Ken,
I’m glad you brought that up. There are a lot of companies selling goods and services – and geological surveys and government entities promoting investment – for whom these conferences are the chance to see and be seen, to meet in-person with current customers and colleagues and potential new customers, and to hear the latest scuttlebutt, usually over a beverage or two. All of that is what makes the high price to exhibit (sometimes marginally) worthwhile. Online ads and sponsorships of virtual meetings aren’t much of a substitute. If anyone has ideas on overcoming this problem, I’m sure both exhibitors and organizing committees would love to hear them. Rob Harris, B.Sc. Sales and Technical Support Geonics Limited 8-1745 Meyerside Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C6 Canada tel: +1 (905) 670-9580 | fax: +1 (905) 670-9204 email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> | Alt email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> | Skype: robgeonics www.geonics.com From: SEGMIN <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Ken Witherly via SEGMIN Sent: May 8, 2020 9:22 AM To: 'Robert Hearst' <[email protected]>; [email protected] Cc: Ken Witherly <[email protected]>; 'Lia Martinez' <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [SEGMIN] SEGMIN Digest, Vol 23, Issue 8 Rob/Lia/SEGMIN A major issue professional societies face is that while the technical programs attract the delegates, the commercial exhibits pay a lot of the bills associated with the conference. While Condor was not planning to exhibit at the SExG conference in Houston, we had booked a booth at the SEcG Whistler. This was an expensive piece of real-estate, costing as much as our double booth at the PDAC. I dialogued with the SEcG organizers last month as they were weighing meeting options and I expressed concern that a virtual event would be very hard to see extracting marketing value in the same way a physical presence provides. I recall the term ‘bubble head on a PC screen’ came up to express the sort of presence we’d have and what little impact we’d likely be able to have on potential customers or existing clients. For the technical stories we want to tell each other, WebEx, Zoom and Skype allows us to roam the world to our hearts content but our societies need funds to operate and conferences with exhibitors are the major means of securing this. Ken From: SEGMIN < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> On Behalf Of Robert Hearst via SEGMIN Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2020 5:05 PM To: segmin < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> Cc: Robert Hearst < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]>; Lia Martinez < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> Subject: Re: [SEGMIN] SEGMIN Digest, Vol 23, Issue 8 Hi All, Similar to others, the company I work for will not be sending anyone to the SEG this year due to COVID-19 concerns/travel restrictions/etc. However we are keen to participate in a virtual on-line format. With other organisations that I am involved with, one has taken the Annual Conference completely online (PGO as a series of 4, 1/2 day on-line symposia allowing for registration of all, 1 or some combination, spread over 4 consecutive Tuesdays) and two others are seriously considering moving the 2021 events to a combination of local attendees (if local conditions allow) and/or virtual for the out-of-town and international communities. This is a very serious topic. I have also participated in several recent web events, one with over 1000 attendees (kept the moderators very busy and there were several breaks for Q&A during the 2 hr event.). In some ways this may become the new normal. Sincerely, Rob ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Stephen Reford via SEGMIN < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> Date: May 7, 2020 at 6:43 PM Hi Lia, The link Ken provided indicates that the SEcG conference is shifting by a year (missing their 100th anniversary) but preserving the technical program. <https://www.segweb.org/SEG/About/SEG/About/SEG-News.aspx#20200506> https://www.segweb.org/SEG/About/SEG/About/SEG-News.aspx#20200506 The AAPG recently postponed their annual conference, scheduled for next month in Houston. They are considering other options (read between the lines - maybe attempt to combine with SExG?). <https://ace.aapg.org/2020> https://ace.aapg.org/2020 The EGU is currently holding its annual General Assembly conference online. It would be interesting to hear how it went. <https://www.egu2020.eu/> https://www.egu2020.eu/ Cheers! Stephen -----Original Message----- From: SEGMIN < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> On Behalf Of Lia Martinez via SEGMIN Sent: May 7, 2020 6:16 PM To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Cc: Lia Martinez < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> Subject: Re: [SEGMIN] SEGMIN Digest, Vol 23, Issue 8 Hi Jean, Ken, It is good to hear your thoughts on this. I am on the SEG Near Surface Technical Section board, and there has been some discussion of a "Plan B" in case the SEG conference does need to be taken online. I think it would be good to hear some opinions from members of this forum as to if that would be better/worse that having the conference in-person and what your suggestions or criticisms might be of taking SEG 2020 in that direction. Best Regards, Lia Martinez Geophysical Engineer Mount Sopris Instrument Company, Inc. 4975 East 41st Avenue Denver, CO 80216 USA Ph: +1.303.279.3211 ext. 103 Cell/WhatsApp: +1.303.476.0670 Email: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Web: <http://www.mountsopris.com> www.mountsopris.com -----Original Message----- From: SEGMIN < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> On Behalf Of <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2020 4:07 PM To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Subject: SEGMIN Digest, Vol 23, Issue 8 Today's Topics: 1. Re: Enough of confusing messages. (Jean M. Legault) 2. Re: Enough of confusing messages... (Stephen Reford) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Thu, 7 May 2020 21:39:22 +0000 From: "Jean M. Legault" < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> To: " <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]" < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> Subject: Re: [SEGMIN] Enough of confusing messages. Message-ID: < <mailto:yt1pr01mb30016536140639d57cdca04480...