Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lynn Wigglesworth on January 27, 2011 at 1:48pm

What's the advantage of joining? What do they do for you?

Permalink Reply by Brian Day on January 27, 2011 at 2:00pm

Well, i had some discussions with them over the phone about that.  I get periodic bulletins from them about industry developements nation wide.  150 bucks is a pretty pricey bulletin.  (Dad actually joined me up a while ago when dues were a little lower, so it was HIS fault.)  I told them that we had all kinds of discussions going and people watching national and local developements most of it for free.  I said that we needed lobbyists to push for legislation in our favor and lawyers to fight unfair practices that we could not afford to pay for individualy- issues such as pooling.  They said that they did that sort of thing on a VERY limited level because they rally didn't have much funding.  So..., when they come knocking on your door for a membership, or you contact them directly, you might ask them similar questions to mine and ask for a track record of successes localy and nationaly.  Perhaps if Jackie reads this forum, perhaps she can provide some of this information.

Permalink Reply by Rambo on January 31, 2011 at 2:31am

R&R represented our lease in a pooled agreement. The leases we ended up signing were very disappointing once we did our homework after the fact. Cant cry over spilled milk. She's now involved in other areas for personal gain WOW $150.00 steep price. Do your homework for free!!!!

Permalink Reply by Brian Day on January 31, 2011 at 2:59am

I agree with your assessment.  I actually did not take the offer negotiated by R & R two and a half years ago.  Several others and myself used another negotiator to get a better top lease soon after most people signed with R & R and East for a top lease.  I will know in a couple of weeks if that top lease is going to be defended, so maybe our efforts were a waste of time.  Actually, we got paid about the same amount for our top lease as the larger group that signed with East.  Our top lease has many, much nicer, features than that signed with East.  Yes, we did pay the negotiator a fee for his services, or rather the top lease company did through the settled top lease, but it was worth it.  I guess R & R did not charge for their organizational services, at least they never mentioned such a fee of any kind to my knowledge.

Permalink Reply by Lynn Wigglesworth on January 31, 2011 at 3:58am

To be honest, it's nice to know what's going on regionally and nationally, but it doesn't make a lot of difference on the ground in Tioga Co. Where I am, I have ONE option...lease with East. Well, two options...I can not lease at all and mess up their unit. I've found East impossible to negotiate with; I might consider hiring a lawyer to negotiate, but I did that with Chesapeake, and while my lawyer spent weeks putzing around, Chesapeake withdrew their (very good) offer.

Permalink Reply by Brian V. on January 31, 2011 at 7:49am

Jackie and R&R have done many deals across PA and NY. She has done some good things but IMO she hasn't done Tioga Co. any favors over the years. I remember 5 or 6 years ago when we were negotiating our lease we spoke with her and she did basically what any Landman does. Used fear tactics and assured that any lease they agreed to would be no better than anything a company would agree to if I negotiated on my own. Well, we waited it out and ended up getting a similar lease with a better payment. The thing we fought for was no extension clause. For some reason Jackie couldn't get one or didn't see the need. Well, we are free of our lease and everyone that got in on her deal just got their $60-$65 per acre renewals. Shortly after her initial deal to East she took work with Long Consulting which had been and still is ERI/ERM's land broker. 

 

From what I've been told R&R has raked in multiple multimillion dollar deals over the past few years. For landowners and herself. Her cut is usually $20-$25 per acre that signs that deal. She is basically a multimillionare Landman. I don't fault her. I applaud her for finding a loop hole in the system and cashing in on it. I wish I knew then what I know now. I would have done the same thing.   

Permalink Reply by Brian Day on January 31, 2011 at 8:52am

I don't think that I could be a land man and live with myself and make very much money.  Especially in the area that I grew up in.  It takes al kinds of people in this world, I guess.  But some of the kinds didn't have as free of a rein when I was a kid as they have today.