Letter from the Chair
Dear Delegates:
I hope that you’ve had a peaceful and happy holiday season with family and friends.
We’re now halfway through the 2007-08 term and I’ve enjoyed the first six months in my role as Chair of the House. It has been especially rewarding getting to speak with many of you at Delegates’ Breakfasts in Wichita, Lexington, Snowbird, Corpus Christi and Athens and I look forward to having the opportunity to meet with Delegates from the SW Section in Abilene February 26, 2008 and Pacific Section in Bakersfield March 31, 2008.
In early December, your House Leadership met with House Committee Chairs and invited guests at the annual HoD Mid-Year meeting in Houston. I was joined by Chair-Elect George Bole (Gulf Coast Section), Secretary/Editor Bob Webster (SW Section), Constitution & Bylaws Chair Paul Hoffman (Gulf Coast Section), Resolutions Chair Paul Britt (Gulf Coast Section), Rules & Procedures Chair Steve Sonnenberg (Rocky Mountain Section) who is also a candidate for Chair-Elect, Chair-Elect candidate Deborah Sacrey (Gulf Coast Section), Secretary/Editor candidate Erik Mason (Gulf Coast Section), AAPG Editor and Executive Committee representative Gretchen Gillis (Gulf Coast Section), AAPG Advisory Council representative Pat Gratton (SW Section) who also assisted in an advisory capacity and as parliamentarian and AAPG Membership Planning Chair Jeff Lund (Gulf Coast Section). Unfortunately, Nomination & Election Chair Ed Dolly (Rocky Mountain Section), Honors & Awards Chair Jim McGhay (Mid-Continent Section), Credentials Chair Patrick Gooding (Eastern Section) and Secretary/Editor Candidate Sigrunn Johnsen (European Region) were unable to attend.
I would like to summarize the key initiatives that each committee is working on for the 2007-08 term. Details of each committee’s work are highlighted in separate reports elsewhere in this issue of The Delegates’ Voice.
Ed Dolly’s Nomination & Election Committee finished their work in September by selecting an excellent slate of candidates to join Chair-Elect George Bole on the 2008-09 House Leadership. Photos and bios of our candidates are included elsewhere in this issue.
Paul Hoffman’s C&BL Committee was very busy this year reviewing approximately ten potential amendments. After significant debate, one proposed amendment will come forward to the House for consideration dealing with alternative procedures for grievances lodged against members of the Association. Paul’s report summarizes all amendments that were discussed in his committee.
Steve Sonnenberg’s Rules and Procedures Committee has two amendments for our consideration in San Antonio that can be classified as “housekeeping” in nature. The first deals with clarification on how Delegates are assigned in the Sections versus Regions. The second amendment is required to bring our R&P in accordance with our C&BL regarding publication deadlines for proposed amendments to our C&BL. There are also three minor typographical errors in our R&P that must be corrected. See Steve’s report which provides further detail around these proposed amendments.
Paul Britt’s Resolutions Committee reported that 11 domestic affiliated societies are in jeopardy of disaffiliation due to non-representation at the past two AGMs. Internationally, one affiliated society was disaffiliated by government mandate, one has fallen inactive and one society has expressed interest in affiliation but no action is required by the HoD at this time.
Jim McGhay was unable to attend the Mid-Year meeting but his Honors & Awards Committee has selected four deserving awardees that we will recognize in San Antonio. In addition, approximately 70 long-serving Delegates will be recognized at our AGM for achieving nine- and 15-year service milestones.
Patrick Gooding’s Credentials Committee has been active in contacting society Presidents and Delegation Chairs to ensure that Delegates are properly documented and fully represented at the House Annual General Meeting (AGM). Of course, the hard work for Patrick’s committee really begins on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at our House AGM where Patrick and his committee (our House Chair-Elect and Secretary/Editor candidates) will greet you and sign you in for the meeting.
This is the second of four issues of The Delegates’ Voice you will be receiving in 2007-08. Secretary/Editor Bob Webster discussed transitioning to digital publication and distribution of The Delegates’ Voice starting in 2008-09. This will result in annual savings of approximately $10K. We will discuss this at the San Antonio AGM.
Jeff Lund, Chair of the Membership Planning Committee reviewed a proposed model to modify and simplify AAPG’s membership process. The model will be vetted amongst AAPG headquarters staff, AAPG’s Executive Committee and Advisory Council. No changes will be proposed to the House at the San Antonio meeting.
Speaking of membership, in the September issue of The Delegates’ Voice, I referred to a grassroots membership drive through the HoD where a point Delegate in each local affiliated society would be appointed as a membership ambassador with the prime responsibility of promoting AAPG membership at the local society level. Look for details on this program over the next few weeks.
Thanks again to each of you for serving the House and AAPG and I look forward to seeing you at upcoming Delegates’ Breakfasts and our reception and annual meeting in San Antonio.