Please welcome Barbara Kutchko as the Managing Editor for the Spheres of Influence newsletter. She is a research scientist with the National Energy Technology Laboratory working with the development of foam cements for the petroleum industry.

Several goals for the DEG this year include:

• Continue to sponsor oral and poster sessions, forums, short courses and field trips at the ACE, section and regional meetings. A successful social event with AAPG members from the Canada Region was held at ACE 2016 in Calgary. Also, the DEG will be co-sponsoring luncheons with the EMD and DPA this fall at the Eastern and Pacific/Rocky Mt. Section meetings.
• Become more involved with AAPG affiliated societies, Young Professionals, Student Chapters and universities. It is imperative that we recruit new members to the Division. The Advisory Board can affect this by sending information to the presidents of these organizations and to the chairs of geoscience departments within their respective Section or Region.
• Consider forming new DEG ad hoc committees to address current environmental issues that are outside of the scope of the current committees. Suggested topics include induced seismicity, fugitive gases and climate change.

The Executive Committee and Advisory Board members appreciate any comments you have to improve the Division. Any of the members can be contacted through our updated website.

I hope to meet with many of you at an upcoming meeting!