Volunteer Spotlight

Monthly Technical Luncheon Committee

Every month we form a long line, chat to our co-workers and industry colleagues, hand in our small ticket, sit at a round table, hold a seat for a friend running late, introduce ourselves to the unfamiliar faces at the table, embarrassingly recall that we met last year, talk about what we know of the luncheon subject, listen to the announcements while eating the main course, pour a coffee, eat part of the desert, settle back and enjoy the main draw: the Monthly Technical Luncheon presentation.

The organizational effort required ensuring the smooth running hour and a half that we enjoy each month is immense and predominantly handled by the Technical Luncheon committee [Kurt Wikel (Chair), Marc Boulet, Mark Jeroncic, Mohammed Al-Ibrahim, Larry Mewhort, Paul Anderson and Michel Nzikou] and CSEG staff member Sheryl Meggeson. Three of the committee members talk about their experience volunteering with the CSEG.

Kurt Wikel points out that the CSEG technical luncheon is the largest event of its kind, and as the current CSEG Executive Director of Educational Services Kurt is automatically Chair of the Technical Luncheon Committee.

Since he started volunteering with the CSEG in 2009, soon after arriving in Calgary, Kurt has worked with the RECORDER, as an assistant and associate editor, joined the Executive in 2013 and subsequently enjoyed the responsibility of planning and organizing the Monthly Technical Luncheon. That said, Kurt recognizes that with a young family (including a 9 month old) dividing work, volunteer and personal time is a balance act – and adds that...
Anyone who volunteers is amazing!

Mark Jeroncic sees the geophysical community as one big family that needs support from members through leadership, volunteering, and development of new technical processes - we are all in this together. So in 2011, when asked to participate in the mentorship program, Mark stepped forward. Since then, Mark expanded his participation by joining the Technical Luncheon Committee in 2013.

Like many others, Mark sees volunteering as a great way to meet geophysicists from other companies and to contribute to the profession - and he immensely enjoys being part of the Technical Luncheon ‘theatrical production’. Even so, Mark admits that, although it is important, it is hard to donate time to volunteering, especially as he has recently bought a 100 year old home in need of renovation - but adds that it doesn’t have to take a lot of time from your day if you strike the right balance and are selective about what you volunteer for.
It’s hard to donate time to volunteering but it’s important.

Your first encounter with Mohammed Al-Ibrahim may have been at the end of a camera lens - he started volunteering for the CSEG as a photographer in 2010 and has added a new role every year since including RECORDER Technical Editor, Outreach Committee, Technical Luncheon and CSEG Symposium marketing and publicity. When not organizing the luncheon agenda, compiling slides, or volunteering elsewhere, Mo can be found photographing, painting and drawing or otherwise enjoying the great outdoors. Mo is driven to volunteer to increase his network and for the opportunity to learn from influential people in the industry but also to build a stronger geophysical community. Mo also points out that the Technical Luncheon committee is a great group to work with, as
everyone is proficient in what they are responsible for