JUNEAU CHAPTER SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS

MONTHLY MEETING NOTES FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2002

 

Call to Order:  Cal Richert

 

Members present:  Cal Richert, John Sandor, Mike McClellan, Ron Dippold, Dick Zaborske, Gene Miller, Wayne Nichols, and Jim Bartelme.

 

Guests:  Steve Brink, Deputy Regional Forester Natural Resources, Forest Service; Denny Bschor, Regional Forester, Forest Service; and, John Sherrod, Sitka Chapter.

 

Secretary/Treasure Report: 

1.  Review of January 2002 meeting notes.  Approved by vote.

  1. Checking Account Balance: $631.95, Savings Account Balance: $1,105.61, Cash on Hand: $85.00.  Total Balance: $1,822.56.

 

Legislative Update: 

  1. Handouts:
    1. Green Wire 02/12/02 articles on Appropriations/Energy and Water/Interior Committees of the U.S. Congress.  The article contains comments about agency funding, Charter Forests, and timber sale bidding on federal timber sales by other than timber purchasers.
    2. Associated Press article 02/05/02 on Charter Forest program.
  2. Board of Forestry seat and HB 131/SB 98.  HB 131 passed out of committee without amendment.  Jeff Jahke has asked SAF to attend the July Board meeting and make a presentation to secure the Board’s support to move forward the SAF proposal to create a seat for SAF on the Board.
  3. It was brought up by Mike McClellan that the current President’s Budget Proposal includes extensive funding reductions for the Sitka Lab and the Forest Sciences Lab in Juneau.  Essentially, both will be eliminated.  Work is needed by SAF to inform the delegation of the importance of this work so it can continue in Alaska.  While the overall budget is about the same, major shift have occurred to fund the forest inventory component.  This shift is being funded from the silviculture work in SE Alaska and the Sitka Lab.

 

Annual State Meeting:

It will be held in Fairbanks, May 2-4.  This meeting will be a joint meeting with the Alaska Wildlife Society.  All members should have received notification via e-mail.

 

Tongass Centennial Celebration and Riverbend Totem Update:

Gene Miller stated that much planning work is on-going and details are being worked out for the pole, carver, partners, and funding.  He is still looking for help from the members.  The total cost of the project could be from $40-50,000.  Funding ideas were advanced from the membership and Gene will be doing additional followup.  

 

 

Science Fair:

Ron Dippold presented a Charter for the Science Fair.  With minor amendments, Charter was approved by vote.  Wayne Nichols and Denny Bschor have volunteered to be the judges.  The event is March 2.  Ron Dippold has details if you are interested.

 

Next meeting:  March  14, 2002, at the Prospector, 12 to 1:30 pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

James Bartelme

Secretary/Treasurer.

 

Enclosure:  Final Science Fair Charter.