AAPG

The Delegate's Voice

Newsletter of the House of Delegates

14 Years Ago

Chair Notes return to top

By: Tom Mairs, Chairman

OOPS! It is quite explicit in the Rules and Procedures of the House of Delegates that the Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall submit to the chairman of the House any proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws, at least ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting so that they can be placed on the agenda, and be disseminated to the Delegates at least two (2) months prior to the annual meeting [see III.A.1.d.(2).] At the House meeting in San Antonio the Constitution and Bylaws Committee proposed a "Resolution for Amendment" regarding the selection process of AAPG officer candidates by the Advisory Council. This amendment would allow the Nominating Committee of the Advisory Council to select the two (2) candidates for each AAPG office, rather than the Executive Committee being able to select two (2) candidates from a list of nominees which are provided by the Advisory Council. Although the Resolution was approved by the House vote, it was subsequently determined to be null and void, since the Committee did not follow the proper procedure for presentation. *(See Chairman Rose's Report.) The officers of the House of Delegates, particularly I, as Chairman, take full responsibility for this infraction of the rules, but I can assure you that the oversight was totally inadvertent. Obviously, we should have done our homework better and are herewith alerting future officers to be aware of this procedure.

OUCH! Pugilist...er...President Bishop, in the June issue of the Explorer Magazine, lashed out at certain members and procedures of the House of Delegates, which negatively concerns him. He began with a clean right uppercut to the jaw, followed by a mildly fair left jab to the mid-section, but then threw a misguided punch below the belt line. This attack obviously resulted from the occasional derogatory oratory delivered by clandestine...er...Chairman Rose during the Constitution and Bylaws Committee's "surprise" report which, by the way, was not endorsed by the officers of the House of Delegates. The uppercut was definitely justifiable following the rather blatant berating of current and past Executive Committees (of which I am one), AAPG Presidents, AAPG staff, and our Association's system of rule and governance. The left jab was somewhat justifiable due to the covert, non-communicative, and illegal manner in which the report and proposed "Resolution for Amendment" came forward to the House. Actually, under the existing procedural guidelines of the House of Delegates, the presentation of the report was legal, but not the Resolution for Amendment. Fortunately, the delegates have somewhat alleviated this communication problem by approving an amendment to the Rules and Procedures, as proposed by Sandy Barber at the Salt Lake City meeting, which necessitates that all future committee reports be distributed to the delegates at least two (2) weeks in advance of the annual meeting. In my opinion, the final punch which implied that delegates of the House made casual "spur of the moment" decisions based on emotion, rather than reason, was a low blow and certainly not justifiable. During my many years as an active participant of the House, I have always observed the House of Delegates meetings to be an open forum for debate amongst free spirited individuals who are elected by and represent their peers, and who generally make decisions which benefit our association and its membership. As Chairman of the House of Delegates, I take full responsibility for the negative effects of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee's Report, and certainly apologize to all those who were offended, but will unequivocally defend the members of the House of Delegates against the implication that they are mindless sheep being led to slaughter by the dictates of a few. Finally, this rift in relations among the governing bodies and certain "cliquish" factions within each, smacks of a "high school mentality" and has no place in our professional organization. We can only grow through communication and cooperation. Nuf Sed! I do thank and commend the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for all of their time and effort spent in writing and rewriting the many legislative items presented to the House this year. Chairman Pete Rose, and members Clint Moore, George Eynon, and Richard Green have certainly earned their pay and are to be commended for their effort.

Exactly two years and five days following the 1997 House approval of the International Representation Committee's (IRC) "Resolution for Amendment", the vote was finally cast resulting in unanimous approval of the proposed amendment, as amended by the Special Resolution Committee (SRC), chaired by past Chairman of the House, Dan Smith. I think that their work clearly illustrates the power of communication and the spirit of compromise, finally to resolve the many controversial issues involved in the amendment. The committee, which is too long to list, should be commended for their cooperative effort in establishing an accord (See the January 1997 Delegates' Voice). Since the original IRC proposed amendment was amended by the SRC amendment, a motion for determination of legality was presented at the June 30, 1999, Executive Committee Meeting, and was approved. As a result of the IRC amendment, the House of Delegates will now have official representation on the Advisory Council, being the immediate past chairman, and the Executive Committee will retain their representation by the immediate three past presidents. A motion for a proposed amendment to the SRC Amendment, the "2 for 2 amendment", was presented on the House floor by Houston delegate Dwight M. "Clint" Moore. This amendment which called for parity in representation by including the immediate two past HOD chairmen and the immediate two past presidents, was narrowly defeated by a margin of 100-95.

