Membership
The Membership Pipeline
When people affiliate with a particular organization for personal and/or corporate reasons they inherit the traditions associated with membership. These traditions typically include advocacy for the organization’s mission, freedom to provide constructive criticism and praise, and the responsibility to help the organization grow, leaving it better than you found it.
The AAPG will wither and cease to be the recognized premier geoscience body it has always been if we don’t keep the membership pipeline full with members who will attend conferences, do research and report on it, lead and attend field trips, represent our science and industry before policy and decision makers, and mentor the new professionals who are following in our footsteps. To keep the ranks of geoscientists growing, the Executive Committee has continued to endorse the work of four membership committees, each with Chairs and a manager who reports activity and progress for all four committees together with the Member Survey Committee to the Chair of the House of Delegates.
These committees are: Coordination and Communication, Young Professionals and Students, Career Services and Recruitment and Retention. Recruitment and Retention is discussed in a related article by Valary Schulz in this edition. While these committees are charged with developing new ways to reach potential members, they also have responsibility for making the application process as quick as possible and keeping the leadership informed through the collection of data on the numbers of members in each class by age group. Any successes we have would not be possible without the tireless dedication of the staff of AAPG, in particular Ms. Vicki Beighle, Member Services Manager.
Finally, to grow and succeed, information must move seamlessly between members. Delegates are the chief receptors of information through the Section or Region representatives on the membership committees. In turn, issues raised by members should be directed to their local Delegate who can then inform members of the membership committees and the Section and Region representatives of concerns and ideas. If we are diligent and serious in cooperating, this information tree can be a frontline tool for communicating our efforts, needs, and thoughts along with the EXPLORER, Headquarters email blasts, and Section/Region communications. Please enlist in the membership effort now. Thank you.