@yt1pr01mb3001.canprd01.prod.outlook.com> yt1pr01mb30016536140639d57cdca04480...@yt1pr01mb3001.canprd01.prod.outlook.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi Ken (and everyone), My heart sank a bit when I read your post and decision not to attend SEG 2020 in Houston under the circumstances.. Speaking from the Mining Committee's perspective, we certainly respect your views on this and your concerns for your staff. As well, your opinion carries a lot of weight amongst us. But there are still 5 months between now and SEG 2020 and a lot can happen in the meantime. So we sincerely hope that not all SEGMIN members will follow your lead and give SEG 2020 a pass, based on the current conditions. Because 2020 being our Mining Summit year, we are already in the process of building a technically excellent program and have been for many weeks and months now, and these include Oral and Poster Sessions, Field Trip, MG Luncheon, Student Event, Committee Meeting and post-conference Workshops. And until we are directed otherwise, as volunteers, along with the many reviewers, we have no choice but to continue our efforts to make this a successful event on behalf of our MG membership, regardless. So, we certainly hope and pray that the conditions will improve such that we can safely welcome as many of you as possible to SEG 2020 this Fall. Hopefully so. I remain confident that SEG will do the right thing when it comes to the safety of its membership. All the best and stay safe, Jean SEG 2020 MG Committee chair From: SEGMIN [ <mailto:[email protected]> mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ken Witherly via SEGMIN Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2020 9:54 AM To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Cc: Ken Witherly Subject: [SEGMIN] Enough of confusing messages... Dear Colleagues- Yesterday a major geoscience event scheduled for next September at Whistler ( <https://www.segweb.org/SEG/About/SEG/About/SEG-News.aspx#20200506> https://www.segweb.org/SEG/About/SEG/About/SEG-News.aspx#20200506) was postponed to 2021 due to it seems the new BC government regulations relating to large meetings during the current pandemic. I expect we'll hear the Round Up and PDAC events for 2021 will be impacted as well. The BC government appears to have taken a well thought through approach to the pandemic that combines medical advice and social and economic considerations to build policies which are being clearly transmitted to the public at large. Another geoscience conference most of us are aware of, the SExG annual conference and exhibit, is currently scheduled for a month later in Houston. While the SExG suggests they are monitoring the situation, there is enormous pressure to 'carry on' due to fiscal commitments which need to made years in advance. The venue as well, is in a state that when compared with BC, is truly the 'wild west' when it comes to managing the pandemic; <https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/states-reopen-map-coronavirus.html> https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/states-reopen-map-coronavirus.html The governor's response is noted below; seems akin to stocking up the Alamo before Santa Anna attacks. The factors and conditions which the BC government have prudently considered are simply not part of the equation in Texas (or in many other parts of the US at either the state or federal level). I have been and remain a strong supporter of SEGMIN and the society but I can't in good conscience, support any of my employees to attend the conference in Houston next October. I look forward to the SExG to make the right call and give us the chance to build a technically excellent program in a safe venue for us all. Stay safe/Ken Texas 01,000 new coronavirus cases Order in place Reopening March 1April 1May 67-day avg. Stay at home began on April 2 and expired on April 30. Gov. Greg Abbott said allowed his stay-at-home order to lapse on April 30, a move that gave Texas, the nation's second-largest state, one of the shortest such orders in the country. Mr. Abbott, a Republican, said that Texas had expanded testing and stocked up on protective equipment. All retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls were allowed to reopen May 1, with limited capacity. Read more >< <https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/28/texas-reopening-restaurants-greg-abbott/> https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/28/texas-reopening-restaurants-greg-abbott/> Reopened Outdoor and recreation State parks; Outdoor sports Retail stores Retail stores, malls Food and drink Restaurant dining Entertainment Movie theaters, museums, libraries Reopening soon Personal care Salons, barbershops, nail salons and tanning salons 2019-Condor's 20th Anniversary Condor Consulting, Inc St 150 2201 Kipling St Lakewood CO 80215 USA T: 303-423-8475 Condor North Consulting ULC Suite 311-409 Granville St. BC, V6C 1A3 CANADA T: 604-630-8334 E: <mailto:[email protected]%3cmailto:[email protected]> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> C: 303-520-5732 Skype-ken.witherly1 <http://www.condorconsult.com%3chttp:/www.condorconsult.com/> www.condorconsult.com<http://www.condorconsult.com/> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: < <https://lists.geosoft.com/mailman/private/segmin/attachments/20200507/0a42bc6e/attachment-0001.htm> https://lists.geosoft.com/mailman/private/segmin/attachments/20200507/0a42bc6e/attachment-0001.htm> ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Thu, 7 May 2020 22:07:00 +0000 From: Stephen Reford < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> To: " <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]" < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> Subject: Re: [SEGMIN] Enough of confusing messages... Message-ID: < <mailto:ytopr0101mb1691168494034aee547e1365e1...