The implementation of the IRC Amendment is going to necessitate a tedious transitional phase, due to problems in defining the various Region's boundaries, establishing leadership and representation in the Regions, and in changing the composition of the Advisory Council. I strongly encourage the House of Delegates to be cooperative with the International Liaison Committee, the Advisory Council, and other affected entities during this transitional period and to be instrumental in the implementation process. The entity most affected by the IRC amendment is the Advisory Council and, as you are aware, it requires a mandatory election, rather than appointment, of all Councilors. Since some of the Section Councilors either have time remaining on their term or were selected to serve prior to the approval of the IRC amendments, the Executive Committee, Advisory Council, and the officers of the House of Delegates, after due consideration and under advice of legal counsel, have adopted and approved the following transitional procedure:

1. A councilor whose term of office began prior to approval of the IRC amendment will serve out the remainder of his term, regardless of the method of his selection.

2. A councilor who was chosen to begin his term of office on July 1, 1999, prior to approval of the IRC Amendment, may serve his three year term regardless of the method of his selection.

3. Future councilors to replace those defined above shall be elected as stipulated in the IRC amendment.

4. The councilors who have been appointed by the Executive Committee will no longer be members of the Advisory Council since their office no longer exists.

The HOD ad hoc Elected Editor Committee's Report, presented by John Hogg, recommended a "Resolution for Amendment" to the AAPG Bylaws which was approved by the House and which will be brought forward at the annual business meeting in New Orleans in 2000. This is the first "Resolution for Amendment" to be approved since the Executive Committee adopted the notification procedure outlined in the ad hoc Committee on Constitution and Bylaw Amendment Process (COCBAP) report, chaired by Lee Billingsley. The purpose of the procedure is to improve communication by informing all affected entities and the membership of any pending legislative action and to potentially cause the proposed amendment to be in a more consensus form before they are debated and voted upon in the HOD. Dan Smith included the policy requirements in his final report, in the June 1998 HOD Newsletter and I am, once again, summarizing the intent below, as a reminder to the incoming House officers and Constitution and Bylaws Committee members.

1. Within 30 days of the conclusion of the annual meeting the House of Delegates should cause to be published all resolutions for amendments and send notification to the Executive Council, Advisory Council and other entities affected by the proposed amendment. *Note: This resolution for amendment was published in the June issue of the Explorer magazine and I have notified the affected entities to submit their opinions to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee by September 30, 1999.

2. The Constitution and Bylaws Committee will then consult with other interested groups during the writing of the proposed amendment and request their views by October 30. If alternate views are identified, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall publish such views with the proposed amendment.

The House of Delegates should follow this adopted procedure.

Since the last Delegates' Voice, I have represented the HOD at the April 9 and 13, 1999 Executive Committee meeting, chaired the April 11, 1999 marathon meeting and attended the Pacific Section annual meeting in beautiful Monterey, California, April 28-May 1, 1999. General Chairman Gary Greene reported at the HOD breakfast that registration included 278 professionals and 335 total attendees and they anticipated a total attendance in excess of 350. The HOD breakfast meeting was attended by 23 delegates.

In the October 1998 Delegates' Voice, I stated that the House officers were committed to:

1. continue the efforts exerted by past chairmen;
2. improve the lines of communication within the House and between the House and the general membership;
3. promote involvement among our younger members;
4. carry forward previously approved House legislative and procedural matters;
5. present new resolutions to the House floor;
6. publish four (4) Delegates Newsletters to keep you informed; and
7. represent the House in Executive Committee proceedings.

I think that we were successful in accomplishing these goals and I am very proud to have served along with John Hogg and Jean Lemmon who have been very supportive and contributed so much to our term of office. Thank you both for your endeavor! And, Jean, special thanks to you for so graciously tolerating my acute procrastination. My parting charge to the new officers is to continue, improve upon, and create new communicative and cooperative goals.

Congratulations to the new officers for 1999-2000, Lowell Lisher, Chairman Elect, and Debra Sacrey, Secretary/Editor (Jean and I are continually available to assist you during the baton passing). Also, I commend opponents, James Rogers and Joan Barminski, for their effort and commitment to serve, if elected.

