Jeff and Linda are landowners who, like most of our neighbors and probably like you, have been approached by several energy companies with a wide range of offers to lease our land.  We have done a lot of research and found that this can be a very complicated and a very intimidating process.  Our goal is to help as many landowners as possible (most of whom are friends, family and neighbors) be as informed as possible before signing a legal binding agreement that could lock up their mineral rights for years.

We have found that many people do not know or understand that they do not have to accept the cookie cutter lease that most energy companies present.  What you should know is that everything in a lease is negotiable.  The most important thing to remember is that you have the power to protect your land and keep it beautiful.  In addition, you have the ability to negotiate when and how any monies will be paid to you and should make sure the lease is specific.

We helped start a coalition in our hometown of Vestal and are both currently active members of the steering committee.  Our group hired a local attorney to compile the very first landowner written lease (that we are aware of) and we hired an oil & gas consultant to market our lease to energy companies on our behalf.  You can find information on them and track our success on the Vestal tab.

We have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about the gas industry. We have visited well sites in Northern PA several times (you can see pictures of our trips on the Photos tab) and spoken to the landowners and drilling companies along the way. In addition, Jeff attended the New York Division of the International Oil & Gas Association's Annual Conference in Findley Lake, NY in July. There he met with representatives, Regional Managers and owners from many of the large energy, drilling and frac'ing companies as well as many of the oil & gas attorneys in the the industry.

Through this website we receive many email requesting information on how to start coalitions, and then from people who were overwhelmed by the whole process. We found ourselves meeting with landowners attempting to help them get their coalitions off the ground. We continue to meet with steering committees around NYS to assist them in getting their groups started.  In addition, we have given many presentations to large groups about coalitions, how they work, the benefits of joining one and your other options should you choose not to join one.  We provide this service free of charge.

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There are many people who submit information or in other ways help us help the community on a daily basis, much of which we use on our site to help keep everyone as informed as possible.  Our sincere thanks goes to the following:

Our Friends and Family, especially Rick, for being patient, understanding, supportive and willing to rearrange your schedules to fit ours.

Our children, Brandon & Gage, who still give us hugs and kisses with a smile every time we head out the door to yet another meeting.

Christy Everitt of Powersports X in Vestal Center 

Vincent Stalis of Northeast Energy Development, LLC

Pat Flaherty of The Friendsville Group

The Endicott Assembly of God Church, Vestal Center

Raymond Scott Stone of Stone House Wealth Mgmt, LLC

Pastor Roger Frederick of the Vestal Center United Methodist Church for his support, generosity and his willingness to face adversity to help our community!

Our Lady of Sorrows School, Main St. Vestal

Carol Stone of Brookstone Morgan Farm