DIVSION COLUMNS ARCHIVES

By BOB SHOUP
DPA President

Certification Can Pay Off

DPA: Tool to Develop Professionalism

Shoup Assumes DPA Presidency

Election results are in for DPA officers, who comprise the DPA Executive Committee. They are:

• President-elect (serves as president for 2004-2005) - J. Michael Party, Wagner & Brown, Midland, Texas.
• Vice president - Rick L. Ericksen, State Board Registration of Professional Geologists, Jackson, Miss.
• Secretary (two-year term) - Casey F. Clawson II, Samson Resources, Tulsa.

They join on this year's DPA executive committee:

• President - Robert C. Shoup, Hilcorp, Houston.
• Treasurer - Daniel J. Tearpock, Subsurface Consultants & Associates, Houston.
• Past President - Tom Mairs, consultant, Dallas.

DPA Announces Award Winners

DPA has announced its awardees for 2002-2003. They are:

Life Member

• Robert D. Cowdery, Wichita, Kan.

Distinguished Service Award

• Robert W. Sabaté, New Orleans.
• Howard Kiatta, Houston.

Certificate of Merit

• Jack H. West, Bakersfield, Calif.

DPA Past President's Award

• Royce P. Carr, Pentad Oil & Gas, Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

DPA Best Paper Award

(AAPG Annual Meeting, 2002)

• John I. Howell III, Houston, for "Implementing Portfolio Management: Integrating Tools, Process and People."

Imagine for a moment that you are standing among a group of people, most of them familiar to you. You hear them talking about you, but they act as though you are not there. That is when you realize that you are a guest at your own funeral.

What is it that people are saying about you now that you are gone?

I ask this question not to be macabre, but to get you to think about your core values. Aside from the question, "How did he manage to live so long and still look so good?"

I would like to have said at my funeral that I was a good husband and father, a contributing member of my church and community, a good geologist and a true professional. Those are my core values.

AAPG, as one of the premier geologic associations in the world, is one tool I use to help me to be a good geologist. The BULLETIN articles, the EXPLORER, short courses and annual and section meetings offer a variety of means for me to stay current with the science.

The Division of Professional Affairs is the tool I use to help develop and maintain my professionalism.

What exactly is professionalism? Webster's New World Dictionary does not actually define professionalism - it does define a professional, but not professionalism. To me professionalism is a term that encompasses integrity, honesty, responsibility, commitment and adherence to ethical standards.

So how does being a member of the DPA help develop and maintain professionalism?

First, the process of certification, which is how one becomes a DPA member, is an affirmation by your peers and the professional world at-large that you are an individual of personal integrity, responsibility and professional ability, with a "sustained record of adherence to professional and ethical standards of the Code of Ethics of AAPG."

Once a member of the DPA, you have access to a variety of publications and courses that are principally focused on career and business development, ethics and professionalism. You also have the opportunity, through the DPA Government Affairs Committee, to help shape energy related policy.

If you are still undecided about becoming a member of the DPA, lets look at the bottom line; it is easy to find oil and gas - it is quite another matter to make money finding oil and gas.

As an AAPG member, you have access to some of the tools you need to drill discoveries. As a DPA member, you will have access to some of the tools you need to make money.

Let me close with a few questions:

• Is professionalism one of your core values?
• If not, why not?
• If so, are you certified?
• If not, why not?

Take the time to become certified, and let your employer or clients know that you are an individual who values professionalism. Once a member, we really can help you make money.

Not so long ago, it was common for the older geologists and geophysicists to sit together with the younger employees for morning coffee, or on occasion, an afternoon beer. During those times together, we would often hear tales of how this or that prospect got drilled, or what happened to so and so while he (back then it was almost always a he) was sitting on a rig.

For most companies, this getting together of old and new does not seem to happen much any more, which is truly a shame. Those stories, shared over coffee or beer, not only helped to build a level of camaraderie not seen much in the industry today, they helped us learn, to gain experience from those who had been there and done that.

So - for those of you who miss those shared experiences, or for those of you who have never had the opportunity to hear some of the "old timers" stories from the oil patch - here is your opportunity.

DPA announces the publication of the book Heritage of the Petroleum Geologist, which contains a number of anecdotes and advice from over 40 industry notables.

Cost of the book is $5 plus shipping (one free copy is being provided to all DPA members). At that price you should purchase two copies, one for yourself and one to send to your mentor, along with a note of thanks. Contact the AAPG Bookstore for details.