Kentucky - Tennessee

Society of American Foresters

NEWSLETTER

Professionals advancing the science, technology, practice and teaching of forestry to benefit society and the environment.

Number 268                           Up-to-date news on the Web at http://www.ktsaf.org                         February 2004

FROM THE CHAIR - J.R. "Red" Anderson

Kudos for all the foresters in the West Kentucky Chapter for the outstanding winter meeting. The program was, as we've come to expect from them, very informative, pertinent and enjoyable.

Bob Cunningham, our District IX council member, was in attendance. He reported to the executive committee concerns addressed at the most recent council meeting. In our general session he spoke of his personal desires and concerns for SAF.

At our business meeting, I reported that our KTSAF experienced a net increase of 13 members in 2004. I was very happy to report this. The vitality of our society stems from a growing membership. While other state societies have been experiencing a net loss in membership, you are actively recruiting new members and encouraging lapsed members to reinstate their membership.

There are many professional foresters in our two states that benefit from the existence of our Society. A strong society helps ensure informed decision-making about forestry matters by legislators, landowners, and land managers.

I was especially encouraged by the acceptance of the 2004 budget. The budget includes a commitment of $3000.00 to send our Chair, Vice Chair, and one other member to the SAF Leadership Academy this year. The Leadership Academy is an event sponsored by the National Office that gives participants a thorough understanding of the structure of SAF, brings participants face to face with the SAF leadership, builds leadership skills and provides instruction on effective management of volunteer organizations. I know that our investment in the leadership academy will render KTSAF a much stronger organization. The academy is the best leadership session I have attended in my 26 years in professional forestry. The Leadership Academy builds skills that should be useful to any employer of professional foresters

In addition to the KTSAF budget item for the SAF Leadership Academy, I wrote a personal check for an additional $200.00, with a challenge to each one of you to make a similar donation, to further support the Academy. By the end of the Winter Meeting we had donations of $500.00, with the promise of more to come. The membership decided to forward this additional money to the National Office as a challenge to every other state society to similarly support the academy. I thank all of you for your donations.

KTSAF committed to sending three members to the Leadership Academy. Two of the members are preselected through your selection of officers. The third member to attend will be selected through a review of all statements of interest submitted to our incoming Chair, Jerry Crow. If you are interested, or know of a forester that may be, please compose an informed statement of interest for Jerry. You should research the academy a bit by visiting the safnet.org web page, or visiting with someone who has attended the academy in the past. That would include me, Dave Walters, Gary Schneider, Jeff Stringer, and Bob Cunningham, Kerry Schell, to name a few.

Over the past four years, I have enjoyed serving KTSAF, as secretary, treasurer, vice-chair and chair. I joined SAF while a student, and have enjoyed my association with SAF ever since. Even while I was employed in other parts of the country, Bob Schnell continued to keep me informed of KTSAF by continuing to send me the newsletter. I am grateful that you elected me to serve KTSAF, allowing me to return some of the benefit that I have received over the years.

I have volunteered to further serve KTSAF for another year by filling in as treasurer for 2004. This situation arose because the elected treasurer unfortunately is not able to fulfill his obligation. During the Winter Meeting, the executive committee decided to take advantage of my offer to serve as treasurer in 2004.

COMMENTS FROM THE INCOMING CHAIR - Jerry Crow

Change is inevitable. Look around you. Each day involves change. Change in the weather, change in your diet, change in your attire, change in your outlook, change in your job, change, change, change!

SAF is no exception. Change in Council, change in staff, change in policies, change in local leadership. Changes are happening all the time. However, SAF changes are orchestrated to have the goal of moving forward to improve your Society and profession.

Such is the emphasis of the suggested actions of the 2004 SAF Strategic Plan. SAF wants to be recognized as "the professional Society" that 1) meets the needs of foresters for service, networking, and professional growth, 2) promotes sound science and practical knowledge to meet the goals of landowners and employers, 3) fosters that science and practical knowledge to balance society's current and future needs and values in the use and conservation of our natural resources and environment, 4) is recognized as the leader in providing credible and reliable forestry information when decisions are made and policies are formulated, 5) is recognized for having high professional forestry standards in service to society, and 6) is recognized for being good stewards of its human, financial, and physical resources.

