Category: Cal SAF News

Enjoy these new Oral History interviews! This group of 7 Golden and long-term SAF members share memories of careers in agricultural banking, private industry, federal and state agencies, research and forest policy via the DC Beltway.

 

George Roby – Forest Supervisor, Angeles National Forest, retired

18:30 – Providing ICS advice to the military and the President of the Dominican Republic.

39:36 – A forester assigned to manage coastal oil fields on the Los Padres National Forest in 1969?

Anne Heissenbuttel – Forester & Master Gardner

22:29 – A California transplant became a member of the Virginia Board of Forestry.

57:58 – Perspectives on being one of the first women foresters in the timber industry.

Richard “Dick” Pland – Forester, Fibreboard Corporation, retired

18:38 – Work with the Pickering Lumber Company 1957, an “old line” railroad logging outfit.

41:14 – Fibreboard response to the claims that Ca. Spotted Owl required old growth stands to thrive.

William “Bill” Oliver – Research Silviculturist, PSW Forest & Range Experiment Station, retired

33:10 – Interdisciplinary environmental research “post-USFS New Perspectives.”

57:13 – Limitations of forestry in the SW Pacific Islands were not due to lack of technical knowledge.

Dale Wierman – California Department of Forestry, Retired

51:15 – The Governor’s OPR and natural resource impacts of land development in local government.

1:09:33 – The role of the California Department of Forestry in the Redwood National Park expansion.

Russ Forsberg – American Ag Credit

16:16 – Russ discusses timber loans, appraisal and the relationship to sustained yield.

25:34 – Economics is the thing that ties everything together in natural resources.

John Heissenbuttel – Forester (for Life!)

14:57 – AFPA lead industrial staff for the development of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

41:16; 48:17; 53:49 – SAF networking, SAF President leadership challenges; SAF and 9/11.

 

A viewing tip… our brains “listen” much faster than we speak. Therefore, if you would like to increase the viewing speed, use the “gear” symbol on the YouTube window to adjust the speed.

And remember, you can easily access and click each individual interview question in YouTube mode. After you start the video, just click the words “YouTube” in the lower right corner of the interview window. The “clickable” questions are in the “description” box.

We are almost at the end… February look for Lund, West, Wells, Tunheim, Zane, Lindstrand, Fitch

Enjoy these 7 new interviews!  Remarkable CaSAF Golden members share unique memories of their careers in California, Washington DC and South America…

 

…They also provide advice to young people regarding the profession and reflect on the future of forestry and natural resources management in California…

 

… And each have a vision of a “perfect forest.”

 

Remember, you can easily access each interview question in YouTube mode. After you start the video, just click the words “YouTube” in the lower right corner of the interview window. The “clickable” questions are located in the description box.

Jim Able: Consulting Forester

27:04 –  Jim said “the key to consulting is being able to do about anything somebody asks you to do.” Listen to his great story about the “stepup.”

35:40 – Jim shares his vivid memories of the Redwood National Park acquisition and expansion.

 

Peter Arnold: Forester, retired

1:02 & 1:05 – Congressman William Kent, Peter’s grandfather, donated Muir Woods and wrote the bill that started the National Park Service in 1916.

07:15: – Through a fortunate coincidence, Peter was introduced to the idea of doing forestry in South America while at Yale. (And there is much more about South America.)

 

Marty Gubrud: Forester, AKA Forester Marty – LA County, retired

34:44 – Marty shares some of the history of LA County’s first nursery, Henninger Flats.

1:03:15 – Marty displays his custom “walking” stick, which is a treasure trove of symbols and uses.

 

Fritz Koepp: Registered Professional Forester – USFS, retired

10:15 – Fritz describes his unusual path from forestry school graduation to the USFS.

52:05 – Fritz shares some of his experiences as an early smoke jumper

 

Doug Leisz: Forester, USFS, retired

1:22:57 – As the Pacific SW Regional Forester, Doug had a first row seat during the development of Firescope and Incident Command System.

1:57:47 –  Doug provides an example of taking risks. Having little knowledge of 1970’s computers, he still led a team that transitioned the USFS to their own computer system.

 

Bill Smith: Forester; Resource Manager, Louisiana Pacific, retired

29:58 – Bill tells us about having access to the Louisiana Pacific air fleet and one dangerous encounter with a near-miss helicopter landing.

0:31 – Bill’s parents were in a profession that was completely opposite from forestry.  He talks about his youth  living next to the San Francisco Presidio during the Depression.

 

Dean Solinsky: Consulting Forester; Frank & Dean Solinsky Co.

25:51 & 37:47 – Dean talks a little about the early days of working with his brother and the beginning of Frank & Dean Solinsky Co.

1:12:42 – Dean has a fairly pessimistic outlook for the private timber industry in California.

