Magnolia F ORESTER 4 2004 Annual Meeting 6 Chapter News
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February 2004 Volume 236, Number 1 In this Issue Comments from the 2 Chair Magnolia F ORESTER 4 2004 Annual Meeting http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/mssaf 6 Chapter News THE CHANGING FACE OF BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS Mississippi Society of American Foresters 2004 Annual Meeting 8 National SAF News Bottomland hardwoods once covered of marginal cropland has been replanted 24 million acres of the Lower Mississippi to bottomland species under private and Alluvial Valley. Today, only about 4 government sponsored programs over the million acres remain. This loss has last 20 years. The purpose of this helped lead a renewed interest in meeting is to describe the changing face managing this forest type. In Mississippi, of bottomland hardwoods - the current 9 Position Statement bottomland hardwoods occupy 20 percent status of the resource, ongoing issues of the state’s 18.5 million acres of and policies that affect the resource, and forestland. Over 100,000 additional acres recent advances in managing the resource. Set in beautiful Vicksburg on March 3-4, this year’s annual meeting promises 10 Features to be informative and exciting. Participants will earn 6.5 continuing forestry education hours. The sporting clays and spouses tour events offer something for everyone. With over 11 speakers, the program is broken into two main sessions: The history and current status of Mississippi’s bottomland hardwoods and Establishment and management of today’s bottomland hardwood stands. The keynote address will be given by National SAF Vice-President, Dr. John A. Helms. This issue of the Magnolia Forester will cover information on the speakers, The Magnolia Forester is published the agenda, location, lodging, and a quarterly by the Mississippi Society registration form. Please don’t delay, of American Foresters register today for this exciting annual meeting. Comments from the Past Chair Well I've taken on a new challenge idea was poor, and he graded the mock recently. I have always wanted to learn business plan with a C. In 1973 Fred how to play chess, and thanks to my Smith launched his business plan into a great wife, I now have a novice game- successful venture that many of us use Mississippi Society of board to teach me. My six year old today. Federal Express is a billion dollar American Foresters daughter and I play a game almost every company, and it exists because a guy night, and she has gotten pretty good. moved out of his comfort zone. He had She knows how to set up the pieces, and courage along with persistence and Maurice Mitchell, Chair she has mastered the proper moves that determination. 601.928.4174 each piece can allowably make. Setting realistic goals can help you funnel your ambition and make wise [email protected] Keeping ourselves challenged is vital for remaining alive. I have witnessed decisions. It is wise to heed the maxim; some people who have missed this you can't take aim without a target. Bryant Myatt, Vice-Chair concept. They go to the same job they Realistic goals will help us to honestly 601.261.0033 have had for years if not decades and evaluate what we can accomplish. Not everyone should be a leader. Good [email protected] they seem so comfortable. It takes a lot of courage to move out of the comfort followers are equally as important. So zone. I have purposely attempted difficult stay alive, set goals, and challenge Randy Watkins, Past Chair tasks just because I felt a need to be yourself. Progress involves risk, and nothing worthwhile is ever easy. 601.606.4607 challenged. Experiencing failure is not I hope to see many of you attend the [email protected] the worst thing. The worst thing is when we never attempt to succeed in trying annual meeting in Vicksburg, and I hope you will participate in the sporting clays something difficult. Speaking in public is event. My greatest desire is for more of Scott Payne, Secretary not my forte, but I purposely accept our members to become active. The opportunities to do so, because I want to 601.650.7300 Mississippi Society of American Foresters overcome this fear. Complacency and [email protected] will only be as strong as you make it. mediocrity are thieves of ambition. Without ambition there is no innovation. Stephen Grado, Treasurer "If you try to fail, and succeed, which have In 1965 a Yale college professor told you done?"- Author unknown 662.325.2792 his student, Fred Smith, that his business [email protected] Tammy Coleman, Business Mgr. 662.325.2946 Newly Elected Officers [email protected] Chair - Maurice Mitchell Karen Brasher, Editor 662.325.8530 [email protected] Vice-Chair - Bryant Myatt Secretary - Scott Payne Treasurer - Steve Grado 2 Magnolia Forester/February 2004 Comments from the Chair I have been told that it is not a wise approach to wilderness area, one from 1988 and one from 2002. I begin an article or speech with an apology but will do never found out how many acres were in the 1988 fire so anyway. I wish to apologize to the members of the but the 2002 fire was somewhere around 26,000 acres. Mississippi Society of American Foresters for my three It is interesting to note that by being in a wilderness and a half month absence this past summer. But area neither fire could be attacked using mechanized before any of you say "Were you gone somewhere?" I equipment and therefore was probably much larger would like to pass along to you what transpired. than necessary. Also, by being in a wilderness, no Early last January I found a site on the Internet attempt was made to salvage any of the burned where one could apply for material. White government jobs. Having skeletons, mostly toyed with the idea of standing, with an serving as a fire lookout, I understory of regeneration commenced to fill in all of outlined the 1988 fire. the details and lo and The 2002 fire area was behold a few weeks later intermingled green trees I received an approval and dead trees with notice for a possible brown or no needles. location in one of several Thus it has become a western states that I had good example of the applied for. Never having relationship of spacing in had a reply to any of my the reduction of wildfire many applications to the damage. Could this be U.S. Forest Service as a recent graduate many years an example of what is addressed in the "Healthy Forest ago, I promptly forgot about the application. However, Restoration Act of 2003" by our current administration? fate sometimes enters into our lives. All in all, it was a very good summer experience. Sometime during the first week of June, the phone And this was despite the numerous thunderstorms (did rang and to my surprise it was an employee of the you ever try to pinpoint a lightning strike when you were U.S.F.S. calling to tell me he had a lookout position the highest point within 20 miles?), two snowstorms in open and asked if I was still interested. He said the September, and 2½ days of not being able to see lookout was called Table Rock and it was located about beyond the outhouse. Also, I could not understand why 10 miles southwest of Unity, Oregon. After a careful some of my visitors felt that it was their sworn obligation and thoughtful consideration of about two seconds, I to inform me of the size of the bears in that area or that replied "Yes. When do you want me there?" Now let the mountain lions were becoming so numerous that me explain the situation. Out of the many lookouts in they were beginning to stalk humans. But all in all it the several states I had applied for, this was one that I was a fine summer and I recommend it to all you had ridden a snowmobile to when I lived in Oregon. retirees as a way to get back into the "action" and have Plus I have close relatives and many friends within fifty a delightful summer as well. miles of that location. How is that for a paid summer vacation in a mountainous wilderness area at 7,800 feet with lodging furnished? The summer was rather uneventful in terms of the local fires. I was overlooking two national forests and only spotted five fires on one of the forests. Lightning caused four of these fires while a campfire accounted for the other one. I haven't decided whether this was a good or a bad situation. On the one hand it was good that the fires were neither numerous or large but on the other hand it makes you feel like you were not accomplishing anything. There were two old wildfire areas within the 3 Magnolia Forester/February 2004 MS SAF 2004 SPEAKERS A block of rooms has been reserved at the Mr. James Cummins, Executive Director Ameristar Casino-Hotel Vicksburg at the special rate Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation of $55.00 per night. To guarantee this special rate please call 601-638-1000 and mention that you will be Dr. Andy Ezell, Professor, Silviculture attending the MS SAF Annual Meeting. Other accom- Mississippi State University modations are available in the area. Directions to the Ameristar Casino-Hotel Vicksburg, take exit 1A and Dr. Emile Gardiner, Research Forester head north on Washington Street. The Ameristar USFS, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research Casino-Hotel Vicksburg is immediately on the right. Dr. Stephen Grado, Assoc.