Our business was conducted this year in the eight standing and four ad hoc committees, composed of approximately 75 members. Your time and efforts for a job well done are greatly appreciated. Without the superb assistance of Donna Riggs and staff; Larry Nation and staff; Lyle Baie and Regina Gill, and many others at Headquarters, my job would have been much more demanding, and I wholeheartedly thank you all! (and to V. B. for the 2-step lesson).

Also, I want to thank the local society presidents and editors for keeping me apprised of local activity through your newsletters.

Finally, I am very honored to have been chosen by you to serve as Chairman of the House of Delegates, and am extremely proud of you for your contribution, cooperation and survival of our super long annual meeting. Keep up the good work!

Rick Fritz Named Executive Director return to top

Richard D. Fritz has been named Executive Director of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Fritz, president of Masera Corp., Tulsa, is a native Oklahoman and holds both bachelor's and master's degrees from Oklahoma State University.

He will assume the directorship on September 1.

Fritz' professional experience includes working as a geophysicist with Texaco and exploration geologist with Exxon in the King Ranch area and the Anadarko Basin, becoming senior exploration geologist based in Oklahoma City. Fritz was also U.S. Project Manager for ERICO Inc. in Tulsa before joining Masera.

What's Next? return to top

By: Tom Mairs

The 29th Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates was held on April 11, 1999 in San Antonio, and well attended by 198 of the total 234 active delegates representing the 97 affiliated societies. Summarized below is a review of business conducted during the marathon meeting and other significant HOD items.

I deemed it necessary this year to alter the standard meeting agenda to assure that a quorum was present during consideration and determination of the many legislative items to be presented on the floor of the House. I know that this created an inconvenience for many of you, and the HOD certainly appreciates your understanding and cooperation; however, House business takes precedence over other agenda items and should be considered in the future under similar circumstances.

For the first time, the Credentials Committee was composed of the HOD officer candidates who greeted the delegates as they signed in. I recommend this in the future as it gives another opportunity for the delegates to get to know the candidates.

Delegates resolved five (5) pending legislative items, all of which were proposed amendments to the AAPG Bylaws. Three (3) were approved, as written, and two (2) were approved, as amended. The delegates unanimously approved the following four (4) proposed bylaws amendments:

The HOD ad hoc International Representation Committee's (IRC) proposed bylaws amendment, as amended and recommended by an ad hoc Special Resolution Committee (SRC). This amendment, which was proposed and approved at the HOD annual meeting on April 6, 1997, established international regions and continuance of United States based sections, a method to allow international regions to elect their delegates and councilors from their regions and changed the composition of the Advisory Council, as stipulated in the February issue of the Explorer magazine. The details of the SRC amendment were published as a newsletter insert in the March issue of the Explorer magazine and summarized on page 30 of the June Explorer. Legality of the IRC amendment was approved at the June 30, 1999 Executive Committee meeting.

The HOD ad hoc Membership Committee's proposed amendment to admit no additional Junior members subsequent to April 11, 1999; to eliminate the classification of Junior membership by April 11, 2004; and to transfer Junior members to the Associate member category, if not transferred individually prior to that date.

The Executive Committee's proposed amendment regarding Division presidents designation of a proxy, for one meeting only, to attend Advisory Council meetings in order to make Section 9 of Article V comply with Section 8 of Article V, amended at the April 25, 1993 annual meeting in New Orleans.

The HOD ad hoc Ethics Committee's proposed amendment to allow expulsion of any member who pleads guilty to certain misdemeanors and felonies in violation of the AAPG Code of Ethics.

The Executive Committee's proposed amendment regarding tenure, appointment and removal of AAPG committee chairmen and vice chairmen was approved following some alteration by the delegates. Tenure of the vice chairman was changed to one year rather than three years, and the entire Executive Committee, rather than the president, can remove any committee member, including the chairman and vice chairman, with or without cause. Legality was approved by the Executive Committee at their June 30, 1999, meeting.

Proposed amendments to the Rules and Procedures of the House of Delegates, to establish among other things, four (4) House awards were unanimously approved by the delegates, following some minor changes in the proposed composition of the Nomination and Election Committee and the Honors and Awards Committees to comply with regional and sectional representation in other AAPG entities, as a result of approval of the IRC amendment. Below are the more significant amendments adopted:

Requirement for all committee reports to be submitted in writing in sufficient time to be distributed to the delegates no later than two (2) weeks prior to the annual meeting.

Composition of both the Nomination and Election and the Honors and Awards Committees shall consist of one member from each Region and Section with not less than 750 members and an additional member from each Region and Section with more than 5000 members.