While these are stated national strategies, they are applicable to and include suggested actions to be undertaken in each state society. Specifically, the examination and implementation of some or all these actions can become a valuable platform to help us refocus and reinvigorate KTSAF to sustain and grow for the future. My goal as Chair is to help KTSAF begin this process. I look forward to working with and serving you in this position. Please feel free to contact me with your ideas, suggestion, concerns, etc. KTSAF is your society, and I hope you will embrace these goals and join me as we seek to make new and positive changes. Thanks.

NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR SAF AWARDS - Jerry Crow

2004 Leadership Academy
After a year's absence, the SAF National Leadership Academy is scheduled to be held May 22 - 25, 2004 at the Lied Conference Center in Nebraska City, NE. According to SAF, "The National Leadership Academy is a top-flight, creative, state-of-the-art seminar that reinvigorates your enthusiasm for your organization and the forestry profession. It aims to strengthen your individual leadership and management ability and gives you the skills needed to help achieve personal and professional goals." In the past, the Leadership Academy was targeted for Chair-Elects to attend, but all SAF members are now eligible to enroll and benefit from this exciting professional development opportunity. Registration costs are $275 for SAF members and $325 for nonmembers. Several past KTSAF chairs have attended and highly endorse the academy. In 2004, KTSAF's Chair and Chair-Elect are scheduled to attend and funds have been budgeted for that purpose. In addition, an extra $1,000 was approved at the winter Business Meeting for a third member of KTSAF to be funded to attend. This will offer an opportunity to an upcoming KTSAF leader to hone their skills in preparation to lead KTSAF into the future. Anyone interested in applying for this third KTSAF-funded slot needs to send a proposal by March 19 to Jerry Crow, GRC7@meadwestvaco.com , or 3901 Mayfield Rd., Wickliffe, KY 42087. In your proposal, please outline why you would like to attend, and how KTSAF can benefit from your attendance. Anyone else interested in attending should check on SAF's website and click on Leadership Academy.

2004 Outstanding Communicator of the Year Award
Nominations are being sought for the 2004 SAF Outstanding Communicator of the Year Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize an SAF member who displays the ability, talent, and skill to lead innovative and exemplary communications initiatives and programs that increase the general public's understanding of forestry and natural resources at the local, regional, or national level.

Eligible categories are: 1) Outreach to media. 2) Outreach to SAF members. 3) Outreach to educators and youth groups. 4) Outreach to policy makers. 5) Outreach to the general public.

Nominees must demonstrate success in one or more of the following communications initiatives: 1) The initiative helps gains broadly-based public support by demonstrating that professional stewardship of forest resources is the most effective means to achieve a balance between people's needs from forests and society's environmental goals. 2) The ability of the initiative to provide the target audience with current scientific information related to forestry that can be easily understood by the target audience. 3) The initiative refines and communicates the collective professional forestry view regarding the importance of managing forests. 4) The initiative's role in expanding and/or increasing communication with groups such as environmental organizations, community groups, and elected officials. 5) The ability of the initiative to expand local and national media exposure to the profession of forestry.

In addition, the nominee must be a member of SAF, must not be a recent recipient of or a current nominee for the Technology Transfer Award, and must not be a member of the national Communications Committee.

The nomination must be received by the national Communications Committee in the national SAF office by February 28, 2004. Please check the SAF website for additional information.

2004 Presidential Field Forester Awards
Nominations are being sought for the 2004 Presidential Field Forester Awards to be presented to 11 members - one from each of the eleven SAF districts. The purpose of these awards 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 2004 Presidential Field Forester Awards will be presented to individuals who have displayed uncommon talent, skill, and innovative methods to achieve a record of excellence in the application of forest management.

The selection criteria are as follows: 1) Must be a member of SAF, 2) Must have practiced forestry for at least 15 years, 3) Major portion of career must be in field application of forestry, 4) Must be recognized locally or regionally by peers for excellence in field application of forestry, 5) Understands the forest and uses science along with the adaptive management process to achieve landowner objectives and insure forest sustainability, 6) Management intensity may range from very intensive applications to more extensive management regimes, 7) May be from any employment sector.

