AAPG is a one-of-a-kind professional association that provides its members with opportunities to continually grow, learn and engage with a like-minded community of geoscientists across the globe. This kinship and belonging has enriched our professional careers and has created lifelong friendships amongst colleagues. I’ve had the great privilege to serve AAPG and its membership in a multitude of leadership roles – including president and vice president of the Division of Professional Affairs, the Energy Minerals Division, AAPG’s Advisory Council, chair of two House of Delegates committees and other various leadership and technical committee roles in my 26 years as an Member of AAPG. I am also proud to share that I contributed to the AAPG Reimagine Committee (co-chair) and several president’s ad hoc committees over the years, seeking to improve our esteemed Association during our careers and for future generations.
I’m writing this because AAPG’s longevity is at stake. While there are likely to be divergent opinions on the topic of AAPG’s future, we should all expect respectful engagement, open discourse, and honesty – as per our Code of Ethics and as geoscience professionals.
Unfortunately, falsehoods and misinformation are being shared that are blatantly untrue and seek to misrepresent the Reimagine effort. Full and frequent communication at every step of the process has been a cornerstone of the Reimagine effort, with articles, information, videos and opportunities for members to write the president with thoughts, ideas and additional considerations. It’s troubling that “conspiracy theories” are circulating, which seek to discredit our fellow professionals who have put in great thought, perspective and challenge into Reimagine, always keeping the best interests of AAPG as their guiding principle.
In January, the draft proposal was handed over to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and shared with the full AAPG House of Delegates for their input, feedback, and improvements. Iterating between the C&BL and the Executive Committee, changes were made and now, after many, many member/volunteer hours of work, the updated proposal is up for review by the HoD during April and May. The delegates’ vote in late May is not about adopting the proposal. Rather, the HoD vote merely controls whether AAPG’s full membership can consider and vote on the proposal.
A few facts that I would like to emphasize are:
- The foundation of the Reimagine effort puts science first, enabling and ensuring a stronger focus on technical events, products and services for Members, which complements on-going and needed initiatives to cut operating costs, increase revenue and opportunities to regret non-value add programs.
- Reimagine streamlines AAPG’s leadership, refocuses significant volunteer time on building desired programs and services and seeks simplicity to run AAPG more efficiently, including reducing intensive and repetitive requests on the staff, which contributes to AAPG’s high overhead.
- The proposal recommends returning AAPG to a board structure, including technical and membership directorates, strengthening leadership and streamlining decision-making with a clear focus on generating revenue, budget allocation and delivering a balanced budget. A key element of this is inclusion of a staff finance professional to take on the role of CFO on the Board, supplanting the elected member role of Treasurer. This provides continuity across Boards and a stable, consistent view of financial accounting, budgeting and business planning.
- The current Executive Committee, House of Delegates and Advisory Council are consolidated into one 16-member Board of Directors that includes member-elected representatives from the sections, regions, divisions, TIGs, and SIGs. The HoD will place more focus on maintaining and growing membership and two-way ambassadorship with Regions, Sections, and local societies.
- Current AAPG divisions become technical directorates, and new oil and gas directors and publications/content directorates are created. Given seats at the decision-making table, their leaders will directly influence the events, publications and quality technical products offered to members and focused on generating revenue.
- Very importantly, every voting member, rather than only HoD Delegates, will be able to participate in governance decision-making for AAPG. Currently, each delegate votes for up to 70 AAPG members, based on AAPG membership counts in local affiliates. Lacking any feedback loop, it is unclear how each delegate votes to represent you. Going forward, with direct democracy, every voting member has an equal vote.
- Reimagine is focused on improving AAPG’s finances line and increasing member value. Whether you’re for or against it, this is not about changing AAPG’s name or our fundamental mission, both of which are unchanged.
- Last, the cost for Reimagine has been primarily invested in member-volunteer hours from the dedicated committee members, HoD Delegates, CB&L and AAPG members who have submitted input. The sole contractor utilized in the last months has been a parliamentarian, who is necessary to rewrite the Bylaws, and review by AAPG’s legal representatives.
The various prior presidents’ ad hoc committees over more than a decade have accomplished a huge amount of work and recommended several changes, but the majority of those did not get implemented. I encourage all members to educate themselves on the facts regarding the Reimagine proposal. You can then advocate the Delegates who represent your voice in AAPG’s decision regarding your view.
You can learn more at AAPG.org/Reimagine.
As of this printing, the AAPG EC overwhelmingly supports Reimagine by a vote of 7:1. President Hackbarth’s ad hoc committee, comprised of past HoD chairs and the incoming HoD chair, incorporated their suggestions as well as those from open member feedback, and direct input and iterations with the HoD and the CB&L.The EC then voted again 7:1 in favor of the revised Bylaws which formally sent the proposal to the HoD for review before Delegates cast their vote on May 31, 2024, which would then allow the full membership to vote on the Reimagine proposal.
There is much coming that we all should be excited about. I look forward to AAPG’s mission to “advance the science” continuing, for us and future generations to come. There will still be more work to do – getting the Board laser-focused on finances, a balanced budget, allocation of spend to projects that contribute to AAPG’s bottom line, and a credible business plan. A business-centric Board of Directors is the logical step to pave the way for these necessary changes to occur and sets AAPG on a track for a successful future; and to give members the ability to speak their voice by having an equal vote across AAPG. I appreciate your time and attention, and I also thank you for your membership.