Kentucky - Tennessee

Society of American Foresters

NEWSLETTER

If you looked through the list of people on the KTSAF Executive Committee and Key Contacts in the November newsletter, you saw the Member Information Co-chairs: John Rennie as newsletter editor and Mark Young as web site chief. In the next article Mark describes the status of the KTSAF web site. As Mark indicates, announcements of meetings, current issues, chapter and committee reports and any other information you want to communicate to the KTSAF membership and beyond, can go on the web site. Send this information to him when you have it. This newsletter will be material from the web site that is current and of general interest.

The KTSAF Web Site is finally becoming a reality! We are still working out a few bugs in the process of getting the site on a more permanent location, but you can now view the site at the following temporary address: http://web.utk.edu/~jmyoung/index.htm. Please note that portions of the site are still under some heavy construction, and new information is being added all the time. So, be sure to check the site frequently to see the latest updates! The site currently has sections for each Chapter and the thirteen KTSAF Committees where you can learn about their current events, upcoming meetings, etc. There is also a News Section that contains current stories on forestry issues and members making the news, as well as information on upcoming meetings and conferences. You can even download the last several KTSAF Newsletters from the site.

Future plans include a "Members Only" section, a downloadable version of our Member Handbook, and an enhanced "Other WWW Links" section to give you access to other useful sites. We are planning to move the web site to its permanent address soon, so please contact Mark Young (jmyoung@utk.edu or 865-483-3571) with your email address so he can notify you of our new web address as soon as it is available!

Some of the current issues that are covered on the web site include:

Committee assists Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation with OHV planning in Tennessee

Daniel Boone National Forest issues decision on red-cockaded woodpeckers and southern pine beetle situation

The Southeast Tennessee Chapter will host the KTSAF summer meeting from June 14 to 16, 2000. The topic will be Ecosystem management and restoration on the Cherokee National Forest. It will be at Cleveland State Community College and at the Jameson Inn, Cleveland. The room rate is $47 plus tax. Call 423-614-5583 to make reservations; reference the SAF meeting for the abovementioned rate. Connie is our contact person at the motel.

ISSUES: During the fall of 1998 the membership voted to accept the new bylaws and charters for the KTSAF. During the winter 1999 meeting the new bylaws and charters were first implemented.

In December of 1998 the Tennessee Forest Management Advisory Panel published its report. KTSAF was represented by Stan Malone on the panel. Several other SAF members were on the panel representing a variety of interests. The report was presented to the governor and Tennessee legislature. Sound recommendations were made in the Panel report. It is important that we pursue the implementation of the report. Several members of the committee and their associates are trying to allow the report to die without action because their preferred approach is no management.

I wrote a letter to the Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority asking that he consider putting a professional forester on the new Advisory committee that was being formed for the Land Between the Lakes. A forester was not put on the committee. I was informed that one of the first

advisory committee meetings would have several speakers talk about preservation of LBL rather than the present management of the area. I asked Allan Houston if he would become involved in the meeting to provide a balance of ideas. Allan asked to be put on the agenda and was given 5 minutes. His comments were excellent. He spoke as a concerned individual. It is important that individual foresters let their voices be heard at these kinds of meetings and media events.

I submitted a nomination to the Tennessee Conservation League for Land Between the Lakes to be recognized as the Conservation Organization of the Year for their years of outstanding resource management. The review committee misunderstood the nomination. They turned it down as a nomination for the Director as Conservationist of the Year. I recommend the nomination be resubmitted next year.

POLICY: The National Office is reacting to public policy decisions of Congress and federal agencies, based upon policy papers and task force reports that have been developed over the years. It is critical that each State Society becomes involved in these task force reports to insure appropriate representation.

The following reports were reviewed and commented on by Wayne Clatterbuck, Chairman of the Policy committee and me:

"Forest Management Certification Task force Report" and "SAF Task Force on Proposed Public Land management Legislation" which became the published policy statements in "Forest of Discord (options for governing our National Forests and Federal Public Lands)" The extension foresters from University of Tennessee, Virginia Tech. and University of Kentucky were asked to review the Forest Stewardship Council's Appalachia Regional Standards. Wayne Clatterbuck responded and indicated that his response would also be similar if responding for the KTSAF. No request was made of the KTSAF to review the standards.

