Joe Jowers No Ordinary Joe Page 10 Record Year For Safety and Compliance Page 2 Creating a Nest Egg Page 17 First Quarter 2008 O u r S t r e n g t h I s O u r P e o p l e MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN THE LOOP PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE James and his co-workers were safe, conscientious operators who took great strides to operate safely. Table of Contents: Safety at Island Hard Hats Off! Training News & Focus Safety in Action Compliance Islander Profile News/Bulletins Announcements Birthdays Incentives Payroll News 401k News Benefit Highlights Insurance Tools of the Trade 2-3 4 5 6-7 8-9 10-11 12-13 14 15 16 16 17 18 19 20 Well Beyond Expectations At year end, we had accumulated more than 1.6 million manhours without a lost time accident. This otherwise stellar year end performance was tarnished when Island lost one of its own in a helicopter that went down in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on December 29, 2007. James Faulk, an eight year Island operator, lost his life on December 29th after the helicopter landed in the water. James was a fine operator and a contributor to the success of Island. His coworkers out of Venice speak highly of his abilities and join me in expressing our condolences to his family and friends. We will surely miss him at Island. The other two passengers with James, along with the pilot, fortunately survived the helicopter event. We extend our heartfelt wishes that they recover quickly and without any lasting disabilities. Events that cause harm or death to an Island Team Member affect us all. It reminds us of the brevity of life, and how quickly our lives can change when something goes wrong. Neither James nor his co-workers did anything to cause this accident, yet they suffered from an unforeseeable condition. We should look to James and his injured co-workers for lessons to be learned. The most glaring lesson to me is that there are plenty of dangers that exist in our work environment that we do not or cannot control, so in the instances where we can control our destiny regarding safety, we should exert every effort to do so. James and his co-workers were safe, conscientious operators, who took great strides to operate safely. We should honor them by doing the same. The safety record that Island has amassed in 2007, excluding this tragic event, has been phenomenal, possibly our best performance ever. It is because of your performance in 2007 that I firmly believe that all Islanders are getting the message that “we will work safely and compliantly or we will not perform the unsafe task.” More and more Islanders are using their “stop work” authority and preventing accidents. I am very proud of our accomplishments and performance in 2007. We ended 2007 with a lost time incident ratio of .46 and a total recordable incident rate of .86. These metrics equate to a 65% and a 71% improvement over 2006 respectively. You have performed well for our clients and Island. I believe that we can do as well, if not better, in 2008 with your dedication to being the best in the business. I am very proud to represent you to our clients and regulators because you have performed like the professionals that you are. May God bless James and may we all be better for working with and knowing him. Island Tool Kit: RED ALERT Recent Safety Alerts Safe Driving •Although none of us Tools of the Trade What gets the job done? Nearly every profession has a tool, the thing that helps get the job done. Tools of the Trade is all about those indispensable items. At Island, itʼs specific equipment. Itʼs people. Itʼs training. Itʼs knowledge. Itʼs skills and abilities. Itʼs licensing. And itʼs attitude. Itʼs all of these things that help bring a project to completion safely and compliantly. From the office to the platform, itʼs you – our employees – that get the job done. Record Year for Safety and Compliance Island Operating Achieves Best Safety Record in Company’s History Thirty-two fewer recordable accidents than in 2006 and twentytwo fewer lost time accidents make this the best safety record in Islandʼs twenty-six year history. Congratulations to all involved in this outstanding performance. Producing a record like this can only be achieved by the concerted effort of everyone working toward the same goal, and getting this many people to all pull together and deliver this level of competence is no simple task. We are extremely proud of the level of professionalism that you have all demonstrated. It is because of professionals like all of you that Island has been able to produce the safety record and compliance record that makes Island the best in the business. (01-0154913) Thanks for all that all of you do to keep us the leader in the production management industry. 2.50 2.50 2.00 1.58 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 0.71 0.66 0.38 TRIR LTIR 0.36 TRIR 0.00 LTIR TRIR LTIR TRIR LTIR 13 Rec., 7 LTA’s (3,639,288 Manhours) 1 Rec., 0 LTA’s (302,346.25 Manhours) 14 Rec., 7 LTA’s (3,941,634.25 Manhours) 46 Rec., 29 LTA’s (3,679,947.50 Manhours) January 1 - November 30, 2007 December 2007 January 1 - December 31, 2007 January 1 - December 31, 2007 2 www.islandoperating.com ees of the importance of filling out the prescription drug form. This information will be useful in the case that an emergency should arise offshore. Also, it allows employees to know of the certain prescription drugs that are not allowed offshore by DOT. the cradling of a crane boom, this alert was designed to bring awareness to all Island offshore crane operators. Some of the key points to this alert were: 1. Perform thorough pre-use inspections; 2. Do not except deficiencies in any part of the inspection; 3. If deficiencies are found - stop the job and notify supervisors; 4. Make sure all controls are in the full neutral position before exiting the crane cab. Personal Hygiene •Employees were reminded of the importance of good, personal hygiene especially in the work place. It is important that we all understand how good personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and others from illness. Incidents/Accidents •ThisReporting is a reminder of the procedures COMPARISON OF INCIDENT RATES (without helicopter) 3.00 0.71 Drug Policy •ThisPrescription alert was a reminder to all employ- Incident •DueCrane to a recent incident which involved DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY 2007 drive offshore, we all have to drive to and from work. This alert was intended to remind employees of the importance of defensive driving. We identified several characteristics of defensive driving such as knowledge, alertness, foresight, judgement and skills. that need to be followed when an incident/accident occurs. All incidents regardless of severity need to be reported. This needs to be done within hours (at most) after the incident has occurred. An incident/accident report, whether it is the customer’s or Island’s form, needs to be completed, faxed and followed with a call to the Safety Department in the Lafayette office. When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going SAFETY MEETING UPDATES Safety Packets are a Good Tool for Future Safety Meetings The fourth quarter 2007 safety packets discussed the many tools of our trade. The fourth quarter 2007 safety packet reminded all employees of how important fire safety, out-of-service tags and J.S.A.ʼs are to our safety and how each relates to the other. Proper J.S.A.ʼs are the foundation for working in a safe manner. Out-of-service tags serve as a preventive measure for not forgetting safety systems in by-pass. Fire Safety reminds us of the importance of having the knowledge of what fire extinguisher to use in the unfortunate incident of a fire. Islandʼs safety packets are an excellent tool to keep on platforms for future safety meetings and are now available from your supervisor at crew change or via the Island website at www.islandoperating.com. It is imperative that each and every employee reads the quarterly safety packet in order to keep abreast of safety issues. To show our appreciation for reading the packet AND completing the sign-off sheet on time, a bonus $30 Wal-Mart gift certificate will be awarded to you. The fourth quarter safety packets were distributed in January. MMS SAFETY ALERT #255 Compressor Explosion Two contract employees were burned by hot oil when a compressor exploded during startup procedures. The main compressor was shut-in for an estimated three hours for maintenance while the number 2 compressor was on-line. When the operator began to have trouble with the number 2 compressor they decided to start the number 1 compressor to help with the load. The operator rolled the engine over and then attempted to crank the compressor. The unit tried to fire off but failed. The unit then backfired causing the operators to shut off the air and fuel supply. Almost immediately, an explosion occurred blowing off the number 1 compressor crankcase door. Oil was blown out hitting the wall and window of the compressor building. The wall and window redirected the hot oil onto the two operators standing at the front of the compressor, burning them both. Islanders Pull Together in AIDING Med Evac MP162 & MP259 With True Island Grit, Johnny Dwyer, Steve Summers and the Rest of the Crews Take Care of their Own. On December 12th, Andrew Guidry lay injured on the pipeliner barge needing immediate medical attention. Lead Operator (MP162), Johnny Dwyer, knew there werenʼt any platforms in the vicinity which could handle the weight of the helicopter that was enroute to evacuate Andrew. Island Operating Sr. Production Foreman, Michael Holley, relates the story, “Johnny had Frank D. contact me about the situation. Roy Melancon and I decided that Devonʼs MP259 platform would be the closest manned platform that could handle the helicopterʼs size. I gave all of MP259ʼs contact information to Frank and they began moving Andrew by boat to MP259. Steve Summers, MP259 Lead Operator, was informed of the situation and he assisted by giving the platform coordinates to speed up their trip.” Michael continues, “Once the boat arrived at the platform, the MP259 crew got Andrew up on the platform and into the waiting helicopter. The time was 11:06 PM and everyone involved had maintained great communication throughout the whole ordeal.” Johnny, Frank, Steve, Michael, Roy and the rest of the crew members pulled together during a tough situation. All of your efforts were crucial in making