American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Minutes
House of Delegates Meeting
April 20, 2008 • San Antonio, Texas
1. Call to Order and Introductions
The 38th Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates was called to order on April 20, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. by the Chair of the House of Delegates, Martin D. Hewitt. Chairman Hewitt introduced the officers of the House of Delegates, George R. Bole, Chairman-Elect and Robert E. Webster, Secretary/Editor. He also recognized the House Parliamentarian, Mary Bahde.
Chairman Hewitt recognized the chairs and members of the HoD committees; Constitution and Bylaws Committee Chair, Paul Hoffman; Resolutions Committee Chair, Paul W. Britt; Rules and Procedures Committee Chair, Steve Sonnenberg; Newsletter Committee/Minutes Approval Committee Chair, Robert E. Webster; Honors and Awards Committee Chair, James S. McGhay; Nominations and Election Committee Chair, Ed Dolly; and Credentials Committee Chair, Patrick Gooding.
Chairman Hewitt recognized the AAPG Past Presidents, Past Chairmen of the House, the Honorary Members of the House and the AAPG Executive Committee.
Chairman Hewitt introduced the AAPG Candidates for Office for President-Elect: John C. Lorenz, Ronald A. Nelson, and Dwight “Clint” Moore; Sections Vice President: David H. Hawk and W. C. “Rusty” Riese; and Treasurer: Edith C. Allison and Kay L. Pitts.
The Chairman also introduced the House of Delegates Officer Candidates for Chairman-Elect: Deborah Sacrey and Steve Sonnenberg; Secretary/Editor: Sigrunn Johnsen and Erik Mason.
Chairman Hewitt also recognized the AAPG staff in attendance.
2. Moment of Silence for Tom Mairs, Past Chair of the House of Delegates
Chairman Hewitt stated that last October 2007 former Chair of the House of Delegates, Tom Mairs, passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. Tom had a distinguished resume of service to the AAPG, especially the HoD. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Member and Honorary Member of the House awards. Tom was a great friend to many of the delegates and members and will be greatly missed. Chairman Hewitt asked for a moment of silence to recognize Tom Mairs.
3. Annual Meeting Report
Gene L. Ames, III, General Chairman, provided a report on the 2008 San Antonio Convention. He reported the pre- registration total of 5,861 and with on-site registration the total was 6,400 registrants.
He stated there were 340 registered for field trips, 691 registered for short courses, 776 for the All-Convention Luncheon, 208 DEG Luncheon, 270 DPA Luncheon, 108 EMD Luncheon and 150 for the SEPM Luncheon.
In closing he recognized the host society, the South Texas Geological Society and members of the Coordinating Committee.
4. AAPG President’s Report
Exhibit “A”
AAPG President Will Green highlighted the goals for the 2007-08 year and stated the goals have been reached or exceeded which include:
- Moving the Annual Leadership Conference from February to August to coincide with the new terms of officers/leaders.
- Extend the life of the AAPG/DPA Geoscience and Energy Office (Geo-DC) beyond it’s presently authorized existence.
- Continue the development of the proposed programs of the Petroleum Education and Research Consortium (PERC): Petroleum Grants for Geoscience (Petrogrant), Petroleum Professionals of Practice (P-cubed) and Chair of Petroleum Geoscience.
- Complete efforts to develop a new partnership to enable the continuation of the work of the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council under a new organizational structure.
- Complete revision of all position papers and post on the Web site.
- Continue worldwide membership growth and expansion of services in order to become indispensible to all petroleum geologists.
- Accomplish a net increase of 1,000 active/associate members during fiscal 2007-08.
- Implement the graduated dues structure.
- Continue to simplify the membership application process.
- Complete the Tactical Operations review cycle with the final review of the Communications Directorate.
- Strengthen liaisons between committee chairs, committee managers and EC members.
- Establish new committees as needed, including the Imperial Barrel Award Committee to build on the successful competition at the Long Beach Annual Convention, the Global Climate Change Committee and the Global Corporate Structure Committee.
5. Executive Director’s Report
Rick Fritz, AAPG Executive Director, stated that volunteerism is the heart and soul of any organization. He thanked the members of the House for all the work they have done on behalf of the staff and said it is truly a partnership.
