| From the President’s
Desk I would like to comment again on
the “Knowledge Box” program sponsored by AADE. This program was
originally implemented by, and continues to be operated by the Houston
based Offshore Energy Center. Physically, the Knowledge Box is actually
a large travel case with a tremendous assortment of information
concerning the oil and gas industry, including CD's, working models,
pamphlets, etc. It was designed to be used in schools as a teaching tool
for the educators, in order to help them inform their students about not
only the importance of our industry, but also to inform them of the many
career opportunities the industry has to offer.
Those of us who have had the opportunity to sit in on some of the
classroom sessions have been amazed to learn that the misconceptions
that the public has concerning our industry is actually being taught by
many of the teachers. The major goal of the Knowledge Box program is to
help the teachers in educating their students about the industry.
Already, we are seeing results. For instance, through the hard work of
the Offshore Energy Center staff, they have been able to convince the
Girl Scouts that their merit badge logo containing a derrick with oil
blowing through the top is not a true representation, and they have
agreed to change it. This is just a tiny example, but an important one
in changing the image of our industry. AADE is committed to the support
and expansion of the Knowledge Box program.
On November 11th, AADE will have its first National Board sponsored Fin,
Feather & Fur Food Festival in Houston TX. The primary purpose of this
event is to expand the membership of the AADE in general and to generate
the funds necessary to support the operation of the AADE National Board
as well as provide supplemental funding for the Knowledge Box program.
Secondly, this event will provide a social setting that promotes
networking dialogue and technical discussions among our members and
certainly some fellowship and fun for our industry associates.
We expect to have as many as fifty cooking teams, preparing many
different recipes, each having as its main ingredient something that
once had Fins, Feather or Fur. Although this is the first event of this
nature for AADE National Board, it is planned to be an annual
occurrence. Such an event was started by AADE - New Orleans Chapter
several years ago and immediately became a major success. It has also
become an annual event for AADE - Alaska Chapter. To learn more about
this event as well as many others, go to www.aade.org.
The 2005 AADE National Technical Conference & Exhibition, "Drilling
Solutions for the Future" to be held on April 5-7, in Houston TX, is
currently being planned. This program is scheduled to have nineteen
sessions tailored directly to our industry. Three of sessions are
dedicated to Universities and it is anticipated that as many as
twenty-eight Universities will be participating in this year’s event!
For more information and to register, visit www.aade.org and click on
the 2005 AADE National Technical Conference & Exhibition tab.
We look forward to seeing many of you at the above events.
Your President,
Andy Ellis |
