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Kentucky - Tennessee
Society of American Foresters
Professionals advancing the science, technology, practice and teaching of forestry to benefit society and the environment.
Number 258
Up-to-date news on the Web at: http://www.ktsaf.org August
2001
Gary Schneider, KT Chair-elect
I was privileged to attend the SAF Leadership Academy this past May (19th-23rd), and it was such a terrific experience that I wanted to share some thoughts with all the members of the KT-SAF. What actually took place for the better part of four days is more then I can satisfactorily summarize, but I can give you the highlights!
Each year for the past seven years the chair-elects of each state(s) SAF societies and working groups are invited to attend this leadership event. This year the location was the Lied Conference Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska. This is the site of the National Arbor Day Foundation, and the facilities were outstanding. Along with the 42 chair-elects present were a cadre of SAF staff workers and Bill Banzhaf (National office Executive VP), Dr. Dave Smith (SAF President-elect), Rod Brevig (chair, House of Society Delegates), Dr. Sharon Friedman (chair, Forest Science & Technology Board ), and David Welch (chair, National Student Assembly).
For almost four days, lead by excellent speakers and facilitators, we discussed: (1) current and emerging needs in our ever-changing natural resources profession; (2) leadership styles and personalities; (3) working successfully with a diverse membership, and with issues that are becoming more complex and contentious; (4) developing successful SAF state society program, and conducting effective meetings; and (5) the SAF structure that includes the national Council, House of Society Delegates, Forest Science & Technology Board, and the national office.
Today’s world seems to be changing at an ever-increasing speed. Population growth, finite natural resources, environmental protection, and changing societal expectations are but a few of the issues we face. How can foresters hope to cope with such a staggering set of problems? Obviously no easy answers come to mind, BUT the key to reaching desirable outcomes must come from our own actions that include building bridges within SAF and to other groups, motivating people to get involved and stay involved, and establishing a positive atmosphere that increases trust among Athe key players. Boosting the credibility of SAF and the forestry profession in general, as well as expanding the SAF membership base, is essential to our success.
A person’s values and beliefs are the building blocks of their leadership style and philosophy. Diversity of leadership styles is essential since changing societal values dictate a variety of leadership skills and abilities. We all know that no two people are alike. Yet we often lump people into very simplistic categories. The best way to understand other people is to first understand yourself. I believe it would be very helpful, and great fun, if our membership would engage in an exercise that looks at how we perceive the world, and on what we base our decision making. There are some good analytical instruments available that would help us understand ourselves, and in turn, understand others. That is the beginning of a successful partnership.
The challenges that confront our forestry profession and science-based Society are enormous, and reflect an equally complex and diverse society. The term Adversity@ does not just mean difference in gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. It also includes differences in age, culture, educational level, nationality, marital status, socioeconomic status, and the list goes on. How can we cope with such an abundant mixture of values and emotions? We cannot ignore this diversity, but truly recognize and embrace it for the opportunities it brings. We must give a high priority to encouraging greater respect for and sensitivity towards others.
Let’s be honest. The SAF state societies face a real challenge in keeping members interest in programs and meetings. How can we develop new programs and have meetings that keep AND attract active membership involvement? Why do people join professional societies? The answer is simple: people expect something of value in return for their time and dollars. The value they expect usually translates into gaining access to continuing education, peer recognition, and subsequent career advancement. If this is the case, then our meetings must have our members seeing/hearing/and meeting top leaders who discuss current issues. If we want more members, and keep the ones we have, we must also personalize our approach (‘Dear Fellow Forester’ will not work), customize our message (‘we have something you need’), and empathize with them (‘we understand your concerns and have a possible solution’).
Communicating and connecting at all levels is the cornerstone of SAF. The National Office, Council, House of Society Delegates, Forest Science and Technology Board, Working Groups, State Societies, and Chapters all play a vital role in carrying out the mission of SAF. In order to operate within a diverse professional society, team building and collaboration among the various appropriate units is essential to the success of the organization. There is a vast storehouse of resources that are available, and only in using them to the fullest will we reach our true potential for success as a professional organization. Let us do so!
This is but the broadest overview of what took place at the 2001 SAF Leadership Academy. Lots of good ideas and specific actions were discussed. We need to evaluate them as to how they might best work for our situation. As chair-elect, I look forward to working this year with our current chair, Dr. Jeff Stringer, in doing everything possible to keep our KT-SAF as active and vibrant as possible. With everyone’s help, our future looks bright.