Fritz reviewed slides that reflected the membership statistics, stating that membership has been increasing steadily for the last several years with an increase of 1,500 members. He anticipates 1,000 new members through the corporate group membership.
He said there will be a new marketing program to determine where geoscientists are in their professional service.
Last year, AAPG made $1.5 million with expenses remaining steady even with increased programs. He stated the reason expenses are down is because the number of staff has remained the same for the last eight years.
The Advisory Council determined the focus should be on the sciences. He said AAPG is refocusing on the science and plans to continue providing the best science resources available.
He also reported there is focus on three key programs – Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, Global Development Offices and the Foundation Fundraising Program.
He stated there will be a bylaw change proposal for the development of a new corporate model which would allow AAPG to incorporate regions under an umbrella corporation.
6. Report of the Chairman of the House of Delegates
Chairman Hewitt stated his report was provided to all the delegates in March. Exhibit “B”
He reviewed the grass roots membership program and stated as leaders of AAPG, delegates have an opportunity to lead by example and set the standard for those who follow the leader’s direction and guidance in serving AAPG on a volunteer basis. He emphasized the implementation of a new Society Ambassador Program. The concept would allow each local society to name a “point delegate.” The point delegate would act as a local membership ambassador with a primary responsibility to promote AAPG membership at local society events. The point delegates will receive membership recruitment kits from headquarters. Studies have shown that one-on-one contact is the most successful form of recruitment and delegates are ideally positioned to carry out this function for AAPG. Hewitt asked the delegates to discuss this membership initiative within their delegation and identify a membership ambassador. He challenged each group to recruit one new member for each Delegate by June 30.
In closing Hewitt thanked his colleagues on the HoD leadership team, George Bole and Bob Webster for all their support. Hewitt also thanked all the committee chairs and their committees for all of their hard work over the past year. He said it has been a privilege and pleasure to serve as their Chairman.
7. Credentials Committee
Patrick J. Gooding, Chair of the Credentials Committee, acknowledged the members of his committee. He reported that the 232 elected Delegates to the House represents the following Societies and Regions: U.S. Affiliated Societies 178, Canada Region 13, Asia/ Pacific Region 11, European Region 18, African Region 0, Latin America Region 9, and Middle East Region 3.
Gooding reported that 189 delegates had been cleared by the Credentials Committee. In addition, fifteen people who did not submit documentation on time, or who did not have any documentation from their society, requested to be seated in the House. Exhibit “C”
Motion: Patrick Gooding moved and it was seconded, to seat as delegates the following individuals: Ameed Ghori , Asia/Pacific Region, Keishi Nakashima, Asia/Pacific Region, Abul Shamsuddin, Asia/Pacific, Andrew Barrett, Asia/Pacific Region, Jim Tucker, Middle East, Valary Schultz, Dallas Geological Society, George Enyon, Canada Region, Tim Hunt, West Texas Geological Society, Kimberly Wright, South Texas Geol. Society, David Cook, Europe Region, Bill Harrison, Michigan Basin Geological Society, Nilo Azambuja, Latin America, Bob Shoup, Asia/Pacific Region, Harsh Gupta, Asia/Pacific Region, Istvan Berczi, Europe Region. Motion carried.
Gooding reported there are 232 delegates elected to the House and the total required for a quorum is 117. He reported that 204 delegates were present and seated in the House for a quorum.
Gooding, provided an update to the Credentials report stating two additional delegates have been seated in the House raising the total to 201 seated delegates.
Final Delegate Count - An elected Delegate to the House arrived late to the meeting, but before voting began, bringing the total number of Delegates present at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the House to 207. This number represents 89.2% of the total eligible delegates, the largest representation present in ten years.
8. Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved by general consent (Exhibit “D”).
9. Approval of the Minutes
Motion: Webster moved to adopt the minutes, as amended, for the House of Delegates meeting held on April 1, 2007 in Long Beach, California. Motion carried.
10. Honors and Awards Committee
Jim McGhay, Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee, recognized the committee members and reviewed his written report (Exhibit “E”).
