The 2003 A.A.P.G. Southwest Section Convention

The Fort Worth Geological Society is proud to host the 2003 A.A.P.G. Southwest Section Convention. The convention will be held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, in downtown Fort Worth, starting Saturday, March 1st through Wednesday, March 5th.

Radisson Plaza Hotel Fort Worth
815 Main Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Please view our web pages for all of your question:

• The Accommodations and Transportation page gives suggestions on where to stay in Fort Worth while attending the Convention, and how to get there from either Love Field or DFW Airport.
• The Forms page contains all the forms needed by exhibitors, attendees or students to sign up for the Convention.
• The Contacts page contains a list of F.W.G.S. officers and members heading up each Convention committee.
• The Schedule page gives an outline of all Convention events.
• The Field Trips page gives details on the Convention field trips.
• The Short Courses page gives details on the Convention short courses.
• The Technical Sessions page gives details on the Convention technical sessions.
• The Poster Sessions page gives details on the Convention poster sessions.
• The Spouse Events page gives details on the Convention spouse events.
• The Other Events page gives details on other Convention events.

Welcome to the 2003 Southwest Section Convention

On behalf of the Fort Worth Geological Society, the Convention Committee, and the Southwest Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, you are invited to the 2003 S.W. Section Convention to be held March 1-4 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Convention Headquarters will be at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Downtown.

It has been ten years since "Cowtown" has hosted the Convention and we are looking forward to seeing you again. Our Convention Committee has worked extremely hard to reward your time and financial commitment by insuring a thrilling meeting of education and entertainment.

Our Technical Committee has put together an excellent program of talks and posters, and our Short Course/Field Trip Committee has delivered a program which shouldn't be missed. Our guest speakers, Steve Palko, President of XTO Energy, Keynote; Dr. Patricia Dickerson-All Convention Luncheon; Dr. Charles Mankin-DPA Luncheon should also be early on your "to do" list.

Entertainment? No problem. Whether you are fully educated, or didn't get signed up early enough for a short course or field trip, then come play golf March 2 at Fossil Creek, 8 miles north of downtown, an Arnold Palmer-designed championship course. This will still allow you to have lots of time to recover before heading for the Icebreaker beginning at 6 pm in the Exhibits Hall. Then on Monday, to unwind your mind from all the knowledge you have gained or the information you have learned on the Spouse Hospitality trip to Central Market, rediscover your wildcatting habits at our Casino Night in the Fort Worth Petroleum Club-this will be a fun evening for all, "rolling the dice," taking in the wonderful evening view from the 39th floor, enjoying the heavy hors d'oeuvres, etc. On Tuesday, the spouses "keep on going" with an exciting trip to the recently opened National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, followed by lunch at the exclusive Reata Restaurant.

On a personal note, I would like to change that old feeling of "goodbye" on Tuesday afternoon (early) at Conventions. Have you been there?-an excellent speaker on the last afternoon at 3:30 pm looking out at ten people! So much of this is based on "check-out" /"getting home." Although we have no organized event scheduled for Tuesday evening, I encourage you to break with tradition and stay-over to Wednesday. During the "regular" Convention time you will be busy, but you will also learn quickly about all the things that Fort Worth offers. On the enclosed "Committee-Contact" listing, I have listed some useful websites. In the Cultural District, we have The Kimbell Art Museum, The Amon Carter Museum, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, The Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, the recently opened Cowgirl Hall of Fame, and one of the top Zoos in the country. Three miles north of Downtown, we have the Stockyards National Historic District-board the Tarantula Steam Train, or take in the daily Longhorn Cattle Drive. Downtown, in addition to a diverse selection of restaurants, art galleries, shops and theatres, take in the magnificent Bass Performance Hall (Tues. - 7:00 pm-Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest"), or tour the Sid Richardson Collection of Western Art (over 60 Remington and Russell works). After the Convention, if you are still into "rocks," visit the Moning Meteorite museum at T.C.U.-opening in late January 2003, the collection is already rated among the ten best collections world-wide.

Register early and stay late.

See you in Fort Worth,

George A. Hillis
Convention Chairman