Each Council Representative will select and/or endorse an outstanding field forester from the District they represent. District IX includes 10 states, and Bob Cunningham, our Council Representative, will select the outstanding forester nomination from all those he receives to be recognized at the national level. We have many outstanding field foresters working in Kentucky and Tennessee. Please think of your friends and colleagues in SAF, and nominate one to be considered for this deserving award. Nominations from the KTSAF need to be sent to Jerry Crow [GRC7@meadwestvaco.com , or 3901 Mayfield Rd., Wickliffe, KY 42087] by March 31.

KTSAF NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

KTSAF has three committee chairs vacant: History, FFA Convention, and Nominating. Each of these committees and their chair are extremely important to KTSAF. If you are interested in any of these positions, contact Jerry Crow at 270-335-6282, 270-335-6290 (FAX), or GRC7@meadwestvaco.com . Note the Nominating chair needs to be from Kentucky since the chair-elect and secretary to be elected this year are both to be from Kentucky.

GREETINGS TO THE MEMBERS OF KENTUCKY - TENNESSEE SAF - Bob Cunningham, District 9 SAF Council Representative

Again, I want to thank everyone for their welcome and fellowship at the winter KTSAF meeting. Your membership and their interaction truly represent what SAF is intended to be. I trust that you share my respect for the leadership demonstrated by your past Chair, Red Anderson, and the current Chair, Jerry Crow. All of your leaders are dedicated and are worthy of your support. (Editor's note - see previous article for details)

I want to remind everyone that nominations are open for the 2004 Presidential Field Forester Award. As in the past, one recipient will be chosen from each of the eleven SAF voting districts. We all know foresters that have done outstanding jobs of applying forestry in the field. How often are these people recognized for their great service? The answer is probably not enough. Please take the time to nominate Kentucky - Tennessee's finest before the May 31st deadline. Full details can be found at http://www.safnet.org/who/nationalawards.cfm.

Last December, I attended an orientation session for new council members and afterwards observed the Council's meeting as a non-voting delegate. This was a valuable experience to see how the meetings are structured around SAF's Strategic Plan. Beginning this year, I am serving as a member of SAF's Strategic Planning Committee. Our charge contains four elements: (1) to perform an annual review of SAF's five-year strategic plan as approved by Council in the context of external and internal realities, (2) to recommend revisions and refinements of the plan to Council, (3) to act as a review mechanism on an ongoing basis for any new issues or initiatives brought to Council to assure their consistency with the strategic plan and to evaluate their potential effects on existing initiatives, and (4) to coordinate efforts with the Finance Committee. We are encouraging every level and component body of SAF to develop activities and programs that compliment the plan's strategic outcomes. For those of you that are not familiar with the Strategic Plan, a copy can be reviewed on the web at http://www.safnet.org/who/2004strategicplan.cfm.

Finally, as I begin my three-year term as your council representative, I ask for your thoughts and concerns. I can usually be reached via email at bob.cunningham@mdc.mo.gov or my office telephone number 417-255-9561 x 225. Thank you.

TASK FORCE ON VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE (VOS) - Gary Schneider

I have been asked to serve on the recently SAF-established VOS Task Force. The assignment is to evaluate the effectiveness of our current organizational structure in meeting the mission and strategic direction of the Society of American Foresters, and to recommend changes to improve the vitality and effectiveness of the organization.

What this boils down to is that the Task Force will review the entire way our SAF, as a volunteer organization, operates. It will seek as much input from the SAF membership as possible during the next six-to nine- months, and make its findings and recommendations to Council this December.

The review of "how we do things" has been done several times, the most recent being in 1994. It is fitting that such an assessment be done about every 10 years since societal demands, advances in technology, and professional forestry issues are ever-changing. With tighter operating budgets and decreasing membership, but with increasing demands for professional accountability and calls for established national policies that address forest sustainability, it is imperative that our SAF organizational structure keep pace with such changes.

I earnestly need every KT-SAF member's input on how SAF can operate more effectively and efficiently. Ask yourself this question: "If we could start from scratch, with a brand-new SAF constitution and set of by-laws, how would they differ from what we now have?" It isn't very often that we have an opportunity to make significant changes in how we are organized or how we operate. That opportunity is here now! How can we make our volunteer-based organization stronger? What is keeping us from reaching our full potential in representing science-informed and sound forestry practices in the US?

