In an attempt to improve the health of our employees AAPG is looking at several programs this year to help staff eat and exercise better.
As part of the program several of AAPG’s staff scheduled time at a nearby health center to play sports. We played volleyball the first week and it was a lot of fun and decent exercise.
The second week we played basketball. That’s probably all I need to say.
We agreed that we would play an easy half-court basketball game. Of course, as soon as the game started it became competitive and by the end of it we were totally exhausted. It was the best exercise I have had in months. Of course, a day later we were all limping and commented about our bruises and sore muscles.
I’m not sure that it’s really a “wellness” program.
AAPG is about to start its meeting “exercises” for the spring.
I have just reviewed all of the meetings in which AAPG operates, sponsors and/or exhibits. This spring and early summer we are involved in at least 14 conventions – and this does not include all of AAPG’s educational offerings or meetings associated with the new operations of the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council.
Each year volunteers and staff focus on technical content of the meetings with quality educational and business opportunities. We also focus on trying to consolidate meetings to avoid duplication. Joint meetings with sister societies are key to keeping the number of meetings manageable each year.
When scheduling meetings, our staff here makes every effort to try to avoid overlap of key events – especially religious and secular holidays. This has become more difficult since 9/11, as advance booking of convention facilities and hotels is more critical and contracts tighter with greater penalties. Also, since AAPG does not return every year to a city we are often competing with major corporations or entities for the prime spots.
As I started writing this column we had staff and members attending the [PFItemLinkShortcode|id:11391|type:standard|anchorText:Colombia Oil and Gas Investment Conference/Oil and Gas Technical Conference|cssClass:asshRef|title:Enthusiasm Shared At Colombia Meeting|PFItemLinkShortcode] in Cartagena, Colombia. This is a very important conference for the South America Region.
Also, many staff and members were in Houston for the annual NAPE conference, which was shaping up as one of the largest in its history. For the first time this year the International Pavilion L.L.C. managed the international exhibits.
By the time you receive this EXPLORER we will be in the middle of or just finishing the GEO (Bahrain) Middle East conference and the APPEX London prospect and property expo. The technical programs, exhibits and sponsorship for both meetings look good and we are expecting excellent participation.
There are two Section meetings this quarter: the AAPG Southwest Section Feb. 24-27 in Abilene, Texas, and the AAPG Pacific Section meeting in Bakersfield, Calif. is scheduled March 29-April 2.
This summer the AAPG Rocky Mountain Section will meet in Denver on July 9-11.
Of course, the AAPG Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE) is our big show for the spring, and this year ACE will be held in San Antonio.
Incidentally, the initial registration numbers for San Antonio are among the highest for any recent AAPG ACE meeting except Calgary. Although we added extra hotel rooms this year, early registration is so high that many of the room blocks already are full.
Our convention staff has added more rooms, so please let us know if you have any difficulty.
Under the leadership of general chairman Gene Ames III, the San Antonio program is full with many opportunities for networking, business and education.
This year the technical program is strong with a number of new topics including special sessions on global climate change and the future of women geoscientists.
I played basketball a lot when I was younger. It’s funny how your instincts automatically tell you to do things based on old habits – things your body may not want to do or be capable of doing anymore.
For example, during the first staff basketball game the ball was going out of bounds and my sub-conscience told my body to dive for it. As I was flying through the air I was clearly thinking, “Why on earth am I doing this?!?”
I hope I can retrain my sub-conscience before I do too much damage.
At AAPG we think a lot about operating and developing meetings for the benefit of our members and industry. Events such as the annual meeting are great places to do professional retraining.
I encourage you to make the most out of these opportunities.