By VALARY SCHULZ
Chair, House of Delegates

HoD Agenda Includes Rules Revisions

Delegates to Vote on Bylaws Issues

For more House of Delegates information visit the HoD Web page

HoD Sets Slate For Calgary Vote

The House of Delgates will vote on new officers during its annual meeting in Calgary.

The candidates are:

Chair-Elect

Alan DeGood, president, American Energy Corp., Wichita., Kan.

Larry Jones, owner and manager, Spartan Petroleum Corp., Houston.

Secretary/Editor

J.G. "Jay" Henthorne, president and owner, Petro Evaluation Services, Wooster, Ohio.

Robert "Bob" Shoup, consultant, Texas, currently working for UZMZ Engineering, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.

This past year has been quite a ride! With 14 months between annual meetings, it has allowed a more deliberate pace for the action of the House, but it also has intensified the efforts of the committees.

Thank them, please, when you see them; they've done yeoman's work, many of them, preparing for the full meeting of the House on Father's Day in Calgary.

There, the delegates will be asked to vote on six revisions/amendments to our Bylaws, six revisions to the Rules and Procedures of the House, and to elect the officers for the next year.

Also, reports from the two ad hoc committees will keep us abreast of potential structural changes in anticipation of next year's constitutional deliberations, and we'll honor our own with presentations of awards to those highly deserving delegates selected by the Honors and Awards Committee. All this after the Credentials Committee qualifies the delegates beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday.

(If you're not a delegate but are curious about the legislative branch of our society, join us at the meeting. All details are posted on the AAPG Web site.)

In 2002 the House passed the "COCBAP" amendment, which describes a process for communicating proposed changes affecting other governing bodies of AAPG. This process has been used to great effect this year. Upon the timely notification of the proposed Bylaws amendments, the Executive Committee (EC) as well as members of the Advisory Council responded with constructive comments and analyses of the proposed "Vacancy" amendment.

These comments have been evaluated by the C&BL Committee and the House officers, and upon deliberation the C&BL Committee will recommend at the Calgary meeting to revise this proposed amendment by continuing the current wording, which would provide for a special election in the case of a vacancy in the office of president-elect.

In the history of AAPG, a vacancy among the officers has never happened. Since 9/11, however, we've learned to consider extraordinary circumstances. This is why the delegates will address our preparedness through this amendment in June.

One of the House chair's responsibilities is to host a breakfast for delegates at each of the Section meetings and the international conference to communicate action items for vote at the next annual meeting.

What a priceless opportunity this is -- and my favorite part of the job -- to meet the delegates and other volunteers who have invested so heavily in the organization.

At each of these breakfasts, we introduce ourselves and cite our home Society, our employer, our office etc., so the names we've read on the BULLETIN page or the Web site now have faces and personalities.

Just as there are seldom single-sided issues, there are seldom delegates who don't have multiple volunteer jobs. Thank you all for your hospitality and your dedication.

Since the structural re-organization of 1970, the House chair sits as a member of the Executive Committee. This past year there have been nine face-to-face meetings and four EC teleconferences to date. The commitment of these elected volunteer officers is massive. These meetings are usually day-long affairs, but regimented, where the advance preparation has facilitated informed and constructive debate.

It has been a pleasure to serve with these remarkable officers for whom I hold great respect for their dedicated service. We don't all agree on every issue, but it has been an amicable group, cordial, though diverse in our experience and perspectives.

It truly has been an extraordinary honor for me to represent the House of Delegates this past year. Although the workload has been significant, there's been marked satisfaction and pleasure in working with my colleagues.

Speaking of work, I'm exceedingly grateful to my employer Matador Resources Co., officers, co-workers and shareholders for their support and encouragement during my term of office.

I'm grateful to my husband Roger, who has been patient, supportive and understanding of the hours and the absences.

The headquarters staff, particularly Donna Riggs, has provided guidance, logistical assistance, gentle reminders and encouragement. Thank you all.