Established four (4) HOD Awards which include the House Certificate of Merit, House Long Service Award, Distinguished Member of the House, and Honorary Member of the House.

The delegates approved the Florida Association of Professional Geologists and the Polish Geological Society to become Affiliated Societies and further approved the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists (SIPES) and The Geological Society (London) to become Associated Societies.

Delegates accepted the report of the HOD ad hoc Committee on Elected Editor and approved the proposed "Resolution for Amendment" as previously reported in this Delegates' Voice. The proposed change to the AAPG Bylaws will proceed through the normal legislative process for consideration by the House at the 2000 meeting in New Orleans.

For communicative purposes, it is recommended that a HOD newsletter be published four (4) times during the AAPG year. Jean Lemmon has done a superb job in creating the Delegates' Voice with a new format and is to be commended on the excellent informative content.

Lowell K. Lischer, Wyoming Geological Association, was elected Chairman-Elect (1999-2000) and thereafter Chairman (2000-01) of the HOD, and Deborah K. Sacrey, Houston Geological Society was elected Secretary/Editor (1999-2000). John R. Hogg, Canadian Geological Society, will serve as Chairman (1999-2000) of the House of Delegates. A meeting of the new HOD officers and four past chairmen of the HOD is scheduled for July 3, 1999, in an effort to achieve a smooth transition in the House leadership.

Hasta Luego Y'awl!

1999 - 2000 Officer Comments return to top

Chairman, House of Delegates

By John Hogg

What a year!

First off, I would like to thank Tom Mairs, our Past Chairman for his tremendous efforts on behalf of the House. Tom has spent a very large amount of his personal time, on not only the business of the House, but also on other work as a member of the Executive Committee. So, next time you see Tom, say "thanks". I must also thank Jean Lemmon, our 1998/99 Secretary and Editor of the Delegates' Voice for all of the time she has spent making the Delegates' Voice, Jean's name for our newsletter, a powerful information source for Delegate communication.

New members of the House, I would like to welcome you on board for what should turn out to be an interesting year. To the returning members of the House, I would like to thank each of you for your diligence and support of the officers of the House through last year. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can in the coming year.

I am joined this year by Lowell Lischer, Chairman-Elect, and Deborah Sacrey, Secretary/Editor. As your three officers of the House for 1999/2000 year, we need your feedback on issues which you believe should be addressed in the coming year. Delegates who would like to become more involved in the business of the House through service on one of the standing committees or any ad-hoc committees please drop me a line at my email address john.hogg<at>encana.com or via the post if you are interested in spending more time working on House issues. I believe we can accommodate all volunteers, but not necessarily for the positions requested. Let's remember that the House is what we all make it.

At the annual meeting of the House in San Antonio, through a unanimous vote, the Delegates approved the establishment of International Regions and, for the first time in the history of the Association, we have instituted a fully elected Advisory Council. I'm personally very proud of our accomplishments during the past year and the ability of the House to compromise on the International Resolution Committee's 1997 resolutions. Let's remember that this whole movement to have full international representation in the House began, under the direction of the late Gerry Cooley in 1995; almost five years ago! I must admit that I personally have to wonder (when I read Dick Bishop's comments in the June Explorer that he believes that the House typically submits legislation without significant input from committees) just how many people outside the House understand our process and the many deliberations and consultations that make up the important decisions that affect the Constitution and Bylaws of our Association.

Finally, I would like to spend some time talking about change. After the protracted meeting in San Antonio many of you came up to me and suggested that the meeting was too long, there should be more food, and there have to be more breaks. At the micro-scale, all of these very well meaning comments are all about change and improvement to the way the House does its' business. The members of the House, I believe, have a great affinity for continuous improvement of the process of the House and the betterment of the AAPG through changes to the Constitution and Bylaws of our Association. Our principle charge each year as Delegates is to continuously review the Constitution and By-laws and recommend changes that we believe are necessary in order to improve our Association's communication and democratic processes and, when necessary, the internal structure of the other governing bodies of the Association.

That's enough for this issue. Please drop me, or the other officers, a line and let me know how you feel about any issues in the coming year.

Chairman Elect return to top

By: Lowell K. Lischer

As I prepare this column I realize in less than two weeks new members will be assuming their roles in the AAPG leadership and the search will be well underway for a new Executive Director. Point being, our Association is far from static. It changes annually and sometimes in ways we did not anticipate.

