The safe room was made possible by a $15,000 donation from the Midcontinent chapter of the Gas Processors Association. The project team originally estimated the start date for safe room construction to be in May or June, but in late February, the school district learned of a pre-constructed safe room that could be transported from Joplin, Mo., to the Aline-Cleo school and would be available immediately.

MCGPA Midstream donated $10,000 to the city of Lindsay, Okla., to be used for walking paths around the newly revitalized Shady Grove Park, which includes a new pool and splash pad.

MCGPA Midstream donated $5,000 to each fire department named below, with each earmarking the funds for its own purposes. The chapter said these fire departments were chosen because they are all located among a significant amount of oil and gas activity, and the energy companies comprising the chapter organization spend a significant amount of time in these parts of Oklahoma. Each of the fire departments mentioned seeing company trucks travel their roads and said some companies have stopped by the stations to introduce themselves.

• The Cashion, Oklahoma Fire Department plans to use its $5,000 donation for 4-way gas monitors and a foam inductor system.
• The Fairview, Oklahoma Fire Department plans to use its $5,000 donation for foam and miscellaneous equipment and supplies.
• The Covington, Oklahoma Fire Department plans to use its $5,000 donation for a Christmas dinner for the firemen, hosting a fire safety day at school, donations to people that lost belongings in a fire, a fire truck for a tech center, and for supplies and equipment that isn’t covered through its operating budget.
• The Rush Springs, Oklahoma Fire Department plans to use its $5,000 donation for three ventilation fans and five sets of full bunker gear.
• The Taloga, Oklahoma Fire Department plans to use its $5,000 to replenish supplies after a devastating wildfire season.

Several other $1,000 donations have gone to rural fire districts to assist with preparedness for response to local fire events.

EMERGENCY SIRENS

A $5,000 donation was made to the city of Thomas, OK, to go to back-up batteries for the emergency sirens after a test of the system found they did not have an adequate back-up power supply. Thomas had a power outage prior to a storm in early 2017 and they had no way to war the citizens of the impending danger.

Representatives from MCGPA visited the Institute of Technology (OSUIT) campus in September 2014 for a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony of the newly-renovated /GPSA Midcontinent Chapter Classroom in the school’s new Pipeline Integrity Technology program.

The need for skilled engineering technologists that install, operate, maintain, repair, and manage the integrity and security of pipelines is on the rise, and the OSUIT program enables students to develop the skills necessary to be successful in the pipeline industry. The Midcontinent chapter, as an incorporated nonprofit trade association representing the midstream energy industry, donated $25,000 toward classroom improvements for the program.

The renovated classroom includes new teaching tools, technology, and equipment, as well as classroom supplies and furniture. This most recent contribution, combined with other scholarship and excellence funds donated to the school, brings a cumulative amount of $100,000 donated by GPSA and MCGPA to OSUIT since the summer of 2013.