Message from Chair
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
‘European COMMUNICATION is
the key’
by Mike Lakin
Vice President, European Region
I’m delighted to have an opportunity to write you a short note, as the European Region Deputy President, in this the third AAPG European Region newsletter and on behalf of the European Executive Committee. My opportunity is the result of an extended trip by our President Mr. John Brooks after attending the very successful AAPG International Conference in Perth Australia.
PAST:
I have to admit, looking back at the AAPG’s forward thinking decision to expand its sights globally and engage more autonomous region involvement all seemed so simple. A regional focused group to lead to regional growth and involvement! I’m pleased to say it is working but it is still at an early stage who’s progress might not yet be obvious to all European AAPG members.
PRESENT:
In this regard ‘Communication is the Key’ and this, only the third edition of the European Newsletter, is clear evidence of steps forward. Communication should always be two ways, both along and across, as well as up and down between you and your elected European committee and Europe and AAPG HQ in Tulsa! In essence that means you. We are your servants as elected AAPG committee members.
I would like to share some of the key goals found in the European Region’s Business Plan that we see as critical to our success in achieving what we would like for the European Members and growth of the region’s ability to serve its European Geologists:
- Increase regional membership and its involvement.
- Develop a regional identity that is recognized by the oil and gas industry, acknowledging and encompassing its rich and variety of cultures covered by the region.
- Establish the new AAPG European Office (set up in London August this year) creating a focal point of contact, assistance and source of specific Regional direction for its European Region Members.
- Provide a fiscally sound budget, detailing all expected, budgeted, and real costs for operating the Regional Council.
- Hold an annual / biannual ‘European Regional Conference’.
- Continue to enhance regular and concise ‘Communication’ with its members
including
- the regional newsletter every three (3) months,
- Explore the concept of an independent European Region website and,
- creation of a European Membership Database for efficient email communications.
- Plan and implement an active education and seminar programme.
- Encourage its membership to actively participate in its activities and ensure it listens to consensus of membership opinion.
- Actively promote useful international AAPG products and services at industry events, functions, and programmes.
- Provide an opportunity for AAPG divisions to publicize their activities and advantages to members.
- Provide regional representation on all key committees of the AAPG, including but not limited to dues, meetings, membership, and communication.
- Develop a plan for establishing AAPG regional operations and benefits on a smaller more local basis within the region, perhaps in time by country.
Please do let us know your views, news and ideas on these goals and if there is anything else that may have been missed. Also if there is a way we can assist in progressing a local initiative which helps achieve these aims which in turn helps its members please speak up. We are also always looking for appropriate candidates and volunteers so if you fancy participating in the growth of the European Region please do not hesitate to shout!
In this regard, please feel free to communicate any thoughts and ideas by email with any of or all three of the following in the first instance:
- President European Region: John Brooks jrvbrooks@supanet.com
- Deputy President European Region: Mike Lakin mikelakin@envoi.co.uk
- European Region Editor: Carol Lucas lucascjh@bluewin.ch
FUTURE:
What have we have achieved for the future? Quite a lot behind the scenes actually:
- Planning is now well advanced for a European Region Conference in Athens scheduled for the 17th – 20th November 2007. This follows the first very successful European Conference in Prague in 2004 and the Carbonate conference earlier this year in Majorca. European Region Office: The AAPG has established a London regional office which is an extension of Tulsa’s ability to serve, direct and administer within the region. The new office is currently managed by Steve Veal (who was the AAPG’s VP last year 2005/6) and with one other part time assistant in process of being identified, the European Region and its members will in increasingly benefit from this new focal point initiative.
- Four AAPG educational training programmes are being planned for 2007.
- Quarterly ‘Members Meetings’ are being scheduled in four separate cities within the region.
- Newsletter & Website: It is hoped that this publication will evolve and grow with an independent website to assist in communication.
There are plenty of other things being developed behind the scenes and as a volunteer committee progressing a new entity it always takes time and patience. No different from the time it takes to build firm foundations of a tall building. It takes months before the new building appears above ground then next time one looks it’s finished. Without proper foundations the building will forever be unstable.
I hope this brief article helps to outline my view of where we are and where we hope to take the European Region in the near and mid-term future. The efforts being made can only be truly successful with your and other members’ involvement! Please communicate your thoughts and Ideas. With your involvement, the AAPG’s European Region Committee looks forward to serving you better.
This leaves me only to wish you, on behalf of the European Region, a successful year end to 2006, restful and festive season and a happy new year linked to a hope you will participate in the European Region’s activities in 2007.