HGS-Services and Volunteerism Service to Our Society Members and the Community

Each year the society participates in many functions to benefit both the community and the profession. This work is taken on by numerous HGS volunteers who give their time and efforts freely.
Community ServicesThe Academic Liaison Committee makes presentations to junior and senior high school students. The committee provides speakers with slides, rocks, minerals, fossils, maps, and cross sections. In addition, the committee judges science fairs sponsored by the schools and other organizations. There is an ever increasing demand for more speakers.
The Explorer Scouts Committee operates two Explorer Scout Posts sponsored by the HGS - The Northwest Post 2004, and the Southwest Post 2005. At present, about 40 students between the ages of 15 and 18 are active in these. Central to the program is career interest, and students interested in the geologic and oceanographic sciences attend lectures and field trips to various work locations to gain insights into possible careers. Scouts also participate in camping trips to locations of geologic and environmental interest. As part of the Sam Houston Area Council of the BSA (Boy Scouts of America), the posts enjoy many regular activities held by the scouting organization. Additionally, the Explorer Scout Post Leaders and Advisors (HGS members) serve as references for the scouting organization in geologic matters.
The Museum of Natural Science Liaison Committee is responsible for involving and enriching our membership through the programs of the museum and the society. HGS has a Special Advisor position with the museum. This position has been supplemented by the separate committee that finds ways to involve our membership in volunteer efforts at the museum and provide geoscientific advice to the museum when and where appropriate. Traditionally, at least one society function per year is held at the museum for our general membership to attend and reacquaint themselves with the many exhibits.
Professional ServicesThe Continuing Education Committee evaluates the education needs of the membership and organizes programs to meet those needs. Emphasis is placed on presenting low cost, high quality state of the art programs on timely topics. This committee has been averaging six to eight short courses per year, and most of these are one-half to one day long.
The Personnel Placement Committee helps unemployed geoscientists find permanent, contract, and consulting positions in energy, environmental, and academia. This committee is quite busy since organizing placement advertisements on the HGS Internet web page.
The Library Committee acts as liaison between HGS and the Houston Public Library (HPL). Our goal is to help HPL become a comprehensive geologic library including logs, maps, journals, atlases and reference books. The chairperson recommends geologic materials that become avail- able to HPL by donations as well as those that are for purchase. On occasion the committee donates funds for equipment or publications necessary to upgrade the Business, Science, and Technology Department of HPL. Committee members also help HGS members find wanted geologic information. Houston Geological Auxiliary (HGA) volunteers also help the Library Committee in organizing materials, especially the many well logs.
The purpose of the Government Affairs Committee is to inform our members of the activities of government at the national and state levels and how this activity affects all practitioners of the earth sciences. This includes reporting on pending and proposed legislation and the specific rule making activities of government agencies. Having this information will allow our members to encourage state and national legislators to pass legislation that is logical, appropriate and beneficial to the nation and our profession. As such, the State Registration and Licensing Committee was recently folded into the Government Affairs Committee. The committee is responsible for review, monitoring, and reporting the professional efforts pertaining to the state registration of geologists to the membership. Both during the creation and passage of a state registration law, as well as henceforth after its establishment, this committee will communicate all issues regarding state registrations and/or licensing in a timely manner. Although state registration of geologists is still somewhat Controversial, the HGS board has consistently strongly advocated the creation of such a law and this committee serves as its informed and knowl- edgeable resource on the subject. The committee is intended to continue to function as an