Tracing the Industry

ON THE MOVE...

Christa Burry is pleased to announced that she has joined Apache Canada in their Northern Exploration Group. You can reach Christa at christa.burry@apachecorp.com. Christa would like to wish all of her ex-colleagues at Anadarko every success in the future.

John Logel has joined Talisman Energy Inc. as a Senior Geophysical Advisor. John can be reached at jlogel@talisman-energy.com.

MOVING ON OUT...

This announcement from Sigma and Tim Ross should have appeared in the March issue of the Recorder. My apologies for the mix-up.

Tim Ross and Sigma Explorations Inc. would like to announce his retirement from Sigma Explorations Inc. Tim would like to thank all his clients and the many helpful service people he has had the opportunity to work with for the past 16 years. Tim’s plans are to take some time off and return to the industry, in some capacity, in the near future. He wishes health, happiness and success to all and is looking forward to keeping in touch with many friends and acquaintances in the industry. Tim can be reached by email at trross@shaw.ca.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...

The RECORDER readers want to know what has happened to people that have retired from our industry. How are you enjoying retirement? Your career change? Drop us a line and let us know. CS

Honorary CSEG Member Sudhir Jain was a regular contributor to the RECORDER and the CSEG Journal and a frequent luncheon speaker for last 25 years of the last millenium. After retiring from the industry, he started writing short stories and essays covering a wide spectrum. A collection of his stories is being published by Bayeux Arts in April. The collection is called Isolde’s Dream and Other Stories. Two of the stories are based on tragic loves of married women for famous composers, Richard Wagner and Gustav Mahler. Other stories are based on observations on events in daily life and illustrate a unique sense of self-deprecating wit and pathos. More details on www.bayeux.com.

THE STORK HAS VISITED...

Melissa (Canadian Natural Resources ) and Joel Schmitz (Encana) are proud to announce the birth of their son Brandon Christopher Burdan Schmitz. He was born on December 30th, 2006 at 6:03 pm. Brandon was 9 pounds 11 ounces and is still growing quickly. He is perfect in every way.

GIVING BACK...

Many people in our geophysical community give unselfishly of their time and resources in volunteer work outside the geophysical community. The RECORDER committee would like to give our members an opportunity to share their experiences and details of the charity that they support. This month we have the pleasure of highlighting a charity that more than one of our members is involved in. CS

Sandy Hammink – Shell Canada

It had been a dream of mine as a young girl to go to Africa and do peace work. So when Jim and Gloria Stenhouse (of GeoSearch) told me about the work an organization called “A Better World” (ABW) was doing in Africa, I quickly responded with, “Where do I sign up?”

A Better World is a Central Alberta based non-denominational humanitarian organization, supported and managed by a diverse group of individuals dedicated to addressing the root causes of poverty in the developing world. Their mission is "to identify and evaluate opportunities to alleviate poverty in communities that are most in need, then develop and implement innovative projects designed to build foundations necessary to end poverty."

Part of the success of this organization is credited to the community participation on any given project. Eric Rajah, one of the founders of the organization, says: “Working with local people and involving them in the day-to-day operations of the projects is the primary reason why it is still ongoing. Our mission statement is ‘Helping Hands – Not Handing Out.’ The only way to bring long-term solutions is to work side by side with people so they can help themselves.”

I was privileged to see this philosophy put into place first hand along with witnessing how efficient the organization is at taking charitable donations and turning them into immediate relief.

The initial program is a 16 day mission. Along with the volunteer work, ABW also adds a tour of Nairobi, game drives and a three to four day relaxation period on the island of Lamu.

The volunteer work included rudimentary eyeglass clinics, medical clinics, evaluation of programs already in progress and assessment of those newly proposed projects presented by local organizations from small communities. We found ourselves visiting a variety of different facilities including schools, orphanages hospitals and village clinics.

We each carried two suitcases, one filled with our own clothes and the other filled with donated medical supplies, school supplies and/or clothing.