It’s that time of year to start seriously considering nominations for chapter and KT-SAF offices. John Perry KT-SAF nominations chair will head the effort to get qualified candidates for the KT SAF chair-elect and secretary positions. Just a quick reminder of how the KT-SAF positions rotate. The chair-elect assumes the chair position (the chair becomes the policy committee chair). In a relatively recent change the secretary now becomes the treasurer. So each year we elect a chair-elect and a secretary. Jerry Crow our current secretary will assume the position of treasurer this next year. Gary Schneider our current chair-elect will assume the chair position in 2002. Regarding chair-elect nominations it has been our custom that chair-elect candidates would alternate from state to state so that the chair position would be held by a forester from Tennessee one year and a forester from Kentucky the following year. This system has served us well. However, we threw a small fly in the ointment when we decided to have the secretary automatically assume the treasurer position. Currently the out-going treasurer (Red Anderson) is from Tennessee and he would not normally be available as a candidate for the chair-elect position because this year the candidates are supposed to come from Kentucky. To try to stabilize the situation we voted in our summer meeting to obtain this years chair-elect candidates from Tennessee. This allows the out-going treasurer a shot at the chair-elect position. Alternation between states will resume after this year. By taking this action we have formally recognized the previously unofficial gentleman=s agreement to alternate the chair-elect candidates between the states. The end result is that we will be electing a chair-elect and a secretary from Tennessee. If you have followed all of this you probably are one of those people that only leaves one peg in the triangle game at Cracker Barrel.
Leah MacSwords has been named the new director of the Kentucky Division of Forestry after the retirement of Mark Matuszewski. Leah also wears the deputy commissioners hat for the Department of Natural Resources and is currently serving in both capacities. Leah has been directly involved with Kentucky Division of Forestry affairs since the inception of the Kentucky Forest Conservation Act in 1998 and I have personally worked with her on several issues during this period of time. By all assessments of KDF staff and myself I believe that she is representing the KDF well in Frankfort. We will provide an opportunity for her to join us at our annual winter meeting. In the meantime I ask that as a KT-SAF member, when the opportunity presents itself, you introduce yourself and make her feel welcome in her new role with the Kentucky Division of Forestry.
We have again received $725 from the Foresters Fund to continue the SAF presence at the national Future Farmers of American (FFA) meeting in Louisville. As many of you are aware Rick Wilcox did a phenomenal job of developing an interactive SAF booth at the national FFA convention. Rick showcased this booth for us at last winters KT-SAF meeting in Nashville and its success was reported in AThe Forestry Source. Rick has again requested booth space at the FFA meeting this October in Louisville. The display contains a foam core U.S. map and students that come by the booth place a pin in the map where they live. This has generated great interest in the booth and many students have obtained SAF information from the display. Rick should be congratulated by each of us for his effort. While we have obtained monies to continue this activity, Rick is looking for volunteers to help staff the booth this year and in years to come. Ken Negray is being groomed by Rick to ramrod the effort next year and we need several others to volunteer to help in this great endeavor. If you are interested please contact Rick Wilcox (O=(859)745-3156, H=(859)498-7314, F=(859) 744-1568, rwilcox@fs.fed.us).
The annual winter meeting of the Kentucky-Tennessee SAF will be held on Thursday and Friday, January 24 and 25, 2002 at Pine Mountain State Park in Pineville KY. The meeting will concentrate on the current status of forest certification systems and their current and potential impacts on foresters and forestry in our region. The goal of the meeting will be to provide current information on the primary certification systems gaining popularity in the U.S. particularly in the southeast focusing on how this is and will continue to affect industry, consultants, and private nonindustrial forest owners in Kentucky and Tennessee. Presenters include foresters and individuals involved with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), AF&PA’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Tree Farm system. We will also have presentations from forest industries involved in both SFI and FSC certification and a presentation from a consultant that has clients that have been FSC certified. Continuing education classes for CEUs are being developed to run in conjunction with this meeting including a training course for Tree Farm Inspectors. We will also have special events for our student members including a forestry bowl similar to what we did several years ago. The East Kentucky Chapter (Ron Taylor - Chair) is heading this effort with at least 6 east Kentucky members assisting. Put this meeting on your calendar and get ready to have a great time and improve your ability to survive in the changing climate of forest management in the U.S.
Both Gary Schneider and I will be attending the National SAF Convention in Colorado as your representatives at the House of Society Delegates meeting. This provides a forum to get grass root concerns discussed and presented to SAF Council for consideration. Our past chair, Dave Walters, did a great job in representing us nationally and I hope that Gary and I can do the same. If you have any issues which are of concern please let me know prior to the convention and I’ll raise them in HSD. You can reach me at 859-257-5994 or Gary at 865-675-1919.
Currently the KT-SAF has two open committee positions. We need a chair for the program committee and the auditing committee. Past chair Pat Cleary has stepped down from these posts after a number of years of faithful service to us. If you are interested please let me know as decisions need to be made this fall regarding these positions.