sure Andrew arrived at the hospital in the shortest time possible. MMS recommends the following: • Lessees and Operators should inspect compressor units to ensure they are fitted with flame-arresting explosion relief valves of the proper size and access covers of sufficient strength to withstand internal pressure of up to 30 psi. • Lessees and Operators should ensure compressors do not have iron, aluminum or magnesium covers which cannot withstand explosion pressure. • It is critical that engines and compressors be equipped with the proper covers and proper relief valves. • If in doubt, contact the manufacturer for specific recommendations/safety alerts for the proper access doors and relief valves for your equipment. Safety With Pocket Knives A good pocket knife is a very valuable tool to all of us. Unfortunately, improper use will lead to serious injury. Please keep in mind the following when using a knife. • Always cut away from your body and free hand. • Keep clear of the “line of fire” in case the blade slips or cuts the material unexpectedly. • Use extreme caution and proper procedure when sharpening the blade. (01-0159861) • Never attempt to check the sharpness of the blade by shaving the hair on your arm. • Never leave a folding pocket knife open when not in use. • Know the purpose of each tool, and use it only for that purpose. Like using cutting pliers for removing tie-wraps. Remember the Five P’s: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance! 3 Hard Hats Off! IS L A ND Personnel Praises Great job Jacque Miller, Gregg Arnaud, Leonard Sharp and Steven Woffard for the extra efforts on your platform. Thanks to Larry Green for taking excellent care of the employees and the extra help when needed. Jason Veillon, David Naquin, Scott Bujol, James Hardy, Alan Rials and Ross Cassidy were commended for the improvements they have made on their platform. Thanks to Jeremy Trahan, Jesse Prager, Robert Guidry, Scott Ledoux, Raymond Champagne and Eugene Latour for doing a great job safely and compliantly. Thanks to Sean Wilson, Richard Langley, Mark Johnson and David Keen for their numerous workovers and dedication to Island. Thanks to Don Champagne for working over to cover for another Islander that was having surgery. Chris Gaspard, Josh Fontenot, Tracy Walden, Brad Ellis and Jamie Cormier did an excellent job on the start-up of a platform. Thanks to Keith Flurry for going above and beyond his normal compliance duties. Thanks to John Bendily and Jeremy Legros. These two entry level operators stepped up and worked over as needed to get all of the projects on the platform completed safely. Joe Stone, Jeremy Couvillon, Gerald Kratzer and Greg Hardy were commended by MMS for an excellent performance. Thanks to Mike Touchet for his numerous workovers and his great work ethic. We appreciate Robert Rossa for never complaining when asked to work over. Kudos to Willie Zepherin, Mike West, B.J. Gotte and Bill Smith for excellent job performances. Thanks to Steve Rogers for his hard work and dedication. 4 www.islandoperating.com RE COGNIZES E XCELLENCE JOB WELL DONE Crewmember Sparks An Interest From MMS HARD HATS OFF! Awesome INC Free Inspections During the month of November, Loop 54 was busy with annual MMS inspections. Due to the hard work of the operators and with the help of Don Smith (Compliance Inspector), Loop 54 received perfect inspections. This in itself is a great accomplishment; however, it gets even better. Islandʼs Compliance & Regulatory Manager, Charles Miller, received a phone call from Leo Dartez. Mr. Dartez was the MMS inspector who performed the Loop 54 inspections. He called Island to express how impressed he was with Island operator Steve Sparks. Mr. Dartez explained, “Steve was very knowledgable about the safety systems on each of the facilities inspected. He acted in a professional manner during the entire inspection and was open to any and all suggestions I presented that would better the work environment and safety of the facilities.” He continued, “I have never placed a phone call to the company of an operator before today. However, I was compelled to let you know what an asset Steve Sparks is to Island Operating.” It is apparent from Mr. Dartezʼs remarks that Steve is one of the rare individuals that has both the knowledge and attitude to make a difference in operations. We thank you Steve, for your professionalism and are honored and proud to have you on the Island team. Great job! Bobby Rider, Production Foreman for Apache Area 5, praised all personnel involved for the INC Free inspection at EI 306-A. Island hands and I.O.C. Compliance worked diligently toward this great inspection. A special thanks to Terry Orgeron for the knowledge and skills he put forth to help. Devon Energy Thanks Islanders OCS Inspector Praises Apache Crew Chris Toups and Natasha Clayton were recognized by Devon Energy on volunteering for a dispatching hitch in Galliano. Natasha handled logistics and boats while filling in for vacation spots at the Devon base. Island thanks both Chris and Natasha for their commitment in keeping Island running smoothly. Hats off to the crew at South Marsh Island 281-C. They had four INC Free inspections in 2007. Great inspections! This is a prime example of excellent operators taking their job seriously and proving they are the professionals that we maintain they are. Keep up the good work. We are all proud of you. Thomas Walker Terry Andrus Brandon Bertrand William Cooper Richard Langley Henry Jones Apache Crew Has the Right Tools Richard Sharp, Randy Guillory, Bob McCaslin and Earl Stanley displayed excellent skills and character resulting in a great (01-0456910) inspection. “I have been very impressed with HI 376-B platform and crew.” says Lori Bartel, MMS OCS Inspector. “The platform is clean and well maintained. The crew is knowledgeable, motivated and hospitable. All areas displayed good housekeeping, minumal corrosion and attention to Federal Code is evident – almost all pilots tripped exactly on set pressures!” TRAINING NEWS AND FOCUS 3 Training 10 Department LEARNS FROM 17 EXPERIENCE The Training Department acknowledges the following employees for their positive attitude in regards to attending and completing all training courses. It is a pleasure to work with employees like them! HANDS-ON TRAINING IS an ESSENTIAL tool 100% RIGHT ON COURSE T2 BASIC The following employee scored a perfect 100 on his T2 Basic and received a $100 gift card. Mark Beard MMS REFRESHER The following employees scored a perfect 100 on their MMS Refresher and each person received a $30 gift card. Terry Alpough John Hartman Hands-on training is an essential tool that Island incorporates into Wyndel Manuel all of our training courses. Recently, the Training Department Robert McCaslin Caleb Trahan had the opportunity to participate in the hands-on training Terry Watson required during Water Survival offered at Occupational Safety Mitchell Boudreaux Training in New Iberia. The METS 5 Helicopter Underwater Richard Cooper Egress Training Simulator is one tool incorporated into the variHarold Frederick Winn Arceneaux ous practical exercises. We exceeded the industry standard of 4 Thomas Powell revolutions by completing an additional two runs. Although David Johnson we were apprehensive at first, we were able to complete all John Harden runs with ease, thanks to the informative and detailed direcDanzel Marcantel, Jr. Ranson Soileau tions provided by the instructors. Not only did we gain valuable Derrick Miller knowledge throughout the process, we found the experience to Dominic Menard be truly enjoyable and enriching. Richard Zuhlke Bryan Hebert Lloyd Guidry Points to remember regarding Patrick Hebert water survival: Grundy Laurence Don Champagne • Always request the Helicopter John Fontenot Orientation for your particular Brennon Gatte helicopter. Chris Cary Stan Amadore • If you still have questions after Jason Veillon the Helicopter Orientation be sure Daniel Domingue to ask. Wayne Fabre, Sr. Randy Hebert • Once on board, locate Emergency Brady Tevy Equipment (First Aid Kit, Fire John Amell Extinguisher, Emergency Locator Jonathan Harrington Clint LeMaire Transmitter, Life Raft and Life Raft Dustin Pole release points). � ��������Brian Smith Charles � � • In case of an emergency, take ��������� �� Dupnik � Greg �Holloway ��� directions from the Aircraft/Vessel ������ ������ Ryan �� � Weise � � ����������������� crew. ����� �� �Keith Easterling � �� � � � ������ �������������� ������ ����Justin ���������Gillespie ������ ������������ • Only enter the water as a last � � Brandel Poole ������� ������� Mark Arsement Jackie Bennett Reginald Cart Roger Curole Drue Dupree Shane Faulk Tyrone Felix Ronnie Flanigan James “Jay” Garrett Donald Goss Chad Guidroz Roddie Hebert Phil Holman Ronald Landry Wesley Mayeaux Matthew Mott Francis Pavliska Milo Perez Lee Pruitt O’dell Rabke Winston Rider ������� Donald Ross �� � ������ Joseph Rothlisberger ����� ��������� � �� �� Brian Smith���� ���������������� �� � � � � � �� �� �� ������� ��������� Charles Stephens ���� ���������������� � � Terrell Thibodeaux ���� Michael Wolf Billy Zeigler ������ resort. If you must enter the water, ��������� deploy your life vest, stay together, assist any injured personnel, stay ������������������������ ��� ������� calm and wait for help to arrive. �� ������ ������� ������� � � ������ � ������� 5 The following are the 3rd quarter winners in Island’s behavior based safety program. The winning cards were chosen from observations made between July 1st and September 30th. A total of 217 awards (cash and gift cards) totaling $10,180 was awarded. The overall winners were chosen from the top 3 cards from each area. Congratulations to all of the winners. THIRD PLACE - $300 Galen Simon Apache Area 3 The brake on the survival capsule failed and the capsule fell to the water. We cranked it back up and secured it to the platform with a sling, then barricaded the area off so no one could fall overboard. We tagged the capsule outof-service, called survival systems to order a new brake and lined up a mechanic to come out and repair/inspect the capsule. We then discussed how we would abandon the platform without a capsule and conducted a drill to make sure everyone was aware. FOURTH PLACE - $200 Brennan Gatte Apache Area 7 FIRST PLACE - $500 Dennis Canter Loop #33 While I was making a pre-crane inspection, I saw that the boom cable on our crane did not look right. I followed the cable up to the gantry sheaves nest and saw that