 

Coming soon!  George Roby, Dick Pland, Russ Forsburg, Anne & John Heissenbuttel, Len Lindstrand and more …

A welcome sight for property owners, fire retardant is an essential fire fighting tool. California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection reported pumping a record 387, 655 gallons of retardant in one day, Oct. 12, 2017 at the McClellan Air Attack Base in Sacramento.

 

Joe Sherlock and J. Lopez, Chairs of the Society of American Foresters, Northern and Southern California, are pleased to provide this video clip from its Oral History project filmed with George Roby, retired U.S. Forest Service and Phos-Chek Retardants consultant in January 2017.

 

 

In this 6 minute clip, George Roby of Claremont, CA, describes the evolution of the use of long-term fire retardant. He explains its tactical use during fire fighting. George retired as Forest Supervisor from the Angeles National Forest in southern California in 1990 and has since worked as a consultant to PhosChek providing training throughout the United States and Canada in the use of this fire retardant.

 

2016 marked the centennial of the California State Society of American Foresters. It was established in 1916, covering the geographic areas of southern and northern California and started with 29 members. Today its membership is 568. The Society of American Foresters was established to:

 

• Advance the science, education, technology and practice of forestry,
• Enhance the competency of its members,
• Establish professional excellence, and
• Use the knowledge, skills and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health, integrity and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity.

 

For More Information Contact: George Roby, phone 951-768-5894, George.Roby@icl-group.com or the Society of American Foresters at ncsaf@mcn.org

We are rolling again!  All filming is complete, editing is in full swing and we are resuming posting of interviews . To view them, visit the oral history page.

 

This week we offer 5 NEW interviews. (and 23 more over the next 6-8 weeks.) These forestry professionals share stories and perspectives about their upbringing, careers, California forestry and natural resource management. They also provide advice to young people interested in the profession, comment on the value of participation in professional organizations and much more.

 

Dr. Doug Piirto: CalPoly retired; consulting forester.*

-Why he began with the USFS; not university teaching or industry research. (TS 13:25)

-His philosophy about leadership. (TS 44:43)

-His vision of an “ideal forest”. (TS 1:17:10)

 

Neal Ewald: Green Diamond Resource Co, Senior Vice President:

-His unique career tenure with Arcata Redwood, Simpson Timber & GDRCO. (TS 7:21).

-A compelling summary of the 1990 Timber Wars and Sierra Accord. (TS 15:53)

-Advice to young people considering careers in forestry or natural resources. (TS 58:24)

 

Geri Bergen: USFS Tahoe NF Supervisor, retired.*

-Her non-traditional path to a successful career in a time of cultural change. (TS 11:48)

-The challenges developing the Tahoe NF Management Plan. (TS 47:31)

-The relevance of Society of American Foresters. (TS 1:00:26)

 

Norm Pillsbury, CalPoly SLO *

-A career jumpstarted by the children’s book “Hank Winton, Smoke Chaser” (TS 1:32)

-The challenge of digitizing all California hardwood stands (TS 39:55)

-The wrenching struggle for a CalPoly Forestry Major and SAF accreditation. (TS 54:09)

 

Robert Smart, Jr.: USFS, Retired

-Working on the Cleveland NF during the tumultuous early 1970’s. (TS 14:22)

-How the departure of timber companies impacted Sierra communities. (TS 36:47)

-Observations on the changing culture of fire management. (TS 44:25)

*(TS=VideoTimeStamp)

 

Coming soon!  Jim Able, Doug Leisz, Bill Smith, Fritz Koepp, Russ Forsburg.

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About

If you have been thinking that biochar, CLT, and nanocellulose were the latest gourmet offerings at your local vegan BBQ bistro then you may want to attend the 2017 Summer Meeting to get the real story! “Value Added Forestry” will be the topic of our annual summer meeting of the Northern and Southern California Societies of American Foresters, as we explore the latest technology in wood products. The 2017 Summer meeting will be held in Anderson, CA at the Gaia Hotel and Spa and will include an exclusive field tour of Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) door and window factory. We look forward to an excellent dialog about the future of forest products with all members of the California forestry and forest conservation community. Our conference this summer will focus on learning the value added in specific industry practices and techniques for forest products and residues.

Thursday will start off with the joint NorCal/SoCal Executive Committee (EC) meeting. The EC meeting be held at the Gaia Hotel & Spa. While the meeting is open to all interested individuals, however there is limited seating for non-committee attendees.

The “Value Added Forestry” meeting will officially begin on Thursday evening with a wonderful evening program, including a social hour and silent action with exclusive items. The evening will continue with a Buffet Dinner, acknowledgments and a guest speaker!

