Voice of One Delegate
As the only delegate for the Appalachian Geological Society, I don’t process a large number of applications each year. I almost always know the applicant personally or know one or more of the applicant’s references personally. The local geological community is rather small, but close-knit here in the Eastern Section. Most of the applications are from people in West Virginia, but some are from adjacent parts of western Virginia, not covered by the Geological Society of Washington.
I recruit members when the opportunity presents itself. Last fall, at the Eastern Section AAPG meeting, one of my colleagues said that the reason he had never moved from Associate to Active Member status was that he couldn’t find the needed sponsors locally. I grabbed a membership application from a stack President Lee Billingsley had conveniently made available, and wrote in my name as a sponsor. I then passed the form to two other people standing nearby for them to do the same thing. I filled out the on-line sponsorship form late last year for him so I know that the application went forward. Sometimes, it’s just a little thing that can make a difference in getting someone to join or move from Associate to Active membership. I think the new on-line method is great!
All delegates for societies affiliated with the Eastern Section have an additional responsibility as a member of the Eastern Section Council which oversees the activities of the Eastern Section. Delegates participate in the section’s annual business meeting held during the section’s annual technical meeting.
I became a delegate because I volunteered and because I usually attend the annual AAPG meeting as well as the annual Eastern Section AAPG meeting. Many Appalachian Geological Society members typically attend the Eastern Section meeting, but usually only a small number of them are able to attend the AAPG annual meeting.
I try to participate in ”everything AAPG” that I can. I am very fortunate to have the support of my agency’s management in terms of both time and funding for my AAPG service. Most of my information about the HoD comes from The Delegates’ Voice and the AAPG Explorer.
- François Roure
- European Region