Chair
comments: Doug Heym
Growing Forests for Our Future Video: Mailed
to the 26 conservation District Foresters. Follow-up from Chris Burnett.
Agreed to pay the postage, Jack P. says around $50. Les H. says it's an
excellent video. Schools in which it was played drew rapt attention among
students. Viewing will take place at the banquet. Other
copies available from the Chair. Bill C. suggests we circulate an announcement
via e-mail. Georgia P. will convert to DVD and try to convert to .mov version
for availability on Michigan SAF website.
MiBCI-Michigan
Bird Conservation Initiative:
Rich Stevenson joined a meeting via conference call. Trying to get
organized, no not-for-profit status yet. TNC (they think) volunteered to
pursue this. Jack P. also volunteered his services if needed.
Conservation
Summit:
General funding continues to slip for environmental programs
in DNR, DEQ, and MDA, expenses/demands on resources continue to increase.
Splinter group headed by MUCC, TNC, Heart of the Lakes and MEC (supported
by others) agreed to follow up on the February Summit meeting. SAF has agreed
to participate (Mike Moore). Latest meeting took place today (May 7). They're
arranging both short-term and long-term objectives. Is there further interest
in SAF's involvement?
Wildlife
Action Plan Partner's Meeting: Doug
L. participated. He was involved in the fragmentation session. Forestry
was underrepresented. The DNR Wildlife division staff will assemble the
list of compiled issues and share with the larger group. There will be follow-up
meetings that Doug L. will continue to be involved in.
Spring
MSU forestry camp and SAF get together in May Taking
place at Pigeon River, headed by Dave MacFarlane. Signed up new student
SAF members as a result. Sent out e-mails to SAF members near Pigeon River
area to participate in forestry camp on Monday, May 14th.
Update
Green Book? Voluntary Forest Management Guidelines for Michigan: People
still ask for this. But it's about 10 years old, do we need to pursue an
update? Shall we pursue partners who are also interested in sharing this
info, like MFRA/MAT/MFPC/MSUE? Strengths in Michigan's version are that
it's brief. Bill C. and Doug H. volunteered to assemble ad-hoc committee
to pursue revision.
.
Archivist/Historian Position: Doug Heym.
Nobody in these positions at this time. We don't know where the archives
are located. Glenn will look into (see following paragraph). Jerry Grossman
has the file cabinets (2) from Champion and at least one big box of archives.
Bernie H. has a box of files. Bill C. also has a box. He was talking about
the idea of possibly using a high-speed scanner and digitizing relevant
material. Craig K. has acquired a storage system and is willing to store
them at Hartwick Pines. If all files can be directed to that location, Craig
can complete the task. Jack P. will be willing to visit Hartwick Pines once
they're all there, and help sort through the stuff.
UP
Auto tour: Glenn Moll.
See handout. Wisconsin Wild Rivers Interpretive Center interested in some
of our old signs, committee agreed that this would be fine.
UP Sustainable forestry and Wildlife Fund? Bill Cook will get form to Glenn
to fill out. Glenn hates grant applications. Will someone else do it? Don
H. will take a draft, and Les H. will help.
Glenn
M. recently contacted MDOT regarding our new permit for the signs. He hasn't
received it yet, but Ron Rushtin said it would be forth coming.
Georgia
P. suggested placing a telephone number on the signs that travelers could
call with their cell phones, leading them to an automated directory that
describes the different forest types the travelers encounter. This technique
may not work well, since the numbers couldn't be large enough for someone
to read/call/write down while driving by at 55-60mph. Consider advertising
a number on other, more widely distributed materials. Or, work with Travel
Michigan to tie into the Auto Tour. Georgia P. will contact her connection
at Travel Michigan to see if this is feasible. What about connecting with
EUPNTA to advertise? Chris Rector at Northern Initiatives? Or, is a website
sufficient?
Is
there a cheaper printer for the brochures? We'll need more by 2008. Doug
L. will ask about the cost with a printer he knows.
Duke's
Experimental Forest Re-measurement proposal (Christel Kern-MN):
Direct contribution or Forester's Fund Grant? Doug will pursue the mission
of the FF Grant, and go from there. Jack P. also expressed a concern about
the cost of this project in the face of weak spring & fall meeting attendance
(fiscal conservatism). Bernie talked with Terry Strong (Wisconsin
counterpart to Gus Erdman), who thought it's a good idea. Doug H. will continue
to pursue this, in the face of confusing signals.
Membership:
Amy Douglass.
