Promoting Balanced Legislation and Regulation
Ensuring that all parts of the natural gas industry are well represented and actively involved in the mission and growth of the Texas Gas Association.
Providing industry-leading education and networking opportunities for members of the Association.
Enhancing public awareness of the benefits and use of natural gas.
Proactively addressing operational issues affecting the natural gas industry.

As it works out six months later, our vision has been excellent, as we identified the areas that would need to be addressed by the Association in the next five years.

In addressing these challenges, it is more important than ever that each member of the association and the employees of those members become actively involved in the workings of the Association. This can be as simple as supporting educational opportunities that are offered in your vicinities, to becoming active on one of the committees that will be implementing the Core Strategies of the Strategic Operating in the upcoming months.

We, as an industry, must become involved in the changes and positively influence them.

This is the time to make sure we are involved in the things that affect the industry, rather than reacting to the changes that are coming. You can be sure that there will be more and more regulations facing our industry; you can be sure that the anti-hydrocarbon lobby will be putting pressure to lessen the dependence on hydrocarbon fuels; and you can also be sure there will be additional requirements coming on the operational side of your business. You can become involved and help the Association help you lessen some of the impact of these issues on your business.

The Association needs your support and input in our plans to address these and other issues facing our industry. Get involved, help us plan and provide classes to the membership and work with our legislative and regulatory committee to give them guidance on the course of the Association’s actions in addressing Federal and State regulations and legislation.

On January 19, we will have the meetings of the TGA committees to look at the activities for the upcoming year; you are invited and encouraged to join us for those meetings and to bring your view and vision for how the Association can help you and your company. This meeting will be held in San Antonio at the OMNI La Mansion hotel on the Riverwalk. Call the TGA office at (281) 467 – 8427 for additional information or for registration materials.

Please join us and give us your guidance!

Jeff Tuttle
Chair, 2011 – 2012
Texas Gas Association

For those of you that were unable to attend the TGA Scholarship Fund fundraiser in North Texas, you really missed a great time. The attendance was excellent, the golf hole sponsorships were generous and everyone managed to have a great time while supporting the college-bound children of the TGA members.

Brief synopsis:

126 players

33 hole sponsors

The outing raised enough to support almost five scholarships for future scholarship recipients.

A huge thanks goes out to EGW Utilities, specifically Phil Weigers and Kelly Lawrence for all the work that they did to make the golf outing a success.

Thanks to Atmos Energy, especially John Paris, who supported the outing with several teams, provided lunch with the Big Tex cooker and gave a great deal of support to the outing. Thanks also to Mike Reynolds, who helped with publicizing the fundraiser.

Thanks to the Indian Creek Golf Club for ensuring a great day for all the participants and for providing a golf bag for the raffle.

Thanks to the following for event sponsorships:

Atmos Energy – John Paris
CoServ Gas – Charley Harrell
EGW Utilities – Phil Wiegers
Itron – John Niesner/Kristi Parker
NRI – The Makers of Trident Seal – Bart Davis
Sensit Technologies – Brett Jones/Lisa Martin
Trench Shoring Services – Keith Lamberson
TUSCO – Target Utility Services Co. – Phil Wiegers

Thanks to the following for hole sponsorships:

A Shred 2 Pieces
Agave Wire
BelGas
Can-Fer
Continental Industries
CoServ Gas
DENSO (Two Sponsorships)
Digco Utilities (Six sponsorships)
Driver Pipeline
Emerson Process Management
Gajeske, Inc.
Georg Fischer, Central Plastics
Heath Consultants
Itron
Kerotest
Miller Pipeline
MRC – McJunkin Redman
PLCS, Inc.
Randall Rogers
REPTEC
SECOR
Sensit Technologies
TD Williamson
Texas Gas Service (two Sponsorships)
Texas811
USIC Locating Services

Thanks to the following for door prizes:

A Shred 2 Pieces
Agave Wire
Can-Fer
Continental Industries
CoServ Gas
Driver Pipeline
Georg Fischer – Central Plastics
Justin Keller
MRC – McJunkin Redman
NRI – The Makers of Trident Seal
Richard Squires
Ryan Martin
Sensit Technologies
TD Williamson
Texas811

The TGA is planning on conducting a Strategic Operation Planning meeting in conjunction with the Summer Board Meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for August 25th and 26th. The location for the meeting will be at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos.

The strategic operating meeting will begin at 1:00 and will go to approximately 5:00 on Thursday and will be from 8:30 until about noon on Friday.

If you would like to have input into the direction, vision and focus of the Association for the next 5 years, you are invited, and encouraged to attend and participate in these meetings.

The Association is best when we have the most input from our membership.

The phone number for the Embassy Suites is (800) 362-2779 or (512) 392 6450. The TGA rate has expired but you should still be able to get a room at the hotel.

We are pleased to provide the presentations that were made at the 2011 Operations and Management Conference.

This year’s Conference was excellent because of the presentations given by our guest speakers. These were some of the best we have ever had.

Follow the links below to find the presentations:

Richard Kolodziej – “The state of the union on NGV”

Carl Galbraith – “A Success Story – The Utah Experience”

Soll Sussman – “The Role of the General Land Office in the NGV Arena”

Charlie Ker and Jerry Johnson – “Cummins Westport powerplants for NGV’s”

William Gilmer – “Economic Forecast for Texas”

Dr. Ken Morgan –

“Domestic Shale Gas – Our Energy Game Changer – Part 1
“Domestic Shale Gas – Our Energy Game Changer – Part 2
“Domestic Shale Gas – Our Energy Game Changer – Part 3
“Domestic Shale Gas – Our Energy Game Changer – Part 4

Thanks again to our guests for their great presentations and for helping make the Conference one of the best ever!

