Letter from the Chair
As the AAPG approaches its annual meeting in Long Beach, CA, I would like to pause for a moment to reflect on the performance of the HoD during this 9-month period starting with changeover last July 1st. By the end of this Convention, the HoD Committees will have wrapped up most of their business for the year. The House functions with eight committees and a total of 55 members have been active in these super-performing groups of participants.
I compliment all of the Committees, their Chairs, the Tulsa Staff and the HoD Officers. All of the reports and required actions were delivered in a timely manner. I would especially like to recognize the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, Chaired by David Hawk and Vice-Chaired by Paul Hoffman and the Resolutions Committee, Chaired by Peter Lloyd and Vice-Chaired by Paul Britt (Sections) and John Kaldi (Regions). The Constitution and Bylaws Committee dealt with a multitude of critical issues in preparation for the HoD annual meeting, and the Resolutions Committee is bringing three new societies to recommend for Affiliate or Associate status. It has been a long time since that has been achieved. The Resolutions Committee (Sections) has been attempting to revitalize sleepy US societies. Well done to all committee members and staff!
My only recommendation to the Committee structure is that I feel it is necessary to attract more active Region members to the Constitution and Bylaws and the Rules and Procedures Committees.
The House of Delegates will really miss the wonderful efforts on its behalf by Donna Riggs, who has retired from AAPG (but not totally).
On a more sober subject, I have been involved in all phases of the leadership of AAPG this year; Executive Committee, Advisory Council, Graduated Dues Committee, Houston HoD Delegation, HoD Mid-year Meeting, and AAPG Leadership Conference. I have noted certain unfavorable things in the past relative to “Hot Topics,” but this year my concerns have been greatly increased.
I enjoy the benefit of working on a marvelously harmonious Executive Committee that has a lot of issues on its plate, but I see “storm clouds” elsewhere that could cause AAPG great pain. There is presently way too much “hardball politics” being injected into our system, whether it be efforts to march to the top leadership of our society or whether it be a “pet issue” that can cause frustration to many of our membership. One of the prime tools of an “activist politician” is to keep the population “worried about something” in order to strengthen their agenda
Issues are to be defined and debated with civility and when the issue is resolved, Officers and House Members need to support the actions voted upon by the House of Delegates. If these resolved actions do not work, we can always change them in one to two years. I strongly believe we must resolve “personal” and “issue” differences, and emphasize getting together as one society, not drifting apart.
I would request that each Delegate support the recommended motions of the Constitution and Bylaws, Rules and Procedures, and Resolutions Committees.
Thank you for your service to AAPG.