The Southeastern Forester, Summer, 2009 Page 1 Page 2 the Southeastern Forester, Summer, 2009 MESSAGE from the CHAIR
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TheThe SoutheasternSoutheastern ForesterForester "Representing the Forestry Profession in Alabama, Florida and Georgia" Volume 28, Number 3 Summer 2009 The Southeastern Forester, Summer, 2009 Page 1 Page 2 The Southeastern Forester, Summer, 2009 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Welcome to the First Edition of our Annual Meeting will continue to A publication of SESAF, new Southeastern Forester be held in the first quarter of each the Southeastern Society of electronic newsletter! We hope year, hosted by the prior year’s American Foresters, you like the new format and Chairman with the help of the P.O. Box 2945 delivery vehicle. If you would incoming Chairman. The LaGrange, Georgia 30241 prefer a hard copy version, it’s just Reception and Silent Auction will (706) 845-9085 FAX (706) 883-8215 a click away (hit your print button). start at 6:00 pm CST on Sunday [email protected] About 10% of our members do not evening, February 07, after the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: have an email address. If you know OEW. We have a full slate of someone that does not have access speakers already confirmed for all Chair Mark Thomas to email, print them a hard copy or day Monday, February 08, and 847 Willow Oak Dr. ask them to call our office (706-845- Tuesday, wrapping up at 12:00 Birmingham, AL 35244-1614 205-733-0477 (O) 9085) and a paper copy will be promptly mailed noon. Dr. David South has worked extremely 205-288-7162 © to them. Many thanks to Doris Jefferson and hard and has put together a tremendous slate of Email:[email protected] Molly Allen for doing an outstanding job internationally renowned speakers. Many Chair-Elect putting our first electronic newsletter together. thanks to him for his hard work. Thanks Dr. Greg Driskell P.O. Box 808 Great job Doris and Molly! South. Lake Butler, FL 32054 386-496-2215 (O) Also, many thanks for Ms. Leslie Batten (now Membership declines continue to weigh heavily 386-496-1096 (F) Email: [email protected] Dr. Leslie Batten – General Practitioner) for her on our organization, both at the SESAF and hard work hosting our web site. She has done National levels. National is currently at around Secretary Terry Love an outstanding job and is much appreciated. 12,172 members (subtracting the June 01 purge 314 N. 9th St. Way to go, Leslie, and congratulations on of 1,500 from the year-end 2008 data). The 1,500- Opelika, AL 36801 334-745-7530 (O) completing your MD degree. member purge is most troubling, as it represents 334-742-9775 (F) a five-fold increase above the average annual Our SESAF Annual Business Meeting will be Email [email protected] purge. Nationally, SAF has lost right at 9,000 held in conjunction with the National Treasurer members over the last 30 years, or an average of Pete Stanovich Convention in Orlando at the General Assembly 300 per year. Last year, the purge was 1,500, P.O. Box 44 Hall in the Coronado Springs Hotel. The Silas, AL 36919-0044 resulting in the five-fold increase. This must be 251-542-9425 (O) meeting will be held on October 01, 2009, from addressed immediately, as Wayne Bell and I 251-542-9426 (F) 12:30 to 1:30 PM EDT. Please make plans to Email: [email protected] pointed out at HSD in Reno last year. The SESAF attend. The SAF 89th National Convention Past-Chair lost 196 members, and has gained 40 back, entitled “Opportunities in a Forested World” is Wayne Bell leaving us 1,160 current members. 1265 Ga. Hwy. 133N September 30 through October 04, 2009, at the Moultrie, GA 31768 800-633-4506 (0) Walt Disney World® Coronado Springs Resort. Communication between the National staff and 229-890-0087 (F) The 2010 National Convention will be in officers and the field continue to be not only Email: [email protected] Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the 2011 problematic, but nonexistent. During my tenure AL Chair National Convention will be held in Honolulu, as Alabama State Chair (2000) we were the only Leh Bass 400 Overlook Dr. Hawaii. State to grow membership significantly within Opelika, AL 36801-2212 the SAF. I never talked to our EVP or President 334-749-0598 (O) Remember that we are holding the once during the entire year. As SESAF Chair, I Email: [email protected] Organizational Effectiveness Workshop (OEW) have not had one conversation with our EVP or FL Chair on Sunday, February 07, 2010, from 9:30 am to Jarek Nowak President during the first three quarters of my 4:00 pm CST in Auburn, Alabama, immediately 31225 Conner