Our professions were diverse and ages ranged from 13 to 70. We were all kindred spirits and would share in a most remarkable experience.

My first few days in Africa were of total cultural shock. Within a week, my eyes and senses became accustom to the sights, smells and sounds. Our days went by at a fast pace and much was achieved in the time we were there. Long journeys on dusty, bumpy roads , emotional moments and often feelings of helplessness were part of the day’s experience. There was always much to do and often the volunteer work we did seemed like a small drop in a large bucket.

In all the days spent in Africa the visit to the orphanage at Kimchimchim left the biggest impression on me.

At 8:00 am sharp, our driver Paul gathered us into the van and we were off. It had rained heavily the previous day and as we made our turn off the paved highway onto the dirt road to Kipchimchim, disappointment set in.

The road was slick and mucky and chances of us making it to the top of the hill to the orphanage was looking pretty slim. But Paul had assured us that he would get us there, and with a switch to 4-wheel-drive we were climbing the treacherous road to Kipchimchim.

This facility was a mixture of disabled children and teenagers, some of whom were mildly disabled but capable of learning a trade, so that they might become self-sufficient. Our two-day mission here, was to assess the immediate and long-term needs of the facilities as well as the medical needs of the children. Two local women Ann Chepngeno and her daughter Nellie, both medical professionals, volunteered to help us with the assessment.

I was assigned as photographer. I took pictures of each child’s disability. The children were reserved and hesitant when approaching our group, but I quickly learned that the simple action of a warm smile or a gentle hug brought them out of their shell. They were brave and had more dignity than most people I have met and once they felt relaxed in our presence they were eager to help us out.

Many of these children have no family and as a result their desire for affection was beyond any I had ever felt before in my life. They made it easy to open your heart and embrace each and every one of them.

These children were joyful and very patient while waiting their turn to be photographed, poked and prodded. They are brave and strong and live their life moment to moment in appreciation of all they have, as little as that is. They have dreams and they challenge themselves and show off as one little girl did when she dropped her crutches to show us that she could walk without assistance. Being in their presence was inspiring, yet heartbreaking.

After writing down all the needs and sorting through the assessments it was decided by Cindy Wright (one of the organizers of ABW), that the most immediate action for us was to buy all the children in the orphanage new mattresses, sheets and blankets. And so at the end of the afternoon we headed to Kericho to see what the small town stores had to offer.

The local “Stagmatt” was more than accommodating. The owner offered a discount as well as use of a truck and driver to transport our purchases. The following morning we headed to the Stagmatt and filled our van with the necessities and off we went. The mattresses were tied one on top of the other to the roof of the truck. They teetered back and forth as we slowly made our way up the bumpy hill. It was an extraordinary site and drew people from their homes and children from their schools. At one point I got out of the van and walked a portion of the way taking pictures of the curious faces as they watched our procession.

The reaction of the children at the orphanage was most gratifying. They squealed with delight, and eagerly rushed the vans to help with the unloading. The older helped the younger children, those who were incapable of changing the bedding, were helped by those who could. The place was a buzz. The smiles on the children’s faces when we were changing their bedding let us all know that in one afternoon we had the privilege to bring joy to their lives.

Afterwards we sat and drank warm pop and listened to the thank you speeches of the Sister and staff. We were than entertained with singing and dancing by the children. There is a very dedicated physiotherapist that visits the facility once a week and for some, this is the all the assistance they will need. Charitable funds will be dedicated to prosthetics for those who are missing limbs. Others will be helped through operations. Sadly, nothing can be done for those who suffer from Cerebral Palsy, or other incurable birth disorders or disease.

I would never trade my experience at Kipchimchim. It humbled me in a most profound way. I have a photo hanging in my office of a group picture of the children. It is a reminder that compassion, generosity and love when practiced, can make a difference.

A Better World will be offering it’s next opportunity to Africa in November of 2007. You can contact Jim and Gloria Stenhouse for further details at: gstenhouse@geosearchdata.com.

A Better Worlds web page can be found at: www.abwcanada.ca.