Friday will begin as we carpool for an exclusive field tour to the hi-tech SPI door and window factory near Richland, CA. SPI is a vertically-integrated company that uses the latest technology. As a group, we will return for lunch back at the Gaia Hotel and Spa. After lunch, top industry professionals will present on a range of topics to include, small scale biomass gasification generators, biochar, cellulose nano materials/nano composites, and cross laminated timber. The meeting will conclude with a discussion on community involvement and look at approaches to create sustainable communities with engaged and enlightened citizens within our industry.

Mark your calendars now and register for the 2017 NorCal/SoCal SAF Summer Meeting. Join us to look at the future of wood products in California at the Gaia Hotel and Spa in Anderson, CA. When booking your reservation be sure to call (530) 365-7077 and use the group code: NORCALSAF to get the special SAF group rate.

Come early and enjoy the many summer outdoor activities in the greater Redding area! Visit Lake Shasta Caverns National Landmark, walk the Sundial Bridge, Shasta Lake, Mt. Lassen, shopping at Shasta Outlets, Sacramento River Trail, and downtown Redding. For additional ideas, visit www.visitredding.com.

Questions? Contact Kevin Locke at ncsaf@mcn.org
CFE credits will be available from the Society of American Foresters

 

Agenda

Thursday, August 24th

Thursday – August 24th   Executive Committee

9:00 a.m. ­-12:00 p.m. Executive Committee Meeting at Gaia Hotel & Spa

12:00 p.m. ­-1:00 p.m. Lunch on your own at Gaia Hotel & Spa

1:00p.m.-4:00 p.m. Executive Committee Meeting continued

Thursday – August 24th Evening Program at Gaia Hotel & Spa

5:30 p.m. ­ 6:30 p.m. Registration, Social Hour and Silent Auction

6:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.  Buffet Dinner, Acknowledgments and Oral History Project Update

7:45 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. Break and Silent Auction

8:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Guest Speaker, TBA – “The Future of Value Added Forest Products in California”

Friday, August 25th 

Friday – August 25^th Field Tour & Speakers/Meeting

7:45 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Registration (Breakfast is on your own at resort)

8:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Welcome

8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Carpool to Sierra Pacific millworks and window factory

9:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Tour Sierra Pacific millworks and window factory

11:00 a.m. –11:45 a.m. Return to Gaia Hotel and Spa for lunch

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch -, “SAF Perspective on Value Added Products”, Fred Cubbage, President SAF

1:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. Cross-laminated Timber Construction: TBA

1:40 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Biomass Gasification and Power Generation: Joel Armin-Hoiland, All Power Labs

2:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Break

2:40 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Bio-Char: TBA

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Nano cellulose materials/composites: TBA

3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sustainability and Community Involvement, TBA

 

Gaia Hotel and Spa:

4125 Riverside Place, Anderson, California 96007

Email: stay@gaiahotelspa.com
http://www.gaiahotelspa.com/

Please call (530) 365-7077 to make your reservations and use the group code: NORCALSAF

Group Rates: Wednesday (8/23), Thursday(8/24) and Friday (8/25) – $94 (plus tax & services)

Other Local Travel & Lodging Information: www.visitredding.com

 

 

California SAF Merger

The vote was held this fall to adopt new by-laws for a California Society of American Foresters, which merges Northern California and Southern California into a single state society, California SAF. The vote in favor of the new by-laws had 97.5% support. The merger committee will work to get the new by-laws filed. John Kessler was elected as the Vice Chair for 2017 for the California SAF. Joe Sherlock and J. Lopez will serve as co-chairs of California SAF for 2017 as the final details are worked out.

Hawaii SAF Coordinates with the Cal-Pac Society for Range Management

The California Pacific Section of the Society for Range Management held their fall meeting on October 26-28, 2016 in Volcano, Hawaii at the Kilauea Military Camp. The Board of Directors for Cal-Pac SRM agreed to accommodate Hawaii SAF members who might be interested in attending the meeting by offering a member registration fee to SAF members. The title of the meeting was: “Management of Invasive Species, Endangered Species and Fuel Loads on Hawaiian Range and Pasture Lands.” A number of Hawaii SAF members took advantage of this opportunity to coordinate with their range colleagues.

SAF National Convention

The 2016 SAF National Convention, held Nov. 2-6 in Madison, Wisconsin, was successful due to the partnership between the host Wisconsin SAF, elected leaders, and the SAF office. Attendance was 1,754, which exceeded goals and made the 2016 Convention the best attended convention since Portland, Oregon, in 2007. Partners and exhibitors were exceptionally pleased. One example was Chief Tidwell who for days after the convention extolled the success of the event.

National Membership

Kudos to the SAF staff, especially the Membership Team and SAF leadership at all levels of the organization for a successful year with regards to membership recruitment and retention. As of early December, SAF’s membership was 11,754 which exceeds 2015 year-end (11,736). This is largest number of members SAF has had at this point in five years. The benefits of the new iMIS membership database are crucial to this effort and provide real time data on membership numbers and engagement.

