WASHINGTON REPORT VOLUME XXXV,III NUMBER 7 DECEMBER, 2010 SPECIAL EDITION 2010 NOIA FALL MEETING REVIEW The largest gathering of NOIA members Thredgold reported that the “Great Reces- in six years attended the 2010 fall meeting sion” officially started in December of 2007 October 28 – 30 at the Phoenician Resort and, despite appearances, ended around in Scottsdale, Arizona. June of 2009. However, he said we are go- ing down the wrong road of spending, that Sessions focused heavily on the regula- some say could end in a slide back into re- tory and economic challenges facing the cession. The current U.S. economy is “like offshore industry in the wake of the Ma- an engine with two gas pedals pushed all Liz Cheney condo well incident, and speakers likewise the way to the floor,” he said, and with the shared their views on the impact of the various bailouts of corporate America and Gulf spill, as well as their thoughts on the no corresponding bailouts to the masses, 2010 elections. the general public has lost confidence in the Administration as well as in Congress. GENERAL SPEAKERS LIZ CHENEY Thredgold noted that the economy is evolv- Middle East policy expert and founder of ing and becoming increasingly more tech- KeepAmericaSafe.com, Liz Cheney kicked nical, making employees today much more off the meeting Friday night with a speech productive than they were even a year ago. entitled, “American Politics: 2010, 2012 The computer skills required in this new and Beyond”. Liz charmed the audience economy earn a job applicant 15-20 per- with stories about her father, Dick Cheney. cent more than an unskilled applicant, She stressed the importance of keeping he said. While we still think of colleges America strong and safe and suggested as places where you find young kids, said that we appear weaker and less effective Thredgold, the face of higher education is under the current administration. evolving, and one third of college students today are 40 or older. JEFF THREDGOLD Jeff Thredgold Self-proclaimed “economic futurist” Jeff This economy rewards education more than Thredgold was a late fill-in for Stuart Var- ever before in American history, Thred- ney, who was unable to attend. While some gold said as he delivered the astounding NOIA’s mission is to secure members were overheard expressing dis- statistics that clearly resonated with those reliable access to the nation’s appointment about Varney’s absence, Jeff parents and grandparents in the audience valuable offshore energy Thredgold easily captured the attention of -- college graduates today earn 80 percent resources in order that they the audience during his riveting and en- more than high school graduates, com- may be developed, produced and supplied in an environ- couraging speech entitled, The Recession pared to a 25 percent earning difference mentally responsible manner. is Over! Now What? in 1985. (Continued on Page 2) 1120 G Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 Tel 202-347-6900 Fax 202-347-8650 www.noia.org NOIA FALL MEETING SUMMARY (continUED FROM paGE 1) MICHAEL BROMWICH Bromwich, who had recently returned Michael Bromwich, Director of the Bureau from a recruiting sweep through colleges of Offshore Energy Management, Regula- with established petroleum programs, said tion and Enforcement (BOEMRE), spoke he intends to increase his regulatory staff before a capacity room of NOIA members by 200 inspectors and engineers. hoping for the hint of some positive news Michael Bromwich or at least a positive tone for the industry FOUAD AjAMI in the Gulf of Mexico. Fouad Ajami, Director, Middle East Stud- ies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced In- Unfortunately, not much positivity was ternational Studies, and a favorite speaker forthcoming from Bromwich who said that of the NOIA membership, charmed the Deepwater Horizon was “a sobering re- audience with his speech, Obama and minder of just what is at stake” and that the Challenge of the Islamic World. Aja- the Gulf spill “jolted the nation.” Even mi said he finds the most amazing thing though the full and final verdict of the var- about President Obama is that “he actu- ious investigations are not yet in, he con- ally believes he understands the world.” tinued, it is abundantly clear that indus- Anti-Americanism in the Islamic world try was not prepared, and we as a country is “just an alibi for the failures of the Is- were not prepared. He said that while lamic world,” he said. He also cautioned Fouad Ajami technology had progressed over the years, that Western efforts to broker peace in the safety and response capabilities did not. Middle East may be doomed to failure be- He then attributed the industry’s lengthy cause of the innate collective mentality of and remarkable safety and environmental the region, referring to an Arabic proverb, NOIA STAFF record to luck, a remark that provoked dis- “My brother and I against my cousin; my Randall Luthi sent among the audience. cousin and I against