Executive Message

As I join the society in the capacity of Vice President, I see this successful organization undergoing rapid change. The society is becoming even stronger by representing a broader perspective of the membership, and by providing more services to those members and our sponsoring companies. The potentia l for growth is incredible. Managing that growth will be the challenge for the CSEG Executive for years to come.

The society has undertaken several tasks and initiatives that have fostered this evolutionary process. The CSEG bylaws were recently revised, with the most significant revision perhaps being that elected members join an expanded CSEG Executive. Terms of office were expanded to a two year term. The elected person functions as the assistant to their elected portfolio the first year, and acts as the director of it the following year. This has many advantages. Not only does it provide an opportunity for the elected person to "learn the ropes" for one year, but an expanded Executive can now be more proactive with various initiatives as there are double the number of people around the table. Enhanced communication between the Executive and the numerous committees will be the most immediate change witnessed . The expanded Executive also provides the opportunity for the Executive to hear numerous opinions and voices within the society.

The office staff was expanded a year ago as Jim Racette joined the society as Managing Director. Having two individuals in the office will facilitate better communication and coordination of things within the society. The Chief Geophysicists Forum ( CGF ) decided to join the CSEG as a standing committee. This group acts as a "think tank" to identify and address issues of importance to the geophysical discipline. The Geotechnical Support Committee ( GTS ), predominantly comprised of technicians and technologists within the industry, was created as a standing committee as well. This initiative strengthens and broadens the society to include people involved in technical aspects of geophysics as well as the science itself.

The Master License Agreement ( MLA ) is yet another initiative which could significantly change the role of the society as we know it today. The MLA proposes an industry standard licensing agreement for the purchase of third party seismic data. It endeavors to clarify the rules governing data ownership, its privileges, obligations and the brokers' responsibilities. This document is currently before the CSEG Executive. It advocates that the society become the agent of the agreement much as the Canadian Association of Professional landmen ( CAPL ) does with their basic landowners' agreement. If endorsed, the CSEG will take on a heightened role within the oil industry. While not dictating how work is performed, the society will be placed in a position of offering an industry-acceptable document to its members for potential use. This document could serve individual members, corporations, as well as sister societies. This initiative also begins what appears to be a new trend within the CSEG of heightened member services.

This month, on June 2nd, the CSEG Executive embarks on its third Executive Retreat planning session. The Executive will be joined this year by the chairpersons of the numerous committees. Together, this group will focus on issues within the society and discuss its future course. I look forward to working with all of the Executive and committees over the next three years to guide and manage the phenomenal growth within the society. As we move forward into the next 50 years of existence for the society, I reflect back upon the last 50 years and recognize what a unique organization our forefathers, the pioneers of our industry, created when the society was formed. The Ora l History Project will endeavor to archive some of our past history and capture some of these great stories.