coordinators

[Pete.McLaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

      EEC Biostratigraphy Group / GP8 Rm 760
      Phone (713) 423-5988 / FAX 423-5896
I can't help but thinking that those who are getting their britches in a bunch
about this Industry Paleo Coordinators (IPC) "group" must misunderstand
something about what the IPC attendees are up to...
 
I've pretty much only been a spectator at IPC get-togethers up to this point,
so all this is no skin off my hide, but what I see is a group of people trying
to do something for the discipline in general and at the same time help them
run their companies paleo operations better, not "a self appointed nobility".
These are folks who give of their own time and energy in these efforts and are
trying to take some positive actions instead of fiddling while Rome burns.
Maybe we don't agree with all of the points of view heard coming from the
participants - the group is itself made up of different people with their own
viewpoints (I sure have my own) and don't always agree among themselves
either.
 
And what about the idea of "self-appointment"?  Well, if a "coordinator" is
willing to commit time and energy to taking some positive steps, and has
control over budget or people in his/her company to make some of these happen,
doesn't this make them good candidates to participate in this effort?  And
isn't this coordinator there as a representative of his/her employer, meaning
they are elected by their companies, presumedly?  I see more parallels with
giving of time for professional society activities than with "nobility"
issuing "directives".
 
Just the fact that this discussion is taking place raises a valuable point, I
think - like most of the PaleoNet postings, the IPC meeting summaries are
being read and thought about.  The thoughts may be of agreement or of
diagreement, but at least several academic and industry paleontologists (who
include an IPC-type or two) cared enough to do something positive in
organizing PaleoNet, and it is an effective medium for exchange of ideas.  So,
that said, another compliment to PaleoNet, making possible these sorts of
discussions as well as lots of good science.
 
Regards, Pete
====================================================================
Pete McLaughlin / Exxon Exploration Company / Technology Dept
P.O. Box 4778 / Houston, TX 77210-4778