the new cable had been improperly installed with the cable running under a guide instead of over it. The boom cable had cut into it to a point where the bar was cut in half. The operator and I examined the cable and it did not have any cuts. The annual had just been done, the mechanic had signed off on it and the crane had been used to move things around in preparation for a storm. This incident is a good reminder that pre-use inspections do work as someone could have been badly hurt. The crane was placed out-of-service and repaired. SECOND PLACE - $400 Bob Coleman Apache Area 7 When Pelto had a small fire on the compressor platform a few months ago, I noticed that the “Platform Orientation/Briefing” (which Apache has on their regulatory web site) has the station bill listed to be reviewed so that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency. However, there wasn’t anything on the briefing list about what to do if you are the person discovering the fire. After seeing what happened when a fire was discovered on our platform, I developed and now brief oncoming personnel with what their actions should be if they are the person discovering the fire. 6 Construction was on SS-182-B replacing grating on the plus ten. Helpers were cutting new grating by the test separator on the main deck. I asked them if they had “sniffed” the area and they replied yes. I checked the gas detector and it wasn’t even turned on. I told them how critical it was, especially in the area they were working. The sniffer was turned on and the area rechecked, before work was allowed to resume. FIFTH PLACE - $100 Terry Seaux Merit Energy/Loop 52 While crew changing, we landed on a platform to refuel. The pilot landed near the fuel depot and the tail section was near the stairwell coming up to the heliport. Due to a strong cross wind, the pilot had to reposition to get close enough to fuel up. While fueling, I noticed that an operator came up from the rear of the helicopter and I saw the tail boom was still somewhat close to the stairs. The operator approached from the pilot’s blind spot, and since we were refueling, the pilot was paying attention to his gauge and never saw the operator. I waved the guy off of the heliport then finished refueling and went down to speak with him. He was just coming up for a newspaper, so I told him never to approach from the rear or blind spot as a serious accident could occur. AREA WINNERS BY SUPERVISOR: Jody Soileau Apache Areas 4 & 5 Area 4: 1. Trevor Broussard 2. Sean Wilson 3. Winston Rider 4. Randall K. Smith 5. Craig Aaron 6. Daniel LeBlanc 7. Kenneth B. Wedgeworth 8. Lowell T. Jeane 9. Terry Rudder 10. Terry Andrus Area 5: 1. Scott Stringer 2. Shane LeBlanc 3. Scott Bertrand 4. Corey Clark 5. Terrance Lemaire 6. Shawn Herpin 7. John Flack 8. Kevin Fontenot 9. Troy Shaw 10. James Phipps Chris Fontenot Apache Areas 2 & 3 Area 2: 1. Earl Stanley 2. Justin Westfall 3. Michael Dubea 4. Bradley Prejean 5. Matthew Hargroder 6. Bob McCaslin 7. Michael Dubea 8. Calvin Thompson 9. Bob McCaslin 10. Kelly Guin Area 3: 1. Galen Simon 2. Jacque Miller 3. Galen Simon 4. John Fontenot 5. Lance Coleman 6. Kenneth Walton 7. Galen Simon 8. John Fontenot 9. Gregg Arnaud 10. Lance Coleman Chris Soileau Apache Areas 6, 7 & 9 Area 6: 1. Brennan Gatte 2. Darrell Debate 3. Mike Ryan 4. Bobbie Gotte 5. Willie Reese 6. Tristan Comeaux 7. Pat Romero 8. Robert Roosa 9. Peter Ortego 10. Kevin Fontenot 11. Eddie Beauregard Area 7: 1. Bob Coleman 2. Jarvis Bowie 3. Jimmy Johnson 4. Neil Lapointe 5. Donald Lormand 6. Shane Bordelon 7. Brandon Lynch 8. Carlo Lumpkin 9. Marcus Campbell 10. Keegan Wood Area 9: 1. Dustin J. Broussard 2. Pat Legros 3. John Taylor 4. Scotty Pellerin 5. John Taylor 6. Jeffery Dewitt 7. Shannon Mouton 8. Scotty Pellerin 9. Donald Breaux 10. James Reardon Rod Laseter Devon, EOG, Mariner & Stone Stone: 1. Tyrone Felix 2. Wayne Hebert 3. Derek Delahoussaye 4. Billy Zeigler 5. Brennon Touchet 6. Billy Zeigler 7. Ryan Trahan 8. Chris Naquin 9. Chris Naquin 10. Wayne Hebert Devon, EOG & Mariner: 1. Eddie Fowler 2. Roddie Hebert 3. Richard Waltermyer 4. Ben Daigle 5. Jerrod Broussard 6. Anthony Shuff 7. Ronald Touchet 8. Steve Cornay 9. Randall Stelly 10. Glen Gaspard Joe Peschier Loops 33, 35, 36 & 37 1. Dennis Canter 2. Jay Freeman 3. Ryan Stanley 4. Jerrett Carrier 5. Chandler Crochet 6. Jay Garrett 7. Brett Snider 8. Keith Thibodeaux 9. Phillip Richard 10. Phil Fruge Deany Smith Walter Oil & Gas 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Brandon Derks Thomas Winnie Powell Robert Moak Chad Shuff Dave Lurry Craig Woods Dustin Oliver Raymond Salinas Gregory Ardoin 1. George Albrecht 2. Johnny Davenport 3. Jim Vuichard 4. Odell Rabke 5. George Albrecht 6. Pablo Martinez 7. Brandon Bridges 8. Robert Weeks 9. Pablo Martinez 10. Luke Durio 1. Curtis Jowers 2. Dale Powell 3. Michael Mouton 4. Denvy Ebanks 5. Brent Aguillard 6. Richie Savoie 7. Mitchell Thibodeaux 8. Lynius Menard 9. Mackie McCoy 10. Denvy Ebanks Joe Rodriguez Bobby Boudreaux 1. Richard Bard 2. Shane Cretors 3. Kevin Johnson 4. Jason Coppedge 5. James Fowler 6. Chris Savant 7. Joe Rodriguez 8. Ricky Knight 9. Richard Bard 10. Doug Franke 1. John Conn 2. Lucas Hammond 3. Lloyd Guidry 4. Nicholas Hebert 5. Clay Burgeson 6. Jeremy Hebert 7. Doug Tinkle 8. George Leger 9. Francis Pavliska 10. Jake Meche 11. Dwayne Hebert 12. Andy Stanley Apache Loops 26, 27 & 28 Brent Davis McMoran 1. Roy Cormier 2. Doug Pratt 3. Jerome Johnston 4. Jerome Johnston 5. Brady Tevy 6. Justin Lewis 7. Chris Landreneau 8. Chase Fontenot 9. Justin Lewis 10. Terry Rudder Richard Brierre Loop 52/Merit Energy 1. Damian Daigle 2. Terry Seaux 3. Roger Luquette 4. Eric Miller 5. Chris Reed 6. Brad Walker 7. Thomas Trahan 8. Gary Enicke 9. Tommy Baker 10. Clinton Roberts 11. Chris Reed Kirk Bellard Hunt Petroleum 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Shane Miller Stephen Bares Pat Oliver David McZeal Chris Marshall Marlin Lemoine Fred Crochet Alton Courville REMINDER: Turn in your First Quarter observation cards by the end of March. Loops 24, 36 & 53 Loops 32 & 34 Mike Kibodeaux Loops 23, 48 & 54 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Steve Sparks Chad Gradney Chris Lejuene Kevin Lanerie Jason Peschier Toby Touchet Jeremy Leonards Kevin Lanerie Francis Smith Robert Carter & Robert Furey Loops 24, 47, 49, 55 & 59 1. Johnny Dwyer 2. Michael Wooten 3. Nathan Bellelo 4. Johnny Byrd 5. Jackie Bennett 6. Tom Landry 7. Phil Hutton 8. Raymond Estelle 9. Dustin Searle 10. Terry Watson Ricky Lirette & Mark Hebert Loops 24 & 55 1. Keith Derouen 2. James Ray Faulk 3. Paul Ryan Johnson 4. Rusty Parker 5. Daniel Conde 6. Charles Courtney 7. Clinton Lavergne 8. Yule Aucoin 9. Wesley Foster 10. Dean Breindel 7 Compliance POWER TOOLS AND PROTOCOL Power Tools: How Handy They Are Portable, battery-operated electrical hand tools – the best invention since pockets on a shirt. No longer do we have to drag an extension cord around looking for an electrical outlet to plug into. With the improvements in battery and tool technology, we now have portable electrical power tools which drill, screw, cut or pound, using 12 to 36 volts of power and enough torque to get just about any job done. Portable electrical tools, due to their efficiency and usefulness, are often found at offshore work locations, and sometimes, we inadvertently take them for granted. 1 2 3 In our job relationship with portable battery-operated electrical tools, we also must consider, for safety sake, the use of these tools in potentially dangerous locations. Portable electrical power tools which are NOT certified as being intrinsically safe for use in Classified Areas of the platform must be identified as such. (39-0006024) PINC #F-106 reads: “Do portable electrical tools have warning labels certifying their use in Class 1, Group D locations or are they permanently labeled ʻWarning Source of Ignition When in Useʼ, in accordance with API 14F, paragraph 12.3.4, or API 14FZ 12.3.4? 30 CFR 250.114.198”. The top picture at left (1) is of a Dewalt 24 volt portable screwdriver and the second photo illustrates the electrical arch which occurs each time power is applied to this tool. Imagine the consciences of this arch occurring in a gasfilled atmosphere at your work space. Picture (3) is the label which Island Operating requires to be affixed to portable, electrical tools in order to comply with the Minerals Management Service Regulations. Handy as they may be, if not used properly, portable power tools can be a huge risk, too! Safety, Compliance, Production . . . Island Operatingʼs core values. When we operate and work in this order, we will realize how much safer our lives will be. If your electrical power tools are not labeled as required, contact your supervisor for the necessary identification labels. Compliance Implements New Performance Tools NEW COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS In December, the Island Compliance Department began conducting mock inspections on all of our operated platforms. These inspections mimic what goes on during an actual MMS inspection. This is to be used as a TOOL for our inspectors to TEACH operators and GUIDE them on the correct way to perform certain tasks and assist MMS inspectors with their annuals. It is also a time for our operators to be able to ASK questions in order to be better INFORMED on specific aspects of an inspection. WEEKLY COMPLIANCE & SAFETY NEWSLETTERS In December, we began issuing weekly newsletters to inform all personnel of what is taking place Gulf wide. These newsletters include Safety & Compliance topics of interest, statistics and even congratulations on INC FREE inspections. They highlight accidents that may have recently happened and the latest INCS that have been issued. We would also like to include a “Good Question” section, so if you have a question to turn in, you can email it to shulin@islandoperating.com. Only your question and the answer will be printed – not your name. These newsletters are a TOOL for all personnel to be aware of what is taking place, not only at their platforms, but throughout the Gulf and Island! $ APACHE CORPORATION ATP High Island A-5 #1, HI 169 #1 & #2, HI A-5 A Brian Benoit, Keith Duhon, Brian Smith, Stan Amadore, Scott Bertrand Matagorda Island 709-A Bill Glidwell, Gerald Prince, Mike Hart, Brian Eisenhower, Doug Bankhead Eugene Island 380-A Clay Williams, John Gaudet, Chris Gardner Ship Shoal 35-A & B Steve Sparks, Chad Gradney, Chris Lejeune, Courtney Cutrera, Hue