News Releases
April 14, 2008
Oil 150 in the Public Eye
A announcement in the mail, an email, a map, a billboard, a T-shirt or a Ball cap, are ways we communicate and express our support and interest to friends, loved ones, business contacts, and strangers. Thanks to Oil150, Americans are using all of these means and more to kindle the discovery our nation’s oil and natural gas heritage. And, you can get in on the act.
For the nationwide celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Drake Well and the birth of the Petroleum Industry, Oil150 is asking other Americans, be they private individual, non-profit or for-profit organizations, and business entities to help spread the word about Oil150 celebration by using the Oil150 logo. And, many have already started using it in creative ways like Barr’s Insurance of Oil City, PA who incorporated the logo into their billboard; the Drake Well Museum which has it on their website and printed brochures and plans to put it on labels of souvenir bottles of crude oil; the City of Titusville’s first used the logo on their community map; and the County of Venango has it on all their metered mail. The Texas Panhandle Royalty & Owners Association have put it on there website and on their e-newsletters and their hardcopy newsletters from now through 2009.
“The Oil150 Steering Committee has approved the logo for use by organizations and business that include the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, American Refining Group, Inc. in Bradford, PA and New York, Fidelity Exploration & Production Company in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, the Desk and Derrick Association of Oklahoma City, the Cities of Titusville, Oil City and Franklin, Venango County, The American Oil and Gas Historical Society, the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad, and many others from historical societies to trade organizations, associations, and private businesses. The Oil150 logo is now appearing on newsletters, stationary, metered mail, websites, brochures, and CDs across the country”, states Will Wingo, the Oil 150 Director.
The Oil 150 Logo Use Agreement Form with instructions for use requests and the Oil 150 Visual Identity Standard can be downloaded from web at http://www.oil150.com/who-we-are/policies/ or are available by contacting Will Wingo via phone at 814-677-3152 ext. 104 or email at wwingo@oilregion.org. “The process for authorization is very simple, submit a letter indicating desired use or uses along with the signed agreement form for review,” says Wingo, “when we approve the request we send the logo in various formats, usually by email which makes the whole process move quickly.”
For individuals looking for ways to spread word of the celebration, Randy Seitz, President of the Oil Region Alliance, suggests using one of the products available with the Oil 150 logo. “Prominently displaying the logo by wearing an Oil 150 lapel pin or ball cap and displaying a car magnet or poster can have widespread impact”, according to Seitz. This was recently proved true when an Oil150 ball cap worn by Bill Huber was seen on KDKA-TV News and CBS Evening News in two different news clips that were viewed by millions.
2008
April 9, 2008
Not licked yet – Oil150 post plans
On meeting notices, utility bills, and business letters traveling across the country and throughout the region the Oil 150 logo is posting an appearance. The logo is stamped on tens of thousands of pieces of metered mail originating in the Oil Region and other places. The cities of Titusville and Oil City were first to start using the Oil150 logo on their metered mail. They have been joined by the ranks of the Oil Region Alliance, the City of Franklin, and the County of Venango. A few businesses and organizations, such as the White Plains, New York firm of Malcolm-Pirnie have also incorporated the use of the Oil150 logo into their postage meters.
According to Will Wingo, Oil150 Director, “This can be done by anyone owning or leasing a postage meter. It is an inexpensive way for businesses and organizations to spread the word about the Oil150 celebration to customers and contacts wherever they may be in the world.” The Oil150 Steering Committee encourages the use of the Oil150 logo on postage meters and welcomes inquiries on how to setup your meter.
Pitney-Bowes, the largest source for postage meters, has artwork for the Oil150 logo available in their system. For a one time fee, which varies slightly depending on postage meter model, Pitney-Bowes will provide the logo for a meter. Before contacting Pitney-Bowes, call Will Wingo at 814-677-3152 ext. 105 for the account code for the postal inscription to use to identify the Oil150 logo. The logo can also be supplied by Wingo in various formats for use by other meter companies.
In 2006 and 2007, citizens from across the country joined in two efforts to petition for commemorative stamps for the upcoming 150th anniversary of both the American Petroleum Industry and the Drake Well. Neither subject was selected by the USPS Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee for a commemorative anniversary issue for 2009. The lack of a commemorative stamp, however, is not preventing the spread of the news of the Oil150 celebration by means of the US Postal System.