The AAPG was formed to advance the science of geology. We need only look through our volumes of the Bulletin to realize the how dynamic the science is or review a few older issues of the Explorer to recognize how quickly the technology of our profession advances. If we consider the implementation of the Career Workshops or read the Career Catalog of the AAPG, it is obvious our Association has evolved from just a means for sharing our science to one promoting our profession as well. We should not fear change, but embrace it as a normal course of evolution - whether it is our earth or our Association.

At our San Antonio meeting this spring, the House strongly voted in favor of changing Section 10 of the Association Bylaws governing the nomination of candidates for AAPG office. The language and intent of the change was very specific. Unfortunately, the vote was invalid because we failed to follow the Rules and Procedures governing the introduction of such proposed changes. The oversight, and that is what it was, could be blamed on a number of things, none of which have anything to do with the intent of the language nor the support it received. As we prepare to deal with this issue again in New Orleans, we will only be correcting a procedural oversight, not any misconception of intent of the proposal. I offer this in spite of some disparaging comments by others regarding the previous House action.

The House still has the issue of the Bulletin Editor to deal with as well. Despite the fact that a vote on this matter was less than unanimous in San Antonio it was clear the majority of the House of Delegates believes the situation does require change. This too we need to address in New Orleans as a matter of finalization of the change. It is my belief the change is a necessary one.

Undoubtedly there will be other issues for us to consider when next we officially meet in New Orleans. The House of Delegates will, as always, review these issues thoroughly and thoughtfully just as it has always done. Despite recent criticism, the House serves a specific and very useful purpose within the AAPG organization. Our obligation as delegates remains clear; to serve the interests of members who have sent us to represent them.

I look forward to working closely with John and Deborah this year. I also look forward to working with and for all of you as this year's Chairman-Elect. Thank you for honoring me with this office.

Secretary/Editor return to top

By: Deborah K. Sacrey

First, congratulations are in order for Jean Lemmon and her Newsletter Committee for an excellent Delegates' Voice this year. She has done an outstanding job handling several delicate issues on which the House voted this past spring. Her issues were timely and informative, keeping the delegates abreast of the facts at hand. I applaud her efforts, and plan to follow her example as much as possible.

Secondly, I wish to thank those delegates who voted for me! This "job" is a great honor, and I plan to give it my "all" and build upon the accomplishments of previous Secretary/Editors.

If possible, I would like to make the Delegates' Voice a magazine-style publication similar to The Correlator, DPA's newsletter. Not only will this be easier to handle and store, but hopefully, be more readable. Layout and organization in this type of format will allow for less "white space" and make the information more compact. Fortunately, AAPG and I have the same software for this type of venue, and so the impact on AAPG's employee resources for reproduction could be less than the present format. The one thing that could stand in the way for this change would be the budget! I guess when it comes to the September/October issue - we'll find out!

Jean has come along way in getting the committees to send information for the newsletter to her in a digital format, which has reduced the amount of re-typing necessary. Typing is not my forte - so that will be a must for this next year! This will expedite layout and make the publication process more efficient. If one wants to contribute information/letters to the editor/announcements to the newsletter - it will need to be in a digital form (floppy or e-mail).

As I mentioned in the HOD meeting at AAPG, I want to know more about you. I am devising a questionnaire to be sent out soon to gather information about the way our House members meet, exchange information and discuss issues. A series of articles will then be included in the newsletter, highlighting several of delegate's groups at one time. In this manner, everyone has a chance to "meet" all the groups (large and small) throughout the year.

Lastly, I would encourage anyone to contact me (preferably by e-mail at: ) about any issues they feel need to be brought before our membership. To the best of my ability, and with the availability of space, I will try to get comments, letters, articles and other information before the delegates in a timely fashion.

I look forward to working with everyone this coming year.

AAPG House of Delegates Honors & Awards return to top

Call For Nominations

All members of the AAPG are invited to submit nominations for the following House of Delegates Honors and Awards. Please provide a single-page description of the nominee's qualifications by September 31, 1999, to the AAPG office for the attention of the House of Delegates Honors and Awards Committee. Note: only Delegates who have served in the previous two years are eligible for awards.