Lott, Eric Duos Eugene Island 306-A & B Gerald Scott Bertrand, Robert Mallett, Corey Arnold, Stewart Bergeaux South Timbalier 295-A & B Johnny Taylor, Neil Berard, Russell Danos, Ben Legros, Pat Patterson, Barack Milton, Kenneth Manuel, Donald Ezell Mustang Island A-85 A Kenny Tucker, Jr., Alvin Amador, Craig Barrientez, Chris Villarreal Matagorda Island 518-A Kyle Metting, Milo Perez, Ruben Acosta, William Spoerle, Terry Linder, James Payne Eugene Island 281-A Mike Doré, Damon Savoie, Todd Crockett, Derek Gordan East Cameron 172-A, EC 261-A, EC 264-B Rene Dartez, Wade Hebert, Doug LeBlanc, Eddie Saucier, Tim Gaynor, Charles Herrington $$ High Island A-376 B Richard Sharp, Randy Guillory, Robert McCaslin, Earl Stanley Sabine 10-A & JA Kenny Marshall, James Roach, John Fontenot, Bill Harwell, Patrick Guillory, Walter Scott, Dustin Allen, Brett Beckom, Ray Pittman Ship Shoal 274-A Ricky Dooley, Eddie Beauregard, Shane Lapointe, Lester Chatman South Timbalier 139-A Rob Hernandez, Ben Dupre, Francisco Perna, Rodney Thibodeaux, Robert Beebe, Donny Lormand, Luke Sanders, Miles Doré, Todd Hamilton, Wayne Gray, Jarvis Bowie South Timbalier 206-A, ST 205-F & ST 205-G Rob Hernandez, Ben Dupre, Francisco Perna, Rodney Thibodeaux, Robert Beebe, Donny Lormand, Luke Sanders, Miles Doré, Todd Hamilton, Wayne Gray, Jarvis Bowie APEX West Cameron 229-C Larry Balfer, Evert Cheha, Scott Brown, Richie Savoie, Damon Toups, Jeff Verzwyvelt West Cameron 442-A Larry Balfer, Evert Cheha, Scott Brown, Richie Savoie, Damon Toups, Jeff Verzwyvelt, Derrick Miller, Josh Triplett ARENA OFFSHORE, LLC West Cameron 564-CA Chandler Crochet, Brandel Poole, Brett Snider, Derrick Miller South Timbalier 172-C Wesley Foster, Khalid Dandachli, Greg Davis, Don Champagne, Wayne Felarise, Jr., Kory McManus CALLON PETROLEUM CIMAREX Main Pass 164-A, MP 99-A, MP 160-A, MP 178-A Johnny Dwyer, Nathan Bellelo, Darren Lanoux, Dane Venable, Ed Duke, Kevin Baudoin, Matthew Morrison EL PASO Ship Shoal 151-A Steve Sparks, Chad Gradney, Chris Lejeune, Courntey Cutrera, Hue Lott, Eric Duos ENERGY RT (APEX) West Cameron 473-A Larry Balfer, Evert Cheha, Scott Brown, Richie Savoie, Damon Toups, Jeff Verzwyvelt, Derrick Miller, Josh Triplett ENERGY XXI West Cameron 248 #2, WC 248 #4 Larry Balfer, Evert Cheha, Scott Brown, Richie Savoie, Damon Toups, Jeff Verzwyvelt, Derrick Miller, Josh Triplett HELIS OIL & GAS Galveston 350-C Clay Burgeson, Keith Viator, Corey Perkins, Kenny Tucker, Chad Gerald, Michael Ditto Eugene Island 211-B & Ship Shoal 53 #1 Steve Sparks, Chad Gradney, Chris Lejeune, Courtney Cutrera, Hue Lott, Eric Duos HUNT PETROLEUM South Marsh Island 109-A Edgar Lejeune, Fred Crochet, Kevin Newman, Wyndel Manuel, Jade Thibodeaux, Bryant Rudd South Marsh Island 40-B, SMI 44-C & SMI 40-JA Mike Guidry, John D. Fontenot, Dustin Granger, David Mczeal, Grant Guinn, Norris Lemaire, Chris Marshall, Chris Andrepont, Marlin Lemoine, Terry Guillory Eugene Island 312-D & South Marsh Island 146-B Paul Daniel, Terrell Thibodeaux, Brad Adams, Pat Oliver, Stephen Bares, John Hartman, Johnny Sanders, Jr., Mark Manuel Eugene Island 286-K Paul Daniel, Terrell Thibodeaux, Brad Adams, Pat Oliver, Stephen Bares, John Hartman, Johnny Sanders, Jr., Mark Manuel ERT Eugene Island 309-H, EI 286-I, EI 309-J, South Marsh Island 142-A & C Paul Daniel, Terrell Thibodeaux, Brad Adams, Pat Oliver, Stephen Bares, John Hartman, Johnny Sanders, Jr., Mark Manuel GOM SHELF, LLC South Marsh Island 142-A Paul Daniel, Terrell Thibodeaux, Brad Adams, Pat Oliver, Stephen Bares, John Hartman, Johnny Sanders, Jr., Mark Manuel, Josh Pennington, Jade Thibodeaux Matagorda Island 700-A & MI 713-B Bill Glidewell, Mike Hart, William Spoerle, Brian Eisenhower High Island A-367 A Shane Miller, Ed Duhon, Nick Reed, Leonard Clark, Jerry Andrus, Stephen Manuel Vermilion 64 #1 Larry Balfer, Evert Cheha, Scott Brown, Richie Savoie, Damon Toups, Jeff Verzwyvelt, Derrick Miller, Josh Triplett Matagorda Island 703-A Bill Glidewell, Mike Hart, William Spoerle, Brian Eisenhower Matagorda Island 686-A & MI 685-B Dale Martin, Dennis Moore, Truman Peet, Herctor Garcia, Harry Pothos, James Tuggle GOM SHELF, LLC Matagorda Island 638-A & B, MI 633B & C, MI 634-F Luke Durio, Jim Vuichard, Tim Cranston, Stephen Pesnell, Guy Hester High Island A-323 A Tim Conner, Calvin Thompson, Darrell Wilson, Frank Tainatongo GRYPHON Ship Shoal 301-A Steve Sparks, Chad Gradney, Chris Lejeune, Courtney Cutrera, Hue Lott, Eric Duos LLOG High Island 170-C Troy Veillon, Tommy Gill, Wesley Vincent, Jody Guillory, Carmen Cortez, Blake Patout MAGNUM HUNTER Main Pass 175-A Johnny Dwyer, Ed Duke, Nathan Bellelo, Darren Lanoux, Shane Dugas, Matt Morrison, Dale Venable, Kevin Baudoin, John Hartfield, Nathan Bellelo, Darren Lanoux MARINER ENERGY Eugene Island 342-C Danzel Marcantel Ship Shoal 26 #14 Joseph Roberts MARITECH RESOURCES East Cameron 328-B Chris Holland, Kelly Guidry, Clifton Guidry, John Stewart, Daniel Arvy, Geno Blanchard, Andy Chesley, Joe Delhomme, Aaron Hurst, Cy Hardy, Gordon Lacoste Main Pass 162-A Johnny Dwyer, Nathan Bellelo, Darren Lanoux, Dane Venable, Ed Duke, Kevin Baudoin, Matthew Morrison McMORAN Main Pass 86 #1 & #2 Johnny Dwyer, Nathan Bellelo, Darren Lanoux, Dane Venable, Ed Duke, Kevin Baudoin, Matthew Morrison MERIT ENERGY Main Pass 264-A Jeff Seal, Grundy Lawrence, Doug Coon, Warner Balfa NIPPON South Timbalier 178-A, ST 186-C James Alexander, Sean Griffin, Jordan Schexnider, Tim Lejeune, Clinton Lavergne, Ridge Felaris High Island 140 #7 & #8, HI 140-C &D John Conn, Jake Meche, Leonard Sharp, Rick Lemaire, Jr. Galveston 424-C Larry Sanders, Lucas Hammond, Pat Newell, Justin Brooks Sabine 13-B, AB & A Lloyd Guidry, Jim Houlgrave, Matt Toups, Charles Meaux PETROQUEST Ship Shoal 63 #10 & #14, SS 72 #21, SS 87 #6 & SS 72-13 B Richard Cooper, Andy Deal, Chris Bertrand, Paul Dartez, Howard Lege, John Blake Stanford, Steve Gary, Craig Gwin, Scott Mire, Aaron Woods, Adrian LeJeune, Rex Thibodeaux, Chris Lemaire, Van Flynt RIDGELAKE Eugene Island 303-A, EI 324-B Steve Sparks, Chad Gradney, Chris Lejeune, Courtney Cutrera, Hue Lott, Eric Duos SPN Ship Shoal 73 #2 Richard Cooper, Andy Deal, Chris Bertrand, Paul Dartez, Howard Lege, John Blake Stanford, Steve Gary, Craig Gwin, Scott Mire, Aaron Woods, Adrian LeJeune, Rex Thibodeaux, Chris Lemaire, Van Flynt TARPON South Marsh Island 184-A Chandler Crochet, Brandel Poole, Brett Snider, Richard Toerner W&T Galveston 303 #7 Clay Burgeson, Keith Viator, Corey Perkins, Kenny Tucker, Chad Gerald, Michael Ditto WOODSIDE/GRYPHON High Island 52-C Steven Sowell, Anthony Lamonaco, Phil Holman, Donny Goss Islander Profile: s r e ow rating j e joe nd Op Isla Position: Foreman Age: 63 Islander: Before Island was Island Company Man/Family Man: From the first time he met Gregg Falgout, a young lawyer from Galveston, Texas – Houston, Joe knew he had to stay and help him – he was like family. Trip Down Memory Lane: Sandra Duhon, Director of Human Resources, knew Joe Jowers was special a long time ago. She recalls, “Imagine, if you will, a helicopter landing in the parking lot of our current offices during a crew change some 20 years ago. Joe ducks out of the helicopter, along with the cook, and brings everyone in the office cookies.” Sandra chuckles, “I’ll never forget that. “ From Shanghai to Gueydan: Somehow, someway, Joe’s travels ended up in Gueydan, Louisiana when he went to work for a local oil & gas service company. Always doing what’s best for others: Island Operating was like paradise in the mid-80’s when most oil related companies were leaving Lafayette. Joe met Gregg and went to work for him with a cut in pay because he knew Island would grow to be a success. Finally home: Joe was right. After all of his world travels, he found a home and family at Island Operating that has lasted for more than 25 years. A Blooming Miracle: Joe knows that his Daisy (of 40 years) will be okay – especially with prayers and care from his Island family. Take Joe’s Advice: “There’s a difference between wisdom and smarts – and wisdom will win every time.” Not Y A From Islands Across the World to Island Operating; from Peaks to Valleys; from Company Man to Family Man – Joe Jowers is No “Ordinary Joe”. MATAGORDA ISLAND 629 – I reached Joe Jowers by phone on his platform in early December 2007. We wouldnʼt talk again for a month but the irony of life would pick up right where we left off. It didnʼt take but a few minutes to realize he was no “Ordinary Joe.” In fact, anyone will quickly realize heʼs an “Extraordinary Joe.” When I asked him one of the first ordinary questions in the interview . . . he threw me off with a truthful but unexpected answer. “Where are you from?” I asked. “Well, all over,” he replied with a deep, soulful chuckle. I had no idea who he was, but I knew he lived in Texas . . . so was he a Saints fan or a Cowboys fan? After a couple of hours on the phone, I wasnʼt quite sure if this was even an interview anymore. What I realized is that I was developing a friendship with a man of values, intelligence, ethics, insight and wisdom. No, this was no sports conversation, this was a conversation about life – about its peaks and valleys, about not quitting, about compassion, about serving others. And it would serve as the prelude to our next conversation. Joe really was from everywhere . . . born in New Orleans of all places, his college-educated, Southern Baptist parents went on to Yale to learn Chinese. Post-graduate work to learn a new language – with a purpose: they became Christian missionaries in China some sixty years ago. Young Joe lived in Shanghai, Peking, and untamed Mandrian areas of China. He was tutored early on by his mother who had earned a Masters from LSU. Later, she waved goodbye from the dock as he sailed off on an inner island freighter to continue his education on Zamboanga Island. But it was his time in the Philippines, during his teenage years where he learned about heart and hard work. He took up boxing, fighting as a junior welterweight. Perhaps it is this early and everlasting juxtaposition of faith and fighting that defines this man in the ring of life. He learned about faith from both of his parents and especially his father who earned a doctorate from the Baptist Theological College back in Pineville, Louisiana. But ironically, it was boxing he says that taught him about heart and about hard work. “It teaches you character,” Joe said about boxing on this day. “You work and work until your tongue is hanging out . . . then you work some more. There