In addition to expanding the Oil150 logo use on postage meters, the Oil150 Steering Committee is planning to use the postage system in other ways. The committee has plans for a postal cachet for the 150th anniversary. A cachet is an image, design or inscription commemorating a postal or philatelic event on an envelope, postcard, or postal card that is not a cancellation or pre-printed postage. Cachets can commemorate everything and are frequently made for first day of issue stamp events with designs that range from very simple to extremely elaborate. Randy Seitz, President of the Oil Region Alliance, states “The preliminary artwork for the Oil150’s cachet will incorporate images of the Drake Well and 150 years of petroleum heritage to convey the Oil 150 theme “Celebrating the Story - Progress from Petroleum.” The Oil150 postal cachets will be available for the August 27, 2009 Drake Well anniversary for use with a first day of issue cancelation.
April 04, 2008
Oil 150 Partners with AOGHS on Museum Survey
In anticipation of the 17-month nationwide commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the oil industry, Oil 150 has partnered with the American Oil and Gas Historical Society to survey 250 oil, natural gas, children’s and science museums across the country. The survey (sent to museums in early March) asks museum personnel to identify exhibit and educational elements that will assist them in telling the history of oil in their area as well as the broader story of the U.S. petroleum industry. Oil 150 staff will evaluate the surveys after the return deadline on April 23, 2008.
The needs expressed in the museum survey will be used to shape the Oil 150 Nationwide Museum Kit Program. Oil 150 plans to send each participating museum a package containing media, educational and promotional materials suitable and appropriate for their respective audiences. As the Oil 150 celebration unfolds around the nation, each of these museum communities will be able to both refine their own unique story and concurrently share it and integrate it into a complex, wonderful tale of oil industry creativity and achievement by building or enhancing their own exhibits with the components in the museum kits.
“We would like to invite museums from around the country to participate in the Oil 150 celebration. Museums will be able to make their needs known through the survey, allowing us to facilitate their participation,” stated Oil 150 Director Will Wingo.
Oil 150 plans to distribute the museum kits in the fall of 2008. To date, Oil 150 has submitted grant applications to Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development as well as Department of Conservation and Natural Resources seeking $30,000 and $60,000 respectively toward this project. Matching funds for these grants will be generated through Oil 150’s fund-raising initiative. Sponsorship opportunities exist for specific components as well as the complete kits.
For more information on the Oil 150 museum kit program, contact Melissa Mann, Oil 150 Deputy Director at (814) 677-3152, Ext. 103; email mmann@oilregion.org
April 4, 2008
OIL 150 Welcomes New Committee Members
OIL 150 is coordinating the nationwide celebration of the 150th anniversary of the discovery of petroleum in the Oil Creek valley. The 17- month celebration is a combination of events and educational efforts locally, regionally and nationwide.
With the start of 2008, the OIL 150 project welcomes these additional members to the OIL 150 Steering Committee:
Commissioner Troy Wood representing Venango County
Representative Scott Hutchinson, 64th PA Legislative District
Roger Sigworth, Bruin
Lois McElwee , Oil City
Special alternates to the Steering Committee, representing the Drake Well Museum in the absence of Barbara Zolli are:
Susan Beates
Larry Say
Daniel Weaver
The OIL 150 Development Council is responsible for fund- raising for many facets of the OIL 150 celebration that include a traveling photo exhibit, educational museum kits, a documentary film on the development of commercial well drilling from its inception on Oil Creek to the modern day production of the vast number of products based on petroleum, and many other programs.
The Development Council welcomes the following additional members:
Kenton Chickering, Hemiwedge Valve Corporation, Conroe, Texas
Galen Cobb, Haliburton Corporation
Rob L. Looney, Texas Oil & Gas Association
Adam P. Haynes, Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association
OIL 150 has many Committees and sub- committees assisting in these and other aspects of the project. If you are interested in serving on any of these groups, please contact William Wingo, OIL 150 Director at (814) 677-1352, extension 104, or at wwingo@oilregion.org
December 27,2007
OIL 150 Staff Appointments
With the “OIL 150” educational activities and celebration nearing, the Oil Region Alliance and the Oil 150 Steering Committee have filled 3 positions to fully staff the “OIL 150” initiative. William Wingo of Titusville is hired as the OIL 150 Director, Melissa Mann of Meadville has been appointed as OIL 150 Deputy Director and Amy Nurss of Oil City will serve as the OIL150 Development Specialist.