The national SAF has been running a campaign to reach past SAF members. After purging the SAF membership lists this summer the KT-SAF lost 43 members approximately 10% of its membership. While this is about average across chapters in the U.S., and our region (10%), the members we lost are important to the KT-SAF. As I scan the list I see several relative young members. Chapter chairs have received the list of foresters that were members in 2000 but did not maintain their membership this year. I have requested them to personally contact these individuals. If you know of someone who has dropped their membership, give them a call. The KT-SAF has formed a committee to develop recommendations for attempting to increase the number of SAF members in both the KDF and TDF. We hope to have these recommendations ready for implementation at the winter 2002 meeting.
Tim
French, CF
Region IX, Council Member
To give you some idea of how important the recruitment of new members is to SAF, at each Council meeting, President John “Plus One Member” Heissenbuttel holds himself and each Council member accountable for individual efforts in recruiting new members. Each of us responds by indicating what we have done since the last meeting to personally recruit new members and indicates how many of our recruits have joined SAF. The take home point here is that if the President and each Council member can make a personal commitment to continual recruitment, how about you? Just recruit one new member and feel great about it or go wild and recruit a bunch. Either way, the organization benefits from the increased membership and you reap the rewards from the “Surpassor”!
A number of revisions were made to SAF’s Strategic Agenda - 2002. The Strategic Agenda is updated annually and is the basis for work planning and budgeting for SAF. I sincerely appreciate the thoughtful comments I received on our Strategic Outcomes and Basic Strategies from the leadership of each society in the District. For those who are unfamiliar with this process, the Strategic Agenda begins with a preamble or statement of intent:
The
vision and mission of SAF will be achieved through the following strategic
outcomes and their basic strategies, which will be addressed throughout all
levels and component bodies of the SAF. In
particular, this will be accomplished by emphasizing and supporting the
development of quality activities and programs at the local levels of SAF.
The following are the seven Strategic Outcomes:
SAF will be recognized and supported by a growing number of professional foresters as the organization, which best serves the profession.
Strategic Outcome #2: Professional Education & Quality Assurance SAF will ensure high professional forestry standards in service to society.
SAF will engage and train natural resource professionals to be leaders at all levels to better carry out their leadership responsibilities for their professions.
SAF will be recognized by a growing percentage of the public and policy makers as the leader in providing credible and reliable forestry information.
The public will recognize that professional stewardship of forest resources is the most effective means to achieve society’s environmental goals.
SAF will maintain a sound financial condition to achieve the SAF mission through support of its programs and services.
SAF is the employer of choice for natural-resource-related non-profit organizations in the greater Washington DC area.
Although too lengthy to include in this highlight, the real meat of our Strategic Agenda is in the Basic Strategies under each Strategic Outcome. This is the official to-do list for our organization. If you would like a copy of the complete Strategic Agenda for 2002, please give me a call, drop me a note, or send me an E-mail.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my Council role is to participate in the review and approval of the nominations for various national awards, those recommended by the Committee on Professional Recognition [John A. Beale Memorial Award, Young Forester Leadership Award, Outstanding Journalism Award, SAF Honorary Membership Award] and the National Science Awards, those recommended by the Forest Science and Technology Board [Barrington Moore Memorial Award, Award in Forest Science, and the Technology Transfer and Extension Award]. But, the one award that I personally take great pleasure in facilitating is the Presidential Field Forester Award. This is the award that recognizes a forester from each Council District who has dedicated his or her professional career to the application of forestry on the ground using sound, scientific methods and adaptive management strategies.
Last year, I was extremely proud to see Randall Leister of the Ouachita SAF receive this award at the National Convention. This year we have three outstanding nominations for the award, they are:
It is an honor to be nominated for this award and my congratulations go to each nominee. Please watch for President Heissenbuttel=s announcement of the Presidential Field Forester Award winner for District IX at the Denver Convention.
As your representative on Council, I am always interested in hearing from our membership. Please contact me anytime with your issues and comments.
Timothy A. French
1707 Cedar Valley Road
Jefferson City MO 65109
(O) 573-884-6861 ext 229
(H) 573-636-9614
The Denver Convention will be outstanding ‑ “Forestry at the Great Divide”. It will be September 13-17. Registration material is in the April Forestry Source and on the SAF website.
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KT-SAF members will have the opportunity to vote on
Vice-President and candidates for Fellow this fall. Ballots will be mailed on
September 1 and are due back at the national office by October 19. 2001. Be
sure to vote.
This summer’s meeting, which was held in Jackson, TN on June 28, was well attended. In total, 52 people participated in the one day event called “Forestry on the Wild Side.” Speakers included Andy Warner, from Australia, and Mike Butler from the Tennessee Conservation League. In addition, the field tour included visits to Bruce Hardwood Flooring, Miller Hardwood=s bottomland hardwoods and the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge. The program generated in excess of $1,200 through the silent auction.
