leader of people. "
As a magnet for weird and wonderful encounters, Cheeseman has seen a lot in his day. Luckily for those who'll get a
chance to read his work, he sat down and wrote it all out.
Visit ASET.ab.ca/doncheesemanstories to read some of
Cheeseman's works.

" Their ferric cores lay loose in the box. There were holes in
the speaker's diaphragm. The electric torch cells that originally powered the radio were growing green-grey beards
and looked as though they had been dead for years, " Cheeseman writes.
" The Chief stepped back, smiled proudly and motioned for
me to make it work. He sat contentedly sipping a bottle of
pop, waiting for me to demonstrate my skills. "
As well as the stories of his adventures, Cheeseman's writings also cover the more technical side of his career. In
these tales, he describes how he tinkered with technological troubles, and figured out how to fix them.

Tell us your story...
Would you like to share your story or
suggest another ASET member to feature in
an upcoming issue of Technology Alberta?

We would love to hear from you!
Please contact us at asetadmin@aset.ab.ca

TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA | SPRING 2021 | 39

http://aset.ab.ca/doncheesemanstories

ASET Technology Alberta Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASET Technology Alberta Spring 2021