are times you just want to quit. But you reach deep down inside . . . and no matter how much it hurts . . . you keep going.” Your Average Joe by Rob “Boom Boom” Davis JANUARY 2008 – Itʼs four weeks later and Joe is home in Sugarland, Texas but thereʼs nothing sweet about the new year. What a difference a hitch can make. The holidays havenʼt been a celebration. I tried a couple of times to reach Joe so we could conclude our interview. On the day I did reach him, the words about his boxing experience echoed in my mind. I learned the 63-year-old Joe Jowers is in the fight of his life. This one has nothing to do with standing in a square ring, but everything to do with the canvas of life. Nothing to do with fancy footwork, but simply putting one foot in front of the other. Nothing to do with ring smarts, but lifeʼs wisdom. This is a fight with the gloves off. With hands clasped in prayer. It is a fight standing on the rock of his faith. Joe Jowers and the Island family have taken a devastating one-two combination . . . itʼs about a fight of life and death. Blood and sweat mingle in the ring, but in the circle of life, there are tears – even for a man who doesnʼt cry. “But if they sold tears, I would have earned a lot of money in the last couple of weeks.” Because, as Joe says “everybody cannot buckle . . . somebody has to have the stamina and the spirit to get others through . . . someone has to man the oars.” On this day, Joe has regrouped. “Okay Joe,” he tells himself. “Just grit your teeth, dig deep and keep your head above water. It takes a physical and mental toughness, but mostly you rely on spiritual strength.” Daisy, Joeʼs wife of 40 years, fell on Christmas Eve while he was offshore. Hitting her head against a dresser, knocking her unconscious and lying there for at least twelve hours before emergency personnel arrived. Sheʼs been in ICU with paralysis throughout her left side. “Iʼm going to the hospital to rub some lotion on her feet,” Joe said. “Daisy says she can feel it when I do it, so thatʼs something positive to pray about.” But Joe is also grieving over the tragic death of his Island partner and relief man Billy Shotwell. “I promised Sandy (Billyʼs wife), Iʼd be at the service,” said Joe . . . a man of his word. “There was such an outpouring of love and good will.” And thatʼs precisely why Joe Jowers is a special man. Even with his spirits in total disarray, he was there to serve someone else, to think of others and to do his job even when he is in pain. Heʼs been serving Island Operating before its inception and embodies what it means to be a company man and family man at the company. “Joe is one of our original employees,” says Gregg Falgout. “He is a reflection of the values that Island stands for and he is appreciative of the family culture that we not only preach, but live by.” And if ever someone was going to start a company or a family, Joe Jowers would be the kind of man you would want in your corner. How does someone keep going during the trials and tragedies of life? “Love the Lord with all your might and all your heart,” he says. “Keep on keepinʼ on. And get ʼer done. Someone has to get ʼer done.” About Billy, Joe had this to say: “I counted him as my friend.” He counts Island as part of his family and for that – you are all fortunate. With prayer and admiration, I count Joe a friend now. And this was as tough a story as I have ever written. But I knew I had to “get ʼer done.” “Everybody cannot buckle . . . someone has to man the oars” CONFERENCES ANNUAL SUPERVISOR ME DAYS SCHEDULED FOR SABO AS CRAWFISH ILS ke it a little less stressful for This year, in an effort to ma rvisor Conference, we have those who attend the Supe rences on the same days as nfe decided to have the two Co ld The Conferences will be he . ils Bo sh wfi the Annual Cra ing tak th the Crawfish Boils during the day, as usual, wi receive an invitation for will place in the evening. You e. be returned by the deadlin ST MU ich wh EACH event d an g e place during the Sprin This year’s events will tak d soon. the dates will be announce ur W! You should receive yo Start making your plans NO ning of March. gin invitations by mail at the be ewsletter Access the Ne! You Can Now nc at Your Convenie E THAT POINTS MEPAG ADDED ON OUR HO FIND. A LINK HAS BEEN KING IT EASIER TO MA E, PAG TER NEWSLET DIRECTLY TO THE ing.com www.islandoperat ST . . . E T N Y CO H T! P O A H R S G T O PHOT S YOUR BES GIVE U FROM: Heath Santiny TO: All Islanders RE: Thank You I started with Island Operating in April of 2001. I was contracted to Devon Energy as an immature and irresponsible kid at age 23. Most would think that my development should have been further along than it was, and they are probably right. Throughout my Island venture in production, I have gained more knowledge than I ever thought I would. I gained an understanding that could not be possible without the help of a group of people that didnʼt mind taking me under their wing and showing me “the ropes”. I do not know how I can express the amount of appreciation I have for all the help along the way. I am very fortunate to have had the chance to gain friendships with the many people that I have worked with, both directly and indirectly. (01-0155915) I am leaving Island Operating, still contracted to Devon Energy, merely as a move that I hope will help me climb more rapidly towards the career goals that I have set for myself. I hope Conoco/Phillips can live up to the high expectations that Island and Devon have set as true employers. I also hope that I am leaving on a note that is positive and understood. Not once did anyone ever try to persuade me to make a decision that would be best for anyone other than my family. That is one of the most unselfish things I have ever witnessed. I talked to everyone as a friend, confidant, and professional and they answered in exactly the same way. This is what you get only from a real friend. You all have helped transform me into a man. You have taught me to be more safety conscience, get the maximum production without compromising safety, and watch out for my co-workers, just to name a few. I now can set goals on what I want to accomplish, as well as how to take the steps needed to reach them. I have become a responsible adult; something many people would have thought not possible. You all have helped me become that person, and your efforts have not gone unnoticed. My family thanks you and I thank you. It has been an honor and priviledge to be associated with all of you at Island. KEE P STR ESS FROM AFFECT ING YOU R HEA LTH • Plan your time more efficient ly; the more you’re prepared, the less stressed you’ll be when situatio ns ‘pop-up’ and throw you off cou rse. • Successful snacking; maintai n your intake of high-fiber and grai n foods, such as vegetables, oatm eal or rice cakes. By sustaining energy levels and keeping full on the ‘righ t’ foods, you can stave off stress-r elated snack attacks. • Stop using addictions to cou nteract stress; in the long run, they will make stress worse. Alcohol or ciga rettes may seem to temporarily redu ce stress, but they end up making it worse. What seems like a coping mechanism can actually increas e the cortisol levels in your body and leads to a vicious cycle that nev er helps you lose weight. • Restore you vitamin levels; in stressful times, our vitamins are used up by the body and therefore dep leted. Vitamins B and C are part icularly important. apher. a photogr t even one. s a ls il sk o, no your oking for any photographs. N Grand Prize is lo e ʼr e w nteed nders, receive Okay Isla d before and didnʼt of winning the guara e s d sk d Weʼve a y, your o der . . . enter toda as an Islan So, if you (93-0001290) fe li f o ts o t! n sh pretty grea your best ouʼve take . We want f our trade. Once y y Contest. • Sweating out stress; exercise e c n a h c t x can help regulate hormones and r ne ols o ail raph relieve stress – not to mention the extra Hereʼs you the job, using the to e ongoing Photog r put them in the m calories will boost your weight-loss th o n o in , m A o L re . m , .c o e e g th tt n e ti y R offsh E ra fa e T a Con gratulation s to Dea ny and Betty s, EN 850, L landop to 1 is o 6 h x @ p Smi o n l th B for to ra . y e e sev , P.O mp cho osin g a hea lthier way of life! Dea photos to hy Contest ny has lost 34 lbs. Email the : Island Photograp and Betty lost 37 lbs. wit hin a 6 . st e b e to th d month per iod. is e y tivit address Wh at an inspirationa l life sty le cha ty and crea raphs li a u q . nge. se 6 o 9 705 e wh hotog s will decid and feature their p rt e p x e e outsid iduals A panel of three different indiv r. Equal Employment Opportunity Policy rd d a n w the Isla e Island Operating Company, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all Weʼll a f o s e su is g employees and applicants for employment regardless of age, race, creed, national origin, sex, religion, in upcomin ot! veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic prohibited by law. Our Managesh st e b r u s yo ment is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, selection for training, promoad, give u tion, transfer, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and general treatment during employment. So go ahe We expect everyone to show understanding and consideration to fellow employees and to respect and observe this policy. YOU CAN ACCESS ALL OF ISLAND’S POLICIES ONLINE AT www.islandoperating.com. $ SMILING VOICES OF ISLAND Alison Bailey, Houston Office $$ Jenny Stelly, Lafayette Of Annual Safety D rawing Winners $1,000 Win ners Jeremy Co le Guillory Brian K. D oucet Rodney J. Thibodea ux Curtis M. Guidry John D. F ontenot, Jr . James T. H awley Marcus N . Reviere $$ rs $500 Winne tt Lo . A ew h Matt ew Glid ell William R. mas Todd J. Tho . Douget Brandon D Maire Norris J. Le upre, II Rodney J. D rs $250 Winne hon u Dennis R. D ier Roy J. Corm et ll a Robert M re o D Miles D. Dubea ic M hael J. ford in Larry J. B . N Lejeune Christopher quette Roger D. Lu ussard ro Joshua P. B b, IV eb Thomas J. W Jr. e, tt u Allen J. Bo h it Sm . Donald R When most of us thin k of “tools of the trade ” what instantly comes to mind are ob jects – pipe wrenches , pressure gauges, hydraulic pumps, etc. All serve their purpos e and each is required to make the job at hand easier. H ere in the office, we also require tools to keep certain tasks ru nning smoothly. Among our greatest assets are our front de sk employees – Jenny Stelly in our Lafayette office and Al ison Bailey in