@ytopr0101mb1691.canprd01.prod.outlook.com> ytopr0101mb1691168494034aee547e1365e1...@ytopr0101mb1691.canprd01.prod.outlook.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi Alan, I suggest we modify your suggestions: Politics - Agree, leave it aside COVID-19 - Open to discussion as it impacts SEG (after all, SEGMIN is essentially an SEG forum), and as it impacts our profession (field work, students, survival of service companies, travel, conferences, new norms, etc.). Cheers! Stephen From: SEGMIN < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> On Behalf Of Alan G Jones (Geophysics) via SEGMIN Sent: May 7, 2020 10:36 AM To: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Cc: Alan G Jones (Geophysics) < <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]> Subject: Re: [SEGMIN] Enough of confusing messages... Dear Ken, Although I totally share your views, and I also am not planning to go to SEG this year, tempting though it is I would rather than we all show restraint and SEGMIN be kept free of any political or Covid commentary. We all have to make the decisions we feel right for each of us. For my mental health, I retreat into my science to avoid what's going on around me, both locally and globally. Best wishes, and stay safe, Alan On 2020-05-07 09:54, Ken Witherly via SEGMIN wrote: Dear Colleagues- Yesterday a major geoscience event scheduled for next September at Whistler ( <https://www.segweb.org/SEG/About/SEG/About/SEG-News.aspx#20200506> https://www.segweb.org/SEG/About/SEG/About/SEG-News.aspx#20200506) was postponed to 2021 due to it seems the new BC government regulations relating to large meetings during the current pandemic. I expect we'll hear the Round Up and PDAC events for 2021 will be impacted as well. The BC government appears to have taken a well thought through approach to the pandemic that combines medical advice and social and economic considerations to build policies which are being clearly transmitted to the public at large. Another geoscience conference most of us are aware of, the SExG annual conference and exhibit, is currently scheduled for a month later in Houston. While the SExG suggests they are monitoring the situation, there is enormous pressure to 'carry on' due to fiscal commitments which need to made years in advance. The venue as well, is in a state that when compared with BC, is truly the 'wild west' when it comes to managing the pandemic; <https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/states-reopen-map-coronavirus.html> https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/states-reopen-map-coronavirus.html The governor's response is noted below; seems akin to stocking up the Alamo before Santa Anna attacks. The factors and conditions which the BC government have prudently considered are simply not part of the equation in Texas (or in many other parts of the US at either the state or federal level). I have been and remain a strong supporter of SEGMIN and the society but I can't in good conscience, support any of my employees to attend the conference in Houston next October. I look forward to the SExG to make the right call and give us the chance to build a technically excellent program in a safe venue for us all. Stay safe/Ken Texas 01,000 new coronavirus cases Order in place Reopening March 1April 1May 67-day avg. Stay at home began on April 2 and expired on April 30. Gov. Greg Abbott said allowed his stay-at-home order to lapse on April 30, a move that gave Texas, the nation's second-largest state, one of the shortest such orders in the country. Mr. Abbott, a Republican, said that Texas had expanded testing and stocked up on protective equipment. All retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls were allowed to reopen May 1, with limited capacity. Read more >< <https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/28/texas-reopening-restaurants-greg-abbott/> https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/28/texas-reopening-restaurants-greg-abbott/> Reopened Outdoor and recreation State parks; Outdoor sports Retail stores Retail stores, malls Food and drink Restaurant dining Entertainment Movie theaters, museums, libraries Reopening soon Personal care Salons, barbershops, nail salons and tanning salons 2019-Condor's 20th Anniversary Condor Consulting, Inc St 150 2201 Kipling St Lakewood CO 80215 USA T: 303-423-8475 Condor North Consulting ULC Suite 311-409 Granville St. BC, V6C 1A3 CANADA T: 604-630-8334 E: <mailto:[email protected]%3cmailto:[email protected]> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> C: 303-520-5732 Skype-ken.witherly1 <http://www.condorconsult.com%3chttp:/www.condorconsult.com/> www.condorconsult.com<http://www.condorconsult.com/> ----------------------- SEGMIN community mailing list service ( <mailto:[email protected]%3cmailto:[email protected]> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>). 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