So put your thinking caps on and give us the benefit of your years of experience and expertise. For example: How can we use existing information technology better (e.g., virtual committee meetings, leadership transition and training modules, continuing education)? What might we do to develop greater diversity in our membership? How can we increase the number of members willing to take on leadership roles (e.g., different terms of office then we have now, as well as different ways to recognize and award professional accomplishments)? What can realistically be done to attract more qualified professional members to SAF? Do we need to change the structure of our national Council, and if so, how (e.g., increase the size of Council and have "at large" representatives of students, recent members of SAF [5-10 year membership], and mid-career members [10-15 year membership], as well as have different term limits and ways that Council now operates?

You can see that nothing is "scared," in our quest to make SAF stronger and more viable. All of us are guilty at one time or another in complaining that SAF is not current or responsive enough to change. We have a splendid opportunity at hand to make the changes we think are necessary. Let's do it by responding to the challenge, and making your ideas and suggestions known. I really look forward to hearing from you.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The 2004 KTSAF Summer Meeting will be hosted by the West Tennessee Chapter. It is set for Thursday, June 10. The theme is "Precision Forestry" and will include a visit to the Hobart Ames Plantation. Details will follow.

The 2004 SAF National Convention will be a joint meeting with the Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada (CIF/IFC). It will be held October 2-6, 2004, in Edmonton, Alberta.

The West Tennessee SAF Chapter is sponsoring a one day workshop titled "Wetlands Forestry" will be offered on September 13, 2004. David Mercker, The University of Tennessee, 605 Airways Blvd., Jackson TN 37801, 731 425 4703, dcmercker@utk.edu.

The preliminary schedule for meetings of the Southeast Tennessee SAF Chapter for 2004 is:
1. Late March: Tour of Cleveland Chair Factory in Cleveland, TN
2. June 3rd: Herbicide use in Pine and Hardwood Stands held near Soddy Daisy, TN
3. Early August: Tour of Cardin Sawmill in South Pittsburg, TN
4. Mid October: Walls of Jericho Visit in Southern Franklin/ Marion County,TN
5. Contact Benjamin Myers with any questions or comments at benjaminlmyers@hotmail.com .

The 2005 KTSAF Winter Meeting will be hosted by the East Tennessee Chapter tentatively on the January 26-28, 2005.

MORE DEADLINES

The SAF National Awards - February 28, 2004 - see the SAF website for details

Nominations for SAF fellow - May 31, 2004 - see the SAF website for details

Items for the May KTSAF Newsletter - May 3, 2004

SAF dues for 2004 are due immediately if you have not paid them; members who have not paid their dues will not receive the Journal of Forestry, The Forestry Source or the e-forester after the end of February.

2004 KTSAF WINTER MEETING - Larry Doyle, West TN Chapter Sec./Tres.

The theme for the 2004 Winter Meeting at Lake Barkley State Park was Communications and GPS/GIS Technology. On Wednesday evening, outgoing chair "Red" Anderson conducted the Executive Meeting to discuss KTSAF business.

On Thursday morning, Dr. Jim Fazio, University of Idaho, presented two hour a talk on 'Nine Steps to Better Public Relations.' Dr. John Rennie, UT., continued in his series of one hour sessions on professionalism and ethics. Next, Brian Biesel and Kathy Harper, USFS Land Between The Lakes, gave an overview of Forest Service activities on the National Recreation Area since the transfer from TVA to USFS; then they gave examples of how proactive communications with targeted audiences successfully reduced anxiety and misunderstanding with the visiting recreationists. Jennifer Turner, KY Div. of Forestry, substituting for Evelyn Morgan, discussed forestry education programs in Kentucky and how they have been adapted to fit into the new education curriculum.

"Red" Anderson convened the Business Meeting and introduced Robert Cunningham, our Council Representative, who gave us an overview of what is going on at Headquarters. Concurrent with the social hour, the Quiz Bowl was held between UT and UK students. The University of Kentucky won this event. Jerry Crow, our incoming chairman, hosted at the Awards Banquet where, after an "all you could eat" buffet, "Red" Anderson honored Pam Snyder, with the under 35 outstanding forester; Jennifer Turner with the Herman Bagenstross award; Charles Rusk with the over 35 outstanding forester award; and Rex Kelley with the outstanding forest technician award. Sam Brocato, Stan Malone, Joe Simmons, James R. Baer, Henry F. Barbour, Charles L. Matheny, and John Wood were recognized as retired foresters. Those recognized with the Golden Award for fifty years of SAF membership Richard Doub, Lamar Teate, and Beryl Toler. Outstanding student awards went to Amanda Caudle, the University of Tennessee; Clauda Cotten, University of Kentucky; and John Ross Havard, the University of the South. Outgoing chapter chairs and KT SAF chair were also recognized with service awards.