Blvd., C25 tenure. I do not understand this total lack of Tallahassee, FL 32399 prior to our SESAF Annual Meeting. We will 850-414-9936 (O) communication within the SAF. Thankfully, not have an Annual Meeting in 2009 due to the 850-921-6724 (F) National has recognized the need to have a Email: [email protected] National in Orlando. The 2010 SESAF Annual membership plan and better communication and GA Chair Meeting will be February 07 to 09, 2010, at the is working on a Strategic Plan (2009-2012). I Tim Lowrimore Auburn University Hotel and Conference 316 Providence Blvd. would recommend that they put the plan in place Macon, GA 31210 Center. This new time period for the SESAF 478-347-3000 (O) as soon as possible, 2012 may be too late. 478-347-4779 (F) Email: [email protected] About the Cover . Dist. X Council Representative Special thanks to Lake Louisa State Park for providing the cover photo. A short drive from Mark Elliott 114 Hope Dr. Orlando, Lake Louisa is the largest in a chain of 13 lakes connected by the Palatlakaha River, Daphne, AL 36526 which is designated as an Outstanding Florida Waterway. The 2009 National Convention will 251-690-1423 (O) 251-690-1422 (F) be held in Orlando from September 30 - October 4. Please make plans to attend. If you have a 251-422-4899 (C) photo for the cover of the SE Forester, please submit to Doris Jefferson at Email: [email protected] [email protected] or mail to SESAF, P.O. Box 2945, LaGrange, GA 30241. The Southeastern Forester, Summer, 2009 Page 3 SAF NEWS Report from Council: Mark Elliott, Council Member, District X I hope you are enjoying the summer and plan to attend the National was selected for the National Science Award and Jim Bryan (FL) SAF Conference in Orlando this September. The year is half over, has been submitted for the Presidential Field Forester Award. and I hope you can take time to help your SAF chapter stay active. 6. Task Force Created. A new Task Force was created to study Following is my report on the second quarter Council meeting held “U.S. Forestry Sector Competitiveness in the Global Market.” the end of May. Sixteen issues were highlighted by the Forest Policy committee for 1. Sale of SAF HQ Property. The property has been designated as study. A Council Sub-Committee was formed to write a charter for historic and legacy property by the Bethesda City Council. The the Task Force and reduce the number of issues to study to designation hinders, but doesn’t necessarily stop, the sale or reasonable level. Sub –Committee members are Mark Elliott (AL), development of the property. Only 3.8 acres remain free of any Roger Dziengelski (PA), Tom Thompson (Prior SAF President) and special designation. SAF has retained a real estate agent to market Lynn Sprague (AZ). the property to Federal agencies. Many agencies are looking to Josh Harrell (GASAF) serves on the Policy Committee that purchase land or buildings and will not have a problem with the developed the proposal for a Task Force. One issue the committee historic designations that a private buyer would have. wanted to study is the U.S. tax code. The Committee’s report stated 2. SAF Finances. The Council’s auditor reviewed his audit of the that formation of TIMO’s and REIT’s were a negative consequence 2008 financial statements. We ended the year with a $9,000 balance. of the current income tax code and these organizations reduced He also advised that the IRS will step up the examination of Form U.S. competitiveness. Josh objected to this language as did I. 990. This form is required of all state and multi-state societies that Non-industrial owners were omitted from the report. I hope to earn more than $25,000 annually. SESAF should have its own TIN have the Committee look at the tax code and provide positive if earning more that $25,000. changes for all types of owners. 3. New Communication System. The SAF system can host webinars 7. Trees Are The Answer Campaign. The campaign will promote for 120 people at no cost. If we expand this service to 1200 then the forestry to urban audiences. Blogs, talking points, and materials cost will be $ 75.00 per month. The National office can host are being developed and should be available at the annual meeting conference calls for free if your committees need to talk and plan in Orlando. Former President, Tom Thompson is chairing the via phone calls. committee working on this campaign. 4. Membership. Total SAF membership is set to decline by about 8. Strategic Plan for 2009 - 2012. Five goals are outlined for the 1,500, which is a decrease from the 3,000 reported as of December National Staff. The goals are (a) market the HQ property, (b) develop 31, 2008.