2002 PRESIDENTIAL FIELD FORESTER AWARDS

It is appropriate that SAF recognize those members of our profession who actively practice professional forestry in the field. Practitioners are the true foundation of our profession, yet we do not have any national recognition for the outstanding efforts and the accomplishments of this large segment of our Society. Practitioners often operate in nearly complete anonymity, yet their actions are the single most important contribution to the viability and understanding of our profession. This is where forestry truly happens and it is important that we recognize those who perform the art and science of forestry each and every day.

There is a large number of field foresters who should be recognized for their talent and accomplishments. These deserving individuals can be found in all regions of the U.S. Using presidential prerogative, 11 members -- one from each of the eleven SAF districts -- will be selected to receive an outstanding field forester achievement award in 2002. This will assure that each region of the U.S. will be able to recognize an outstanding field forester.

David Wm. Smith

President

PURPOSE OF THE AWARD

The purpose of this award is to recognize foresters who have dedicated their professional careers to the application of forestry on the ground using sound, scientific methods and adaptive management strategies. The 2002 Presidential Field Forester Awards will be presented to individuals who have displayed uncommon talent, skill, and innovative methods to achieved a record of excellence in the application of forest management.

SELECTION PROCESS

Due to regional differences in both application intensity and regulations affecting forestry operations, the award recipients will be selected on a regional basis. Using the existing organizational structure, each Council member will be asked to select and/or endorse an outstanding field forester from the District they represent. The Council person can use the state society chairs to nominate candidates and from those nominations select a nominee for recognition, or use any other process that would select a worthy candidate based on the selection criteria.

SELECTION CRITERIA

· Must be a member of SAF

· Must have practiced forestry for at least 10 years

· Major portion of career must be in field application of forestry

· Must be recognized locally or regionally by peers for excellence in field application of forestry

· Understands the forest and uses science along with the adaptive management process to achieve landowner objectives and insure forest sustainability.

· Management intensity may range from very intensive applications to more extensive management regimes

· May be from any employment sector

RECOGNITION

Individuals recognized for the Field Forester Achievement Award will be announced and recognized at the 2002 annual convention during the awards ceremony. Recognition will consist of a plaque. There will be no support for the recipients to attend the convention to receive their award, but each would be encouraged to attend.

A short biographical sketch (with picture) along with the reasons for each recipient's selection will accompany the award.

TIMELINE FOR SELECTION

All nominations to select a KT-SAF 2002 Field Forester Achievement regional winner must be into Pam Snyder-KT SAF Awards Chairmen, 250 Hunter Ridge Rd., Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 by April 30, 2002. The KT-SAF 2002 Field Forester Regional recipient's will be submitted to Tim French, <french@socket.net>, 1707 Cedar Valley Road, Jefferson City, MO 65109 by May 15, 2002. Selection will be finalized and forwarded to the national office by June 15 along with each recipient’s biographical information, a b/w photo and the nomination letter with reasons for selection.

Recipients will be notified by August 1 to have adequate time to make plans to attend the convention for the ceremony