Come now, and let us reason together… Isaiah 1:18

Good afternoon FAMOLC. I hear birds singing outside my window and feel the warmth of springtime approaching. Springtime always brings into my heart and mind the idea of a new beginning. It’s kind of like that first day of school during my childhood. We always got a new supply of clean unused paper; a new “Big Chief” tablet. We got to start over with a fresh slate and the hope that we would have a successful year in our classes and our lives. Well, it’s almost springtime in Shreveport, Louisiana. Last year is gone and we are well into a new year. Winter is drawing to a close and the hope that comes with spring is so close it seems we can smell and touch it.
The newest information is that our committee has been contacted by JPD energy (representing Chesapeake Energy). The committee sat down with two landmen from JPD this morning and has begun, what we hope will be successful, discussions. Neither your committee nor JPD have made any offers or proposals. We are considering our group’s position currently and the present environment in our nation and our state as it applies to our minerals as landowners. The committee will further discuss these developments early next week and be back in contact with JPD Energy.
We have been advised, by JPD, that they are focusing on specific sections and are not presently interested in ”far flung non-contiguous acreage.” The area we were contacted about is S12 T16N R14W and a few other sections not yet indentified to the committee.
We continue to believe that we are far better positioned as a group than as individuals in dealing with this matter of leasing our minerals. The truth is still “There is strength in numbers.” The old adage “together we stand divided we fall” is more true than ever before.
We thank you for your confidence and we promise our continued prayerful and thoughtful representation of your interests in these uncertain times.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Merry Christ… mas! I love this time of year, don’t you? It seems, at Christmas, everyone’s hope is renewed and neighbors seem to be kinder and more loving than at any other time of year. What a wonderful time to be a part of God’s creation.
We are keeping our finger on the pulse of the Oil and Gas industry, specifically as it involves the Haynesville Shale. If you too have been reading the information on the internet homes of the other O & G property owner associations and coalitions you no doubt are aware that it’s a time when all we can do is wait for the action to restart. Everyone seems to agree that the gloom and doom we are hearing about the industry is a temporary condition. Our job is to be patient and focused during these times.
Your committee has continued to gather properties in selected sections. We want to be well prepared and have all of our ducks in a row when our opportunity finally comes. The best advice continues to be unchanged; be patient, don’t give up and accept a less than fair offer for your minerals. There are speculators working our neighborhoods making laughable offers in an attempt to capitalize on the panic some property owners are feeling. Even the large “reputable” O & G companies have and will take advantage of the current downturn in the economy. Do not be a victim! Do not be taken advantage of by those who would take your minerals and never lose a moments sleep over it.
In the meantime we wish for you Merry Christ… mas and a very Happy New Year. Our prayer is that you and all those you love will enjoy the blessings of this blessed season as never before. We wish you and yours JOY and SWEETNESS as we celebrate the birth of our King Jesus.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, … Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:6,7

Good morning! The leaves are ablaze with beautiful colors, the earth received a cleansing rain this morning and God is still on the throne. As stated in previous postings the leasing of properties in the Haynesville Shale is at a very slow pace. We continue to believe that things will change, for the better, in the first quarter of next year.
The American people have elected a new president and we must, whether he was our choice or not, pray for his success in governing our nation.
Your steering committee is continuing obtaining properties in our core sections so that these weeks of waiting are by no means wasted. If you have neighbors who are not a part of our group, and are not leased already leased, please take a few minutes to mention our group. The more acres we have in our core sections the better our position will be when things start rolling again.
Pray hard for our success and do not become discouraged in this process. The natural gas under our properties has not gone anywhere and is still wanted by the O&G companies. It is a time to be united and strong.
As always; thank you for your confidence and trust in your steering committee.

...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Good afternoon fellow mineral owners. It has been a tumultuous two weeks since we last posted an update to this site. Many things have happened in the recent days and I am certain that I have no need to explain these (since I’m not quite sure I understand them either).
Some things I do understand are these:
There are no leases or offers of leases at the current time.
The O&G Companies have little or no funds available at this time.
The worldwide economy has taken a drastic nose dive.
It seems there is not a bottom in sight for the current situation.

Various opinions and ideas are bandied about and all are worthy of consideration. The one constant that we are seeing is the advice to “BE VERY PATIENT” and “DO NOT RUSH”. This advice comes from all directions that have experience and education in the fields of O&G, banking, finance, and life experience in general.

We, your steering committee, believe this advice to be the best advice. We prayerfully and thoughtfully recommend that we all be patient TOGETHER. We are led to believe that after the current election cycle is over and when winter weather sets in, and the price of natural gas goes up, so will the prices of mineral lease bonuses. We hope and pray this is the case. We can only trust God in this and remember that He is always faithful.

We are, in the meantime, considering and discussing some “different and creative” strategies in order to accomplish our goal.
As always, thank you for your trust and confidence (and patience).

