22-Sep-09 11:00 AM  CST  

October 2009 Presidents letter 

 

President’s Column for Oct, 2009 by Marc Sbar , 2^nd VP

Most of you may not realize that GSH has a fun side. With Technical Breakfasts, Technical Lunches and Special Interest Groups there’s hardly any time to just hang out with your buddies and do the things you like. Well it turns out there is a very dynamic program driven by active committee chairmen and …all of this fun is the purview of the 2^nd VP. However, before delving into the program I need to thank Bob Ayers for the great job he did last year as 2^nd VP. Everything was set up and ready to go when I took over in July.

The program currently consists of six sporting and social events. The first event from a chronological perspective is the Annual Awards Banquet at Lakeside Country Club on May 7^th. Thanks to Steve Davidson for organizing the Banquet this year. This is not billed as a fun event, but it is an opportunity to thank and recognize those that have contributed to the Society and to geophysics over the past year and throughout their careers. It also turns out to be a wonderful opportunity to meet those folks that drive this organization.

The summer really got rolling with the Golf Tournament at Kingwood Country Club four days later. Golf took the prize this year with the largest attendance of 385, including members and guests.  A new trophy was instituted this year in memory of Steve Tyrell for the team with lowest gross score.  Steve was an ardent golfer and helped to run GSH golf program over many years. This is a fitting tribute. On a lighter note make sure to take your lightning rods along on the next outing. Two of the golfers had a close call that knocked them down at the 2009 Tournament. Many thanks to Dennis Sump and Matt Tyrell for putting this successful program together.

The summer season continued with the Annual Meeting and Barbeque at Jax Grill in late May. We thank Jim Moulden for doing groundwork for this one. The Barbeque was a great event and featured the installation of new officers and the passing of the ‘Honorary GSH Shovel’?   I had no clue at the time and will have to research this some more. Whatever the official reasons there is no doubt that a shovel is an appropriate symbol for our past and current presidents, given what they have to put up with.   

You may have noticed the full-page spread devoted to the Salt Water Fishing Tournament in the August Newsletter. This event was held June 11^th and skillfully managed by Bobby Perez. I am always amazed when I see anyone with a fish longer than eight inches (my record). From a careful analysis of the photos, it seems this was not only a fishing tournament, but an eating tournament as well. It looks like a good time was had by all.

The Sporting Clays Tournament was held August 22^nd at the American Shooting Center. This was a very successful event with over 260 members and guests attending. The sponsorship came from over 30 geophysical companies as well as some others outside our universe. There were so many door prizes and awards ranging from shotguns to gift cards that about half the attendees won something. It is hard to beat those odds. If that was not enough, a catered lunch was also included.  Dietrich Landis did the heavy lifting this year. He was helped by members Alan Foley and Steve Mitchell as well as Jeanni Harris of the American Shooting Center. All of them deserve our thanks for a fun and safe event.

This year’s activities ended with the Tennis Tournament September 11^th at the Houston Racquet Club. Marvin Taylor & Liz Ivie selected this date specifically to make it a support America event with American Flag tee shirts in memory of the tragedy of 9/11. At the time of this writing the Tennis Tournament is still in the future, but I have no doubt that there will be some great tennis that weekend. Thanks Marvin

The sporting and social events are not just fun. They provide a great networking opportunity and, with the sponsorships from a wide range of companies, actually produce a net income for the Society. Most of this income goes to our scholarship fund. I encourage all of you to get out there and participate and if you don’t see something you can really sink your teeth into, give me a call or send an email and I will be happy to work with you to get your activity on the list.

 

 

 

For additional information on this President's Column article, please contact:

Marc Sbar

Source: October 2009 GSH Newsletter

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