McGhay announced the following House award recipients for the year 2008:
Certificates of Service
(Presented in recognition of 9 years and 15 years service as a Delegate. The awards are issued annually to Delegates reaching those milestones)Honorary Member of the House Award
No awardees this year
Distinguished Member of the House Award
(Presented at the AAPG Opening/Awards Ceremony)John Reginald V. Brooks (Great Britain, PESGB)
Alan Lee DeGood (Kansas Geological Society)
Patrick James Gooding (Kentucky Society of Professional Geologists)House Long Service Award
(Presented at the HoD Meeting)Jeannie Fisher Mallick (Houston Geological Society; received by Denise Stone for Jeannie Mallick)
House Recognition of Service Award
(Presented at the HoD Meeting)Martin D. Hewitt, Chairman of the House (Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists)
Robert Edward Webster, Secretary-Editor (Dallas Geological Society)
11. Report of Rules and Procedures Committee
Steve Sonnenberg, Chair of the Rules and Procedures Committee, introduced the committee members. He reviewed the changes to the Rules and Procedures as outlined in Exhibit “F”.
Motion Adopted: The proposed changes as outlined in Exhibit “F” were adopted. Article 1. now reads:
Article 1. MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICERS
B. The number of Active Members of the Association in each United States Affiliated Society as of November 30 of each year shall determine the number of Delegates to which each United States Affiliated Society is entitled for the three year term beginning July 1 of the year following the November 30 deadline. The number of Active Members of the Association and number of Affiliated Societies in each International Region as of November 30 of each year shall determine the number of Delegates to which each International Region is entitled for the three year term beginning July 1 of the year following the November 30 deadline.
Motion Adopted: The motion was adopted to add a new Section V. EDITORIAL CORRECTIONS. The Rules and Procedures Committee is authorized to make necessary grammatical, typographical and numerical changes to the AAPG House of Delegates Rules and Procedures.
12. Constitution and Bylaws Committee
Paul Hoffman, Chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, recognized the members of his committee. Hoffman stated that notice of the proposed amendments were forwarded to all delegates and published in accordance with the Bylaws. Hoffman’s committee report outlines the proposals addressed by the Committee and is appended to the minutes as Exhibit “G”.
Proposed changes to the Constitution and Bylaws were provided to the delegates as a handout Exhibit “H” and are as follows.
2008 Proposed Amendments to Bylaws
BYLAWS
A proposed amendment to Article XI, Section 8, of the AAPG Bylaws to provide for the AAPG Executive Committee to have authority to expel a member who falsely stated his or her qualifications on an application for AAPG membership.
[strikeouts – deletions; underlining – additions]
Article XI. Grievance Proceedings; Section 8. Alternative Procedure
Any member (a) who pleads guilty to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or to any felony, or (b) who admits to the violation of any governmental statute, regulation, rule, or code of ethics relating to the practice of geology, or (c) who the Executive Committee determines falsely stated qualifications for membership in an application for Association membership may be expelled from membership in the Association upon a majority vote of all members of the Executive Committee of the Association.
Any member who does not plead guilty to but is convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or of any felony or who is found by a governmental body to have violated any governmental statute, regulation, rule, or code of ethics relating to the practice of geology may be suspended from membership in the Association upon a majority vote of all members of the Executive Committee of the Association. If such a conviction or finding is reversed on appeal, the member shall be reinstated to membership. If such a conviction or finding is not appealed or is upheld on final appeal, the member may be expelled from membership in the Association upon a majority vote of all members of the Executive Committee of the Association. If such a conviction or finding is the subject of an executive pardon, the member shall be reinstated to membership upon a majority vote of all members of the Executive Committee of the Association.