Chairman, House Honors and Awards Committee 1997-1999

house certificate of merit

To acknowledge the dedicated service of the Chairman of the House on behalf of the members of the AAPG. Award to be presented at the annual meeting of the House of Delegates in front of the peers he/she has served. Presented yearly to each Chairman of the House of Delegates at the end of his or her term. Other outgoing officers may also be considered for and similarly recognized with the same award. NO NOMINATIONS REQUIRED

house long service award

To acknowledge continued selfless work of delegates on behalf of his or her affiliated society members and the AAPG membership at large. In recognition of persons who have served as Delegates for a minimum of four terms and have, in addition, taken an active role in the affairs of the House. Several such awards may be presented per year, though the award does not have to be given each year. Award to be presented at the annual meeting of the House of Delegates in front of the peers he/she has served.

distinguished member of the house

In recognition of unique or exemplary service to the House through committee work, particularly as Chair of such committees, though this would not be required. Service as an officer would also be considered, but not required since there is only a small number of elected officer positions. More than one award per year may be presented, though the award does not have to be given each year. AAPG already has such an award, and this House award is similar in intent, but reflects the unique nature of the House as a representative body of the membership. Given the prestigious nature, it is recommended that this be presented in the Honors & Awards ceremony at the opening session of the Annual Meeting.

honorary member of the house

The highest award of the House, presented at the annual meeting in recognition of a record of consistent, exemplary service to the House through committee work. Service as an officer might be expected, though not required. The award recognizes a history of service and dedication to the House, not just serving as an officer. Similar to the AAPG Honorary Membership award, with the slight difference to reflect the unique nature of the House as a representative body of the membership. Given the prestigious nature it is recommended that this award be presented in the Honors & Awards ceremony at the opening session of the Annual Meeting of the AAPG. More than one award per year may be presented, though the award does not have to be given each year. Past recipients of the award will be invited to attend the annual meeting of the House to be publicly recognized.

Constitution and Bylaws Committee return to top

Final Report

TELEGRAPH EXPLORATION, INC.
3405 GLENVIEW AVENUE
AUSTIN TX 78703
PHONE: (512) 451-8778
FAX: (512) 451-8998
EMAIL: prrose@onr.com

May 4, 1999

Mr. Tom Mairs
Chairman, AAPG House of Delegates
5646 Milton Street #736
Dallas, TX 75206

Dear Tom,

This letter responds to our telephone conversation last week, concerning the wrap-up of final details of the 1998/1999 HOD legislative program.

I have now been in touch with Craig Blackstock, who does in fact still need to receive the final agreed-upon language pertaining to the amendment of Article VIII, Section 2 of the Bylaws, concerning Committee appointments and removals. I've asked Jean and Clint to provide Craig the necessary materials no later than Tuesday, May 11, and will follow through to be sure this gets done timely.

It now appears that, inadvertently, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee did not follow House rules pertaining to the circulation of a proposed resolution to House members prior to presentation before the assembled House. Accordingly, we believe that the House's approval of our resolution, to prepare legislation transferring authority for the nomination of officers from the Executive Committee to the Advisory Council, is not valid. We regret our error, which was simply the result of extremely busy people having too much to do. Nevertheless there are several possible remedies which will allow the proposed amendments to be voted on in New Orleans in 2000:

Get 50 signatures on a petition proposing the same amendment and submit it to the Executive Committee in the next few months;

Encourage the Executive Committee, in an act of bipartisan statesmanship that acknowledges the overwhelming majority with which the HOD approved our resolution, to take the initiative and approve the language, thus guaranteeing its consideration at the New Orleans session.

Unless I have overlooked something, this should be the final report of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to you as Chairman. I congratulate you for your many accomplishments this year as Chairman, and would be happy to serve under your leadership any time in the future.

Kind personal regards,

Peter R. Rose

Letters to the Editor return to top

There were no letters to the editor this issue. I am assuming that is because we just met in San Antonio and it is summer. This space will continue to be available to present your views.

– Jean Lemmon, Editor

14 Years Ago return to top

HOD ALMOST GOT A FULL DINNER!

by Patrick J. F. Gratton

During HOD Chair A. T. (Toby) Carleton's 1984-85 term of office he developed several initiatives which improved the House. Continuity among officers was helped by making the past Chairmen ex-oficio members of the HOD. As a result, past Chairs may participate fully in House activities but may not vote unless otherwise qualified.

The need for Delegates to be better acquainted before the formal meeting was recognized by Toby. He got the Executive Committee to approve an eve-of-meeting (Saturday night) dinner for Delegates and guests. Part of the plan was to allow introduction of new Delegates and HOD officer candidates. Great idea, but the crash of 1986 scuttled the full dinner. Still, we have Toby to thank for a much expanded, almost sumptuous HOD reception!

derived from the House of Delegates History 1970-1995,
George R. Gibson and Herbert G. Davis, compilers/editor