Greetings fellow HGS members. We have nearly closed our first active month of this new business year.
I am pleased to report it has been a successful September on all fronts and we are moving forward on the Three Point Plan of increasing membership, rebuilding community with in-person events, and working toward financial stability.
Membership
Bill DeMis is to be commended for his near single-handed pilot program on our initial telephone campaign to restore our membership to pre-Covid numbers. Over a five-day period Bill, along with the help of John Bishop, Paul Britt and Linda Sternbach made in excess of 350 phone calls to grace-period members that had failed to renew their membership. In conjunction with this effort, the HGS office staff (Andi and Alyssa) along with Linda Sternbach conducted an email blast. As a result of the combined effort over the last month, renewed membership has increased approximately by 200. We still have more than one-half of the 842 grace-period members to contact by phone. Using Bill’s approach we could use some additional volunteers to make phone calls and follow up emails to encourage folks to renew. An added benefit to working methodically down the list, these calls could lead to new friends and business contacts.
- Please contact Bill DeMis who will coordinate this effort for the next few weeks.
Rebuilding Community / In-Person Events
Our first evening technical dinner of the season on September 12th was a venue-sellout at the Norris Center. Art Berman delivered an exciting and interesting presentation on energy with approximately 65 people in attendance. One take-away from Art’s presentation was that all forms of energy are additive. There are still parts of the global population that use the most basic biomass fuels such as dung and firewood to cook and heat their homes. At the same time these biomass fuels are being used, in other parts of the globe we are adding high-technology renewables of solar and wind. However, coal and hydrocarbons continue to deliver the bulk of the energy. Realistically, the use of hydrocarbons or any form of energy for that matter, will never disappear. Every form of energy is part of the total energy supply. An interesting point on this subject is that while State of Texas is one of the largest oil and gas producing regions in the world, we also have the highest percentage of wind-generated electricity of any state in the US, accounting for approximately 25% of the total electricity. Approximate percentage contributions by other energy sources to electricity supply in Texas: Nat Gas 51%, Coal 13%, Nuclear 5%, Solar 4%, Hydro/biomass 2%.
- Thank you to those that attended and helped make this event a success.
- Bring a friend or work-colleague to the next event and encourage them to re-engage in our professional community.
International Dinner on September 26th, the kick-off event for the Africa Conference, was a near-capacity event with about 65 folks attending the dinner and presentation. The evening technical presentation dovetailed extremely well with several of the talks given in the Africa conference.
- Thank you to those that attended the event and made it a huge success.
The Africa Conference September 27-28, a virtual event that required a full year of planning, was well-attended. The conference committee was organized and led by Caroline Wachtman who did an incredible job. The talks on the first day were exceptional and illustrated how feeder channel/ basin floor fan/ contourite plays are opening areas and creating renewed exploration on both sides of the Atlantic. The presentations illustrate how these plays will continue to contribute new discoveries and significant reserves to the global supply for the foreseeable future. We also had an excellent session on Red Sea plays.
- Consider attending this conference in person next year in London.
Community Involvement/ University Student Support
HGS Geoscience Student Expo 2023 The Student Expo Committee led by Amanda Johnston organized an exceptional two-day event including an extremely well attended social gathering with over 200 people in attendance. Approximately thirteen companies sponsored the EXPO. Their participation included corporate informational booths and interview booths. The student and corporate registration sold out and provided interview opportunities for approximately 170 job-searching university students.
Financial Stability
Paul Britt, President-Elect, and the Finance Committee are making good progress on analyzing, understanding and revising various components of the budget.
Future Events for Networking and Rebuilding our Professional Community
Golf Tournament October 17
Pull together your foursome, sign up and have fun!
See the Bulletin or Website for further details.
Continuing Education Training Course November 11
This By-Passed Pay course will be taught by Bill DeMis. It has been organized by Cheryl Desforges and the Continuing Education Committee. The Course will be held at CORELAB’s auditorium, who have donated the use of the facility. See the HGS Bulletin or website for additional details and to register.
Environmental & Engineering Dinner November 12
See the HGS Bulletin and Website for additional information and registration.
GeoGulf 2023 (formerly GCAGS) April 23 to25. This promises to be an outstanding event. It is being led and coordinated by Charles and Linda Sternbach. Watch for announcements in the HGS Bulletin and on the Website.
Grand Canyon Field Trip scheduled for June 1 -8, 2023 has just a few spots left! Deposits are due before October 28. Having been on this field trip several years ago, I can say this is a once in a lifetime trip for anyone, especially geologists. Go to the Website and sign up for one of the last spots before it is sold out!
- When you see anyone of the folks mentioned in this article, please thank them for their volunteer service to the HGS.
- Talk to your geological friends and work colleagues.
- Encourage them to join HGS and get involved in a committee.
- Participate in the upcoming events and opportunities to rebuild our professional community.
- KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Walter S. Light, Jr.
HGS President, 2022-2023