Chatting
with a couple of new members of AAPG makes it apparent what it takes
to "persuade" a colleague to join AAPG.
And what does it take? Not much.
For instance, Mary Purcell, of Williams Production
in Colorado, signed up at the recent Rocky Mountain Section meeting
in Laramie, Wyo.
Why?
"Because I should have years ago," Purcell said.
"They had a sign-up booth and it was very convenient and easy. It
was there, I had the time and I just did it."
Then there's William J. Thompson, of the Texas Railroad
Commission in Corpus Christi, Texas, who had been reading the EXPLORER
and BULLETIN passed along from co-workers, all the while intending
to join AAPG after he served the three years in the profession required
to join as an Active member. However, with "a little urging" from
a supervisor, he signed up as an Associate member and will upgrade
to Active in about a year.
A recent geology graduate of Texas A&M Corpus
Christi, Thompson is working in environmental geology with the TRC.
So, with a word here and an invitation there, AAPG's
ranks are joined by fellow colleagues. Members are finding out it
is easy to recruit for AAPG.
And keep in mind that with AAPG's Membership Enhancement
Development Program, a member who recruits a new member will "get
stuff," which includes a desk flag for everyone who recruits one
new member, and special lapel pins for those who recruit three or
more.
Prizes also will be provided at each meeting through
a drawing of those who sign up a new member. The goal is to gain
1,000 net new members.
The top recruiter will receive a travel voucher,
four nights lodging and registration fees for the 2003 AAPG international
meeting in Barcelona, Spain. This Grand Prize winner will be announced
in May at the AAPG Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City.
That's good news, because there is plenty of time
to bring in new members — and maybe win the trip to Barcelona.
As of press time, there were three members who had
brought in two new members each — and they were tied for the lead
toward the Grand Prize. Consequently, the Grand Prize is very much
up for grabs.
Recruiting kits, which contain a list of member benefits,
contest information, a "recruiter button" and, most importantly,
new member applications, are available by contacting AAPG at 1(800)
364-AAPG (In U.S. and Canada); or by e-mail.
Also, recruiter kits, member applications and contest
rules and information all are available on the AAPG Web site.
Keep in mind that recruiting members is not a hard
job — usually it's just a matter of asking "Are you a member of
AAPG? No? Well, let me show you how to join.
"It's time to join, you know."