On Friday, Andy Malmquist, William Boswell, Randell Cercopely, and Greg Horn of Forest Technology Group, LLC, North Charleston, SC, presented our technology session. Andy presented how world wide changes would affect wood supply and showed business reactions by large US companies to changing world supplies. The presentation continued with an introduction of webFRIS (web based GIS) and mFRIS (mobile computing), a field exercise of mobile computing a timber cruse and GPS data with mFRIS. The mFRIS data were uploaded from handheld computers, sent by satellite disc to webFRIS in California for processing and then back to Lake Barkley and downloaded to handheld computers all in the speed of light!

Participants earned 10 CFE's in credits for use with SAF and ACF continuing education requirements. Attendance: 60 foresters, 21 students, and 15 speakers and guests.

EDITOR'S NOTE: See the KTSAF website for draft minutes of the executive meeting and the business meeting.

RESULTS OF KT-SAF ELECTION FOR CHAIRMAN-ELECT AND SECRETARY - Richard M. Evans, KT-SAF Teller

In accordance with KT-SAF Bylaws (Page 4, Article 7) I am reporting to you the following results from our 2003 election of officers.
Candidates Votes Cast
Chairman-elect: Don Hodges 80*

Secretary: Jeff Holt 34
Ed Smith 48**

I certify these results as a true count of all ballots received in this election and declare Don Hodges* and Ed Smith** as the 2003 KT-SAF Chairman-elect and Secretary, respectfully.

NEWS

2003 FFA CONVENTION - Ken Negray
The Kentucky Tennessee SAF staffed an informational booth this year at the 38th annual FFA National Agriculture Career Show in Louisville, KY, concluding FFA's 75th anniversary year. The convention was held at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center on Oct 29, 20, & 31.

Founded in 1928, the FFA brought together students, teachers and agribusiness to solidify support for agricultural education. The career show is an integral part of the FFA convention as it highlights & offers career opportunities for current high school agricultural students. The FFA remains committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in leadership, personal growth and career service through agricultural education. FFA is part of the American public education system and prepares students to respond to the needs of local communities. Today, FFA has 457,000 members. More than 4,000,000 Americans have been members of FFA for the past 75 years.

This year produced a record attendance of 51,338 FFA students, faculty and advisors attending the convention. An estimated 5000 FFA students visited the SAF booth and received information on forestry. At the SAF booth, the kids are asked to locate (pin) their hometown on a map of the U.S. with a pin. Every state in the U.S. was represented as well as representatives from Russia, Europe, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Virgin Islands & Canada.

The KT SAF provided an opportunity to introduce and build awareness to our forestry profession and for our products and services to the next future generation. In doing this, we helped to build a relationship with these students in understanding the importance forestry plays in our lives.

The SAF volunteers who helped staff the booth at the convention were Rick & Cindy Wilcox, Alan Fowler, Craig Whitfield, Brandon Reavis, Gavin Wilson, Steve Rogier, Mike Beatty & Ken Negray. Dale & Kelly Weigel from Indiana SAF also helped. Anyone interested in working on next year's SAF booth at the FFA convention, please contact Ken Negray at 270-388-2504 or krnegray@vci.net.

DEVELOPING STRATEGIES FOR EDUCATION OF UNDERSERVED FOREST LANDOWNERS - Joshua Idassi, Tennessee State University

TSU-Cooperative Extension Program, UT Agricultural Extension Service, Mississippi State University Extension Services, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry, USDA-Natural Resources and Soil Conservation, USDA -Farm Services Agency, and Tennessee Forestry Consultants Association are collaborating on a SARE Grant to Mississippi State University, College of Forestry and Natural Resources to educate underserved forest land owners.

Underserved forest landowners are those landowners who lack forestry knowledge and training and are frequently unfamiliar with the maze of federal and state agencies and programs available to them. These landowners own small tracts of woodlands and are underserved by current federal, state, and private programs which offer technical, financial, or educational assistance. Underserved forest landowners include minorities, females, limited resource farmers as well as other landowners who have not taken advantages of assistance programs for a variety of reasons.