The Forest Service began several initiatives to change their policy and regulations. The Forest Service began again the process to change the planning regulations. The new regulations respond to a committee of scientists report requested by President Bill Clinton. The Forest Service stopped road building on the National Forest while it developed a roads management policy. The President requested the Forest Service to stop all road building on present roadless areas totaling 40 million acres; to do an Environmental Impact Statement to support the road ban and develop regulations to control road building in present "unroaded" areas. The Forest Service is going to propose a new policy and set of regulations for road construction on all of the National Forests in the first few months of 2000.

Land Between the Lakes (LBL) was transferred to the Forest Service from the Tennessee Valley Authority in the summer of 1999. The Forest Service is working with present LBL employees to make the transition from the TVA procedures and authorities to the Forest Service procedures and authorities.

ACTIONS: A draft Member Handbook was presented to the Executive Committee at the winter meeting. The executive committee passed a motion to have the Handbook provided to all members as well as new members and transfers. The Handbook was consolidated and updated. Copies were made for each member. The copies were given to each chapter for distribution to its members before the summer meeting in June. A list of new members for 1999 was obtained from the National Office. A copy of the handbook along with a letter of welcome was sent to all new members, transferred members and reinstated members.

In May a letter was sent to all members that had not paid their dues encouraging them to maintain their membership in the Society and becoming actively involved in the KTSAF program. More than 60 letters were sent out. Approximately 10 were returned as undeliverable.

This year the National Future Farmers of America convention was in Louisville, KY. Larry Doyle worked with the State to put together the Forestry Contest at Bernheim Forest. Many SAF members assisted in this effort. I worked to put together a display for the career exhibit hall. The display came from the National Office. It was designed to promote membership in the SAF. We modified it to be a career display. Several SAF members stayed with the display to answer questions. The KTSAF stayed with the display on Wednesday and Friday and two people came down from the Indiana SAF to be with the display on Thursday. If this is done next year a display needs to be made that emphasizes both a Career in Forestry and what a forester can do to help a land owner.

Richard A. Wilcox, 1999 Chairman KTSAF

Rick Wilcox, KTSAF Policy Chair, has submitted three grant proposals to the National Office: Foresters Fund for the FFA Careers Display, Achieves Funding, and the Membership recruitment funding.

Welcome to the new millennium. Without notice, we invent our future each day. Individually we define our society and set the stage for our future by the work we do. KTSAF is in good shape because our members have performed their roles with professionalism, dedication and intelligence. I am truly humbled and honored to serve the KTSAF and pledge my best to maintain the tradition.

Those who attended the KTSAF meeting at Mammoth Cave learned how well our members represented the Society this year. To have heard the outstanding accomplishments of those KTSAF award winners was to have been inspired

The students at the winter meeting also impressed me. These students embodied the intellect, commitment and professionalism that will carry SAF well into our second century. I'm proud to say that our members did a very fine job of welcoming and supporting these young professionals. I'm also proud of the efforts members exerted to established a new student chapter at Lee's Campus of Hazard Community College in Hazard, Kentucky. Supporting excellent students will take us a long way to insuring the longevity and integrity of the profession.

However, simply recruiting students will not take us the whole way. Making active members of the many trained and competent foresters who practice forestry in Kentucky and Tennessee is the challenge that we have been issued dozens and dozens of times already.

Consider that challenge issued again. My personal commitment this year is to simply invite foresters to join our society. If folks aren't invited, they will not join. By talking to the people we know we'll reach our goal of 26 new members and finish the year with 460 competent professional foresters.

The KTSAF executive committee has offered a "bounty" to the top recruiter this year. To support this effort, each chapter is being asked to submit the names of local foresters who are not currently members of SAF. And remember, the national office is continuing the "Member-Get-A-Member" campaign. Recruit folks, get stuff. Recruit lots of folks, get lots of stuff!

We think that increasing numbers of members may increase political clout, membership services, and yield cheaper dues. We know that increasing membership participation will lead to increased competency and a more informed profession.

Alas! The recruiting speech should end here with a chant of "Get one for the Gipper" but it doesn't. Who we recruit into SAF is an iceberg issue that is breaking the horizon. Many of our members are seriously concerned that SAF may be headed toward aggressively attracting members who are not competent foresters, inadvertently diluting SAF into a confederation of natural resource mangers.