Houston. (52-000812 3) They are our frontlin e “smiling voices” wh o handle fourteen lines with ease and grace. Jenny has been with Island for more than a year and no matter what th e crisis, she has a knac k for staying calm and cool under pressure. Whe n asked what her secret is, Jenny replies, “I alw ays think the guys on the other end of the line kn ow what we go through an d besides, each of them is always so nice to me.” Alison is an Island ve teran who charms ev ery caller with grace. We are grateful and appr eciative for what both of th ese ladies do to assure that all of us are well taken care of. Ladies, you had us at hello. fice $$ Crab Dip eat 1lb. lump white crabm 1 stick butter cheese 1 small block of cream m soup oo shr mu 1 can cream of soup lery ce of am cre n 1 ca ’s creole mix 1/2 container of Guidry green onions) Lighten Up This mu ! lti-use flashligh is only t one of the man cool ite y ms avail able at the onlin e compa ny stor e. epper, garlic, parsley and (a mixture of onion, bellp 1 bunch of green onions Tiger sauce Garlic powder ing Tony Chachere’s season Directions: butter. Stir in soups Sauté onion mixture in cream cheese and until well blended. Add d. Stir in crabmeat nde ble il unt stir continue to onions. Mix well. en and add chopped gre rs. cke cra Serve with Check in February for new product s! e numbers throughout the We have hidden ten employe e number, contact Melissa loye emp r you find you newsletter. If will be awarded a $30 you and e offic yette Lafa Peyton at the ber is located on the left num e loye emp r You e. gift certificat You have stub or direct deposit stub. hand corner of your check until March 1, 2008 to call. $$ ALTHOUGH every effort is made to make the information provided in the Islander Newsletter accurate, at times, errors may be overlooked. If you see an error in the publication, please notify Melissa Peyton at: mpeyton@islandoperating.com to ensure corrections are made in future issues. Thank you. Announcements: JUST MARRIED Warmest wishes to the following employees and their “better halves” on taking that BIG step. • Michael and Emily Hataway 09/22/07 • Jordan and Heather Cassidy 11/10/07 • Abbie and Crystal Domangue 11/10/07 • Dan and Linda Rider 12/05/07 • Carl and Lydia Barrideaux 12/27/07 NEW ARRIVALS Congratulations to the following employees who welcomed new bundles of joy. • Ashley and Jake Wright welcomed Audrey Claire on 06/09/07. • Ryan and Christa Anderson welcomed Landon Ray on 09/19/07. • Corey and Mandy Clark welcomed Cullen Thomas on 09/20/07. • Travis and Ashley LaFleur welcomed Alyssa Jade on 09/26/07. • Ryan Savoie and Dodie Derouen welcomed Lyssa Ryan on 09/26/07. • Christina and Kyle Hebert welcomed Alex James on 10/02/07. • Brant and Tana Lemaire welcomed Kaden Michael on 10/05/07. • Dustin Pole and Haley Bollotte welcomed Morgan Naomi on 10/10/07. • Eddie and Shelly Fowler welcomed Ashlin Elyse on 10/16/07. • Jody and Deidra Guillory welcomed Maria Catherine on 10/22/07. • Brent and Rachel Hebert welcomed McKenzie Lynn on 10/25/07. • Job and Rebecca Bertrand welcomed Baylie Catherine on 10/29/07. • Charles Meaux and Merissa Penn welcomed Charles Wayne, Jr. on 11/16/07. • Jules and Andrea LaFleur welcomed Landon Drake on 11/16/07. • Waylon and Amanda Watson welcomed Wyatt Lane on 11/27/07. • Brock and Sharon Guidry welcomed Cadence Lauren on 12/20/07. GET WELL SOON We wish the following employees a speedy recovery. • Robert Coots • Denvy Ebanks • John T. Smith • Troy St. Ann • Chad Averett • Jean Chip Duhon • Allen Boutte • Clarence S. Sonnier • Caroll Prejean • Terry Rudder • Rusty Moak • Dale Fromenthal • Bryan K. Manuel • Jarred C. Vidrine • Jeff Toerner • Steve Hebert • John Brocato • Preston Broussard • Jordan Schexneider • Billy Conn • John T. Smith • Mike Terry 14 www.islandoperating.com E R V I C S E A N N I V E R S A R I E S � ��� �� �� ��� �� �� ��� ��� �� ���� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� � 15 YEARS January Paul L. Dartez, Sr. 10 YEARS January Robert J. Boudreaux William R. Glidewell Kenneth R. Miller Hermilio Perez Emmett Ross, IV February Walter Scott HIRED ON BY CUSTOMER Congratulations to the following Islanders. • Michael J. Smith (hired on by Rooster Petroleum) • Johnny Thomas (hired on by Stone Energy) • Kenneth Faulk (hired on by Apache) 5 YEARS January Joseph Babin Daniel Fertig Jake Higginbotham Norris LeMaire Brandel Poole Billy Pritchett Brent J. Romero Ryan Savoie February Samuel Gardner, Jr. Grundy Laurence Henry McCoy, Jr. Gary Sawberger RETIRING Enjoy your newfound freedom. Congratulations on your retirement. • Milfred Gene Whatley CONDOLENCES Island Operating extends condolences to the following employees and their families for their loss . • Trino Soto on the loss of his mother • Terrell Thibodeaux on the loss of his wife • Wesley Mayeaux on the loss of his father • Charles Stephens on the loss of his father • Darryl DeRouen on the loss of his mother • Chad Belaire on the loss of his father-in-law • Percy & Larry Lougnon on the loss of their father • Tony Morrison on the loss of his grandfather • Gregg Falgout on the loss of his father • Lance LeBlanc on the loss of his brother-in-law • Danny Lirette on the loss of his sister • Rick Lirette on the loss of his aunt The families of the following employees: • James Faulk • Billy Shotwell • Melvin Alex I would like to send my thoughts and prayers to Mr. James Faulk’s family. We grew up together as kids, and I have been knowing him for almost 30 years. He will be sadly missed by the Island Operating family and by mine. Keith Derouen There has been such an outpouring of love and good will toward Billy Shotwell’s family. I counted Billy as a friend – he will be missed. Joe Jowers Incentives: Congratulations to all employees who received “bases” on our Baseball Incentive Program for 2007! To all new employees, here is how the program works: A Cut Above An employee is recognized for his or her efforts by their field supervisor/ foreman. The recommendation is called or written in by the supervisor/ foreman. Paperwork is then given to the Incentive Department for processing and approval. Once the paperwork has been approved, you will receive a letter in the mail listing the awards that you can receive. Once the form is completed, with each base marked with an item, it can be faxed or mailed back to All employees are the Lafayette office. ��������� limited to one homerun (four bases) �������������� forms are time sensitive, per year. All return the form as soon as so please���������������� with your selections. possible���������������� ������������������������� Kershaw Knife Offers SpeedSafe System We hope everyone had a happy holiday! Your 2007 Christmas gift was a Kershaw knife. It’s unique features are : • Distinctive design • SpeedSafe ambidextrous assisted opening system • Smooth blade deployment ���� �� ��� ������ ������ � ��� ���������� ���� � � �� ������ ������ ��� ������� �� ��������� ����� ����� ��������� ������� ����� All employees are eligible for this gift. please one, received not have you If � � �� �� �� ����� �� ���� ����� � � � � please contact Me- ����������������� questions, If you have any �������� �� ������ ����speak with your supervisor.������������ �� � � � � � � � � � �� ������ �� ��������������� �� �������� �� office (337) 233-9594. Lafayette at ����� ����� ���lissa Artigue or Ashley Wright ��the ��� � ���������������������� ���� �������� ���� ���� ���� ��������� � � � We hope you enjoy your ���gift.�������������� ������� � � ����� � �� ���� ��������������������� ����� ������� ����� �� ��� ��� � ��� ������ � ��� ����������������������� �� ������������������� ���� ���� ��� ������������ ��� ����� � � � � � �� �� � � � ����� ��������� � � ���� ����� � ���� � ��������������������� �� �������������� � ���� your knife! ����� � � � using when handling safe practice Please � � � � � � � � � �� �� � � � � ��� ���������������� � ��� �������� ���������� ������� ��������� ���� ���� � ��� ����� �� ����� ����� ������������� ������������� ���� �������� �� �������� � ����� �� ���� ��������� ������ ���� ���������� ��������� ���� � ��� ����� �� ����������� ���� ������������� �� ������ �� ����� ���������� ������������������������ � � �� � �� � �� ����� ����� �� �� �� ������������������������ � �� ��������� �� �� �� � �� � �� � ���� ����������� ��� ��������� �� ���������� ���� ��������������� �� � �� � �� � �� �� � �� PAY R O L���D E �� P �� A����R T M E N T ���� ���L ����� ���� ���� ������������ ����� ���������������� �� ������� ���� ���� ���� ���� ���� ��� �� � ��� �� ������� ��� ����� �� ����� �� �� � �� ����� � �� ���� � ������������� � � �� � �� �� � �� � �� �� ����� �� ���� �� ����� ���������������� ������ �������� ����� ����� � � � �� �� �� ��� �� � � � �� ������ ������ ������ ����� ��� ��� THANK YOU ����������� ���� �� �� �� ���������� ����� �� ���� ������ ������ ������ during The Payroll Department thanks everyone for cooperating �������� ������������ ������helped department the the busy holiday season; all contributions �� ��� ����� meet deadlines. (12-0002003) We appreciate all of your hard work and dedication – keep up the good work! Let’s start the new year off right by saving a little extra cash! Island is a member of The Acadian Federal Credit Union. This means that you and your family members may join and become lifetime members. ��������� loans, A few benefits offered by the credit union are: personal �� ��� ������ ������ �������������� banking. property loans, checking, ��� savings accounts, and online �� � ���contact ����� �������������������� You open an account. to join and The cost is $5.00 ����� ����� ���may � � � � � � � � � � �� � ����������� ��������������������� � � �� � �for ��� �� ����� �� ��� details or more the payroll�department ���Acadian � �����Federal � �the ��������� ������������������� ����� �������� ���� �������� �������� � �� �� � � � � �� � �� ����233-6744. ������������ Credit Union � � �� � ���at (337) � ���� ����� � ���������� ��� ���� ����� ����� ���������� � � � STUB E-MAIL DELIVERY OF DIRECT DEPOSIT ����� ������� ����� ���� ������ ��� ��������� It’s not too late to sign up for e-mail delivery of your direct � ����� ��� ������� e-mail personal goes directly to your � deposit stub. The stub������������������������ ���� ��� ����� �� ������ ��� � ������������� �� �� � � ��� To get a��form, account ���� and is password protected. ���������� ��� ����� �� ��� log ��onto �� ���� �� ������������ ����� �������� ���� �� �� �� completed the e-mail or mail, fax, and