On Tuesday, November 3rd IPAA will be teaming up with Louisiana YPE (Young Professionals in Energy) members to participate in Operation Sudden Impact (O.S.I). This organization was founded by the residents of the flooded neighborhoods to replace the thousands of trees on public green spaces in New Orleans that were lost as a result of hurricane Katrina.  Operation Sudden Impact has landscaped 7 1/2 miles of public green space and continues to work on bringing beautiful oak trees back to New Orleans, one neighborhood at a time. Since Katrina they have planted over 1,200 trees and over 2,500 plants and flowering shrubs.

Approximately 30 oak trees have been selected as the tree of choice for the project due to their sustainability. Operation Sudden Impact also coordinates maintenance for the trees after they have been planted.

Al Petrie, O.S.I. chairman and IPAA member, has secured funding needed to purchase the trees for this particular project. O.S.I. will dig the holes with our main purpose to focus on planting the trees and mulching.

If you have any questions, please contact Nikki McDermott at 202-857-4742.
Please RSVP via email to nmcdermott@ipaa.org no later than Thursday, October, 29 so we can prepare for your participation.

WHEN:  Tuesday, November 3, 2009

TIME:   1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
   (NOTE: Al Petrie will provide a brief orientation and safety review at the Ritz Carlton at 12:30 before boarding the buses at 1:00 pm)

WHERE: The median of Orleans Avenue immediately across from New Orleans’ City Park between City Park Avenue and Navarre Avenue.

ATTIRE:  Long sleeve work shirts & pants (jeans), comfortable shoes, sunscreen and hats (optional).

EQUIPMENT: Work/gardening Gloves

BOTTLED WATER WILL BE PROVIDED

TRANSPORTATION:  IPAA will provide a bus to and from the Ritz Carlton Hotel and O.S.I.’s selected site departing hotel at 1:00 PM and returning by 4:00 PM.

Attendees of IPAA’s 80th Annual Meeting are sure to enjoy hearing LT. General Russel L. Honoré, US Army (Ret) speak during lunch on Thursday, November 5. Honoré has been hailed by the media as the “Category 5 General.” LT. General Russel Honoré led Task Force Katrina in the aftermath of the devastating hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast in the summer of 2005. General Honoré is currently a Senior Scientist with The Gallup Organization, where he is developing questions to determine levels of preparedness during national disasters. He is also a regular CNN Preparedness Contributor and will be talking about both what went wrong and what we can learn from the devastation of Katrina.

After General Honore’s presentation concludes, the Chief Roughneck Award will be presented by U.S. Steel Tubular Products – a Diamond Sponsor of the Annual Meeting and this award. The Chief Roughneck award is a long standing tradition for IPAA. As everything around us continues to change, one thing remains the same – the importance of this award and the symbolism it represents to our industry and its fascinating leaders.

You do not want to miss this luncheon as it promises to be both informative, and a great time to network with new colleagues in the industry while reconnecting with longtime friends.

The meetings website allows you to view the sponsorship opportunities, schedule of events, hotel information and registration forms.

On Thursday, November 5 spouses and companions will have the opportunity to partake in a New Orleans cuisine and French Quarter tour. The tour begins at 10:00 am at the New Orleans School of Cooking where participants will learn to prepare the distinctive dishes for which New Orleans is famous. As the entertaining chefs teach the basics of Louisiana cooking, seasoned with history, trivia and Louisiana lore we will soon learn that fun is the key ingredient!

Examples of dishes being prepared are: gumbo, shrimp creole, and bread pudding. 

Most importantly, you will be able to sit back and enjoy the delectable feast.  After some good food, participants will then enjoy a cocktail demonstration at the Court of Two Sisters. It is here that you will sample a famous southern cocktail, the refreshing Mint Julep. The day will conclude at approximately 3:00 pm with a walking tour through the French Quarter. Royal Street offers some of the most exquisite art and antiques including furniture and estate jewelry. This tour is sure to be a unique and quintessential New Orleans experience. Don’t miss out – sign up today!

Not only does IPAA’s 80th Annual Meeting provide educational and networking opportunities for its attendees but it also provides one-of-a-kind entertainment as well. November 4-6 IPAA will celebrate its 80th year at our Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. As part of this celebration we will showcase local New Orleans talent during Wednesday and Thursday’s program.

Wednesday evening, November 4, Roustabout members will enjoy the jazzy sounds of Jeremy Davenport. Jeremy has been a vital part of the New Orleans music scene for nearly a decade. His original lyrics and music creates a distinct feeling of a lifestyle reminiscent of a time when Jazz was at its peak of popularity. Jeremy Davenport was born to be an entertainer and is sure to provide an enjoyable ambiance Wednesday evening.

Thursday morning, attendees will be entertained by Tino Wallenda, who has been described as walking on the edge of eternity. Mr. Wallenda speaks about the importance of taking chances in life; you do not want to miss his words of wisdom. Shades of Praise (The Shades) also will perform. The Shades is an interracial gospel choir founded in 2000 by Philip Manuel. The Shades include 65 voices from more than twenty-five congregations across Louisiana.

Thursday evening The Charmaine Neville Band will perform during the Louisiana Festival Celebration, which will be an evening of food, fun and of course, New Orleans music. Charmaine Neville, of the famed Neville family, and her band performs regularly at Snug Harbor, one of the best places to listen to live music in New Orleans. 

These four performances promise to leave a lasting impression on IPAA’s meeting attendees. Each has been designed to be fun while also allowing optimal time to network. IPAA hopes attendees will learn about current issues effecting the oil and gas industry and experience the uniqueness of New Orleans – all while connecting with old and new friends!

