SOCIETY NEWS - COUNCIL REPORTS
Council is the elected body that governs SAF at the national level. It comprises one member elected from each of eleven districts across the country, plus the president, vice-president, and immediate past president. District V includes Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota. Our district representative is Bill Rockwell, who can be reached at 517-373-4890, 517-373-2443 (fax), rockwell@mich.com
Council's function is to provide leadership and direction to ensure achievement of SAF's mission. Specific activities include long range planning, developing policies and position statements, promoting forest science and technology, supporting state societies, reviewing and approving budgets, and communicating with all SAF units. A more detailed description of Council responsibilities is available from your Council member or from the National Office.
December, 1998 - Bob Stine
February, 1998 - Bob Stine
December, 1997 - Bob Stine
I spent the first weekend in December attending my last SAF Council meeting. As I look back on the past three years, I quickly recognize that the benefits I received from my time as a Council member far outweighed any service I was able to provide. In fact, this has been true of all my activities in the Society, whether as a chapter committee member, a meeting planner, a state society chair, or a member of Council. I expect nearly every person who has taken the opportunity to get involved at any level in SAF will share the same sentiment. So go ahead! Jump in and discover the many benefits awaiting you as you serve. It's your SAF - what are you waiting for?
Council spent considerable time refining SAF's strategic objectives for the next five years. We have goals in the general areas of membership and diversity, professional education, leadership, policy, external communications, and finances. Following some editing and formatting, you should see a list of the strategic goals in the Forestry Source shortly.
The 1999 budget was approved, and totals about $4.4 million. It is significantly larger than last year's budget, due primarily to activities (revenue and expenses) related to the upcoming centennial celebration. One issue with budgetary implications we all need to face is static membership levels. We need to encourage our colleagues to join SAF for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is financial. Know someone who is not a member but should be? Get to work!
SAF has three very important Task Forces now at work. One, Conservation Education for Teachers, just submitted its report to Council. The report encourages a concerted nationwide effort to provide forestry related conservation education to K-12 teachers. Besides some organizing work in the National Office, such an effort would require participation by many of us.
A second task force is looking at Forest management Certification. Their report is due in mid-1999, and will include information about forester certification.
The third task force is examining the Status of Public Lands Legislation, with a goal of providing comment on the revised Craig Bill after it is introduced. The task force shared a draft of the first part of its report, which provides an extensive history and analysis of current public land legislation. Keep track of the progress of all three task forces on the SAF web site (www.safnet.org).
On a final note, please let me thank you for allowing me to serve as your Council representative for the last three years. It has been an unforgettable experience. I enjoyed the opportunity to travel throughout our region, attending high quality state meetings, and getting to know many new people. Everyone has been more than gracious in their dealings with me. I now leave you in the very capable hands of our new Council member, Mr. Bill Rockwell, who I know will represent us well.
Bob Stine, Cloquet Forestry Center, 175 University Road, Cloquet, MN 55720-9594
Phone 218/879-0850 x115, Fax 218/879-0855, e-mail rstine@forestry.umn.edu
Council Report - Bob Stine
February, 1998
SAF Council held its first meeting of 1998 on February 8-9 at National Headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. It was a different kind of meeting than Council normally has, and hopefully a permanent change in the way Council does business. The change came as a result of Council members’ concerns that we spent too much time dealing with day-to-day operations and not enough time leading SAF. We are interested not only in preparing SAF to deal with the future, but also in helping to create the future! This is clearly a lofty ambition, but one we think will make SAF relevant to all foresters in the country, and others as well.
We spent some time discussing issues and trends which are likely to impact forestry and foresters in the future. Our list is not complete, but includes at least the following.
· World populations are increasing and becoming more urbanized. They are more removed from the land, but are creating increasing demands for a wide range of goods and services (commodity and non-commodity) from a finite forest land base. The range of values these people hold about forests also seems to be increasing.
· Scientific, economic, social, and political complexity are all increasing and will result in public uncertainty, conflict, and lack of trust. We think society will become more polarized and detached from the consequences of their own or other’s decisions.
· New communication technologies will allow more public scrutiny of forestry decisions. At the same time, they will assist foresters in better understanding shifting public values. Public influence is likely to increase and will affect forest management through increasing regulatory control and political influence. Issues such as certification, renewability, and sustainability will be of increasing interest to the public.
· Finally, we think forestry issues will become more global in nature. International markets, a perception of global climate change, and substitutionary products will all impact forestry and our profession.
Again, this list is incomplete and we know it needs to be refined. Do you agree with the items we listed? Can you think of things to add to it? Do you have suggestions about how SAF can capitalize on these trends?
