rOJA\JK NJE\~V§ iQ r- (~ NrOJ7fJES The Newsletter of the International Oak Society Volume No. 5, Issue No. l Summer 2001 Oak Voted National Calendar of Events Tree in the U.S. AUG 22-SEPT 1, 2001 Chihuahuan Desert Region he people of the United States have have been prized for their shade, beauty, Oak Trip Tselected the oak as their choice for and lumber. Northern Mexico and New Mexico America's National Tree in a nationwide vote For additional information contact: hosted by the National Arbor Day Foundation. "Oak's amazing strength and longevity Michael Martin Melendrez email: [email protected] Results of the Vote for America's National have also made this tree a central part of Arboretum Tome & Trees That Please Tree were announced April 27 at a tree our history," he added, "with leaders as Nursery and Farm planting ceremony on the Capitol Grounds diverse as Abraham Lincoln, William Penn, 9 Gilcrease Lane in Washington, D.C. "The oak is a fine choice and Andrew Jackson being associated with Los Lunas, New Mexico 87031 to represent all of America's trees and to them. Another early 'hero' of American exemplifY the importance of trees in our lives," history, 'Old Ironsides,' or the USS Consti­ SEPT 9-12, 2001 stated John Rosenow, president of the Arbor tution, was famed for repelling British The Eighth Workshop on Seedling Day Foundation. "People of all ages and cannonballs thanks to its thick, live oak hull. Physiology and Growth Problems backgrounds responded enthusiastically to the The American people have chosen wisely in Oak Plantings vote, which was the first time that the entire in so honoring the oak." Hiawassee, Georgia, USA American public has been able to state their For additional information contact: pick for a national emblem." The official website of the National Arbor Linda Watson, US Forest Service Day Foundation, http://www.arborday.org/, 320 Green Street People were invited to vote for one of twenty­ offers an opportunity to learn more about Athens, Georgia 30602 one candidate trees, based on broad tree the candidate trees and the final vote tally FAX: (706) 559-4291 categories (genera) that included the state trees for each tree. The Arbor Day Foundation email: [email protected] of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, is a million-member, nonprofit education or to write in any other tree selection. There organization that helps people plant and OCT 22-25, 2001 were over 100,000 votes for the oak out of care for trees. Oaks in California's Changing nearly a half of a million votes that were Landscape submitted. The redwood, maple, pine, and dogwood rounded out the top five choices. An oak was planted the same afternoon at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska-the birthplace of Arbor Day in 1872. "We undertook this vote to remind Americans of just how vital trees are to us all, and to San Diego, California, USA emphasize the history and grandeur of our For additional information contact: trees," Rosenow said. "By any standard, oak Doug McCreary merits the distirrction of being named the 8279 Scott Forbes Road people's choice for America's National Tree." Browns Valley, CA 95948, USA email: ddmccrear:[email protected] Among the many strong attributes of oak, From the Editor· pt& • Rosenow cited its diversity, with more than M t. l . e WISh to thank the OCT 26-28, 2001 sixty species growing in the United States. al;o::a Arbor Da;~ Foundation for Oak Open Days gus lo nq.Jrmr portions o(th Spain and Portugal "This magnificent tree is significant in sheer announcement. wht It . numbers alone," he said, "with oak trees being web site th t h apprured Of/ theli· For additional information contact: America's most widespread hardwoods. From ofthe Vot; fi a: e o~k •.vas the winner Francisco Vazquez or menca s Narivua/ 7'ree. email: frvazquez50@hotmail. com the earliest settlement of our country, oaks PAGEZ The International Oak Society recently members with Internet access to visit the President's Message ... changed its Board of Directors, with several web site of the Society often to keep abreast positions filled by different but hardly "new" of developments and news of the approaching The new century is now well upon us, mostly faces from within the organization. Following conference. Dick Jensen manages the web devoid of the calamities forecast, but that the triennial general membership meeting, site at: http: //www.saintmarys.edu~rjensen / does not mean we should pay no attention to this new board is charged to continue the ios.html. new forecasts. When I ponder over what management of the quality and service of might lie ahead for a wide variety of things, the organization to its members. In retrospect of the Third International Oak it becomes clear that we have too many things Conference in North Carolina, it seemed all to ponder over, and the