SAF Staff Updates

David Seabrook is SAF’s new Comptroller, and is taking over financial duties from Jorge Esguerra.  Jorge will remain involved in SAF for some discrete tasks in 2017.  State society leaders may contact David at seabrookd@safnet.org regarding financial needs issues.

Lori Rasor will be working half-time for SAF national and half-time for the SAF Northwest Office Committee in 2017.  We’re very happy to have Lori taking on many of the leadership management duties that have been vacant since Patricia Adadevoh left SAF in late 2015. Lisa Swann left SAF in November to pursue other opportunities.  All communications needs should go to Jeff Ghannam at ghannamj@safnet.org.

Diversity and Inclusion

The SAF board continues to advance discussions about a national diversity and inclusion policy. The board reviewed a revised draft policy based on comments from state societies earlier this year. Suggestions included the need for a Diversity and Inclusion Committee or working group, a need for metrics, and a communications plan that shares challenges and success. We are reaching out for some final input from relevant parties like the state society chairs and the 2016 diversity ambassadors before finalizing in early 2017.

Evolving Forestry Initiative

Dean Coble of Washington University presented the Board of Directors with the results of the baseline Evolving Forestry Initiative survey. The initiative is a long-term conversation SAF is having with members and partners about the future of SAF and the forestry profession. The survey is a “listening tool” that SAF conducted in December 2015 and is now fully analyzed by a team of SAF members. The data will be shared with members and partners as appropriate and will be used by the board and staff to analyze and improve programs and services.

Forest Policy Outlook

SAF’s policy efforts in 2017 will include a renewed focus on strengthening the relationship between the Committee on Forest Policy and the Forest Science and Technology Board. The committee’s plan also includes revising or putting forward position statements on licensure and credentialing, the FIA program, non-native invasive species, and utilization of forest biomass for energy. SAF is also preparing to work with the new Congress and presidential administration. The current focus is to share SAF’s issues and priorities with the administration’s transition team. SAF’s approach is to remain scientifically credible and be a vital source of information on forest management.  State society policy committees and leaders are encouraged to consult with John Barnwell on Congressional and Presidential transition issues.

Position Statement on Tax Treatment of Forestland

A new position statement, “Federal and State Tax Treatment of Private Forestland,” was adopted. This was a five-year update and revision and in part states: “The Society of American Foresters (SAF) believes tax policies based on equity and certainty are required to encourage the nation’s private forest landowners to make sustained, long-term capital investments in forest management. Rather than distorting market forces, taxation of private forest landowners should be comparable if not equitable to other capital ventures, including agriculture, as this will encourage practices that retain forests that contribute monetary and societal benefits to the nation.”

SAF Office Building

The SAF board continues to consider the physical condition of the SAF office building and options for repair. Real estate and construction experts were consulted and provided pros and cons associated with various options for renovating the historic “Wild Acres” mansion. A member committee will be established to review all options being discussed. It’s important to note that no decisions have been made and that the board is conducting the required due diligence and ensure a comfortable, safe, and clean space is available for our staff while respecting the intentions of the Grosvenor Estate donors.

Revenue Development Committee Established

A new board advisory committee was approved and chartered to enhance fundraising and revenue generation. The committee will be comprised of SAF board members past and present, fundraising experts, and members who would like to explore and enhance non-dues revenue.  The committee replaces a subcommittee of the finance committee.

Budget

After considerable discussion on the budget, the board asked the staff to develop a five-year budget plan designed to balance the operating budget in five years or less, using operating revenues and a percentage of investment growth and earnings.  Until that budget is passed SAF will continue to operate the status quo from 2016 with the addition of up to one new position.

New Board Comes into Office on January 1, 2017

Clark Seely closed out a successful 2016 as SAF president and the 2017 president is Fred Cubbage. Fred’s focus will be on balancing operating budgets; maintaining the property sale reserves; providing high quality service to our members; expanding diversity and inclusion; and ensuring openness and transparency.

New board members include incoming vice president (and 2018 president) David S. Lewis, CF, ACF. SAF members also elected four members to serve on the board of directors for terms ending December 31, 2019. They include Michael J. Cloughesy (District 2), Donald E. Howlett, CF (District 5), Christa F. Rogers (District 8), and Michael L. Murphrey, CF (District 11).  Greg Russell will sit on the board as Chair of the House of Society Delegates.  Andrew J. Sánchez Meador will sit on the board as the new Forest Science and Technology Board Chair.

SAF 2016 Board of Directors and incoming 2017 Board

 

 

The UC Berkeley Forestry Club/SAF Student Chapter Christmas Tree Sale will take place December 4-9, 2016 outside Mulford Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. For more information, visit https://nature.berkeley.edu/forestryclub/christmas-tree-sale