www.islandoperating.com �� �� � ��� ����� ����� ������� ��� ���� ����� �� � �� �� � ��� form to the payroll department. �������� If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact Nerrisa, Jordan, Kimberly, April or Chrissy at 337-233-9594. ��� ������������ ����������� ���������� We wish you and your family a healthy and happy 2008! ���� � ����� ���� ������ � ���������� ���� ����� �� ��� ������������� ������ ���� ����� � �� ������ ���� ������ � � � � ���� �������� ����� �� � ���� �������� ���� �� �� ���� ��������� ���� � ��������� ������� �������� ������������ ���� ���� �� �� �� ��� �� �� ���� ��������������� ������ ����� ������ ��� ����� �� ����������������� ������������ ����������������� ������������������ ������� � ��� �� ����� ������� ���� � � � ���� ���� ���� ��� ����� ������� �������������������������� ��������� ��� ������ ���� ����� ��� ���� ���� ����� ����� � � �� ������ ��� � ����� ��������� ��� � ��������� ��� �� ����� ������� ��� ��� ��������� ���� ��� ���� �� ��� ������ ����� � �� �� � � � � � � ������ ��� � �� � �� ������� ����������������� �� � �� � � ����� ��� ������� � � ����� �� ������� �� � � ���� �� ��� ��� ��� ��� ������ ������� � �� � ����� ������� ���������� ������ ������� ����������� ����� ������������ � � � � � ������ � � ���������� ���� � �� � � � �������� ������ � ����� ������ � �� � �� �� ����� � � � � � � � ����� �� ������� ��� ���� ��������� ���� ���� �������� � �� ������� ����� ��������� ����� ������ ��������� ��� � ������ �� �� �� ����� ��������� � ������� �� ������ ��� 16 www.islandoperating.com ������ � ���� ������������������ � ����� ������ ������ ����� � � ����� � �������� ������� ����� �������� ������ ������������ ������� ����� � ��� �������� ������ ������� �� ���� ��� ����� STARTING THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT ��������� ����� �� ����������� ������� ���� �������� ��������������� �������� ��� �� ��� ��� � ���� ������ ������� ������� ��������������������� ������ �� ����� ����� ����� ��� ����� Nuts and Bolts: www.gwrs.com/metlife 401(k) INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE ISLAND OPERATING COMPANY, INC. PROFIT SHARING 401(k) PLAN Investment Comparison for the Period Ending 11/30/2007 Returns as of Mo. Ending 11/30/2007 Investment Option International Gross Net Ticker Expense Inception Date Ratio 1 Mo. Year YTD 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10 Since Inception Returns as of Qtr. Ending 9/28/2007 3 Mo. 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10 Year Since Inception Calendar Year Returns 2006 2005 2004 AMERICAN FUNDS EUROPACIFIC GROWTH-R3 RERCX 1.15/1.11 05-21-2002 -3.40 20.00 23.51 22.30 22.00 16.50 5.12 27.16 24.92 23.90 16.52 21.43 20.73 19.23 JANUS ADVISER WORLDWIDE CLASS S JWGRX 1.28/1.20 05-01-1997 -6.63 10.55 11.66 12.47 10.94 6.48 1.44 26.71 16.35 13.50 6.27 16.93 6.07 4.73 Small Cap BLACKROCK AURORA PORTFOLIO A SSRAX 1.47/1.44 02-13-1995 -3.36 3.14 13.93 11.40 -3.17 14.48 11.07 17.39 11.23 12.76 2.89 14.95 LOOMIS SAYLES SM CAP GROWTH FUND RETAIL LCGRX 1.92/1.25 12-31-1996 -6.25 22.87 22.68 17.61 16.81 4.18 7.09 4.09 6.33 31.94 20.73 19.80 3.30 14.00 10.40 9.15 PIONEER MID-CAP VALUE A PCGRX 1.07/1.07 07-25-1990 -4.63 10.67 15.64 9.79 -1.36 20.26 14.37 19.40 9.53 12.33 7.66 21.67 JANUS ADVISER MID-CAP GROWTH FUND S JGRTX 1.32/1.16 05-01-1997 -3.69 19.40 19.48 16.48 18.53 8.41 5.27 27.39 20.00 19.92 8.13 12.97 11.93 20.41 Mid Cap 7.31 7.41 Large Cap AMER CENTURY INCOME & GROWTH ADV FUND AMADX 0.92/0.92 12-15-1997 -5.75 0.44 2.50 8.36 11.11 5.96 -1.66 14.84 12.30 15.31 6.62 16.86 4.53 12.71 7.09 9.01 5.07 8.99 21.09 7.95 10.39 4.27 -3.50 1.85 10.38 11.07 14.55 6.39 0.13 15.06 15.62 16.28 7.02 12.79 13.04 15.37 1.28/1.28 12-31-1996 -3.77 11.37 11.94 11.27 10.45 6.30 4.52 18.98 13.18 13.28 6.56 12.40 7.03 5.20 11.21 8.04 -1.96 11.69 11.91 15.45 8.49 18.21 4.76 14.23 JGORX 1.26/1.16 05-01-1997 -4.08 13.27 13.61 10.36 10.25 5.43 4.60 20.51 12.88 12.53 5.30 10.05 3.96 4.49 JABRX 1.09/1.07 05-01-1997 -1.40 10.78 10.95 10.64 9.85 9.25 3.27 14.17 11.43 10.39 9.18 10.40 7.67 INBNX 0.97/0.89 10-03-1974 0.62 4.67 4.74 2.26 5.77 4.02 4.42 4.73 5.31 2.09 6.21 7.97 15.78 26.34 N/A N/A N/A N/A AMER CENTURY ULTRA FUND ADV TWUAX 1.24/1.24 10-02-1996 -2.44 20.23 20.78 BLACKROCK LARGE CAP CORE FUND A MDLRX 1.15/1.15 12-22-1999 -5.58 FIDELITY ADV GROWTH & INCOME FUND T FGITX AMER CENTURY VALUE ADV FUND TWADX 1.24/1.24 10-02-1996 -3.95 JANUS ADVISER LARGE CAP GROWTH S 4.35 -3.15 5.62 -1.34 7.65 Balanced JANUS ADVISER BALANCED FUND S 8.42 Bond RIVERSOURCE DIVERSIFIED BOND A 4.87 5.62 4.37 4.40 Benchmark S & P 500 INDEX MSCI EAFE INDEX N/A N/A -/-/- -4.23 5.86 7.32 9.68 11.21 -3.29 13.73 17.30 19.42 21.31 RUSSELL 2000 INDEX N/A -/- -7.18 -1.50 -1.17 7.87 S & P MIDCAP 400 INDEX N/A -/- -5.06 7.95 7.40 11.59 14.99 LEHMAN BROTHERS® AGGREGATE BOND INDEX N/A -/- 1.80 6.67 6.05 4.78 14.94 4.79 5.80 9.00 1.93 2.18 16.00 12.71 24.86 23.24 15.02 23.55 7.28 -3.09 12.34 13.36 18.75 7.22 18.37 N/A N/A 11.37 -0.98 18.47 15.35 17.88 11.32 10.31 N/A N/A 6.05 2.84 5.14 3.86 4.13 5.97 4.33 N/A N/A Fixed METLIFE PPLED GIC: 4.10% Ready to Plan for the Future? Tired of paying too much in taxes and ready to plan for the future? What better way than to start with Island Operating Company’s 401k plan. Five Reasons You Should Sign Up Today 1. Easy to enroll 2. The money you put into the plan lowers the amount you pay in taxes 3. You can take out a loan against the money you have in the plan 4. Easy to read statements and 24/7 access to your account via the website (www.gwrs.com/metlife) 5. A variety of investment options so your money can work hard for you If you are interested in enrolling, please call the office for your enrollment packet today! Enrollment is on a quarterly basis and the next open window is January 4, 2008. LOANS AGAINST YOUR 401k: Two important issues regarding loans that you NEED to be aware of: 1. As most of you know, our 401k plan allows you to apply for loans against your 401k. You may have two outstanding loans at the same time. In order to continue to keep the loan program running smoothly, we need your help. If you are an employee with a loan and wish to pay off your loan, you may do so by contacting the Lafayette office or Fascore (our Adminstrative Company). However, should you choose to call Fascore directly, you MUST contact the 401k department here in the Lafayette office to give us notice that you have paid off your loan directly to Fascore. 2. Secondly, if you have an outstanding loan and you miss any pay periods, we will deduct payments on the following payroll for any missed deductions. You MUST catch up your payments within the same quarter you missed your payments. Should you have any questions regarding your 401k, please contact Kelli Peschier or Tammy Broussard in the Lafayette office. Benefit Highlights: Take My Stress . . . Please! Lighthearted approach can help people stand up to lifeʼs challenges. With the power to relieve stress, reduce anxiety and increase mental energy, laughter really is a darn good medicine. But we know that, right? Who hasnʼt tried to use humor to soften an adversary, calm an upset friend or break the ice at a big event? But looking at the funny side is more than a crisis tool. Stress expert Loretta LaRoche sees it as a daily way of life – to help us keep the perspective that “ not everything is a Chicago Hope segment.” Behavioral Health Newsline explored her unique take on stress management in this Q&A. Is there a difference between good stress and bad stress? Oh yes. You need stress. It helps you manage your life and propels you to be successful. It even designates what is dangerous and what is not. Thatʼs why we have a fight-or-flight response. Because if youʼre on the highway and a car goes into your lane, you better well have a stress response. So when does good stress become bad stress? When does it cross that line? Think of the circus eight hours of every day complaining, moaning and gathering forces around you to feel like a victim? Or do you want to take that time and make your day more joyful, more flexible, easier on yourself and everyone around you? Life is not a stress rehearsal. performer with the plates twirling on sticks. There comes a point when heʼs twirling too many plates and they start dropping. Or think of an instrument like a Stradivarius. When the strings are the right tension, it plays beautifully. But when they get too tight, you get a squeaky sound. So the human body responds the same way. When it starts to feel overloaded, it starts to give you signals. You start to get physical responses. You may get heart palpitations or headaches, backaches and gastrointestinal problems. In other words, nothing seems to make you feel good. You start to feel irritable, you overreact. And this is where stress management comes in? How can we manage our stress, if we all need it? One has to really be aware of his or her bodily responses. I think the problem is that sometimes people have actually forgotten what it means to be well; having a feeling of wellness. Itʼs where you donʼt have aches and pains, youʼre able to get through the day with a lot of energy and youʼre getting good sleep. When you start to get the other signals, you have to step aside and say to yourself: “It seems to me like Iʼm out of control.” You believe humor is a major part of managing stress, but how can people who aren’t as naturally funny as you bring humor into their lives? When I say humor, I mean that humor as a kind of umbrella to hold over yourself to live a lighthearted life. You donʼt have to be a comedian. Itʼs about putting on a lighter lens to see life with more clarity, rather than through a dark lens, which leads to feeling like youʼre in a vampire movie. So forget the comedy or being funny. What you really want to do is to take your life more lightly, instead of seriously. Take your work seriously, take your life lightly. Have you seen people do that successfully? Oh yes. I think you see it once someone recognizes that life is not a stress rehearsal. You have to recognize that you are not immortal. You are not going to be here forever. What do you want to do with the time that you have? Do you want to spend You tell people that too often we make everything into catastrophes, that a wet towel on the bed is not a mugging. Not everything is a Chicago Hope segment. If the fax breaks down, you donʼt have to go and get an emergency room physician. And I think one of the best ways to deal with this is to take five things that you feel are the worst possible