The meetings website allows you to view the sponsorship opportunities, schedule of events, hotel information and registration forms.

We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!

Listen LIVE to Day 2 presentations at IPAA’s OGIS San Francisco by clicking here http://tinyurl.com/yb8n3uk.

IPAA’s 80^th Annual Meeting promises to be both memorable and insightful. The meeting’s schedule of events is filling up and sponsorship opportunities are selling quickly too.

On Thursday, November 5 Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) will be hosting a consumer outreach panel highlighting three industries. The speakers include: Michael Mitternight, Owner/President of the Factory Service Agency, Inc and Board Member of the National Small Business Association Darrel Rivere, President, Rivere Seafood, and Ford West, President, The Fertilizer Institute.

These speakers will provide meeting attendees with an opportunity to connect various aspects of the industry with consumer groups to improve the dialogue and relationships among these entities and find common solutions.

Participants will share their challenges, energy priorities, concerns about energy supplies and prices and how these issues impact their success.

It is the hope of both IPAA and CEA that attendees will take away valuable information on each of the industries and with a reminder of how integral the energy industry is in our economy.

Register Today!

IPAA’s 79th Midyear Meeting was a tremendous success – one that would not be a reality without the support of our members and generous sponsors.  Initial feedback from the participants has been extremely positive regarding the speakers, program content, the venue and of course the incredible location.  

One of the key messages IPAA Vice President of Federal Resources and Political Affairs Dan Naatz hoped to convey to meeting attendees is that we have a tough road ahead with the current Administration and 111^th Congress and we need everyone’s help to deliver our message on issues that are important to the domestic oil and natural gas industry such as Hydraulic Fracturing. With the energy issues on everyone’s minds and constantly in the news, now is the ideal time to join forces to educate those in Washington on how imperative a secure supply of energy is to our national economy.  

Jeff Eshelman, IPAA’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications discussed his efforts on Energy In Depth – an industry wide communications tool that tells the story of the American people responsible for producing energy here in America. Energy In Depth separates fact from fiction by giving visitors a first-hand look at the production process. If you are not familiar with this program, I encourage you to learn more about its mission and contribute to this extremely worthy advocacy campaign.

We believe that education is the key to accomplishing our goals. Below is information that was discussed during the meeting that might be of interest and prove helpful. 

 2009 Midyear Meeting links are below:

• Policy vs. Energy – Audio – Presentation Slides
• View From the Street – Audio – Presentation Slides
• The Changing Face of Energy Policy – Audio – Presentation Slides
• A Glimpse Inside the Midyear Meeting – Photos

As we embark on our 80^th year of representing America’s independent oil and natural gas industry in Washington, we look forward to continuing to educate our members as well as others about the importance of these vital natural resources. We hope you make plans to join us as we celebrate the past and future of this great industry during our Annual Meeting, which will be held November 4-6 at The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Thank You to Our Sponsors: Baker Hughes, Banko Petroleum Management, BJ Services Company, Carbo, CIPA, Deloitte, Enertia Software, Ernst & Young, Harbison-Fischer, Hart’s Oil and Gas Investor, National Oilwell Varco, Oil and Gas Financial Journal, Oil and Gas Journal, Quantum Energy Partners, Penneco Oil Company, Schlumberger, Shell, Swift Energy Company and WellStar International, LLC.

Dr. Joseph A. Stanislaw will join The Changing Face of Energy Policy session on Tuesday, June 16 during IPAA’s upcoming Midyear Meeting at The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel.

As an energy industry leader, advisor, strategist and commentator with more than 30 years of industry experience, Dr. Joseph A. Stanislaw serves as an independent senior advisor to the Energy & Resources practice of Deloitte LLP. where he advises clients and colleagues on the global energy industry and future trends in the global energy market. He also assists in shaping responses to those developments for the organization’s clients, focusing on sustainable emerging technologies and innovation.

For additional meeting information visit our website.

Registration is available online, or by printing out our faxable form.

If you have registration questions, please email Nikki McDermott.

IPAA’s Midyear Meeting is about eight weeks away. This year the meeting will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, CA Sunday, June 14 through Tuesday, June 16, 2009. An excellent program has been developed for you to hear directly from today’s industry leaders and expert practitioners to gain the most comprehensive insight and strategies. 

With The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel offering such a great rate to IPAA meeting attendees, we encourage you to consider bringing your family. There are many local attractions and fun for all ages. Local attractions include: Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Downtown Disney, Wild Rivers, Knott’s Berry Farm, Santa Ana Zoo, Orange County Zoo, Newport Landing Whale Watching, Discovery Science Center, Orange County Dana Point Harbor and Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Fashion Island, South Coast Plaza, and Anaheim Garden Walk.

For more information on each of these attractions, please visit the “Local Attractions” section on our Midyear homepage.

For sponsorship and program questions, contact Tina Hamlin at thamlin@ipaa.org

For attendee questions, contact Nikki McDermott at nmcdermott@ipaa.org.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Attending the OGIS conference in New York City was one of the best out of classroom experiences I have had during my time at the University of Oklahoma. My favorite event was most definitely getting to meet with Mr. Aubrey McClendon, the CEO of Chesapeake. In a broader sense though it was the advice, time and support of many of the attendees that made this experience so invaluable. Furthermore, it was interesting to be able to apply and recognize concepts I have learned in my Energy Management and Finance classes to the presentations and break out session of some of the companies we saw speak. All in all the OGIS Conference was a once in a life time experience that I will refer to through the rest of my time in the OU Energy Management Program and throughout my career.

The author is a Senior at the University of Oklahoma, studying in the Price College of Business, Energy Management Program.