Watch this issue very closely and let me know your feelings. But in the meantime help us do a better job of serving members and inviting our non-SAF colleagues. I'm certain the only real way to increase our membership is to better serve our current members.

David Walters, 2000 Chairman, KTSAF

This year, for most of us, started like previous years, except of course for any Y2K problems that might have surfaced. There were meetings to attend and bills to pay and many other annual occurrences that signal the beginning of the year. One of these signals is the paying of SAF membership dues. Paying of these dues ensures your continued membership in the world's largest professional society for foresters. SAF is a society whose ideas and goals we shape and support through our membership. There are many potential members that could not only benefit from membership in SAF but could also provide benefits to SAF. This through their efforts to promote forestry and SAF and by adding to the member resource pool that is vital to the success of any organization. Likely as not you know such a potential member or members. If so give them call and encourage them to join SAF.

KTSAF has decided this year to encourage recruitment of new members by offering an incentive award. Not that any of us need any such incentives, but it couldn't hurt. This award, in the form of a $100 gift certificate, will be presented at the winter meeting in 2001 to the KTSAF member who recruits the most new members prior to the end of this calendar year. National office records will be used to verify the winner, so be sure and get the applications submitted in time to be included in their records. Student chapter advisors are unfortunately not eligible for this award. However, the student chapter along with the chapter's advisor having the highest percent increase in membership will be recognized for their efforts. You also get the added advantage of increasing your brain pool for forestry jeopardy should this enjoyable and entertaining event resurface at the winter 2001 meeting.

If you are not already aware of the national "Member-Get-A-Member" campaign, check out the SAF website at www.safnet.org/members/getambr.htm. This program offers rewards, in the form of gift certificates and raffle prizes, for members who sponsor new members. Basically for every regular member (or two student members) that you recruit you will receive a $5 gift certificate for use on SAF products and programs. Your name will also be entered in a raffle for prizes including free registration and airfare to SAF's 2000 National Convention. Details can be found at the site mentioned above.

Here then are several opportunities that hopefully will add some additional encouragement for you to recruit new members to SAF. Membership applications are available from SAF at (301)-897-8720, ext. 108 or you can download an application from the SAF website mentioned above or at www.safnet.org/who/join.htm. Good luck with the recruiting.

Awards and recognitions

Presented at the KTSAF winter meeting at Mammoth Cave, KY:

1. Outstanding Service as a Forester, 35 years and under:

Joseph Harrison Burckle

2. Outstanding Service as a Forester Over 35 :

Thomas Matt Bennett

3. Outstanding Service as a Technician:

Robert L. Duncan

4. Herman T. Baggenstoss, Forestry Recognition Award:

Evelyn Morgan

5. Chapter Chairs 1999, Certificate of Appreciation for dedicated service:

Jeff Lewis, East Kentucky

Larry Doyle, West Kentucky

Mark Young, East Tennessee

Bruce Kauffman, Middle Tennessee

Clint Strohmeier, Southeast Tennessee

6. Kentucky-Tennessee Society, Secretary/Treasurer 1999, Outstanding Service:

Grant Curry

7. Kentucky-Tennessee Society, Past Chairman 1999, Outstanding Service:

Rick Wilcox

8. Retired Member during 1999:

Dr. Gary Schneider

Bruce Harris

9. Golden Member Certificate, for members contributing a half century of service:

James C. Froula

Russell F. Griffith

10. Student Recognition during 1999:

Jamie Svek - University of Kentucky

Cynthia Longmire - University of Tennessee

Mirth Stevenson - University of the South

11. Society of American Foresters Fellows, 1999:

John C. Rennie

George M. Hopper

As usual, this meeting was busy and intensive. I'll give you a few highlights and tell you how to learn more about council proceedings and actions. The Forestry Source in the column Council Notebook gives the membership some of the positive actions of Council. I was emphatically reminded of this in some discussion. Another source of information about Council proceedings is the minutes, approved by Council, which are mailed to State Society chairs. There could be considerable delay in this process because Council must approve the minutes before they are sent out. Upon receipt of the minutes they may be released and published for the membership.

At the Council meeting on February 6, I offered a motion to have the minutes of the Council meetings put on the SAF website which is available to SAF members only. This motion did not pass. Reasons offered for opposing such action were: members may not understand some actions and discussions of Council not having heard all of the discussions; some concern that non-members would gain access to SAF minutes; a problem of time and resources to select items which should or should not be on the website; some added expense to putting the minutes on the website. It is important to note and remember that the complete minutes are sent to your Society chair.

