Student SAF Chapter at UT Expanding in Membership and Activities

Membership in the student chapter of the Society of American Foresters/Forestry Club at the University of Tennessee has grown to a total of 34 students. The student chapter has also been successful in attracting more Freshman and Sophomore members this year in addition to Juniors and Seniors. Although not all forestry club members are national SAF members, officers and SAF members Brian Roberts (President) and Julie Hethcox (Vice-President) are actively recruiting new national SAF student members. The number of national SAF members in the club has increased this term due to their efforts.

Dr. Don Hodges has joined Dr. Dave Buckley as a co-advisor this year to help with the expanded membership and activities of the club. Student chapter officers this year are Roberts, Hethcox, Ed Moore (Vice-President in charge of Conclave), Brian Moody (Treasurer), and Jenny Mainor (Secretary).

The students have had a very active term so far. Activities have included the building of a student SAF float for the UT homecoming parade, collaborating with the student chapter of the Wildlife Society in putting on the Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries fall bonfire for students and faculty, a scenic river trip, flag football, and holding several fundraising cookouts. The students have also been busy cutting oak and hickory for firewood sales, and have provided field assistance for Dr. Scott Schlarbaum’s Tennessee tree improvement research program.

In the coming months, the student chapter will send a dozen members to the national SAF convention in Washington, D.C., participate in a fundraising timbersports competition in Union, S.C., hold a Christmas tree sale in December, and send members to the KTSAF winter meeting.

The chapter will also compete in technical and physical events at the ASFC Forestry Conclave hosted by Auburn University this spring. In addition to funds raised by the students, several of these activities will be made possible through support provided by Dr. Mary Lewnes Albrecht, Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and Dr. George Hopper, Head of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries.

The student chapter has also invited speakers involved in the forestry profession to their biweekly meetings this term, and is seeking additional persons interested in presenting a talk on careers, forestry issues, research, or day to day, on the job activities at a future meeting. If you are interested in speaking to the students, please contact the President, Brian Roberts at jrobert1@utk.edu, Dave Buckley at dbuckley@utk.edu, or Don Hodges at dhodges2@utk.edu.