Sponsorship Requirement for AAPG Membership Removed
A proposal to amend the AAPG Bylaws by removing the requirement for endorsement by a sponsor as a condition of membership in AAPG passed by a supermajority vote at the AAPG House of Delegates meeting during the Annual Convention in San Antonio in May.
Current requisites to apply for AAPG membership are:
- Be engaged in the practice or teaching of geology;
- Hold a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate in geological science, (including, but not limited to, geology, geophysics, Earth science, geological engineering or environmental geoscience) from a college or university of acceptable academic standards; and
- Have a minimum of one year of experience in the practice or teaching of geological science. The executive committee may waive this degree requirement in favor of adequate professional experience and standing in the profession.
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A proposal to amend the AAPG Bylaws by removing the requirement for endorsement by a sponsor as a condition of membership in AAPG passed by a supermajority vote at the AAPG House of Delegates meeting during the Annual Convention in San Antonio in May.
Current requisites to apply for AAPG membership are:
- Be engaged in the practice or teaching of geology;
- Hold a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate in geological science, (including, but not limited to, geology, geophysics, Earth science, geological engineering or environmental geoscience) from a college or university of acceptable academic standards; and
- Have a minimum of one year of experience in the practice or teaching of geological science. The executive committee may waive this degree requirement in favor of adequate professional experience and standing in the profession.
Prior to May’s HoD gathering, sponsorship by an existing AAPG Member in good standing was also required to apply, which many within the Association saw as a major impediment to attracting new members.
“I personally believe that the House took a giant step forward at ACE toward being an agent for meaningful, long-term change on behalf of the Association,” outgoing House of Delegates Chair Bill Houston said of the amendment.
“By removing the sponsorship barrier to full membership … the House has taken (a) small step toward modernizing AAPG,” said Ryan Lemiski, a Canada Region delegate and Advisory Council representative.
During the 2017-18 term, Lemiski led the Advisory Council’s strategic assessment of AAPG, which is currently being worked into an update of AAPG’s strategic plan.
“We must now harness the momentum created during the San Antonio meeting in order to take bigger steps during the 2019–20 term,” Lemiski added. “This could start by challenging all delegates to circle back and engage every potential AAPG member that was turned off or turned away by the former peer-reviewed membership sponsor practice. This is critical as a vibrant and successful organization exists when all stakeholders have the ability to contribute and shape its strategic direction.”
The process to convert to full, voting Membership status can be found at AAPG.org/About/Membership/Transfer.