Other agenda items and actions were: President Ebel repeated his objectives to have SAF more involved and be more supportive of State Societies who are considering seeking licensing, registration and certification of professional foresters (see Forestry Source); various reports on SAF's involvement in forest policy development by advocating positions and actions by Congress and the administration. Included were comments on the Environmental Protection Agency's Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDLP) and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System; and U.S. Forest Service Planning Regulations, Testimony of the Craig Bill; payments to counties by federal agencies; Policy Summit Report; Sustainability Report; FIA Task Force/Users Group Report. Council discussed its decision process, including following Robert's Rules of Order and Council members support of Council decisions. The Cultural Diversity Committee presented its diversity scholarship program and process for 2000. SAF estimated that there are 61,895 prospective members in the U.S.-53,094 with some kind of forestry degree including 12,000 AAS or forestry technicians and 8,800 with a natural resources degree. Mark Webb, Vice Chair of the House of Society Delegates (HSD) reported on HSD's convener system (check with your chair on this). Standard dues for retirees is $105. This amount can be reduced to $70 with appropriate communication and discussion. The national meeting in 2002 will be held at Winston Salem, NC. Council heard and participated in Leading the Organization and Helping it Grow presented by Mark Levin. Council heard an Ethics Committee report (you should comment on the proposed new Code of Ethics, including comments on the need for a change). The Task Force on Forestry Education accreditation will present its fine report in June 2000. Denise Ingram, chair, presented the report from the Forest Science and Technology Board. Council heard an audit report, investment report, continental campaign update and an RNRF update.

The total expenses for your Society in 1999 were about 4.3 million dollars. The SAF Endowment Fund is $639,765; the Foresters Fund is $807,802; the Insurance Fund is $423,419; these were values on December 31, 1999. Council budgeted $4,636,807 for expenses in the year 2000; revenues of $4,723,747. Only $1,413,000 will be from dues and $1,038,300 from contributions.

The Chair of your State Society should have received the notice for various nominations. Fellow nominations are due by May 31. District IX will be electing a Council representative. This nomination is due July 1. Identify your good candidates and persuade them to compete. I would be happy to discuss any and all aspects of serving on the SAF Council. I have learned some things about Council and its procedures and practices. First and foremost, the position is challenging, busy and sometimes frustrating, but always enjoyable. It presents great opportunities to get better acquainted with many good people on Council and in the State Societies.

I want to share one Council guideline with you. When Council passes a motion to accomplish a given action, take a position or establish a policy, each and every member of Council is expected to accept and support the move, i.e., go forth in unity. Sometimes, this is difficult. I recently had to declare to Council that I could not support an implicit policy.

The House of Society Delegates (HSD) makes recommendations to Council each year. Part of a recommendation from HSD in December 1999, was "the House of Society Delegates recommends that Council authorize the national office staff, within SAF's mission statement, strategic plan and strategic objectives, to aggressively attract diverse national resource professionals to SAF through its programs and policies." Council moved to accept the HSD statement with appreciation and that Council will continue to move on this topic with all due consideration. There were two "no votes" and one abstention.

At this time I cannot support this policy, but I'm receptive to discussion. Let me hear from you - pro and con.

Kerry Schell, SAF Council, District IX

In the fall of 1998, southern pine beetles (SPB) began to take advantage of drought-stressed stands of loblolly, Virginia, and shortleaf pines in eastern and southwestern Tennessee. In most counties, a moderate increase was noted in the number of red-topped pines killed in small spots or patches. However, in Morgan and Roane Counties and other epidemic counties, outbreaks killed thousands of trees following the dry weather. This trend continued in these regions following a mild winter and dry growing season through early winter, 1999. Flights by TDA, Forestry Division detected 2978 spots infesting southern pine lands throughout the State. SPB is also attacking white pine in some drier sites in the northern Plateau and northeastern Tennessee. Keep alert! Even hemlock has been infested in epidemic counties where yellow pines grow into the upper drains.