A multi-state, multi-institutional research and outreach effort was used to promote sustainable forest management to underserved landowners in the South-Central U.S. This effort involved 1862 and 1890 land grant institutions, consultant foresters, landowners, state and federal agents, and others in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. In Tennessee, three focus group sessions were conducted in 2002 that involved about 36 landowners. Twelve focus group sessions were conducted and involved 97 landowners for the South-Central region. The focus group information provided the basis for developing a mail questionnaire that was mailed to 6,000 landowners in the South-Central Region. For Tennessee about 1,500 landowners were involved in the study.

In 2003, mail questionnaires were used to gather information about landowner educational needs pertaining to forest management in Tennessee. Four landowner workshops were conducted in the following locations: Clarksville, Montgomery County; Covington, Tipton County; Memphis, Shelby County; and Lebanon in Wilson County.

A total of 180 people attended the four landowner workshops and 99 completed an evaluation form. Those who completed an evaluation form reported owning a total of 15,187 acres of forest land and felt the information they received would help them earn an additional $138,000 from managing their timber. Although in average for the four counties, 48% had used a forester in the past, 93% plan to use a forester in the future. Also, an average, about 22% reported having a written forest management plan. However, 61% plan to obtain a forest management plan in the future.

For more information, contact: Dr. Joshua Idassi, Extension Assistant Professor, Cooperative Extension Program, Tennessee State University, 3500 John Merritt Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37209. 615-963-5616, 615-963-1840 (FAX), jidassi@tnstate.edu

NEW CFE CONTACT FOR TENNESSEE

After many years of service as the SAF Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) contact in Tennessee, Larry Tankersley has turned the reins over to Alan F. Brown. Alan has recently joined the University of Tennessee Office of Professional and Personal Development as a Program Coordinator/Extension Specialist in University Outreach and Continuing Education. His contact information is: 1534 White Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996 1526; 865 974 0150, 865 974 9014 (FAX), browna@outreach.utk.edu, www.outreach.utk.edu .

WEST TENNESSEE SAF CHAPTER
The West Tennessee Chapter is exploring development of a position statement on registering foresters. For more information, contact David Mercker, The University of Tennessee, 605 Airways Blvd., Jackson TN 37801, 731 425 4703, dcmercker@utk.edu.

UT SAF STUDENT CHAPTER - David S. Buckley
With approximately 40 members, the University of Tennessee Student SAF Chapter/Forestry Club continues to grow. Twenty-two Student Chapter members attended the SAF National Convention this past fall in Buffalo, NY, where they participated in the student quiz bowl, attended presentations, and had the opportunity to interact with forestry professionals from around the nation. Several Chapter members attended the KTSAF Winter Meeting held at Lake Barkley State Park in January. Amanda J. Caudle, a senior in forestry and President of the UT Student SAF Chapter, was presented the Outstanding Student Award and Scholarship, which are awarded to the top student from each school based on leadership and academic performance. Fund-raising and preparations are underway for the annual Association of Southern Forestry Clubs (ASFC) Conclave hosted this year by Mississippi State from March 25 to 28.

UT-FWF
The University of Tennessee Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries currently has 72 forestry undergraduates, 74 wildlife and fisheries undergraduates, and 65 graduate students (20 PhD,45 MS) for a grand total of 211 students.

We have excellent spring camps underway. Our Forestry Camp for resource management students has 14 students and the Wildlife and Fisheries Camp has 26 students. In these camps we have block schedules where students have increased activities in teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, oral and written communications, and field work. Students pay extra transportation fees to cover the cost of the travel and overnight stays.

This past fall the new Plant Biotechnology Building was dedicated. Some of the departmental faculty and research labs have been relocated to this facility, including Forest Ecology and Tree Physiology, the Human Dimensions Lab, the Center for Wildlife Health, and the departmental administration. This move provides the department much needed new space for expansion of growing programs.

We have three faculty searches underway: wildlife management with emphasis on wetlands, extension wood products, and wood chemistry.

We need alumni and friends support. We ask for financial contributions to help us fund our programs especially in the area of student and faculty professional development, and to support the cots of conducting the spring camps. Contact George Hopper [ghopper@utk.edu , 865-974-7988] for details on how to make contributions.