SGA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 2008
This year represents a remarkable milestone for SGA. The Southern Gas Association was founded in 1908 in Atlanta, Georgia, by 40 leaders of the gas industry who recognized that their common goals could best be accomplished through cooperation. 100 years later, we can be proud of the organization they founded, which has served our industry very well for these many years.
In order to celebrate the great accomplishment of turning 100 years old, we are planning a year-long centennial celebration. The Centennial Celebration Committee, chaired by Bob Best, CEO, Atmos Energy, is working with SGA staff to provide special events and activities throughout the year. A number of companies have already made financial contributions in support of the Celebration.
All participants at every SGA event this year will receive an Ashworth shirt or cap with a special centennial logo, and a DVD chronicling the 100 year history of SGA and the natural gas industry.
A number of conferences will have special keynote speakers and entertainment, along with other special activities commemorating the occasion.
We invite you to participate in this once in a lifetime celebration by attending SGA conferences and workshops throughout the year. We appreciate your support of SGA and the natural gas industry.
Contact Pat Downey pdowney@southerngas.org for information on how your company can become involved.
A list of sponsoring companies is included on the website homepage..
About SGA
Your
Competitive Edge in the Energy Market
Continuous improvement. In today's competitive energy market,
it's more than a handy catch phrase. It's a necessity.
That's why SGA is such a valuable resource for natural gas
companies. Practical, timely services from SGA improve both employee and
corporate performance, giving member companies a competitive edge in the
rapidly evolving energy industry.
A leading natural gas industry association for 100 years,
SGA's broad-based membership includes more than 150 distribution, transmission
and gas supply marketing companies serving millions of customers from
coast to coast and border to border. By linking people, ideas and information,
SGA provides member companies with:
- A collaborative forum for sharing knowledge, experience
and best practices;
- A source of relevant training and development programs
that improve individual and corporate performance;
- A cost-effective vehicle for promoting the increased
use of natural gas.
As the energy marketplace evolves and competition intensifies,
continuous improvement will be an increasingly important ingredient for
success. SGA is uniquely positioned to build on a tradition of providing
key services that benefit member companies, their shareholders and customers.
Secure Your Competitive Edge In The Natural Gas Market with
SGA
Services Provided to Member Companies: SGA...
- Collects, analyzes and distributes information that
is essential to making informed business decisions. SGA communicates
with member companies on regulatory, legislative and business issues
that may impact the natural gas industry. SGA surveys on key industry
issues, for example, are an informative service that may be used for
benchmarking, measuring trends or helping make business decisions.
- Conducts and supports activities that help member companies
better serve customers. SGA's diverse membership provides the resources
necessary to sponsor essential training that improves the performance
of personnel at all levels. The year-round schedule of conferences,
seminars, workshops and broadcasts offers everything from introductory
courses about the gas industry to updates on industry developments
and information on new business practices or technologies.
- Helps companies address legislative and regulatory issues.
SGA committees communicate with member companies about legislative
and regulatory issues that could affect them.
- Promotes the increased use of natural gas. SGA sponsors
joint marketing efforts with member companies to promote the benefits
of natural gas, encourages ongoing development and improvement of
natural gas equipment and participates in building codes and standards
efforts to encourage its safe and efficient use.
- Cooperates and affiliates with other organizations with
similar objectives. To increase awareness of industry events, promote
natural gas and better serve its member companies, SGA maintains long-term
relationships with other natural gas organizations, research institutes
and groups outside the energy industry. Past efforts have included
the American Gas Association, New England Gas Association, American
Gas Cooling Center, Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, American Public
Gas Association, GRI IGT, Gas Foodservice Equipment Network and Manufactured
HousingInstitute.
Management
All activities are planned, managed and carried out by volunteers
from member companies, assisted by SGA staff headquartered in Dallas.