Randy Seitz, President of the Oil Region Alliance said, “Since the fall of 2005, Mrs. Lois McElwee, as the part time OIL 150 coordinator, has been able to provide a solid plan and foundation for multiple public awareness programs including a professionally prepared documentary and for the initiation of a nationwide fund raising campaign. Mrs. McElwee will be concentrating on other professional responsibilities and will now become a voting member of the OIL 150 Steering Committee.”
Seitz continued: “The newly appointed staff will build on the foundation established by Mrs. McElwee and will continue to expand the OIL 150 celebration as directed by the ORA and the OIL 150 Steering Committee.”
The mission of the OIL 150 initiatives will encourage and support a national and international celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Drake Well and the concurrent birth of the world’s petroleum industry.
The celebration will foster the discovery and appreciation of our nation’s oil history and its roots in the Oil Region National Heritage Area . Ultimately the OIL 150 celebration seeks to inspire future generations to fully realize the oil and natural gas industry’s extraordinary legacy.
Mr. Wingo is a 25 year resident of the Titusville area. He was most recently employed as a Health, Safety and Environmental Manager for an international contractor to the Department of Defense supplying support to Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad, Iraq. Prior to that Mr. Wingo was the Manager of the Titusville Hospital EMS. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y.
Ms. Mann has been a resident of Meadville for the last 3 years and most recently served as an Educational Outreach Coordinator at Allegheny College. Prior to that, she was a photo archivist at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio and a Master of Arts degree from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
The Director and Deputy Director will serve as the main information conduits for all aspects of implementing the celebration of “OIL 150”. This program includes a wide range of educational activities, a national awareness campaign, grantsmanship, local, regional and national fund raising, and coordination of many special events and enhanced museum exhibitry.
Ms. Nurss is an 11 year resident of Oil City. She was most recently employed as an advertising representative at WKQW in Oil City. Prior to that, she served in a similar capacity with The Derrick and The News Herald. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA. The Development Specialist will be primarily responsible for local and regional fund-raising in conjunction will volunteer personnel.
The OIL 150 staff can be reached at the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism on the 4th floor of the National Transit Building in Oil City. Mr. Wingo can be contacted at wwingo@oilregion.org. Visit www.oil150.com for a complete overview of the project.
October 29, 2007
WQED Selected to Prepare Documentary Film for OIL 150
One of the major activities for OIL 150 is the production and national distribution of a top-quality documentary celebrating the birth of the oil industry and the 150 years of history and progress stemming from the Drake Well success. The Oil Region Alliance and the OIL 150 Steering Committee are very pleased to announce that WQED, the Public Broadcasting Station in Pittsburgh, has been selected to research, script, produce, and distribute this yet untitled program. Work will begin during November.
According to the WQED proposal, “This will be a story of the American spirit, a story of exploration, ingenuity and development that opens a vital chapter in Pennsylvania’s history and in world events.” The hour-long documentary will be scheduled to air in the spring of 2009. It will be submitted to the Pennsylvania Public Television Network and to the Public Broadcasting System through the appropriate distribution stream for consideration. While ORA will own all rights and copyrights for the program, WQED shall be the exclusive license distributor; any net revenues will be split evenly among these entities.
Jocelyn Hough will serve as Executive Producer; Ms. Darryl Ford Williams is the Vice President of Production for WQED Multimedia. Together they bring over 50 years of television experience locally, nationally and internationally. WQED’s staff will perform all functions related to the research, determining the show storyline, interviewing, obtaining archival material, directing shoots, writing the show, directing the edit, and coordinating all ancillary materials. For instance, there will also be a shorter version of the program (for educational purposes) on DVDs, as well as a promotional spot to be used within the broadcast industry to encourage scheduling of the hour-long program.