things that could ever happen to you or your family and use those to put other things that stress you out in perspective. Like number one, if you have a child and that child was abducted and you never saw him again, how would that relate to your computer crashing? Take five things that really would create a crisis, like if you found out you only had six months to live. Would you be that concerned about your e-mail not coming in? So how do people put that kind of perspective on things? Put that list of five things on your desk. And take a look at them periodically when youʼre getting stressed and say, “Wow, this really isnʼt as important as I think it is.” Because I always say yesterdayʼs tragedy turns into todayʼs comedy. How many of us have laughed over some incident that we initially thought was just so incredibly dramatic. Is stress more of a problem now than it was 20 or 10 years ago? Is it more of a problem or is it that weʼve discovered it? I imagine that when the Christians were being eaten by lions, they were stressed. There was just no major study being done on them at that point. But why does life seem more stressful these days? The fact that technology is created and obliterated so quickly creates a lot of stress. I learn a program and then Iʼm told six months later we are replacing that with a different program. Never before in history have we discovered and rediscovered things so quickly. I donʼt want to sound like I donʼt think we should move forward – we are never going to go back to my grandmotherʼs time. But I think we have to blend the two. In the studies on stress, one constant appears over and over again. And that is without support from friends or families or co-workers – social support – you will become ill and die sooner. And loneliness and depression are at an all-time high in this society. What does research tell us about stress? One of the major researchers was Hans Selye. He really discovered this sort of flight-orfight response. He discovered that we have this response as a result of being over-stimulated in fearful situations. If you keep triggering that response throughout the day, maybe several hundred times a day, you are going to get yourself into a pickle. Because your body is going to become eroded by the toxicity of this response. This is when the body starts to break down. You get sick more often when your immune system is compromised by stress. IMPORTANT INSURANCE INFORMATION FOR 2008 In an effort to keep your health insurance deduction at its current level, we have elected to make minor changes to the plan’s benefits effective January 1, 2008. I’ve read that it is not major catastrophes in our lives that erode us but the little stresses that wreak havoc on us. Is that true? Sure, itʼs like going through bramble bushes. You walk and you cut yourself here and you cut yourself there and pretty soon you go to bed and you have all these little pains and aches all over you and you are saying, “What happened?”. Your whole body is full of cuts from the brambles. And I think thatʼs what happens during the day, and itʼs like a domino effect. Do you recommend meditation for calming down? Definitely. I tell people to spend 15 to 20 minutes a day just calming themselves, whether it is through meditation or even prayer. A lot of repetitive activities become meditative, like knitting or needlepoint. And exercise is a wonderful way to reduce stress. If you get into a kickboxing class or an aerobics class, the repetition plus the activity stops the mind in its tracks. It is very hard to skip rope and make yourself crazy about the fax machine. What are some good resources for stress management? Books by David Burns or Albert Ellis. David Burnsʼ classic is “Feeling Good, the New Mood Therapy”. Heʼs done wonders for depressed or anxious people. People also might need some therapy. Go sit and talk to a party who is not involved in what you do. Because often what we do is we get people around us to validate our disturbing behavior. We say, “Donʼt you feel this way?” and they say, “Absolutely.” And what we need is someone to say, “No, this is not how you are supposed to feel. This behavior is not serving you.” Source: Nash, P. (n.d.). Take my stress . . . Please! Retrieved April 19, 2005, from the Epotech database. ES: CHANG 0 K R O $35 to $4 0 to $750 NETW from $50 -pay from o le C b ti it c is u v 2,250 ed • Office 1,500 to $ ar year d $ d n m ble, le o a fr c l le a y decucti n ductib a e d r • Individu e r a ft e a y n 5,000 alendar health pla 85% of $2 e to th y % b • Family c 0 9 le ab charges ction from tage pay covered rate redu • Percen f d o 0 te 0 c a ,0 0 tr 2,00 $3,750 r con $2,000 to % up to $ 0 co-pay, o 0 m 1 o y fr a e p c ill then $11,250 o-insuran – plan w $6,000 to pocket c m fo o fr te u c o l n a ra • Individu t co-insu of-pocke tu o y il • Fam : ANGES 2,000 ORK CH 1,000 to $ W $ T E m o -N fr N le b O ti N $6,000 duc 12,500 l year de le will be a b u ti c id u iv 0,000 to $ d d 1 e $ d • In r a rm e fo y e alendar $30,000 to -insuranc • Family c ocket co ense from p p fx o e t te u k o al ut-of-poc • Individu ar year o d n from le a c y eductible d • Famil t n ) 3 e 5 m 7 e 5 n 1-020 per confi $37,500 (0 network fo tu o e • Increas 500 $250 to $ EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE CIGNA offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) called Life Assistance. Cigna’s Life Assistance program offers services designed to help employees reduce stress, balance their work and family responsiblilites, and improve the quality of their lives. The program consists of resources and referral services, counseling and support services, online information, and interactive tools. All services are free, confidential, accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and available to you and all members of your household. Should you require services beyond the scope of the program, the Life Assistance staff coordinates referrals to appropriate resources as needed. Please visit their website at www.cignabehavioral.com/cgi to get Life Events Information, Research and Referral Topics or you may call the toll free number 1-800-538-3543 to speak to a qualified professional. RELIANCE STANDARD LIFE DENTAL PLAN: RATE INCREASE Effective January 1, 2008 your bi-weekly premium rates will be as follows: Employee Only $7.31/check Family $20.20/check The benefits will remain the same. The Benefits Department makes every effort to educate Islandʼs employees on all of the benefit plans. If you have a particular interest in a benefit topic, please let us know so that it will be covered in future newsletter issues. Feel free to call Tammy, Angie or Courtney with any insurance questions. Tools of the Trade Technology Changes Every Day. Island’s 4 P’s Haven’t Changed at All. Tools and Technology are changing our world literally day by day. It’s a boom time for smarter tools in the energy production sector. From actual enhanced production to transportation to communication, smarter tools are constantly changing our business and our everyday lives. So while you read about advancements throughout our publication, we want to focus on the basics that helped Island rise from the ashes of the mid 1980s oil bust to its position today as one of the leading production specialty companies in the industry. Our Islander feature profile of Joe Jowers is an ideal example of our tools: The Four P’s that stand as our platform for success. he First P – People. Our strength is our people. Technology and tools may change daily but without the right people, sustained success is never achieved. People, first and foremost, have been the definitive foundation for Island Operating Company. We began with 36 employees . . . now we have more than 1,500. Our emphasis on the well-being and advancement of our people is the key to Island’s longevity. Smarter tools in the hands of undervalued or the wrong people simply won’t work for long. There’s one section in our newsletter that is still our favorite and that is the Service Anniversaries. We take this opportunity to say “Thank You,” for your dedication and your pride in working with us. The Second P – Professionalism. This is a tool. It is the measuring tape for your individual success and for our company’s success. Any company is going to have to field complaints from customers. It’s part of the business. Over the years, however, you used the tool of professionalism to make this experience more rewarding. Because we often get calls from customers – just to tell us one of you went over and beyond the call of duty and demonstrated an added degree of professionalism. We know a lot of supervisors can be tough and a lot of inspections can be rugged. Achieving the level of professionalism reflective of an exemplary Island employee is a personal milestone to be proud of – it is part of a tradition handed down through years of good work. Hiring the right people with the right character and values is vital in the development of professionalism. We want our people to strive to perform at their best, using the training we’ve developed and reaching the standards that we’ve set. We want our long-time Islanders to share this with our new people. Pride in a job well done is what we try to share throughout our company – from the front desk to the front lines of a platform. Use this tool every day and every day you will get better at whatever you do. The Third P – Productivity. It’s uncanny what happens when you have a group of people who are passionate about their lives and their responsibilities. The combination naturally equals “more production.” Sure, our job is to maximize the production of a client’s well, but it’s our productivity that must be maximized first. This is a tool of concentration and persistence. It’s not easy working the hours or the shifts that we work. It’s not easy working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico – period. If it were easy, there would be a lot more people doing it. It has always been Island’s goal to provide every person at our company with the training, motivation and compensation to maximize their productivity – and exceed our clients’ expectations. The Fourth P – Potential. People. Professionalism. Productivity. These aren’t tools off a shelf. These aren’t tools that can be engineered. These aren’t tools you can buy. No, these tools are the raw materials that work together so you may achieve your highest potential – first as an individual, secondly as a partner and finally as a professional.