Happy New AAPG Year!!
We began a new fiscal year on July 1 and have new leaders throughout the organization ready and willing to serve as volunteers. Thanks to all of you. You are the lifeblood of our organization.
Your
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is in place with eight members -- the largest in our history. John Armentrout (Pacific Section) and John Hogg (Canada Region) are vice presidents, serving Sections and Regions, respectively; Ted Beaumont (Mid-Continent Section), secretary; Randi Martinsen (Rocky Mountain Section) returning for the second year as treasurer; Gretchen Gillis (Gulf Coast Section) beginning a three-year term as elected editor; Marty Hewitt (Canada Region), chair of the House of Delegates; Scott Tinker (Gulf Coast Section), president-elect; and yours truly (Southwest Section) as president.
This year’s Executive Committee registers several records: It’s the first EC with two vice presidents, two women and two Canadians -- and the first president elected as a petition candidate.
We will work well together.
Retiring from the Executive Committee is President Lee Billingsley, who moves on to chair the Advisory Council. A year ago Lee foresaw the “coming year as one of execution of AAPG’s existing plan,” in order to give staff some relief from the pace of the previous year.
As fate would have it, new opportunities were presented and the pace accelerated.
John Dolson, vice president living in Moscow, Russia, was our contact for expanding membership in Russia. John provided much valuable background information on many issues considered by the EC.
Mike Party, my fellow Midlander (Midland, Texas), completed his second year as secretary, serving diligently. Larry Jones, chair of the House of Delegates, successfully guided the graduated dues proposal through the HoD.
Last, but far from least, Ernie Mancini leaves the EC after three years as editor. Ernie could be counted on for reasonable, compassionate deliberations. Ernie moves on to the Research Committee.
We owe these guys a rousing round of applause for their dedication and many hours of participation for our organization.
During April and May I recruited chairs for 14 of our presently authorized 40 committees. Committee chairs roll over after three years. Members have been most willing to serve and that has been a gratifying experience for me.
My goals for the 2007-08 year are:
- Move the annual Leadership Conference from February to August to more closely coincide with new terms of officers/leaders. (This is a done deal.)
- Extend the life of the AAPG/DPA Geoscience and Energy Office (Geo-DC) beyond it’s presently authorized existence (6/30/08). A recommendation will be forthcoming from the Geo-DC Board of Governors in early 2008.
- Continue the development and implementation (with EC approval) of the proposed programs of the Petroleum Education and Research Consortium: Petroleum Grants for Geoscience, Petroleum Professionals of Practice and Chair of Petroleum Geoscience.
- Complete efforts to develop a new partnership to enable the continuation of the work of the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council under a new organizational structure.
- Complete revision of all position papers and post on Web site.
- Continue worldwide membership growth and expansion of services in order to become indispensable to all petroleum geologists.
- Accomplish a net increase of 1,000 Active/Associate members during fiscal 2007-08.
- Implement the graduated dues structure.
- Continue to simplify the membership application process.
- Complete Tactical Operations review cycle with the review of the communications directorate.
- Strengthen liaisons between committee chairs, committee managers and EC members.
- Establish new committees as needed -- especially the Imperial Barrel Award Committee, to build on the wildly successful competition at the Long Beach annual meeting.
- Attend all events: six Section meetings, the European Region meeting in Athens, the International Petroleum Technology Conference in Dubai and others.
- Enjoy the camaraderie of interacting with fellow members of the world’s largest and greatest geoscience organization: the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
Adios ‘til next month