Letter from the Secretary/Editor
Finally, this is the wrap-up edition of The Delegates’ Voice for the 2007-08 term. It has been both fun and a challenge to serve as your editor this year, and I hope that the newsletter has met your expectations in providing current news and information for HoD members. I welcome Sigrunn Johnson as your new Secretary/Editor for 2008-09, and I am sure she will add spice and a fresh perspective to the position as an international delegate. Special thanks are due to Linda Ramsey at AAPG for doing most of the real work of layout, printing, and distribution of the newsletter this year.
It has been a relatively quiet but productive year in terms of HoD events, with the recently-completed annual meeting in San Antonio producing approvals of recommended changes to the AAPG Bylaws and to the Rules and Procedures of the House, as published in the March edition of the DV. The meeting also provided fodder for future debate regarding the issue raised by John Hogg on whether or not the expansion of AAPG membership requirement from geological degree to geoscience degree or other associated geoscience interest might be considered during next year’s HoD meeting. After a straw vote, Chairman Marty Hewitt referred this issue to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for consideration, so we will see it again next year.
Distribution of The Delegates’ Voice was also the subject of a straw poll at the annual meeting, with the question being whether or not to go to electronic (e-mail) rather than paper distribution. A large majority favored receiving the DV electronically, as a pdf file, but a vocal minority expressed a strong desire to continue the current system. This issue is being mailed as usual, but Delegates will also receive an e-mail with a live link to the DV pdf file on the AAPG website. This is done in lieu of sending the file as an attachment to the e-mail, which can cause problems with some anti-spam software. Please read the article regarding your choice of how to receive the DV in the future, and be sure to notify AAPG if you want to continue with paper mailing. Hopefully the e-mail/link system of distribution will prove satisfactory for most, but if you have comments or (hopefully positive) suggestions please be sure to send them on to me.
Delegates listen to discussion of the issues at the HoD annual meeting.The passage of a yearly milestone always provides a good occasion to reflect on what has occurred during that year and to set new goals for the year ahead. In this year as your Secretary/Editor, I have shared some events in my life with you in this column, mainly to add a more personal perspective to the relatively dry reporting of HoD events. In the March, 2008, issue, I commented on the value of the network of personal contacts that you develop by belonging and participating in the local and national societies. After only three months as a newly independent consultant, this has become even more evident, as I continue to be amazed at the number and variety of projects that just seem “to come out of the woodwork.” Thus far it has been my privilege to work on a couple of field studies in Iraq, a basin evaluation in Argentina, a multi-basin project in Peru, the sale of a large independent oil company, a Barnett Shale property acquisition, and the evaluation of a multi-county acreage position in Texas. Life has not been dull, and I can only wonder what the next three months- and years- will bring. What I do know is that my network of contacts, made largely through society activities, has been the catalyst that has brought most of this work in my direction.
In his column, Marty Hewitt highlighted once again the grassroots membership initiative that he has promoted through the House of Delegates. I hope all of you will take this to heart and either volunteer for or work with the Point Delegate for your society to help make the membership ambassador program work. For my part, now that I am passing on my editorial pen, I plan to take a more active leadership role in recruitment for AAPG within my local professional community.
It has been my pleasure to serve as your Secretary/Editor this year, and I have certainly enjoyed participating with the outstanding leadership provided by Marty Hewitt and George Bole. Here’s to another good year going forward!