In future meetings, Council members will continue to grapple with these and other questions. However, we will not do it alone. We rely heavily on the wisdom and deliberations of the House of Society Delegates (HSD), the annual gathering of state chairs at the national convention. They have a very effective year-round communication process that provides valuable grass-roots input to Council’s discussions. We also rely on a very talented and dedicated staff in the National Office to offer insight on a wide variety of issues that fall within their areas of expertise.
In addition to these sources, I would like to hear from YOU! SAF is your organization, and I would like to hear your version of what the future will look like, and where SAF ought to fit in it. If you care about your profession, you now have an excellent opportunity to help shape it. Contact me in any one of the ways shown below.
Finally, let me remind you that my three-year Council term ends on December 31, 1998. Even before I am done I can say it is a vastly rewarding experience that I encourage everyone to pursue. Elections for the new Council member from District V (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin) will be held this fall, and nominations are due in the National Office by June 30. If you are interested or if you want to nominate someone, either contact the National Office (301/897-8720 x121) or me to learn more about it.
I am looking forward to hearing from many of you. You can reach me by mail - Cloquet Forestry Center, 175 University Road, Cloquet, MN 55720-9594; Phone - 218/879-0850 x115; FAX - 218/879-0855; or e-mail - rstine@forestry.umn.edu.
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Council Member Report - Bob Stine
December, 1997
I just returned from the December Council meeting, completing my second year of a three year term. I am amazed at how quickly the time has passed. The position is time consuming, but an invigorating and rewarding. I share this with you in hopes you will decide to run for election to Council this year. Nominations are due in the national office by June 30, 1998. Elections will be held this fall, and the winner will take office on January 1, 1999. Please contact me if you want more insight into being a Council member.
An event we are looking forward to in our region is the 1998 National Convention, to be held in Traverse City, Michigan September 19-22. The convention provides an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues from the region and across the country. It also offers the latest information on forest science, policy, and social issues from all the working groups. Recent conventions have seen dramatic increases in student attendance, making great mentoring opportunities. The National Convention is well worth attending for many reasons, and now that it is in our region, I hope to see all of you there.
Never before has SAF been as active on the national policy front as we are now. During the year, SAF provided testimony on several pieces of legislation, and was invited to testify again on The Public Land Management Improvement Act of 1997, otherwise known as the Craig Bill. During 1998, SAF will also provide input on the fiscal year 1999 budget for Interior and Related Agencies, The Forest Recovery and Protection Act, The Community Protection and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act, and the
Endangered Species Recovery Act. Over the years, many people have desired that SAF be more involved in the policy arena. At the national level, we are right in the middle of it!
During the December Council meeting, we approved revised position statements on Fire Management, Forests and Global Climate, Endangered Species Act Reauthorization, International Trade in Forest Products, Managing Forested Wetlands, Communities and Forests, Urban and Community
Forestry, Estate Taxes and Forests, and Clearcutting. You can get copies of the position statements from the national office or find them on SAF’s web site (www.safnet.org).
To help hold the line on dues that SAF members pay, a concerted effort was made during 1997 to begin a fund development program. In the first year, more than $70,000 was provided by agencies, forest products companies, and other organizations to support SAF programs. Efforts are underway to expand this type of funding in 1998. It supports programs such as the Leadership Academy, the Conservation Education Task Force, and a proposed video conference on sustainable forestry.
Communication among members has always been an important mission for SAF, and is receiving increase emphasis. The Society’s web page is regularly updated, and includes a classifieds section, an SAF store, all SAF position statements, and more. Efforts are underway to further
develop the web site to enhance your communication with the national office and other members. Watch the Forestry Source for information on new web site capabilities as they become available.
We are also making a comprehensive review of SAF publications, and how they serve members. The goal is to provide relevant information and science to members in a timely and efficient manner. The interests and needs of SAF members are quite diverse, presenting a significant challenge for the organization. Again, we are attempting to use available resources to provide the benefits you need and expect from a professional organization.
Finally, let me help you look just a little further ahead, to SAF’s centennial in the year 2000. The Centennial Committee is planning a variety of celebrations across the country, culminating in the National Convention in Washington, D.C. The centennial offers us an excellent opportunity to promote forestry in a positive light, and to infuse enthusiasm in SAF. Centennial-related activities are beginning already, and you will hear more about them throughout the year. It promises to be a unique and fun time for all foresters. I encourage you to become involved!
If you have any questions or need more details about items I mentioned above, please contact me. You can reach me by mail - Cloquet Forestry Center, 175 University Road, Cloquet, MN 55720-9594; Phone - 218/879-0850 x115; FAX - 218/879-0855; or E-mail - rstine@forestry.umn.edu. I look forward to hearing from you.
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Please direct questions, comments, and suggestions
to Bill Cook, cookwi@pilot.msu.edu or
906-786-1575.
Editorial issues can be addressed to Eric Thompson.