The proposal from WQED was one of six proposals submitted by various production teams around the country in response to a Request For Proposals issued by ORA in September. Proposals were due October 12.
Funding for this production has been provided by the Pa. Heritage Areas Program within DCNR, the Oil Region National Heritage Area funding from the National Park Service, and the Petroleum History Institute. Additional sponsorships are necessary and will be most welcome. Potential sponsors may contact Mrs. Lois McElwee, OIL 150 Coordinator, at (814) 677-3152, Ext. 104 or 800-483-6264 ext. 104 , lmcelwee@oilregion.org.
May 31, 2007
Nation’s Energy Educators Fuel New Interest in Oil History
A first-ever national gathering of energy educators is set for May 31- June 2, 2007, in Oklahoma City. The group will include educators from more than 50 organizations, including oil and gas museums throughout the country and government representatives such as Oklahoma’s Deputy Secretary of Energy Robert ‘Bobby’ Wegener.
The conference goal is to share national resources that teach the oil industry’s American-born history, including its creation of thousands of world-changing products -- from lighting, heating and transportation fuel, to plastics and pharmaceuticals.
Plans for the oil industry’s 150th anniversary in 2009 will be presented by Oil 150 coordinator Lois McElwee. Barbara Zolli, director of the Drake Well Museum near Titusville, PA, will represent the birthplace of the oil industry -- internationally recognized as the Oil Region of northwestern Pennsylvania.
“This gathering of ‘people who teach the teachers’ about energy is unprecedented,” said Bruce Wells, conference planner and director of the American Oil & Gas Historical Society (AOGHS). “Energy industries are asking educators to work together to help students and consumers better understand complex energy issues so we can help address new challenges and opportunities.”
“Understanding oil industry history is key to this charge,” said McElwee. “It’s a history full of astounding inventions, brilliant inventors, and risk-taking entrepreneurs.”
“For example, almost all components of today’s engines have their origins in internal combustion engines invented for oil field use from 1890 to 1920,” she explained. “Inventor William Meriam Burton created the process for ‘cracking’ crude oil into gasoline and other products. And who better personified the risk-taking entrepreneur than Mrs. Byron Alford who, in 1889, produced 3,000 pounds of nitroglycerine and 6,000 pounds of dynamite per day in her Bradford, PA factory?”
“Every day, the 1859 success of the Drake Well impacts our lives,” McElwee said. “It started a path to unparalleled progress made possible through the synergistic efforts of many people. The AOGHS conference will help others newly ‘discover oil’ on the eve of the petroleum industry’s 150th anniversary, hopefully in a way that will launch a new era of energy innovation and progress worldwide.”
Information on the Oil 150 anniversary is available at www.Oil150.com.
Details about the AOGHS conference are at aoghs.org.
October 31,2006
Where it Oil Began
Worldwide Petroleum Anniversary Plans Announced
Titusville, PA……..
Barrels of fun lead the oil market news today as plans for a special worldwide birthday celebration were announced in northwestern Pennsylvania.
The Oil 150 Committee unveiled a logo for the 150th anniversary of the oil industry which will be celebrated beginning in August 2008 through the official anniversary year of 2009.
The event was held at Drake Well Museum in Titusville, PA, at the site of the world’s first successful commercial oil well drilled by Col. Edwin Drake on August 27, 1859.
“The oil industry has so transformed the world through its products, from the first lamp oil to fuel, lubricants, plastics, and medicines, its impact has been rivaled only by the invention of computers”, said Oil 150 Co-Chair U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-5th District of Pennsylvania.
The Oil 150 Committee is promoting national and international entertainment and educational events and activities for the general public, students, historians, and heritage travelers.
“The anniversary celebration will recognize the important discoveries, innovations, and achievements in oil industry exploration and production, refining, transportation and storage, marketing, and business organization”, said Oil 150 Coordinator Lois McElwee. “It will also incorporate the very close parallel development of the natural gas industry”, she said.
Drake Well Museum in the Oil Region National Heritage Area is one of the historic sites that will be ready. An expansion and renovation plan was detailed by museum administrator Barbara Zolli in welcoming all to visit.
