Vol. 28, No. 2 February 2007 FEBRUARY 2007 3 On the cover: The awesome beauty of Alaska – and for explorers, Ability-to-Pay Graduated Dues Structure (proposed fee schedule) the delicious dynamics of its geologic history – are on full display this Gross Personal Dues Products Options month thanks to AAPG member David Houseknecht, who took this Income photo and will be offering talks on Alaskan potential at the upcoming Level 1 >$50,000 $80 EXPLORER hardcopy/optional BULLETIN AAPG Annual Convention in Long Beach, Calif. See page 6. Specifically, the cover photo captures the thrust fault ramp in Level 2 $50-25,000 $40 EXPLORER hardcopy/digital $30 BULLETIN Carboniferous Lisburne Group carbonates at Brooks Range mountain BULLETIN hardcopy fee front, Akmagolik Creek, north-central Alaska. How awesome is it? Use Level 3 <$25,000 $20 Digital only $20 EXPLORER the blue helicopter (see it in the center of the photo?) for scale. The hardcopy fee and scene is about 150 miles southwest of Prudhoe Bay. $30 BULLETIN hardcopy fee Note: Figures do not include postal surcharge for non-U.S. mailing. Taking it to the streets: Ryan Henry, who found creative ways 4 to teach earth sciences to students at a Tulsa Street School, is this year’s AAPG Teacher of the Year. Dues You Can Use; Everything old is new again: The Arctic Alaska already is 6 considered a world-class petroleum province, but future exploration may depend on a new view of old rocks. A Step to the Future You thought the Grand Canyon was big? Sometimes it’s 10 By LEE T. BILLINGSLEY This situation reminds me of a quote dwarfed by the ongoing flap of how it got that way. After reviewing next year’s financial from Charles Darwin: “It is not the projections and expansion of AAPG strongest of the services, the Executive Committee voted species that Good vibrations: Something is always shaking in the world of 12 to set next year’s dues at $80 for Active survives, nor the seismic technology, and the results have been good for the and Associate and $40 for New Associate most intelligent, but industry and the environment alike. and Emeritus members. the one most To put next year’s top dues of $80 in responsive to perspective: change.” A dirty shame: In a country where earthquakes, volcanoes 16 ✓ It is about the same as the top dues and tsunamis are a constant threat, a deadly mudflow is for SPE and SEG. * * * ✓ It is a 6.7 percent increase after six wreaking havoc. years of no change. Should AAPG ✓ Based on AAPG’s annual salary members be The main course? Frontier exploration may be the industry’s 20 survey, the average member will need to concerned? work less than two hours per year to pay If AAPG were like champagne and caviar when it comes to headlines, but for dues. Billingsley a commercial bank, generating new prospects in known areas remains its ✓ Dues will cost less than that of one we could envision exploration bread and butter. cup of Starbuck’s coffee per week for a members making “deposits” to AAPG in year. the form of new technical data and As you can see from the above interpretations, attendance at rationale, AAPG dues are relatively conventions, purchasing books, etc. inexpensive for our “average” members. AAPG depends on its members to However, some current members and continually replenish and expand its Geophysical Corner 28 Membership and Certification 35 many prospective members currently technical database. Like commercial earn considerably less than the average. banks, AAPG must actively market itself to Washington Watch 29 Readers’ Forum 36 AAPG dues, even the half rate for New new account holders, even though most Associates, are a deterrent for both new members may only make small Regions and Sections 30 In Memory 38 retention and recruitment of some deposits at first. However, as new members. depositors mature and remain loyal, some www.Update 32 Classified Ads 40 In many parts of the world AAPG will make major deposits or contributions. actually competes for members with SPE If AAPG cannot attract these new Foundation Update 32 Director’s Corner 41 and SEG. Even though each organization members we will suffer the consequences offers different content to its members, of a stagnating membership, much like a Spotlight on Education 33 EMD Column 41 prospective members are faced with a bank without new accounts. choice of joining only one organization. AAPG clearly needs a graduated dues Professional News Briefs 34 Currently, both SPE and SEG offer structure to be competitive on a global graduated dues structures, and their dues scale. Several committees and groups are reduced from their top rate based on within AAPG, including the Executive a member’s geographic location, years of Committee, Advisory Council, Ad Hoc AAPG Headquarters – 1-800-364-2274 (U.S. & Canada only), others 1-918-584-2555 experience or combinations thereof. Thus, Graduated