e-washington state saf newsletter: december 2003
2004 Northwest Leadership Conference
The Leadership Conference program has come together very well. With the theme Sustainable Forestry Sustaining SAF, headliners include SAF President John Beuter, Executive VP Michael Goergen, Washington State Forester Pat McElroy and Oregon State Forester Marvin Brown. Friday will be joint and separate executive committee meetings, providing first-hand experience with the issues of the day. Saturday morning includes reports from national leadership and how-to sessions on the Northwest Office, the OR/WA SAF website, using policy to make a difference, membership and funding. In the afternoon, the state foresters and other guests will discuss sustainable forestry in the two states and the role of SAF. We would really like to see new chapter officers, a couple from each chapter, attend the conference. Contact Peter Heide at pheide@wfpa.org.
SAF Northwest Office
The Northwest Office, under the able management of Lori Rasor, will complete the year in the black and the NW Office Committee will be receiving a balanced 2004 budget of nearly $77,000 for approval in January.
Forestry Expert Database
Development of the separately funded Forestry Expert Database is under way. The database will contain contacts for SAF members with specific forestry knowledge who are willing and able to respond to media and policymaker contacts coming to the NW Office. This will be a step along the way of making SAF the primary source for credible and reliable forestry information in the Northwest. Contact Lori Rasor at rasor@safnwo.org.
State Annual Meeting
SAF vice president (president-elect) John Helms will keynote the 2004 Washington State SAF meeting in Port Angeles on May 12 through 14. The program theme is Wildlife in the Managed Forest. An outstanding lineup of speakers will pass on some of their experience and knowledge in wildlife biology and forest science, wildlife management plans in working forests, and policy visions for the future of wildlife and forestry. Contact Harry Bell at harry@greencrow.com.
Policy Committee
The State SAF policy committee is filled out with the addition of Don Hanley, WSU (attached to UW), and Doug Stinson, family tree farmer and Tree Farm Committee Chairman. Recent policy actions include communication to all of the State's Washington, DC, delegation urging them to support the Conference Report on HR 1904, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. Contact John Ehrenreich at jehrenreich@wfpa.org.
SAF Testimony before the State Board of Natural Resources (BNR)
State Chair Nancy Peckman testified to the BNR on the sustained yield calculations for State Trust forest lands. Following approved WSSAF policy statements, Nancy asked the Board to review all existing constraints on management and remain open to opportunities for silvicultural management to offset reductions in harvest associated with habitat conservation. Above all, Nancy reminded the Board that keeping the land productive is the best way to assure plentiful forest habitat into the future. Contact Bob Dick at bdick@afrc.ws.
WSSAF Education Foundation
By unanimous vote, the Executive Committee launched the Washington State SAF Foundation. The state chair will begin appointing trustees to the foundation in January and by-laws and operation procedures should be completed by the time the state meeting roles around in May. An independent bank account will be established and the Foundation will begin raising money in earnest. The primary purpose of the Foundation is to support forestry students in Washington seeking higher education. Contact Ann Johnson at annies42@hotmail.com.
When is Washington in Oregon?
Since before the Puget Sound Section became the Washington State SAF, Clark, Skamania and Klickitat Counties along the southern border have been part of Oregon as far as SAF was concerned. This arrangement historically made sense and may still make sense, but in a resolution, the Executive Committee authorized the Longview Chapter to work with SAF members in Clark and Skamania Counties to see if there is interest in joining at least the western portion of our state. (Remember our friends in NE Washington are really attached to Idaho.) We insist on remaining civil about all this and we would never deny any SAFer the right to belong to any state society they wished. Contact Eric Metcalf at emetcalf@campbellgroup.com.
Chapter Focus - Longview Chapter
The Chapter will start a fund for the construction of a bench/covered seating area at the Wake Robin Center in memory of Joe Lammi, 68-year SAF member and Fellow, who passed away in August. Joe and his wife Eleanor leased their 82-acre tree farm to the Longview School District to be used as an outdoor education center, which is referred to as the Wake Robin Learning Center. The center includes the land as well as the residence, which as been converted into a meeting and conference center and classrooms for students. The vision of the Lammis is to share this land so all Longview students would have a place close where they can learn about the environment and forest management. Spearheaded by Longview Chapter member John Gross, the seating area will be located on the ridge on the southwest corner of the property that overlooks the Columbia River. Contact: John Gross at grossenuf@aol.com or Ellie Lathrop at ellie-s.lathrop@weyerhaeuser.com.
Your membership makes a difference!
WSSAF Contacts
Chair: Nancy Peckman (nancy.peckman@weyerhaeuser.com)
Chair-elect: Peter Heide (pheide@wfpa.org)
Secretary: Chuck Lorenz (charles.w.lorenz@irs.gov)
Treasurer: Mark Biser (mbiser@htct.com)
Member at Large: Bill Horn (bill.horn@weyerhaeuser.com)
Past Chair: Ann Johnson (annies42@hotmail.com)