Bro Tommy

Where there is no vision, the people perish... Proverbs 29:18

Good Thursday Morning! It’s October 2nd. As we await a reply from the latest O&G Company our data was presented to, we notice that the sun is beautifully bright and the air has the feel of early autumn. Before long the leaves will begin to change to those beautiful colors that I so look forward to each fall. As surely autumn follows summer, every year without fail, we can take comfort in the fact that God Has A Plan. In God’s plan all things are addressed. Nothing is too big for Him to handle and nothing is so small that He doesn’t care. The Bible tells us that even with the little sparrow “…not one of them is forgotten before God”. I cling to the promises we find in God’s Word.
I know we all have questions regarding this Haynesville Shale situation. Please be assured that if your steering committee had all the answers we would certainly share them with you. The truth of the matter is that every other group is in the same situation that we find ourselves in. We are told that the O&G Companies have deliberately slowed the pace of leasing and that the economy, as well as other factors, is the reason for this slowdown.
We continue to be advised to “be patient”. We are counseled to not be rushed into settling for less that your minerals are worth. We believe this to be the very best advice in our current situation. We know that everyone is anxious for a lease to be signed and checks to be received but please focus on the “big picture”. The decisions we make in the coming weeks and months will conceivably affect the well being of future generations of our families. Probably the wisest man who ever lived on earth was King Solomon. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 13:22. “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” Did you get it? God’s plan is that His children be blessed! In every way! His desire for you and your family is so much more that financial blessings, but a part of His plan is that we leave our future generations better off than we were left, financially and in every other way.
Why things happen the way the happen with our properties and the Haynesville Shale, the only answer I can give at this time is found in Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God…”
Keep looking up, stay committed and patient, continue to think positive.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken Psalm 37:25

Your steering committee met this morning, Thursday, September 11, 2008. As always, the meeting was started with a prayer for wisdom and guidance from the one true source who can and will provide wisdom and guidance for all who ask. We had a very open and productive meeting and discussed topics ranging from our beginnings as a group to where we are at this moment in time in our process.
Together, we recalled that our purpose for existing was and is “The Forbing Area Mineral Owners Leasing Coalition (hereinafter referred to as “FAMOLC” or "the Group") represents property/homes within, but not exclusive to, the Forbing area of Shreveport, Louisiana that are joining together with the express goal of leasing the mineral rights of the properties within the Group.” “It is intended to gather the neighbors together in hopes of obtaining favorable Mineral Rights Lease Provisions."
We shared previously that an offer had been received from one of the companies we submitted letters to. This offer as we previously stated was “less than acceptable” and that the majority of our coalition did not receive a bid at all. In an effort to be transparent and still not sacrifice the mission of our coalition your committee respectfully submits the following information:
For the acreage in 9 of our sections totaling 205 acres we were offered $15,000 per acre.
For the acreage in 21 of our sections totaling 275 acres we were offered $12,500 per acre.
For the acreage in 5 of our sections totaling 13 acres we were offered $10,000 per acre.
For the vast majority of our property owners/members there was a bid of $0.00
Most of our members joined this coalition with the desire to together, accomplish something we could not accomplish on our own. Our belief is that this offer was an effort to shatter the collective will of FAMOLC and our choice is to NOT be a part of facilitating that attempt. Our collective will is what will bring success or failure in this endeavor. We have sought advice and counsel from various experts in the field of Oil and Gas as well as in other areas. The common thread in all the advice we have received is “be patient” and “don’t be forced by panic to rush the process”.
We have been made aware of new companies moving into our area for leasing and continue to be confident of success and encouraged in our task. Please keep your committee in your thoughts and prayers as we work toward a satisfactory outcome to the task you have entrusted to us.

Anxious hearts are very heavy but a word of encouragement does wonders! Proverbs 12:25

Dear Coalition Members,
It is Tuesday morning and it is raining. I awoke thankful that our area has not received as much damage from Gustav as was expected. I give God all the credit for this fact. I looked at this site and found the comments left from our last posting. I feel that I must address the issue that is raised in those postings.
First, the steering committee spent much time discussing the very issue that was raised. We felt that, in the interest of the group at large, that the details of the proposal not be published. I will not attempt to justify in your minds why we decided what we did but I will tell you what has happened to confirm that it was the right decision.
One of our sections, where we have a large number of acres, received no bid at all ($0.00 per acre). We called the O&G Company and discussed this particular section along with others. We were told; “we have no interest at this time in that section”. The very next day a young landman, representing this same O&G Company, began to walk the streets of this same section making very low offers door to door.
It is a well worn ploy of the industry to slow down or cease most all bidding on acreage in order to make panic spread among landowners. We choose to not be a part of that ploy succeeding. If you decide to accept an offer for your property under these conditions then that is certainly your decision.
Secondly, to contact the landowners and let them “decide for themselves whether the price was acceptable or not”, would render the very idea of a coalition useless. In doing this, your steering committee, would become a tool for the O&G companies in their “divide and conquer” tactic.
Your committee will further discuss the beginning proposal we received and the possibility of releasing details. Watch this site for future announcements and information.