The President Speaks
by Jeffrey R. Hughes
February 2011

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From the President’s Desk: 

As I begin my final year as your AADE National President, I once again would like to thank all of the officers, members, sponsors, and volunteers from all of our great Chapters all over the country. Without you, we would be nothing. I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating - of all the organizations I have been a part of over the last 35 years, none have been more rewarding to me than AADE. In my short tenure as President, I have watched this organization not only grow, but continue to give back year after year to its Student Sections, its Chapter’s individual charities and educational initiatives, and the community as a whole. It makes me proud to be a part of such an organization. 

Last month I attended the Annual Technical Symposium that was put on by the Mid-Continent Chapter and held in Oklahoma City. The one day symposium drew a crowd of over 400 participants and included presentations from Apache, Chesapeake, Devon, H&P Drilling, Petrohawk, Range Resources, and XTO. The Mid-Continent Chapter was my first stop this year on my planned goal to visit all eleven (11) AADE Chapters around the country including our newest Chapter, the Central Texas Chapter, just formed last year in San Antonio. My planned itinerary and a little history of each Chapter follow. 

I was in Oklahoma City on January 18th and 19th for a National Board meeting and the Mid-Continent’s Technical Symposium that followed. The Mid-Continent Chapter was formed in 2001 and has over 450 members. Their monthly meetings are split between Oklahoma City and Tulsa and they are one of our richest Chapters with over $415,000 in the bank. The Mid-Continent Chapter supports Student Sections from three universities including the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Tulsa. 

On March 23rd I plan on attending the monthly luncheon for the Central Texas Chapter in San Antonio. The idea for a Central Texas Chapter began in early 2010 as more operators began moving their offices to San Antonio to be closer to the drilling taking place in the Eagleford Shale. It didn’t take long for an organizational meeting to take place and a Central Texas Chapter was born in December of 2010. 

In April, I find myself in New Orleans on April 7th for their 16th Annual Fin, Feather, Fur Food Festival. New Orleans is where AADE all started way back in 1978 when a few good old boys were sitting around talking and figured out that there needed to be an organization in addition to IADC that represented those oil company individuals that were involved in drilling. The New Orleans Chapter is also a generous supporter of Student Sections at Louisiana State University, the University of New Orleans, and Nicholls State University. 

On April 12th – 14th I am back home in Houston for the 2011 AADE National Technical Conference and Exhibition. This is a National Chapter event that will be held in Houston this year with the help of the Houston Chapter. The Houston Chapter was formed in 1989 and is the largest Chapter with over 2,600 members. In addition, the Houston Chapter supports three Student Sections at the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, and the University of Houston. 

In May, I travel to Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on May 13th for the Appalachian Chapter’s 2nd Annual Sporting Clay/Skeet Tournament. The Appalachian Chapter formed just two years ago in 2009 but is our fastest growing Chapter with almost 500 members in 2010. The Chapter also has committed to sponsoring a Student Section at Marietta College in 2011. 

After visiting the Appalachian Chapter, I plan to go to Lafayette for their monthly luncheon meeting on May 16th. The Lafayette Chapter was formed in 1979 and with a membership of over 700, is one of our most benevolent Chapters contributing $70,000 in scholarship monies in 2010. The Lafayette Chapter is also a generous supporter of the Student Section at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 

On June 16th, the National Board is headed to Anchorage, Alaska to attend the first ever National Board meeting at that site. It is long overdue and we look forward to the experience. The Alaska Chapter was formed in 2003 and has a little less than 100 members but continues to be an ardent supporter of the Student Section at the University of Alaska – Fairbanks. 

After taking the summer off, the National Board heads west once again on September 15th this time to Bakersfield, California for a National Board meeting sponsored by the West Coast Chapter. The West Coast Chapter, our most liberal Chapter, was formed in 1990 and has a little less than 150 members.   

After the National Board meeting in Bakersfield, I plan to be in Denver on September 24th for their 2nd Annual Fin, Feather, Fur Food Fest. The Denver Chapter began in 1996 and has almost 400 members. In addition to giving out $30,000 in scholarship monies in 2010, the Denver Chapter also supports Student Sections at the Colorado School of Mines, the University of Wyoming, and Montana Tech.  

I plan on being in Fort Worth on November 19th for the Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter’s monthly luncheon. The DFW Chapter, formed in 1991, alternates their meetings between Dallas and Fort Worth and in 2010 generously handed out over $50,000 in scholarship monies. In addition, the DFW Chapter sponsors a Student Section at West Virginia University. 

And finally, on December 1st I’m going to Midland, Texas for the Permian Basin Chapter’s Annual Membership Holiday Social. The Permian Basin Chapter was formed in 2000 and has a little over 200 members. They also sponsor Student Sections at Texas Tech and New Mexico Tech. 

Before my term as President expires at the end of this year, I plan to meet as many of you as I can and personally thank you for your participation in this great organization. If you know of someone who is not an AADE member yet, please encourage them to join. They won’t regret it. Thanks to all of you again and good luck to all of us in 2011!