This year, you and your fellow pipeline professionals will be able to receive the PHMSA/RRC training in Texas.

This year’s Seminar will be held at the La Torretta Conference Center on beautiful lake Conroe, located midway between Conroe and Montgomery, Texas on Highway 105

Dates for the seminar will be:
June 15 – 16, 2011 for the natural gas industry and
June 16 – 17, 2011 for the hazardous liquids industry.

This seminar immediately follows the Texas Gas Associations Operations and Management Annual Conference, June 12 – 15, 2011.

For the second year the TGA is proud to facilitate the PHMSA seminar in Texas. This seminar has proven to be a very successful event, providing a great deal of information on the intricacies of regulatory compliance. Information provided by PHMSA and the RRC gave good insights into requirements and means of compliance. Most attendees and exhibitors surveyed rated this event is well worth their time and commitment and are absolutely ecstatic that it is now conveniently-located in Texas in Texas and they are looking forward the it again this year.

In addition to the excellent presentations by the leaders, you will have an anple opportunity to network and interface with your peers in the industry. It will be a great time to talk about best practices and the things that work for you. You will also have the opportunity to see, touch and feel the “latest and greatest” in current technologies, products and services on display from the vendors participating in the seminar.

The meeting will provide many opportunities for your personal growth and education. La Torretta offers a great place for lots of family entertainment and activities.

Please, take time to review the links below for information and the materials for registration. Should you need more information please call the TGA office at 281.497.8427, we will be happy to assist you.

There is something here for you!

Bring the family and see you at La Torretta!

Restaurants near La Torretta

Attendee Registration Form

Event Sponsor Information

PHMSA Agenda

Registration Desk Hours

Exhibition Registration Form

Exhibitor Guidelines

Exhibition Shipping Information

La Torretta (Hotel) Information

The Operation and Management Conference is just around the Corner.

The Conference will be June 12 – 15, 2011

Location: The La Torretta Conference Center, on Lake Conroe, between Conroe and Montgomery, Texas.

The Conference Center meets the needs of the Association in presenting a great conference, with lots of space, breakout rooms, good food and other amenities for the meeting. In addition, it is a great facility for you and your family. The facility has a water park, lake activities, putt-putt golf, a great spa and a superb exercise facility. This is a great time to bring all of your family for the Conference!

You can follow the following links to download registration materials, informational packages, sponsorship forms, golf, fishing, sporting clay registrations, children’s programs and registrations for shopping in old town Spring:

Restaurants near La Torretta
Conference Registration Form
Conference Agenda
Breakout Sessions
Registration Desk hours
Conference Shirt Order Form
Door Prize Sponsorship
Exhibitor Registration Form

Exhibitor Guidelines
Exhibitor Shipping Information
Door Prize Sponsorship
La Torretta Registration Information

Event Sponsor Forms

Scholarship Auction Donor and Buyer Form

Additional Activities: (The links below will show information and details about the additional activities offered at the Conference. Registration for these events must be done on the Registration form.)

Children’s Program
Golfing Information
Lake Fishing Information
Sporting Clay Information
Shopping in Old Town Spring

On February 22, 2011, the Railroad Commission approved the changes to Chapter 8, Specifically 8.209, Replacement of Facilities.

The effective date of the rule is March 14, 2011.

The rule requires the development of a risk-based program to address the most problematic parts of a distribution system. The program must be in place and submitted to the Safety Division no later than August 1, 2011.

The TGA is traveling around the state in our “TGA on the Road” meetings to aquaint our membership with the rule and the requirements for compliance.

The current scheduled dates are:

March 16, 2011
Lufkin Texas
In conjunction with the East Texas Gas Association meeting

March 17, 2011
San Angelo

March 22, 2011
Corpus Christi

March 24
Dumas

March 31
Midland/Odessa

Final plans are coming together for the TGA Spring Board Meeting.

While you’re thinking about it, put it on your calendar. This meeting is a warm-up for the Operations and Management meeting which will also be held at La Torretta Conference Center.

The La Torretta facility offers a great opportunity for a family-oriented activity. La Torretta is located between Conroe and Magnolia, Texas off of highway 105. It is about 30 minutes from Bush Intercontinental by taking IH-45 north.

if you would like to see the facility, follow this link to their website.

We are currently finalizing the agenda and schedule for your use and we will have the download here.

Put it on your calendar

Final plans have been made for the 2011 South Texas Scholarship Golf Outing.

Date: March 28

Tee Time: 9:00 AM

Location:
Pecan Grove Plantation Golf Club
3000 Plantation Drive
Richmond, Texas

Proceeds from the golf outing support the TGA Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships for incoming freshmen who are children of TGA member companies.

PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR!

The Safety Committee is pleased to announce the first annual Safety Roundtable.

The roundtable has been re-scheduled for August, 2011. It will still be held in San Antonio.

The schedule is as follows:

7:00 PM – Meet and Greet Reception
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Roundtable Meeting
12:00 PM to 1:30 PM – Lunch
1:30 PM to 5:00 PM – Roundtable Meeting
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Roundtable Meeting
12:00 PM – Adjourn