In the event that (a) expulsion of a member so pleading guilty or so admitting violation is proposed, (b) expulsion of a member for so falsely stating qualifications is proposed, or (c) suspension or expulsion of a member so convicted or so found is proposed, a date shall be set for a hearing thereon and for consideration by the Executive Committee of such proposed suspension or expulsion. The member shall be given notice in writing of the date and place for the hearing, mailed to the member by registered mail to the member’s last-known mailing address not less than thirty (30) days before said date, accompanied by, as applicable, a copy of a court document or other official document indicating such plea of guilty or admission of violation, or a copy of the judgment or other document indicating such conviction or finding, and a copy of any applicable order of an appellate court or other appellate body, or a statement explaining such charge of falsely stating qualifications for membership, and a copy of this section. At the hearing the member may appear before the Executive Committee with legal counsel, may submit oral or written statements to the Executive Committee, may present written evidence to the Executive Committee, and may present witnesses to testify on the member’s behalf before the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the right to cross-examine the member and any witnesses presented by the member on the member’s behalf. At the member’s option, the member may, by registered letter addressed to the President of the Association at Association headquarters, postmarked not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing, request the Executive Committee to consider the matter on the basis of a written statement by the member accompanying such a letter without the personal appearance of the member before the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, if such oral or written statements, written evidence, or testimony of witnesses are presented, shall consider said statements, evidence, and testimony prior to voting on the suspension or expulsion of the member.
A member expelled from the Association under the procedure stated above shall be ineligible for reinstatement to membership unless reinstated by a unanimous vote of all members of the Executive Committee of the Association.
Motion: It was moved and seconded for acceptance and amendment to Article XI, Section 8 of the AAPG Bylaws as presented. Motion Carried.
13. Nomination and Election Committee
Ed Dolly, Chair, recognized the members of his Committee. The following slate of candidates was introduced to the House and each candidate was allowed three minutes for a statement.
- Chairman-Elect:
Deborah Sacrey, Gulf Coast Section
Steve Sonnenberg, Rocky Mountain Section - Secretary/Editor:
Sigrunn Johnsen, European Region
Erik Mason, Gulf Coast Section
There were no nominations from the floor.
14. Resolutions Committee
Paul Britt, Chairman of the Resolutions, recognized the members of his committee and submitted a written report. Exhibit “I”
He stated that there are four societies who have not had affiliated society representation at the House meetings for the last two years -- Geological Society of Iowa, the Association of Missouri Geologists, the San Angelo Geological Society and the Southeastern Geological Society. These societies have been contacted repeatedly over the last several years and the Resolutions Committee will recommend disaffiliation of those societies so that those AAPG members may receive representation through other societies.
15. Newsletter Committee
Bob Webster, Newsletter Committee Chair, recognized the members of his committee and provided the purpose of the committee and accomplishments. Exhibit “J”
Webster stated it would save approximately $10,000 per year if the Delegates’ Voice (DV) was distributed electronically. He said the DV is currently posted on the AAPG Web site. A straw vote was conducted to determine if the DV should be distributed electronically rather than paper. The majority voted in favor to distribute electronically. There were several who voiced strong opposition to electronic only distribution.
16. Other Reports
Delegates heard reports from the AAPG Treasurer, AAPG Editor, Chairman of the Foundation and the DEG, EMD and DPA Presidents. Larry Woodfork provided a report on the International Year of Planet Earth. Exhibit “K”
17. New Business
John Hogg, delegate from the Canada Region, asked for a discussion on whether or not the expansion of AAPG membership requirement from geological degree to geoscience degree or other associated geoscience interest might be considered for next year’s HoD vote in June 2009. He stated that AAPG has been friendly towards accepting geophysicists and engineers who apply. After a lengthy discussion there was a straw vote taken to determine if there was support, in principal, for a review of the active membership category and the degrees necessary for membership. After the straw voting showed a majority in support, Chairman Hewitt stated the matter will proceed to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for further review.
18. Special Presentations
Plaques were presented to Martin Hewitt, HoD Chairman and Bob Webster, Secretary/Editor.
Chairman Hewitt presented incoming chair of the HoD, George Bole with the official House necktie.
19. Results of House Officer Elections
Chairman Hewitt announced the results of the election for the 2008-09 House Officers declaring Steve Sonnenberg elected Chair-Elect and Sigrunn Johnsen elected Secretary/Editor.
20. Adjournment
There being no further business, Chairman Hewitt adjourned the meeting at 11:55 a.m.
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Robert E. Webster, Secretary/Editor