From the VA Division Chair...

Virginia SAF 2009 Year in Review

At the beginning of this year, the Virginia Division Executive Committee established a list of goals to accomplish during 2009.  This list included multiple strategies to address membership issues, enhance value perceived by members, partner with other organizations, conduct public outreach, and host an excellent summer meeting.  I am pleased to report that the Division accomplished all goals and action items set forth for 2009.

A common criticism of SAF is that it “doesn’t do anything” for members.  It was my hope to address this misconception through updates sent to the Virginia Division e-mail listserv.  However, by October only one-third of our members had subscribed to the listserv.  An unknown number of e-mail messages sent to these members end up in various spam filters.  As a result, it is likely that many of you still feel like SAF “doesn’t do anything” since you don’t receive our electronic updates.  This column will review selected 2009 Division-level accomplishments to address this issue.  Please note that this does not include Chapter or APSAF-level activities, which have been significant.

We hosted the 88th Annual APSAF Meeting in Newport News, Virginia.  Entitled Forestry in a Changing Age, the meeting covered a wide variety of subjects and was very well received by those attending.  Anecdotal comments received following the meeting included:  “Thanks again for all the hard work y’all put in to the conference.  It makes me proud to be a new member of SAF.” 

The executive committee met formally four times during 2009:  March 19 (Blacksburg), May 1 (electronic), June 3 (Blacksburg), and August 20 (electronic).  We incorporated on-line conferencing technology software to make wise use of our time and resources in the face of the continuing recession.  From September through December, all business was handled through e-mail communication and various subcommittees. 

SAF was voted a seat on the Forest Stewardship Committee.  The Committee’s primary functions are to 1) provide advice and recommendations to the State Forester concerning implementation of the Forest Stewardship Program, and other associated landowner assistance and cost-share programs, and 2) to provide assistance and recommendations concerning the development, implementation, and updating of the state-wide assessment and resource strategy.

Earlier this year Virginia SAF requested the ability to provide input to the State Forester regarding filling vacant seats on the Virginia Board of Forestry.  The State Forester agreed, and will consider SAF input along with that provided by other organizations prior to forwarding his recommendations to the Governor.  The following SAF members agreed to have their names shared with Carl Garrison for consideration:  Ashby Brown, District 4; Glen Worrell and Greg Scheerer, District 5; Mark Hollburg and Bill Braford, District 6, and; Anne Ulrey and Jim Kuykendall, District 7.

SAF was invited to participate in the inaugural Virginia Prescribed Fire Council meeting at VDOF headquarters.  A number of SAF members were in attendance, representing the Society and/or the interests of their employers. 

Virginia SAF sent a letter to Representative Boucher commenting on the Waxman-Markey bioenergy legislation.  The letter was drafted by Policy Committee Chair John Munsell, reviewed and edited by various members, then refined and submitted by Vice-Chair Jon Rockett.  Virginia Division Membership Committee Chair Charlie Huppuch sent an excellent letter to the George Washington National Forest Supervisor on behalf of Skyline Chapter commenting on the GWNF Plan Revision, and later sent a letter to Senator Warner concerning forestry’s importance to the bioenergy debate. 

Blue Ridge Chapter Chair Scott Barrett, Science and Technology Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Carolyn Copenheaver and Dr. Valerie Thomas, and their team prepared an excellent 2009 VASAF Summer Meeting.  In spite of the continuing recession, 70 participants attended the meeting.  This number exceeded our annual average meeting attendance.  As a way to say “thank you” to our principle supporters from the past three years while recognizing the continuing recession, we invited nine SAF regular sponsors to set up complementary exhibits at this year’s summer meeting.  Invitations were extended to Landmark Systems, Forestland Group, Meadwestvaco, DuPont, Dow AgroSciences, UAP Timberland, BASF, Nufarm, Summit Helicopters, and Mountain Forest Products. 

We approached The Nature Conservancy, Virginia Forestry Association, and Natural Heritage about opportunities for partnership on areas of common interest.   We invited these groups to exhibit at the Summer Meeting at no cost.  The 2010 VASAF Summer Meeting will be hosted by Robert E. Lee Chapter.  Virginia SAF will partner with the Virginia Forestry Association to hold a joint annual meeting in 2011.  VASAF has established a subcommittee to work with VFA staff on this effort, and representatives from both groups met on October 27 to discuss preliminary logistics.

Virginia’s membership declined once again this year, but we made strides toward addressing some thorny membership-related issues.  We lobbied National SAF to provide members with alternatives for paying dues, including monthly automatic drafts from checking or savings accounts.  (APSAF addressed the issue of early professional dues through the House of Society Delegates at the National Meeting).  And, we continue to keep the subject of lowering overall dues on the table.  Over half of our members originally on the “past due” list chose to renew their membership.

This was a successful year for Virginian’s in terms of awards.  At the Summer Meeting, Jerry Foltz received the Special Volunteer Service Award, David Powell was announced as the Merit Award recipient, and Neil Clark earned the Young Forester Leadership Award.  The 3rd Annual Virginia SAF Photo Contest was a success once again.  Fourteen members participated this year.  After voting at the Summer Meeting, the following winners were announced:  1st - Neil Clark, 2nd – Mark Rogers, 3rd – Jason Fisher.  These members received $50, $25, and $10, respectively.  All three donated their prize money back to SAF.  Shep Zedaker was awarded SAF Fellow.  Jack Cannon, Jake Stone, and Don Fisher were also nominated for SAF Fellow, and although they were not awarded Fellow status, that does not diminish their significant contributions to SAF and the forestry profession.  John Carroll is our 2009 Fellow nominee.  Virginia Division nominated Dr. David Wm. Smith for the prestigious Gifford Pinchot Medal.  Virginia Governor Tim Kaine wrote a letter of support for this nomination.  Dave received the Pinchot Medal at the National SAF Meeting in Orlando.  Greg Meade received the National SAF Young Forester Leadership Award in Orlando.  Virginia foresters have now received five of the last six National Young Forester Leadership Awards (that includes Dylan Jenkins, who was nominated by Alleghany SAF but whose application was initiated in Virginia).

Other activities and accomplishments include the following.  We successfully submitted a $1,200 Forester’s Fund grant to support the Euro SAF magnet project.  We actively participated in the SAF “Trees are the Answer” campaign.  The executive committee approved an $800 grant to support Virginia Tech Student Chapter member attendance at the 2009 SAF National Meeting in Orlando.   We contributed $250 to the Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Forest Council of Virginia.  A subcommittee will be pursuing an improved forester titling statute. 

It has been a pleasure to serve as the 2009 Virginia Division Chair.  I would like to personally thank the 2009 Executive Committee for their work this year.  This has been a great group of people to work with:  Jon Rockett, Chair-elect; Neil Clark, Secretary/Treasurer; Mike Hincher, Immediate Past-Chair; Valerie Thomas and Carolyn Copenheaver, Co-Chairs, Science & Technology Committee; Adam Downing, Communications & Foresters’ Fund; Greg Scheerer, Professional Recognition; Charlie Huppuch, Membership; Shep Zedaker, Continuing Forestry Education; John Munsell, Policy and Legislation; Scott Barrett, Blue Ridge Chapter Chair; Dave Slack, Rappahannock Chapter Chair; Jeff Francisco, Robert E. Lee Chapter Chair; Rodney Newlin, Skyline Chapter Chair; Jack Cannon, Southeast Chapter Chair, and; Dan Wernick, Southwest Chapter Chair. 
Thank you all for your continuing service to SAF.

Merry Christmas,

Dan Goerlich
Chair, Virginia Division