American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2015 - 107

ConventionSection: Virginia Oil & Gas Association
turn them into opportunities to inform and
educate."
Archer says he is pleased that the association includes member companies of
all kinds. "While this sometimes presents
challenges, we are much stronger when
we can provide a strong and unified voice
for the industry overall," he explains.
"We need each other, and if our individual
members understand the important role
we each play, we can better appreciate
the need for a healthy, integrated system
of production, transportation and delivery.
As an example, the utilities are able to
recognize that the ultralow prices enjoyed
by their customers today simultaneously
create challenges for the members of the
association active in gas production.
VOGA can support pricing policies in a
'sweet spot' that promotes an upside for
the producers and price benefits for the
consumer."
Annual Meeting
According to Stockner and Archer, the
association will host its annual meeting
June 24-26 at Virginia Beach's Hilton

Garden Inn Oceanfront, which will be the
group's second year at the venue. "We
had good feedback last year," Stockner
says. "The oceanfront location gives members and their families' opportunities to
play and relax between events; and the
hotel had enough space to accommodate
our technical sessions, receptions and dinners."
Stockner adds that the association will
host a first-ever awards program during the
membership dinner on June 26. The Virginia
Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
will select winners from more than 20
entries. The awards will highlight technological innovation, educational partnership
projects, and individual achievements.
The technical program will include
several industry experts and government
representatives:
* Chris Saxman, former Virginia legislator and executive director of the Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education, a pro-business organization, will speak on the relationship between politics and business.
* Rick Cooper of the DMME will

update members on Virginia's oil and
natural gas production trends.
* Gina Slaunwhite from Columbia
Gas of Virginia will discuss Virginia's
local distribution companies' opportunities
and challenges in today's market.
* Gerald Kirkpatrick of Environmental Standards Inc., will inform members
on best practices for methane and groundwater problems.
* Robert Orndorff of Dominion and
Kenneth Yagelski of AGL will provide
an update on the ACP's status and goals.
Stockner emphasizes that the meeting
will be very family-friendly, and says
the association will host a program again
this year complete with informative activities and games for spouses and children. "We had a great turnout last year,
and received good feedback from participants," she says. "We want the family
members to come away from this event
having learned about the industry and
able to explain it to others. Everyone has
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American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2015

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