Since you're reading
this article, it's likely that you're an AAPG member.
You've joined
the Association for your own reasons — and no matter whether you're
a student or a 30-year industry professional, something that the AAPG
provides through your membership is worth the price of your annual dues.
That's called value.
How is that
value generated?
For the Association,
it's created when its members and staff work together to conceive and
execute in a sound business manner a product or service that advances
the geosciences and the professional well-being of its members.
The
upcoming AAPG International
Conference and Exhibition in Cancun, Mexico, is a perfect example.
The efforts
of about 30 volunteer professionals, working together with headquarters'
meeting planners, publication and abstract coordinators and other support,
will implement a conference in October that delivers value to its attendees
and the geoscience community. For example:
- Conference
registrants will receive professional value through the conference's
technical sessions and exhibition, short courses and field trips,
and abundant networking opportunities.
- The conference's
host society, AMGP, will add value to its organization by using its
share of the conference proceeds to further its own objectives.
- AAPG,
after expenses, will utilize any of the conference's surplus to enhance
the value of benefits it offers its members worldwide.
The moral of
this story?
Value through
volunteering!
AAPG members
have many opportunities to volunteer, wherever you are. In this age
of technology, volunteerism truly has no boundaries:
- Volunteer
to assist the European Region in the development of its very own conference
in Prague.
- If you're
a student, volunteer to assist with various duties at AAPG's annual
meeting or international conference and exhibition.
- Volunteer
to stand for election to AAPG's House of Delegates or your regional
or sectional board and help shape our collective future.
- It's
even possible to create your own volunteer job description — just
forward your ideas to the appropriate leadership, and see what happens.
Some of my
best industry consulting geology began by volunteering to work on an
AAPG event. My employment with Atlantic Richfield, for example, was
a direct result of being introduced to an Arco geologist at an AAPG
annual meeting who, two years later, recommended me for a staff position
there.
In volunteering,
I added value to my career and to my bank account as well.
Take the time
to volunteer — you and your profession will be better for it.
Who knows just
what value you'll receive?