Dear fellow Golden Gate Section members,
We are nearly wrapping up another year of great success for our Section, and we just finished hosting the 2013 Western Regional Meeting in Monterey! If you were there, you know it was great. We put together 13 great technical sessions, along with a poster session; we had our customary Student Paper Contest, which showcased some of the best research of the region; and YP activities were, also, on the menu. Attendance was fantastic, and it helped that the conference was a joint venture. We had a great turnout which included a larger than expected on-site registration count, and the Hotel's lobby was constantly bustling with people, networking, talking with poster presenters, going around the exhibitor hall, and so on. What a great opportunity to connect and communicate!
We were also very pleased to have the presence of two SPE president's--one past and one future. Of course, I'm referring to Berhooz Fattahi and Jeff Spath--both of whom accompanied us at the SPE Awards Luncheon. At the luncheon, we had the opportunity to honor the award recipients' for this year and share a fine meal. Photo opportunities abounded as well!
Let's not forget the importance of keeping our region relevant to ourselves and to the SPE organization. The professional community spirit is a great resource to tap for technical exchange, career advancement, and participation in our ever evolving industry. Without your involvement, the Western Region would fade away along with the significant knowledge base that the sum of all of its members constitute. Events like this, as well as events within our section, are the foundation of the SPE and the reason why the organization exists. I am sure you can agree that in a world like today's, giving back is a must at all levels. Knowledge transfer is a priority that can't be ignored in a time when the industry struggles to fill up the void that the retiring baby-boomers are leaving... and technical meetings are just one of the ways to ensure the continuity of knowledge from one generation to the other.
One of the biggest challenges we will be facing next year will be a major member exodus from Chevron. As many of you know, most E&P personnel are being moved to Houston or other locations. Chevron San Ramon has been the section headquarters for quite awhile and losing all of this will require careful planning. We are considering our options for making the best of this transition and will be informing you in a timely manner of our plans. The section will overcome this challenge with your help and we look forward to the future in the most optimistic disposition.
Cheers,