Dear COPAS Members and Prospective Members,

Membership in COPAS of New Orleans is just the beginning of tremendous opportunities in our dynamic industry. Your membership provides educational and networking advantages, along with the opportunity to participate in establishing Accounting guidelines and procedures utilized in the oil & gas industry.

Our 2009-2010 year begins in September, and with that comes renewals and applications of membership. On our website you will find membership information including an application, a schedule of meeting dates, and an invoice for membership dues. Our forms may be reproduced and distributed to prospective members. Please return the information form and payment by September 15, 2009.

This year we are maintaining the membership dues at $230 per member. This will allow us to continue to provide our normal level of service to our members in face of escalating costs as well as provide service to the community. For example, COPAS of New Orleans helped sponsor the BLaST (Building Louisiana Science and Technology) Lego League Competition. We will also maintain our membership in PIPE (Petroleum Industry Promoting Education) which sponsors education opportunities in our area. COPAS of New Orleans will also continue its long tradition of presenting two scholarships to Accounting students at local Universities and co-sponsoring the UNO Energy Accounting and Technology Conference.

We are kicking-off our all-out membership drive and we seek your assistance in this endeavor. We ask that each of you try to sponsor one new member. Just think, if everyone does that, our membership will be doubled quite easily. Feel free to bring your prospective member to our September general membership meeting (with no guest fee) so they can “try us out”.

We, the board, will be working hard along with you to keep the New Orleans Chapter of COPAS a vital link to the industry. Please do not hesitate to call upon any one of us. We encourage your active participation throughout the year for the betterment of our profession, individual companies, and the petroleum industry.

Be sure to visit www.COPAS.org for more facts and figures about COPAS. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at cbayhi@palmenergypartners.com or (504) 830-7626.

Sincerely,
Catherine Bayhi
President