a stranger.” Ajami President also noted the President’s tendency to Emily Toner On a positive note, Bromwich said that apologize for America and bow to foreign Assistant to the President moving forward, it will be imperative that leaders. “You never trash your own amid Franki Stuntz industry and government work together. strangers,” he cautioned. Chief Administrative Of- ficer & Director, Member “Our work at DOI is only part of the solu- Development tion,” he said, “the other part is you...mov- JOHN SHADEGG (R-AZ) Ann Chapman ing forward it is imperative that industry Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) Director, Conferences and government work together.” During stressed the importance of energy reli- Michael Kearns a brief question and answer period, there ability and underscored how important Director, External Affairs were also more hints of encouraging news. it would be to educate the new members Nicolette Nye Bromwich said that BOEMRE will consid- of Congress. Although not running for re- Director, Public Affairs & Editor, Washington Report er, on a case-by-case basis, extensions for election, he said he is very interested in re- leases where activities had been impacted maining active in conservative causes and Jon Hrobsky Director, by the drilling moratorium. He also said also staying active in the energy arena. Policy & Government Affairs that a permit for new deepwater drilling He encouraged NOIA members to get to Jeff Vorberger in the Gulf would be issued before the end know the incoming Congressional fresh- Director, of the year. man class and help educate them on our Government Relations (Continued on Page 3) 2 WASHINGTON REPORT NOIA FALL MEETING SUMMARY (continUED FROM paGE 2) industry’s issues – something that NOIA in AP math, science and English exams is already planning on doing, and in some passed by African-American and Hispanic cases is already actively doing. As an students is as much as over five times the example of how out of whack the current national average. The percent increase in energy policy is, Shadegg discussed the AP math and science exams passed by fe- extremely high number of lawsuits associ- male students of NMSI program schools is ated with Alaska lease sales and advocat- as much as 17 times the national average. Mike Gallagher ed legislation to enact litigation reform for the oil and gas industry. Separately, the National Math and Science Young Leaders Program is a partnership MIKE GALLAGHER between Fortune, ExxonMobil, and NMSI, Popular syndicated conservative radio host and was developed to address the issue Mike Gallagher spoke on the Midterm Elec- of women being left behind in the critical tion 2010: Seismic Shift or Status Quo? fields of math and science. Although, as many agreed after his talk, he did detail a lot of his personal history, APTIP will be expanded to over 150 high Gallagher also intertwined charming sto- schools serving a high percentage of mili- ries of Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan, tary families. The need is great: 160,000 and eventually focused on the need for a young people in the U.S. have a parent return to traditional conservative values, who is currently deployed overseas, and at a theme that resonated with the audience. least a million children have a parent who was deployed in the last eight years. GREGG FLEISHER Director of the National Math and Science NMSI’s UTeach Program transforms the Initiative Gregg Fleisher gave a presenta- way universities prepare teachers. The tion on the Advanced Placement Training program recruits math and science un- and Incentive Program (APTIP). The pro- dergraduate majors to pursue a teaching gram has support among NOIA members, career. including ExxonMobil Corporation. Ninety-two percent of UTeach graduates Gregg Fleisher The program is a comprehensive approach become teachers and eighty-two percent that increases teacher effectiveness and are still in the classroom after five years, student achievement, increases dramati- compared with fewer than 65% nationally. cally the number of students taking and NMSI university partners have enrolled passing AP math, science, and English ex- over 3,500 math and science undergradu- ams; and expands access to traditionally ate majors in the UTeach Program as of under represented students. Fall 2010. It is predicted that UTeach will prepare over 7,000 by 2018 and that they The percent increase in AP math, science will impact more than 20 million students and English exams passed in NMSI pro- over the course of their teaching careers. gram schools is as much as 11 times the national average. The percent increase (Continued on Page 4) 3 NOIA FALL MEETING SUMMARY (continUED FROM paGE 3) INDUSTRY PANEL compliance culture. He predicted that it A panel of industry experts gave presen- would be some 18 months before full com- tations on the impacts, implications, and pliance with new regulatory requirements path forward from the Gulf oil spill.