DIRECTOR'S CORNER

By RICK FRITZ

Going the Extra Mile

When I was a child, my dad took a job as an oil field pumper and moved us out into the country from the city. Although my family's roots were in the country, it was a real experience for me to live so isolated in nature from the rest of the world. In the "sticks" is what we called it.

One cold December, on our first holiday in the country, my dad took us to an area along a big creek to look for a tree to cut and decorate for the holidays. The day was chilly and gray, and it was spitting snow. He led us onto a point bar where Hominy Creek made a big meander. In the bend, there was a little forest of small cedar trees -- many that were perfect for our needs.

We walked through the grove examining the best trees until we reached the creek. The water flowed fast there with many small rapids with ice forming along the edges of the still side pools.

After examining the creek, my dad turned back to the grove and asked us, "Which tree do you want to cut?"

My sisters and I were still looking across the creek and up the brown, rugged hill on the opposite side. Toward the top stood an isolated, almost perfect little evergreen. It caught our eyes and all three of us pointed up to the tree and said in unison, "We want that one!"

He looked at us in amusement and said, "Are you sure you don't want one of these on this side of the creek?"

We all shook our heads and pointed back to the lone tree.

He didn't say another word, except to tell us to "stay put.''

He waded the icy creek, thigh deep, using his large axe to keep from falling into the cold water. We watched as he climbed the hill and chopped down the tree. I can still clearly remember him floating the tree across Hominy Creek that day.

He always would go the "extra mile" for his family.

AAPG is dedicated to providing the best in geoscience publications to you.

For example, over the past few years we have made a number of changes to improve the BULLETIN. First we improved the format, then we reduced the lead time for publishing submittals from more than 24 months to less than 12 months. Currently we are re-examining the type of papers that members want and soliciting new, innovative papers into the BULLETIN.

Now we are going the "extra mile" on the BULLETIN. President Steve Sonnenberg recently formed the Ad Hoc BULLETIN Reformat Committee to evaluate the format, style and future of the BULLETIN. AAPG editor John Lorenz is chairman. Members are Alfredo Guzman, Jim Handschy, Ernie Mancini, Chuck Noll, Pete Rose and Nahum Sneiderman. Jack Thomas is the staff liaison to the committee.

The BULLETIN, of course, is based largely on submittals received from members. Now that we have reduced the lead-time significantly from submittal to print for BULLETIN articles, we need more inventory of articles for consideration for publication.

In other words, we are scouting for new articles. We want to encourage geoscientists in all fields, industry or academic, to submit articles for consideration in the BULLETIN.

On a similar note, we also are looking for new authors and articles for E&P Notes. We are trying to expand this popular series in the BULLETIN, but we need your help.

E&P Notes is a great vehicle for sharing information on interesting plays. We are interested in publishing information on both domestic and international plays. We especially encourage our international members to submit articles, as most of the recent E&P Notes have described domestic plays.

E&P Notes are not peer reviewed to the extent of standard BULLETIN articles, but go through an editorial process and evaluation. E&P Notes are usually published within three to four months after receipt. In some cases, AAPG has some funds to support authors in the production process of developing E&P Notes.

One of AAPG's primary purposes is to disseminate information. We need your help in reaching this goal on a daily basis.

This is an exciting time for AAPG, and we are asking you to be part of our new path in developing our publications.

On a personal note, my father, Charles Fritz, passed away on Oct. 10. Over the past four years, many of the stories I have shared with you to make a point were based on experiences that he and I shared in the oil fields of Oklahoma. He was a good man and a great dad.

As his son, I am thankful for the many good memories and his dedication to his family.