Oil 150 Co-Chairs Lynda Cochran of the Titusville Chamber of Commerce and Bruce Wells of the Washington, DC-based American Oil and Gas Historical Society reviewed some of the Sesquicentennial celebration goals. They are to:
increase public knowledge of the significance of the early oil and natural gas industry developments in Pennsylvania and later developments resulting in social and economic benefits to the world; enhance interest in oil history and oil-related education fields; and increase tourism at oil-related sites.
The theme for the sesquicentennial anniversary is, “Celebrating the Story – Progress from Petroleum.”
Oil 150 is administrated by the Oil Region Alliance. Its Chairman, Jack Crawford, and President, Randy Seitz, also spoke at the logo unveiling event.
Co-sponsors for the celebration are now being sought. More information about the Oil 150 Committee and its plans is available at www.Oil150.com.
November 07, 2006
OIL 150 LOGO UNVEILED AT DRAKE WELL
The OIL 150 official logo was introduced October 26th at the Drake Well Museum. The OIL 150 anniversary logo will be used from now through December 2009 to identify and brand all events and efforts sponsored by the OIL 150 Committee that promote and celebrate the commercial success of the Drake Well in August 1859.
During the ceremony Congressman John Peterson of Pleasantville and his fellow OIL 150 Co-Chairs, Lynda Cochran of the Titusville Chamber of Commerce and Bruce Wells of the Washington – based American Oil and Gas Historical Society elaborated on the significance of our oil heritage, the legacy of progress it has given the world, and the opportunities the 150th anniversary celebration presents.
Barbara Zolli, Drake Well Museum Administrator, welcomed the group to the Pa. Historical and Museum Commission facility and cited the interest of others like an oil museum in Hungary in celebration plans. Jack Crawford, Chairman of the Board of the Oil Region Alliance, invited those in attendance to work together to make this a national and international celebration. Randy Seitz, President of the Oil Region Alliance, addressed the continuing initiatives of the Alliance to administer the OIL 150 celebration.
The press conference received wide coverage in local media. In addition, press releases about the Oil 150 committee and logo unveiling were published on several websites including Interest!Alert!, OilOnline, American Oil and Gas Historical Society, and Yahoo; even appearing on International Yacht Vacations & Charters.
July 11, 2006
OIL 150 COMMITTEE PETITIONS FOR POSTAL STAMP
TO COMMEMORATE DRAKE WELL
Seldom does the average citizen have an opportunity to directly influence a national choice. The everyday guy can help determine, however, just what the subject of a commemorative stamp will be. To honor, in 2009, the 150th anniversary of the Drake Well, the oil discovery that launched the modern American petroleum industry, the Oil 150 Committee is circulating petitions across the country seeking national support for a U. S. postal stamp. Based in Oil City, Pennsylvania, the Oil 150 Committee is inviting schools, libraries, related industries, farmers and friends in every state to express to the US Postal Service their enthusiastic support for such a stamp. Lois McElwee, Oil 150 Coordinator, states, “This is a chance for all people, young and old, to express their recognition of the momentous national and international achievements that followed from the Drake Well oil discovery.”
This is the second attempt to nominate a postal stamp to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the birth of the petroleum industry. An earlier nomination was not successful. The Arlington, Virginia based Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee recently informed the Oil 150 Committee that they had previously considered and rejected issuing a commemorative stamp specifically for the 150th anniversary of the American petroleum industry. As a matter of policy, the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee does not publish reasons for the rejection of any nomination.
The Oil 150 Committee remains determined to have a commemorative stamp. Having received support and signatures in their first attempt from the states of Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington, Louisiana, Montana, New Hampshire, Mississippi, New York, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, New Jersey, California, and Pennsylvania, the Oil 150 Committee remains hopeful the distribution and signing of a new petition specifically honoring the Drake Well, rather than the American petroleum industry, will be successful.
The Oil Region Alliance, an economic development partnership, organized the Oil 150 Committee in November 2005. Randy Seitz, President of the Alliance states, “The Drake Well as the birthplace of the oil industry in 1859 deserves commemoration. This is a big story. They don’t get any bigger. A special stamp will do this national story justice.”