SPE is a very inclusive organization. We embrace diversity as a core value that stimulates learning, enhances creativity and promotes excellence. We gain strength and vitality from the wide range of experiences and perspectives that our members bring to SPE. From Asia Pacific to Europe, from the Middle East to North and South America, I have met SPE members of every age group, career level, cultural background and technical discipline. SPE has earned a reputation as a neutral body that transcends geopolitical issues by focusing on knowledge exchange that considers all viewpoints, and by treating members fairly and equitably. Our members know that they can advance to any level within SPE because we value individual differences. The makeup of SPE’s board, committees, task forces and teams reflects the diversity of our membership. Our current membership demographics clearly reveal our increasingly global makeup, and an amazing array of job types, job levels and company affiliations. Just five years ago, 40% of our members lived outside North America. Now, more than 50% of our members are geographically dispersed in 108 countries. The globalization of SPE becomes even more apparent when you look at membership growth over the last five years: Middle East, +33%; Africa, +75%; Asia Pacific, +26%; South America, +21%. Although North Sea regional membership remains stable, membership in South Central and Eastern Europe is up 21%. North American membership increased 2%in the last five years. New sections have opened this year in Switzerland, Argentina and India, underscoring our growth on three continents. Our diversity extends beyond geography into job focus. SPE is not just for petroleum engineers—SPE is for all professionals who work in the upstream energy industry. While 44% of our members report that they are engineers in various disciplines, 20% describe themselves as managers and 15% are executives. Our members are also educators, consultants, technicians and geoscientists. The spectrum of professions and expertise within SPE becomes even more fascinating when we look at the degrees our members hold. SPE has defined six technical disciplines that reflect the wide range of our members’ specialties: Drilling and Completions; Health, Safety and Environment; Facilities and Construction; Management and Information; Production and Operations; and Reservoir Description and Dynamics. In addition to the expected engineering and geoscience degrees, we have members who are medical doctors and nurses (in Health, Safety and Environment); members who hold law degrees, PhDs in a range of disciplines and MBAs (in Management and Information); and those with less common degrees like food chemistry or industrial economy who have found their way into the industry. We even have master mariners.