The Great Bend Desk & Derrick Club will be hosting the 61st annual Region VI meeting, April 28 – May 1. On Saturday April 30, Region VI Director, Tammy Watkins from Enid, Okla. will conduct the business session. Great Bend’s Chief of Police, Clifton Couch, will be on hand to extend a warm welcome to the guests followed by a very special patriotic opening ceremony  to be provided by the American Legion Riders. Keynote speaker for the Industry Luncheon will be Keith Miller, area stockman, rancher, and lobbyist who serves on the Midwest Energy board of directors. Other dignitaries attending the function will be the Association of Desk & Derrick Clubs 2016 President, Connie Harrison along with the 2017 president-elect Maggi Franks. Club members from across Kansas and Oklahoma will gather for an educational weekend that includes field trips to McDonald Tank & Equipment steel and fiberglass tank manufacturing plants, a tour of the Hazmat Response Facility, an excursion to the Jacam Chemical Laboratory and a motivational seminar presented by Catherine Strecker. The meeting will conclude with an Awards Banquet. This is an annual celebration that honors those clubs and their members with special recognition for outstanding programs and articles.
Desk and Derrick is an international energy educational organization whose mission is to educate and enlighten. Their motto is “Greater Knowledge – Greater Service.” Originally founded in 1949 by women secretaries who worked in petroleum related jobs for the purpose of helping them understand the oilfield business. Now, membership is open to anyone wanting to learn more about all aspects of energy industries.   
The Great Bend Desk & Derrick club members have been busy planning for well over a year to make this convention a success. For more information about Desk and Derrick contact Sharon Hiss, club president, at 620-793-4878.