need for information As your newly elected President for three who attended had a memorable experience to ponder more efficiently seems to increase years, I will attempt to fill a position vacated and came away with new information, friends, exponentially. Even among comparatively by someone intrinsically known among oak or at least acorns. The unseasonably warm simple oak-affiliated concerns, we can always people since the beginning days of the Inter­ weather of late October 2000 in the Southern use new information to paint a clearer picture. national Oak Society. Guy Sternberg has been Appalachians provided an additional and So, my point here is to use your member­ your President since the first membership comfortable surprise, even to the natives ship to learn and correspond! Find out the meeting of 1994; indeed, he has been a of this region. The weather was especially details on oak mortality in California, oak partner in the instigation, promotion, and nice for the tours. The 112 total registered reforestation efforts in Turkey, Mexican oak governance of the organization across all of attendees of the conference originated from woodland ecology, and all the other topics its formative years. Guy has become perhaps 18 different nations, and 40% of the total was that parade through the newsletter, journal, as widely recognized as the figurehead of the from outside the U.S. Thanks to generous and internet connections of the International lOS as an acorn is recognized to represent donors, the conference concluded without Oak Society to better your worldly knowledge an oak! I will therefore fill his position in red ink, and over $2600 in scholarships was of oaks and of people who know them well. this organization until 2003, but expect not awarded. Look for details and published to fill his shoes (figuratively and especially presentations in your copy ofthe Proceedings Perhaps many of you in the U.S. have heard literally-if you have ever seen Guy, you of the Third International Oak Conference, of the vote for oak as the National Tree of the know why). As a member since 1992, I in the next edition of the International Oaks United States, and legislation to make it an express my own gratitude to the excellent journal. official symbol. If not, read details in the leadership that Guy has provided over the lead article in this Newsletter and consider years, and to his monumental efforts in the All members in good standing receive one contacting your Senators or Representatives development of the International Oak Society. free copy of the journal, as well as other and encouraging their support. I have written Now I can also extend recognition to him benefits, so if your membership has expired, the sponsors of the bill, Senator Ben Nelson on behalf of the Oak Society. Thank you, I urge you to renew or investigate your options and Congressman Bob Goodlatte, on behalf Guy, for your service and guidance of the with the membership director, Dick Jensen. ofthe International Oak Society commending International Oak Society, and for your Membership in the International Oak Society their efforts and offering the assistance of our patience (in advance) regarding the inevitable is still the same low fee as in previous years, Society. The public vote to select a National requests for advice that are to come your way a real bargain that hasn't changed amid fees Symbol is not commonly done, but interest­ over the next three years! changing nearly everywhere else. Hope you ingly it reflects an earlier poll back in 1991. enjoy this newsletter, a product of Doug In a National Survey conducted by the The Third International Oak Conference is McCreary's efforts from which we all continue International Society of Arboriculture that over, and now time rolls toward the Fourth to receive benefit. year, the Oak received over 75% of the vote, one in 2003. For the first time, we will gather among 53 genera considered. The National in a non-U.S. location for the International - Ron Lance, PRESIDENT Tree Bill never made it through the official Oa'k Society's triennial conference in 2003, an political channels that time, so let's hope exciting opportunity for the United Kingdom our politicians see the light this time and to show off its oaks and oak expertise to the give the oak the recognition it deserves! members that travel there. I encourage all In Memoriam Thierry Lamant sadly reported that member Dr. Friedrich (Fritz) Duhme Pr~ident: Ron Lance died this past year on OA\Jf( NJE\W§ NOTJE§ (& Vice President: Thierry Lamant September 24, 2000. Secretary: Dorothy Holley Fritz was a great lover The Newsletter of the International Oak Society Treasurer: Peter van der Linden 8279 Scott Forbes Road of oaks and widely Browns Valley, CA 95918 Editor: Doug McCreary recognized for his USA Send submissions to the address on the left.