Dues Committee and Communications Director Correspondents Advertising Coordinator some geologists are joining SPE or SEG Membership Committee collaborated and Larry Nation David Brown Brenda Merideth but not AAPG simply based on the cost conferred for the past year to recommend e-mail: [email protected] Louise S. Durham P.O. Box 979 structure of dues. a graduated dues structure that would Barry Friedman Tulsa, Okla. 74101 AAPG does not have to imitate other best fit our membership. Managing Editor Ken Milam telephone: (918) 560-2647 organizations, just for the sake of following AAPG’s House of Delegates’ (HoD) Vern Stefanic (U.S. and Canada only: their lead. But SPE’s and SEG’s increasing leadership took the recommendation, e-mail: [email protected] Graphics/Production 1-800-288-7636) memberships and AAPG’s flat to declining modified it slightly and has now placed a Rusty Johnson (Note: The above number is membership have certainly gotten the Bylaw amendment on the agenda for the Editorial Assistant e-mail: for advertising purposes only.) attention of your elected leadership for the Susie Moore [email protected] fax: (918) 560-2636 past couple of years. See President, next page e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Vol. 28, No. 2 Candidates’ Bios, Responses Online The AAPG EXPLORER (ISSN 0195-2986) is published monthly for members. Published at AAPG headquarters, 1444 S. Boulder Ave., P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101, (918) 584-2555. e-mail address: [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, Okla., and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A. Biographies, pictures and information were provided by each Note to members: $6 of annual dues pays for one year’s subscription to the EXPLORER. Airmail service for members: $45. Subscription rates for non-members: $63 for 12 issues; add $67 for airmail service. Advertising rates: Contact Brenda statements from all candidates for candidate and edited only for Merideth, AAPG headquarters. Subscriptions: Contact Veta McCoy, AAPG headquarters. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and videos must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to ensure return. AAPG office are now available for grammar, spelling and format. viewing on the AAPG Web site, This information, which will remain The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) does not endorse or recommend any products or services that may be cited, used or discussed in AAPG publications or in presentations at events associated with AAPG. www.aapg.org. online through the election period, also Copyright 2007 by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved. The candidates were given the appeared as a hardcopy insert in the opportunity to respond briefly to the January EXPLORER. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to AAPG EXPLORER, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101. subject: “Why I Accepted the Invitation Online balloting will be made Canada Publication Number 40046336. Canadian returns to: Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J5 to be a Candidate for an AAPG Office.” available in the spring of 2007. Ballots e-mail: [email protected] Responses and biographical will be counted on May 16. FEBRUARY 2007 4 one-fourth of Level 1, or $20 next year. President ✓ Dues based on any income level AAPG Honors Teacher from previous page cannot be less than $20. At first glance, Level 1 appears to subsidize the lower levels. However, as Ryan Henry, currently a and the other half for his shown on the accompanying table, Level seventh grade earth sciences personal use. HoD meeting in Long Beach, Calif. on 2 and Level 3 dues payers will receive teacher at Graland Country Day He also receives an all- April 1. fewer hardcopy products. These products School in Denver, has been expense paid trip to the AAPG and their delivery are a significant named AAPG’s National Earth Annual Convention in Long * * * expense, so the reduction in dues revenue Science Teacher of the Year. Beach, Calif., April 1-4, where is at least partially offset by a reduction in Henry is receiving the honor he will be presented with his The proposed amendment can be expense. for his efforts while teaching at award at the All-Convention summarized as follows: Level 2 and 3 dues payers can still Street School in Tulsa, where he Luncheon. ✓ Member dues levels are created elect to receive hardcopy products by taught all science classes offered Henry, who received both according to personal gross income in paying an extra fee. These additional fees including: physical science, his bachelor’s degree in earth U.S. dollars. Level 1 – income greater than may be adjusted in future years biology, earth science and science and master’s degree in Henry $50,000; Level 2 – $25,000-$50,000; and depending on costs.