A Great and Unique Opportunity
You are now reading the HGS Bulletin’s April election issue. Once again this provides me an opportunity to discuss the importance of volunteerism to professional societies. First, let me thank each candidate for the HGS Board for their willingness to come forward and take on a leadership role in our organization, ensuring that the high quality technical and social program, short courses, and conferences continues. These individuals will also determine how the society’s funds are spent on membership services for current members and those that may soon enter our profession. I would also like to thank those who stepped forward to serve as a potential member of the AAPG House of Delegates. They will help to review the membership applications and guide AAPG’s direction. In an organization which has and will continue to undergo major changes, such activities are important to all engaged in our profession. Now it is our turn, once again. We need to review the information provided on each of the candidates and then vote. Your active participation in the election will help ensure that the incoming board will represent your interests and needs. Please remember that most of the positions that you will be voting on serve multiple year terms. Last year’s election was dominated by apathy, as manifested by the very low member turnout. Less than a quarter of our membership voted in last year’s election. As it is often said, you lose your right to complain if you did not vote. Please remember to vote. Once the new board begins working in July, they will need your assistance on many fronts. Each of the HGS committees needs active members, including those that are willing to step-up and lead the committees. The introduction of new blood is key to preventing the society’s programs from becoming stale and predictable. Many of the chairmen have also served for multiple years and they are looking for an heir apparent. There will also be a need for speakers at the various monthly meetings that HGS sponsors. There are as many as six HGS sponsored meetings each month. So if you have something new and exciting, let the new Vice President know so that an appropriate venue can be found. If you are unable to present but have a suggestion for a topic or speaker contact the Vice President as well. There is always a need to sense the pulse of the membership. The Vice President is working constantly to ensure that the program presented, fits the needs of the membership. He or she needs support from the membership. Just as in US politics, as soon as one election concludes the next cycle begins. I would like you to consider serving on the HGS Board in the future. The nominating committee led by past President Gary Coburn has been actively searching for volunteers to step forward for several months and it has remained difficult to find volunteers to fill many of the ballot positions. We are all familiar with the reasons people find for not volunteering. But just consider what the world would look like if everyone used these excuses. There would be no professional societies. Opportunities for training and professional development, especially for those not employed by a large corporation, would be significantly less or much more expensive and there would be less opportunities for professional networks. How might such a world have impacted your career? Some of us may not be employed and some might be less well prepared. I promise you, unlike many nonprofit organizations that are concerned about their balance sheet, this is not a problem the HGS Board need to deal with. The Board will have the more pleasant task of determining how to effectively use the significant amount of funds available. Please consider making John Tubb’s job as next year’s nominating committee chair a little easier. This is also the month of AAPG’s Annual Convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center. If you haven’t yet registered, please consider attending. This remains one of the best opportunities for learning what is new and for networking. Also, remember that volunteers are always needed for judging both the oral and poster sessions, so please consider stepping forward. My final thoughts for this month were inspired by my older daughter, Rebecca. As you may remember, she is a fifth grade school teacher in a Title I school. Title I schools are provided funds to aim to bridge the gap between low-income students and other students. The students are at risk of failure and living at or near poverty. Earlier this year I once again visited her classroom and talked with three classes about the oil industry and the importance of energy. Yes, I would like all HGS members to consider finding a little time to talk about geology, our industry, and the importance of what we do for society. Such a discussion is needed throughout the various school districts in the greater Houston area. But I would hope that some of you find a school like Rebecca’s to visit. Rebecca has requested that I ask HGS members take the time to visit Title 1 schools and talk to the kids. They need role models who can show the value of education as the doorway to opportunities. These kids must be convinced that education is the path to a better life. I will be visiting Rebecca’s school again this year to talk specifically about the importance of education and how I was the first in my family to finish college and complete an advanced degree. Whether anyone of those kids grow-up to be a geologist or a geophysicist is less important than whether they start to understand that the time in the classroom can be transformational, leading to a variety of opportunities and a pathway to success.Until next month…