Discuss UP sub-chapters at next UP Chapter meeting. Are they needed in the
formal National SAF structure? National would like to eliminate these if
not necessary. There is a cost of maintaining the information. These sub-chapters
have been dropped, resulting in the Upper Peninsula Chapter.
The
Chair is writing a letter to new members each month when National sends
out the membership list/changes. The Chair will also introduce
new members at Society meetings. Moderately good news: Our downward
spiral has leveled off. Amy will send a list of 37 remaining delinquent
members to exec committee, who will contact them.
Michigan
Forester
Editor's update: Georgia Peterson
Business Manager's Update: Bill Hasse
The cost of hard copies is becoming prohibitively expensive. Consider an
electronic-only version. Georgia P. will contact Louise Murgia to figure
out who in other states are editors to send to them. Possibly consider
publishing through the Forestry Source as a supplement. Bill H. was not
available to discuss the details. Could save us printing and mailing costs.
UP
Chapter: Jack Penegor.
Spring Meeting. Bill C., Don H. & Ray M. have been instrumental in putting
this together. John H. needs help for registration; Craig K. and Jack P.
will help.
LP
Chapter: Georgia Peterson
Fall Meeting volunteers: Deb Huff, Jack Pilon, Jason Hartman, Rick Myrick,
Bob Moody, Doug Heym, and Mike Elenz
The
topic for this fall will be forest management in riparian zones. There will
not be a joint meeting with anyone related to fisheries, though they will
be invited to attend. Jack discussed possible dates of early or late October
(avoiding the national meeting) or early November at the RAM Center. Considering
a canoe trip down the Au Sable if it doesn't snow first.
Council
Report: Bernie Hubbard.
TIMO discussion re: Michael Goergen. Suggesting they're forming an association
and linking with SAF. Opinions ran across the board.
Dues
constitute only about 40% of SAF revenues. Independent donations totaled
$110,000 last year (in addition to their normal dues). Dues
changes have been enacted, removing the sliding scale system. Discount will
be issued to student members (for a few years) who graduate & move on
directly to professional membership. Initiated consistent fee across states
for new members of $25. After that, Michiganders will return to the $10
they've always charged. Adding a charge of $25 to Golden Members who subscribe
to the Journal of Forestry. Other things became more divisive. Three categories
of membership have been officially proposed: full, student & associate…will
be discussed at the June meeting. Many of these more weighty issues will
require bylaw changes, and thus a vote among general membership.
Rita
Neznick resigned as policy chair to assume a position as a staff person
in the US House (Doug Crandall has already replaced her).
Council
elections for the period of 2008 thru 2010. This is Bernie's last year.
Names for potential replacements due by June.
Presidential
Field Forester of the Year. Due to Bernie by May 31st.
Nominations
for fellow before July 1st to Mike Moore. Mike Moore to Bernie by July 1st.
Bernie
is considering running for national SAF president. Petitions will be passed
around, just in case.
Policy
Chair: Bill 'Rocky' Rockwell
Forester
perception survey of deer damage: Bill Cook
Deer
Impact Tour: Jerry G. and other UP forestry & wildlife reps participated
in this event on May 3rd. see memo.
Fire Position - expires March 20, 2007: Don
Dickmann: "I have forwarded a draft position statement on fire management
to Rocky." Bill R. submitted a draft position statement;
all exec team members should review & submit approval/disapproval.
Awards:
Craig Kasmer
Two 50-year membership certificates (C. David
Ridgway, Jonas Snyder) for presentation "at an appropriate ceremony"
(our next State meeting?). Roger Misiak will be here tomorrow
evening to accept his retired forester of the
year award. What about certificates?
All set for this year. Still need to distribute 3 from last fall. Two 50-year
awards, neither will be attending this spring. Suggested fall meeting, but
will just send them to their residence. LP chapter will discuss a local
celebration for these two. Three plaques left for this fall, will need to
order more next year. Don H. suggested some kind of incentive (such as free
overnight lodging or waived conference fees) to get golden members to attend
a meeting and get their certificates. Doug H. suggested that this is probably
not a financial issue, but an age issue.
What about pins? Craig will send out letters
to recipients warning them that they will be awarded their pin at the fall
SAF meeting. Bernie suggested that pins should be given to recipients, regardless
if they appear at the meeting. Table for next Executive Team meeting. Do
you need to attend a meeting to receive a pin?
Les
H. moved to adjourn at 10:15pm, Ernie seconded.
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