Usually SPB erupts in thick or old stands following disturbance and/or climatic stress. These local infestations may last from 1 to 4 years depending primarily on whether cold winters and favorable pine growing conditions short circuit the beetle buildup. Temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 days in succession with daytime highs 32 degrees or colder are necessary to kill most overwintering beetles. Epidemics occur every decade. This year epidemic counties include 15 in East Tennessee: Anderson, Carter, Fentress, Hamilton, Loudon, Meigs, Morgan, Pickett, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington. In this region, spot numbers increased dramatically during August and continued through the fall to about double the June totals. Spot sizes expanded rapidly with up to 4 times as many green infested trees as red and yellow infested trees.

The most effective and economical control method is to remove infested trees, including a buffer strip of uninfested pines about 200 to 500 feet in width. The salvaged pines should be sent to the wood-processing mills as soon as possible. When wood markets are oversupplied with pine, the "cut and leave" technique where infested trees and a buffer strip are cut down and left to decompose is recommended.

No other cutting is recommended during high SPB populations. Thinning is a good way to prevent the SPB outbreaks and can be done in other years when beetles are less numerous. Each year, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture places beetle traps when the dogwoods are in bloom to predict SPB populations for one county each in eastern and western Tennessee. These traps combined with those on the Cherokee National Forest estimate populations with an accuracy of 75 percent. After a four-week period, the number of southern pine beetles is counted and compared with the numbers of its main predator, the checkered beetle. An estimate of the SPB trend for 2000 will be made by the end of May about six weeks after the dogwoods bloom, enabling folks to make good management decisions about their pine stands. Call your local TDA Division of Forestry office to see if beetles have been active near your land.

The Southeast Tennessee Chapter was fairly active during 1999. Five chapter meetings were held, and covered a wide variety of forestry topics and sites. The meeting locations were located all across the chapter area to encourage as many SAF members as possible to attend. The meetings were as follows:

April 6, 1999 - Wetland Credits and the National Ecological Foundation Properties, Manchester, Tenn.

June 1, 1999 - Tour of Prentice Cooper State Forest, Whitwell, Tenn.

August 3, 1999 - Regional Results from the Forest Inventory Analysis and Forest Health Monitoring, Cleveland, Tenn.

October 5, 1999 - Integrating Scenery Management into Land Management in the Cherokee National Forest, Ocoee Whitewater Center

December 7, 1999 - Tour of Wagner Pencil and Pen Facility, Bakewell, Tenn.

Chapter Officers for 2000 are:

Chair- Red Anderson

Chair-Elect- Still Searching

Secretary/Treasurer - Joe Burckle

Chapter meetings for 2000 are being planned and tentatively are:

March 7 - Consulting Forestry and the NIPF, Chattanooga, Tenn.

August 1 - Tour of Battle Creek Log Homes, South Pittsburg, Tenn.

October 3 - University of the South's Natural Resources Programs, Sewanee, Tenn.

December 5 - Tour of Bledsoe State Forest, Pikeville, Tenn.

Membership Chair is now Dwayne Turner, P.O. Box 188, Jackson, KY 41339, 606-666-2438, dturner@ca.uky.edu.

Telephone area code for Knoxville, and surrounding counties that include Oak Ridge, Clinton, Norris, Sevierville, Gatlinburg, and Maryville, has changed to 865 (mandatory after April 24, 2000)

Telephone area code for Lexington will change in April (2000) to 859.

Kevin Galloway: eldgidge@nretc.nr.state.ky.us

Gerald Crow: grcrow@westvaco.com

Ed Smith: cesmithjr@earthlink.net

Pat Cleary: pcleary@bellsouth.net

Douglas McLaren: dmclaren@ca.uky.edu

John Strojan: jstrojan.r8_danielboone_london@fs.fed.us

Laurie Smith: lsmith.r8_danielboone_stearns@fs.fed.us

Grant Curry: curryg@trusjoint.com

James R. Anderson, 377 Westbrook Dr., Cleveland, TN 37312

Lee Pershke, a forestry and agricultural chemical representative with DuPont in Mississippi, died in late February. Lee was an active SAF member who helped with the SAF meeting in Memphis and was involved in West Tennessee.

Harrod Newland Sr., Kentucky state forester from 1944 to 1957, director of wood products development for the Kentucky Commerce Department from 1960 to 1973, and a onetime active member of KTSAF, died recently in Mobile, Alabama, at 91.

Pamela Snyder , service forester in Campbellsville, has been promoted to the Stewardship Specialist for the Kentucky Division of Forestry. She is now in the Frankfort office.