American Oil and Gas Reporter - April 2016 - 97

with a strong voice before state lawmakers
and regulators, he says.
Despite tough times, TOGA's purpose
remains unchanged, Laine says, with
goals that include providing a common
voice for members' interests; protecting,
promoting, fostering and advancing the
interest of Tenneesee operators; protecting
the industry against unfair regulation and
taxation; promoting industry activity and
access to financing; and collecting relevant
geological data and other information
beneficial to members.
TOGA's convention gives members
the opportunity to meet personally with
regulators and foster relationships with
those whose decisions affect their businesses, he continues. "We bring in a lot
of regulators so our members can spend
time with them in a casual environment,"
Laine explains. "It really works well to
get everybody together like that. As a result, everybody seems to work better together when they are in the field."
Annual Convention
TOGA's convention kicks off with the
annual golf tournament on Sunday, May
15, at the Gatlinburg Golf Course. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Tee times begin
at 10 a.m. Convention registration runs
from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the hotel.
Starting that evening at 6:30, members
will gather for dinner and an auction at
the Loco Burro restaurant, Laine says.
TOGA has reserved the entire first floor,
including the outdoor patio, and will provide private shuttles to transport members
to and from the venue, which includes a
bucking burro and karaoke, he adds.
"The Loco Burro is really a fun place,"
Laine comments, "and we get the whole

TOGA Annual Meeting
Gatlinburg, Tn.
Sunday, May 15
9 a.m. Golf Tournament Registration,
Gatlinburg Golf Course
10 a.m. Golf Tournament
4-6 p.m. Convention Registration, Park
Vista Hotel
6 p.m. Loco Burro Dinner & Auction
Transportation Provided

Monday, May 16
7:15 a.m.-4 p.m. Convention Registration,
Park Vista Hotel
7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Technical Sessions
Noon Keynote & Awards Luncheon
TOGA Scholarship Presentations
Muddy Boots Award
3-4:30 p.m. Board of Directors & Membership Meeting

restaurant to ourselves. It has all kinds of
good Mexican food. We will have a disk
jockey, an auction fundraiser, and present
golf tournament awards."
The auction helps raise funds for college scholarships to disadvantaged youth
in areas where TOGA members conduct
business, he says. "Many of these kids
do not have a way to go to college, so
our members step up and raise scholarship
money for them," Laine explains.
The convention's business portion has
been reduced to one day instead of two
in the interest of helping members cut
costs, Laine says. Registration opens at
7:15 a.m. on Monday, May 16. In midMarch, the association was confirming
speakers for technical sessions that begin
at 8:30 a.m., he says.
"We encourage members to join us
for a full day of technical presentations
from leading experts in the oil and gas
industry," Laine says.
An awards luncheon is planned to
begin at noon. In addition to presenting
scholarships, TOGA leadership will recognize a member with its Muddy Boots
Award, which is presented to a member
whose pursuit of success demonstrates a
willingness to muddy his or her boots.
Following lunch, the association plans
on additional speakers, Laine says. The
meeting culminates with a board meeting
from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., he says.
❒

MPA Hires State Senator
As Its Executive Director
HELENA, MT.-Former state Senator
Alan Olson has been named executive director of the Montana Petroleum Association, MPA announces.
A graduate of Havre High School in
the oil and gas country of north-central
Montana, MPA says Olson went to work
for Halliburton in 1978 and attended the
Halliburton Energy Institute in 1980, '82
and '84. In 1989, he began a 19-year stint
as a field inspector for the Montana
Board of Oil & Gas Conservation. MPA
says Olson has spent the past seven years
working for Sanjel, covering Montana,
the Dakotas and Wyoming.
Olson has served on the Montana Unified School Trust Board of Trustees and
as president of the Montana School
Boards Association. He also has served
on the Snowy Mountain Economic Development Corporation board.
Olson was elected to the first of four
terms in the Montana House of Representatives in 2000. He served in the Montana
State Senate from 2010 to 2014.
❒

Oilfield Improvements®
ULTRA-FLOW®
FIELD-INSTALLED

CENTRALIZERS/
PARAFFIN SCRAPERS

Full-circle Wiping
of Tubing I.D.
More Gripping
Force on Sucker Rods
More Fluid Flow-by
Volume
Longer Useful LIfe
from Longer Vanes
& Bearing Surfaces
Positive Wear
Indicators
Amodel with Glass Fill
CALL 1-800-LES WEAR
(800-537-9327) OR YOUR
Oilfield Supply Store

www.rodguides.com
®

1902 N. Yellowood Ave.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 U.S.A.
7/6 FAX 918-250-4666

Oilfield Improvements®
WHEELED ROD GUIDE®
COUPLINGS
For Deviated,
Directional and
Horizontal Wells
Used Successfully for Over
27 Years by Over 90% of
Major Oil & Gas Companies
in Over 40 Countries -
Onshore and Offshore
Wheels are
Field-replaceable

Call
800-537-9327
or Your Oilfield
Supply Store
www.rodguides.com

1902 N. Yellowood Ave.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 U.S.A.
7/6 -(?

APRIL 2016 97

American Oil and Gas Reporter - April 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - April 2016