By: Angie Sims-Long/2011-2012 AESC President
Nov/Dec 2011

Greetings again from the big city of Kermit, Texas. Writing these articles is both a privilege and a challenge. Kenny Jordan and Pete Sandel do such a great job of bringing the national news and issues to the readers, so I thought I’d use my articles as sort of a traveling journal and share with you information from my chapter visits. I hope you find it interesting.

Angie Sims-Long
2011-2012 AESC President
Buster’s Well Service
Kermit, Texas

I started my journey on August 26, 2011, in Hobbs, New Mexico playing in the Southeast New Mexico Chapter golf tournament. If you’ve never played this one, you should. It is quite unique in that there is one tee-off from a sitting position on a toilet; another tee-off from a standing position on a huge tire; a requirement to use your putter all the way down the fairway to the green; yet another to use your opposite hand to tee-off; use a softball bat to make your second shot and many other goofy things throughout the course. But it is a blast and the food on the course is great.

September 12, I was in Oklahoma City, playing in their golf tournament. I was signed up for the 7:30 a.m. tee-off and after playing 18 holes and enjoying the weather, the people and the food, I decided to play another 18 holes with the afternoon group. Our team won third place in our flight in the afternoon — the morning practice must’ve done us good.

September 20, found me in Kilgore, Texas, for the East Texas Chapter meeting. Jason West and all the members in attendance made me feel right at home. Kenny Jordan was also there and gave a presentation to the group. Kenny and I also toured the East Texas Oil Museum on the Kilgore College campus — an awesome museum.

That evening I ended up in Shreveport, Louisiana, for the North Louisiana Chapter meeting at the Petroleum Club of Shreveport. Albert LaFitte, Pam Smithson and Angie Barringer (chapter officers) did a great job and made me feel very welcome. Kristen Hincke was also there and talked to the members about what’s going on in Washington D.C.

September 27, was spent at Gleannloch Pines Golf Course in Spring, Texas, for the Gulf Coast Chapter golf tournament.

September 28, I was in Lafayette, Louisiana, for the South Louisiana Chapter meeting at 11:30 a.m.

September 30 through October 1, found me in Odessa, Texas for the Permian Basin Chapter’s 9th Annual BBQ Cook-off and Team Roping. Great food, great folks and lots of fun. My husband, Curt, even won one of the saddles at the team roping contest. I assure you that it was strictly due to his roping ability.

October 3–5, I ended up in Ft. Worth, Texas for the AESC National Safety Conference and Tradeshow. Joyce Ryel did a great job and had some very interesting speakers. The two highlights for me this year were getting to stay in the JFK Suite at the Ft. Worth Hilton and getting to present Joyce Ryel with the “Safety Person of the Year” award. She’s an absolute inspiration and so very deserving of this award.

October 13–16, found me touring Kansas. I started in Wichita and took in some of the sites, then drove to Hutchison and toured the Kansas Underground Salt Museum. Turns out that it’s part of the Permian Sea which stretches all the way down to my neck of the woods, the Permian Basin. Then, I drove across the state to Russell to partake in the Kansas Chapter Hands Appreciation dinner held at LaSada campgrounds. There was skeet shooting for the gun enthusiasts — and there’s plenty of ’em in Kansas. Steve Pringle and his group did a fantastic job putting the event together. There were several employees from 5 or 6 different companies and sponsorships from multiple local businesses. They served a whole roasted pig with all the fixin’s. Now that was a sight — a whole pig!! Then I traveled to Pratt, Kansas, and took a tour of the town and oilfields with Mr. Kenny Gates. It’s amazing how each region of the oilfield has unique characteristics.

October 19, I was at the AESC National office in Houston getting some much needed help from Roni Ashley on a PowerPoint presentation to share with the chapters.

October 26, I made my way to Perryton, Texas for the Panhandle/Tri-State Chapter meeting.

As the Johnny Cash song goes: “I’ve Been Everywhere Man”... and yes, I have!

It has been a whirlwind trip but worth every minute of the ride. November and December should be a bit slower as far as traveling, but I will still be focusing on the issues that face our chapters and our industry.

Please feel free to contact me with chapter events and meeting schedules. My office phone is (432) 586-2533; my cell is (432) 634-9750, and my e-mail address is bws1963@cebridge.net.

Until next time…. May God Bless You, May God Bless our Troops and May God Bless America.