I am honored to be nominated for treasurer and have the opportunity to contribute to AAPG’s future. My initial geological development was through formal education while a Student member, followed by the advice and mentoring from experienced geoscientists during early professional work, and eventually from peers in AAPG and other professional groups. We join AAPG for the science and then discover how much we benefit from our colleagues.

AAPG activities where the treasurer can contribute include, but are not limited to, the following:

• There is significant strength in our global geoscience organization. Many of our members’ professional activities grow out of meetings and events sponsored by affiliated Societies, Sections and Regions. The AAPG needs to support these professional groups wherever possible in science, education and professional practice. We must involve our early-career colleagues in local, regional and global geoscience activities during their student and early employment careers. This provides them mentoring and career guidance and the Association benefits from their fresh outlook and enthusiasm.
• We recognize that dues and other payments from some areas around the world are difficult and costly, with funds transfer fees adding considerably to the expense of members’ memberships. Our offices outside North America can help with this, but we need to work on this problem. The corporate group memberships will help here and hopefully can be increasingly tailored to many more members’ needs.
• Although the specific treasurer duties are primarily financial, our most valuable asset is the time that members volunteer for the activities of the Association and for the profession. We must act quickly when we recognize opportunities to use that volunteer time more effectively in communications, improved membership information for our Sections and Regions and other areas of member service.

I have been fortunate during my career, working a wide-range of geological regions with many fine colleagues, to live in numerous locations, and have seen many ways that local and global professional societies can serve members and enrich their professional development. My objective is to incorporate these successful practices from our members, to develop an even better Association.

All officers of our Association as the Executive Committee continually evaluate the effectiveness of our organization during their terms. In all matters before the Executive Committee, I will base my decisions on the following tests:

• Does this benefit our members?
• Does this benefit the AAPG? If so, near-term, long-term or both?
• Does this benefit the profession?

All members hopefully strive for the AAPG goal “to be indispensable in the energy-related geosciences worldwide.” Keeping this in mind, we will have the strongest and most effective geoscience society possible. Every interested, qualified geoscientist on the planet should join AAPG. We must employ the combined efforts of all our members for the development of our science and profession.

I am grateful for the nomination as a candidate and excited at the prospect for further service. I look forward to applying my experience in local, regional and global geoscience activities to the challenges of the treasurer’s position.