Surpassing its goal

by Gina Hasty, Assistant Editor, The Leading Edge

Photo gallery

The successful completion of the SEG Foundation’s US$15 million campaign was cheered at the SEG Foundation luncheon Monday, 10 November as the final amount raised, $17 115 908, flashed on large screens as confetti burst on the room filled with donors. Many were present to celebrate the conclusion of this campaign and to celebrate its enormous success.

At last year’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio, USA, then SEG president Leon Thomsen announced a campaign, called “Advancing Geophysics Today – Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow,” for the SEG Foundation. The $15 million goal seemed extremely ambitious.

Photograph by Barchfeld Photography

Mary Fleming, SEG Executive Director; Peter Pangman, SEG Director, Geophysics; Richard Baile, SEG Foundation Board Chair Emeritus; Fred Aminzadeh, 2007-2008 SEG President; William “Bill” Barkhouse, SEG Foundation Campaign Chairman; Gary Servos, SEG Foundation Board Chairman, announcing outstanding Advancing Geophysics Today – Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow campaign progress with contributions to date of $17 115 908.00.

This year, SEG president Fred Aminzadeh opened the event with the good news.

“I knew that, with your help, we would raise that $15 million and launch the profession of geophysics to heights never before reached by any professional association that serves our membership and the corporations and institutions for which they work,” he said. “Today I’m here to tell you that, together, we have accomplished so much! This has been a truly successful campaign!”

Several companies and individuals were honored for their tremendous support of the Foundation and for their part in helping it surpass its goal.

“Each and every member of the 2005–2006 SEG Executive Committee and Foundation Board of Directors, that’s 100% participation, all of these leaders stepped up to the plate with a significant investment in Advancing Geophysics Today – Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow,” the emcee announced. “These leaders understood the importance of this campaign and the impact it would have on the future of geophysics.”

These donors were asked to stand and be applauded, followed by several other groups including the following major donors: Anadarko Petroleum (SEG scholarships), Chevron (Student Leadership Symposium), Paradigm and CGGVeritas (Student membership dues), China National Petroleum Corporation (SEG Online education), ION and Landmark-Halliburton (SEG Online), ExxonMobil (Student Education Program), and Schlumberger (Geoscientists Without Borders).

Other donors, including two anonymous donors who each gave gifts of $1 million, also were applauded.

Gary Servos, chair of the SEG Foundation Board of Directors, said this is an exciting time for SEG and geophysics and thanked individual donors for their investments.

“Their generosity has been a shining light in this campaign,” he said. “Individual donors have donated more than $4 million.”

Bill Barkhouse, vice-chairman of the Foundation Board of Directors and chairman of the Advancing Geophysics Today – Inspiring Geoscientists Tomorrow campaign, offered his thanks to the donors and announced that the campaign will remain open until 31 December 2008.

The luncheon’s most spectacular moment came at the end when Dick Baile, who has been involved in building the Foundation for over 20 years, and SEG Director, Mary Fleming, along with Geophysics Director Peter Pangman and Bill Barkhouse, put on hard hats, and Baile pulled a lever on what appeared to be a Doodlebugger blaster. With the room full of excited donors, all standing and waiting to know the total amount raised, the blaster boomed, confetti filled the air, and members cheered as the number was revealed.

For more information about the SEG Foundation or to invest in this exciting campaign, send an e-mail to the SEG Foundation or visit the SEG Foundation Web site.

The SEG Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable not-for-profit organization that supports the educational mission of the SEG.

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