EXPLORER EXPLORER

2 JANUARY 2014 WWW.AAPG.ORG Vol. 35, No. 1 January 2014 EXPLORER PRESIDENT’SCOLUMN Six Down, Six to Go: Are We Doing What We Say? BY LEE F. KRYSTINIK

re the EC and I doing what we said we continued into mine. They have made would do? And, more to point: What clear recommendations to be implemented Ado we say we will do next? We are actively putting flesh on the to keep the very popular IBA program As we near the mid-point in my term I operational in the event of a severe thought it might be helpful to review a few of bones of a three-year Business Plan sponsorship drought that would radically our priorities with you, as well as to update reduce spending. you on the present status of each objective. that will bridge the gap between our 3 100th Anniversary celebration – My “to-do” list and those of the AAPG annual budgets and Strategic Plan. Planning is well under way, but a lot more Executive Committee (EC) and our very planning and information gathering will able staff and management are quite a lot KRYSTINIK be required before a detailed budget is longer, but five of the key objectives are in hand. We anticipate establishing clear noted below: membership process – This measure was process a needless hassle in the modern fiscal targets with the 100th Anniversary approved by the AC and the EC, has now world of petroleum geoscience; the issue is Committee before the end of my term. u Support the construction of a GIS- been approved by our lawyers and soon not uniquely “international.” 3 Datapages – We will be working with based portal into AAPG’s publications, to be will be sent to the Membership committees 3 Formation of Technical Interest the Datapages Board of Directors and staff online by our 100th anniversary. for review and comment and to the House Groups (TIGs) and Special Interest Groups toward generating royalty revenue back to This project is well under way and of Delegates for deliberation and what we (SIGs) – This measure opens the path for AAPG for AAPG content. showing excellent promise – our goal hope will be approval. This is an important formation of additional groups (potentially Our intent is for Datapages, a wholly is to make our fantastic archive of step toward expanding inclusivity within technical divisions along the lines of the new owned, for-profit subsidiary, to continue to geoscience more easily accessible as we AAPG. Petroleum Structure and Geomechanics deliver substantive positive net cash flow to click or finger-swipe our way through the My domestic and international travels Division) to focus on creation of new our publishing partners and to its owner. infospace. We also are looking at external for AAPG have shown me that what I might technical content generation within AAPG. 3 Financial buffer – Our present financial options as a backup while the internal have thought was a non-issue really is an The measure and a second measure buffer is about nine months of operation in system is built out fully. issue, both internationally and, perhaps in favor of governance representation of a no-income scenario; we aim to extend more surprisingly, in North America. these groups have passed the AC. The this buffer to 18 months. Some anticipated u Construct and implement three-year Sponsorship constitutes a major cross- formation of TIGs and SIGs has passed surplus for this year will be directed to the Business Plans, directly linked to our new cultural issue around the world. The process the EC, but both related measures will be buffer if possible. Strategic Plan. of requesting sponsorship is something very worked within an ad hoc committee to flesh Under the guidance of David Curtiss and different overseas and ranges from a loss of out implementation and identification of u Build new bridges with sister societies, David Lange, our executive director and personal business power to being a direct potential unintended consequences. Regions, Sections and local societies. deputy executive director, respectively, the insult. Sponsorship, even by one sponsor, It is not yet clear whether the AAPG aspires to have productive and AAPG staff is actively putting flesh on the is seen very negatively in other cultures, recommendations and final EC vote will mutually benefical relationships with our bones of a three-year Business Plan that will and this policy is directly preventing people occur in time to submit the issue to the HoD partner societies. We’ve still got some work bridge the gap between our annual budgets who should be members of AAPG from for its meeting at ACE 2014. to do. and Strategic Plan. becoming members. We are actively involved with sister This effort also entails the process of This issue becomes ever more u Fiscal Control Measures. societies in a number of meetings, of documenting and streamlining existing important as AAPG continues to expand We must operate within our fiscal means course, URTeC being a good recent business activities and establishing new globally (we now have members from 116 and manage the possibility of a downturn example. We plan to engage the Young business activity models. countries, comprising over 40 percent of our in our industry. Accordingly fiscal discipline Professionals in Energy (YPE) to look for membership). is required. Large ticket items subject to EC new avenues for our YPs in building contact u Initiatives proposed through the An additional eye-opener for me has focus are: networks. Advisory Council (AC). been similar feedback from fellow North 3 Imperial Barrel Award program However, friction or outright conflict Although not part of my original goals, American members with a broad spectrum ($750,000/yr) – An ad hoc committee was still occurs between AAPG and AAPG both have merit: of experience, from YPs to those nearing assigned an overview of the IBA during 3 Eliminating sponsorship as part of the retirement, who consider the sponsorship Ted Beaumont’s presidential term and See President, next page

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