Thanks to all who attended and made this program successful. Let’s continue to build on this moment!
David Mercker
[Editor’s note: see page 5 for draft minutes of Executive Meeting & Business Meeting]
Sept. 5, 2001 - East Tn Chapter Shoneys
on Clinton Highway, Knoxville, 7 am.
Sept. 12, 2001 - SE TN Chapter
September 27, 2001 - EK SAF Fall Meeting
October 3, 2001 - East TN Chapter
November 7, 2001 - East TN Chapter
Nov. 14, 2001-SE TN Chapter
December 5, 2001 - East TN Chapter
January 2002 - KT-SAF Winter Meeting - see News from the Chair on page 2
for details
June or July 2002 - KT-SAF Summer Meeting
Joint meeting with Indiana and Ohio SAF in vicinity of Louisville, Kentucky
The West Tennessee Chapter of SAF has been awarded a grant to help increase membership in SAF. Cost‑share assistance is now available to pay $32.50 for any new or re-instated SAF member. All Kentucky and Tennessee chapters can participate. Students are not eligible. As of July 31, there were funds for 6 new members. Contact David Mercker (UT Extension Forester) for details (731‑425‑4703 or dcmercker@utk.edu).
The members of the UT Student Chapter have elected new officers for the 2001-2002 academic year. Brian Stanfill will serve as President, Jeff Webster was elected as Vice-President, and Ryan Connell will assume the duties of Vice-President in charge of conclave. Ward Tarkington was elected as Treasurer and Mat Ellis will serve as Secretary. The new officers are looking forward to an active and educational year for the Chapter. Dr. Dave Buckley (dbuckley@utk.edu) and Dr. Don Hodges (dhodges2@utk.edu) will continue to serve as Faculty Co-Advisors. Chapter President Brian Stanfill can be contacted at bstanfil@utk.edu .
The SE TN Chapter held a joint meeting with the NE GA Chapter on July 11, 2001 at Camp Jordan near Chattanooga, TN. Linda Harris, Sr. Field Representative for TVA’s. Resource Stewardship, discussed water quality and riparian zone management. A total of 15 members attended. Thanks go to Diana Gennett for making the arrangements.
The next SE TN Chapter meeting will be in September with an industry theme.
High school students from across Kentucky came together during the first week in June to attend the Kentucky Forest Leadership Program near Somerset, Kentucky. The program, evolving for more than 40 years, provides the students an opportunity to explore the many facets of forestry and related fields.
The programs hands-on approach to learning concentrated on forest management but included aspects of soil science, wildlife habitat assessment, water quality and an opportunity for everyone to have hands-on experiences with GPS and how this method of surveying eliminates the opportunity of Apulling chain@ threw briar patches.
The kids attending not only learned the skills of forestry related careers but also developed a forest land management plan for the tract of land that they inventoried.
Besides learning that sleep has value, the students evaluations can best be summarized by the one students comment of, “..be more concerned about the forest, and that all clear cutting is not always bad…”
Doug McLaren
Kentucky
Considering the mild winter and prolonged drought, the southern pine beetle (SPB) will continue to damage most forests if Middle and East Tennessee in 2001. Beetle populations are predicted to stabilize throughout most of the state. Several counties in West Tennessee, the Upper Cumberlands, and the northeastern Blue Ridge Mountains are expected to decline.
Since early June, fading pines have been present on the edges of stands infested last fall. The SPB is affecting up to 50-year-old native stands of southern yellow pine and plantations of loblolly pine as well as pines in urban landscapes. Hundreds of landowners have lost nearly 20 million dollars due to SPB involving 100,000 acres of pine forests in about three fourths of the state.
A bill to initiate a national cost share program to reduce the number of pine stands at risk to SPB and plant back beetle-killed areas should pass the congress this fall. This program is targeted to start about October 2002.
From TreeLine, the newsletter of the Tennessee Forestry Association, July 2001.
Good News from the University of Tennessee Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
The fourth Tennessee Forestry Academy was held this summer on campus and 18 Tennessee Division of Forestry (TDF) forestry technicians completed the course of study. To date, FWF faculty have provided instruction to 96 TDF personnel during the academy’s three weeks of intensive training.
The USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station has decided to establish the headquarters of their Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) unit on the University of Tennessee campus. The FAI provides leadership in forest inventory for the thirteen southern states and will eventually house 75 USDA Forest Service employees. Many will hold adjunct appointments in the department.
Eighty percent of departmental undergraduate students were placed last year (2000) and 100% of all rising seniors had career oriented job opportunities for summer work. FWF students received $75,000 in scholarships in academic year 2000-2001.
From: FWF Visions, The Newsletter of the UT Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries.
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John C. Rennie, Newsletter Editor
Kentucky Tennessee Society of American Foresters
c/o U.T. Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Knoxville, TN 37996-4563