SGA is managed by a board of directors with jurisdiction over all affairs
including policy, finances and activities permitted by the charter and
bylaws. The association is divided into seven managing sections, each
subdivided into committees. The sections and committees are:
Distribution
- Distribution Technical Training
Transmission
- Transmission Technical Training
- Offshore Gas Operations
- Environmental
Marketing
- Commercial Marketing
- Industrial Marketing
- Residential Marketing
- Building Codes & Standards
Human Resources
- Continuous Learning
- Employee Safety and Health
- Energy Compensation Survey
Corporate Services
- Accounting and Finance
- Communications
- Materials Management
- Information Technology
- Rates
Gas Supply Marketing
Associate Members (click here to join online or for a Membership Application)
- Associate members include businesses that manufacture
or distribute equipment used by the gas industry, consulting engineers,
attorneys, financial advisors, rate consultants, public accountants,
service organizations and technical journal publishers as well as
others who provide service to the gas industry.
SGA Member Company Groups
Distribution Members
Distribution members are organizations functioning as gas
distributors or operators of gas distribution facilities or both gas
distribution and transmission facilities. This category also includes
municipally owned gas companies.
Gas Supply Marketing Members
Gas supply marketers provide services. Services include
price risk management, load balancing and transportation and storage
capacity utilization.
Transmission Members
Transmission members are organizations operating gas transmission
facilities without major distribution facilities.
Associate Members (click here to join online or for a Membership Application)
Associate members are corporations, partnerships and individually
operated concerns which are manufacturers or distributors or equipment
or apparatus useful to the gas industry and consulting engineers, attorneys,
financial advisors, rate consultants, public accountants, service organizations,
technical journal publishers or others not eligible for other membership
categories who are closely associated with and regularly render service
to the gas industry.
Resources
SGA uses the latest communication technology to better serve
member companies. Although there will always be a need for face-to-face
interaction and conferences, technology allows SGA to deliver timely information
directly to the individual at little or low cost.
Listserves on the web page provide a method to discuss industry
issues on a 24/7 basis. The listserves operate much like a public bulletin
board. When a member sends a message, a copy is sent to every member of
the mailing list. Responses are also sent to the individual or the entire
list. Members can either observe or actively participate in an ongoing
discussion on a particular question or issue.
Video and audio conferences are quick inexpensive ways to inform and educate.
These interactive forums are especially effective for skills training,
general staff development or learning about developing issues that require
a rapid response.
SGA also maintains and regularly updates a library of educational
products that help support business goals and objectives of member companies.
Among these are self- study courses, videotapes and safety, environmental
and sales programs.
Other resources include SGA surveys on compensation, IT,
software and other subjects.
Subsidiaries
The
Gas Machinery Research Council, founded in 1952, is a not-for-profit corporation
that conducts research and training in fluid & mechanical systems,
with an emphasis on natural gas compression facilities. Its research work
is concentrated on high-impact areas having broad application to the gas,
oil and hydrocarbon industry. GMRC, through its affiliation with the Southwest
Research Institute, is also a leading designer of natural gas compression
plants and provides troubleshooting and field services for compression
installations. GMRC conducts and sponsors technical training seminars
and workshops and also sponsors the annual Gas Machinery Conference.
CTN,
The Energy Network, which became a separate subsidiary in 1999, is the
premier television network for the energy industry and a leading provider
of natural gas and other energy-related distance learning events.
CTN delivers its services with analog and digital satellite,
video and audio conferencing and web casting on the Internet. In addition
to providing distance learning and other services to SGA member companies,
CTN produces the accounting network (ACPEN) and the Business Professionals
Network (BPN) and has formed partnerships with leading technology providers,
major universities, associations and industry leaders.
Vision
SGA foresees a natural gas industry of the future that, as
it consolidates through mergers and acquisitions, will have fewer companies,
fewer employees and a continued emphasis on attaining value from their
association while saving time and money. Continuous improvement will be
a fundamental ingredient for success as resources diminish in the face
of a changing energy market. In this type of environment, SGA will continue
using cutting-edge technology to deliver quality services.
SGA's operating structure places it in a unique position to continue meeting
the needs of our member companies as they evolve and adapt to the changing
energy marketplace. Much of the planning and management SGA services and
activities is performed by volunteers from member companies. As a member-driven
organization backed by a competent and dedicated staff, SGA is able to
quickly respond to developments in the marketplace and meet the specific
needs of member companies.