2009 Chair: Donna Dekker
Letter from the Chair - May 2009

The transition to new NCSAF Executive Director (Jane LaBoa) and Education Coordinator (Stacey Dodge) is almost complete.   It was a bit more complicated than we anticipated, but we see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel.’

After a slightly downsized (but super successful) Forest Conservation Days event, Stacey is deep into the logistics for three Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT) sessions.  Unfortunately, the Shasta FIT session had to be cancelled this year due to low registration.  Most of us are chalking it up to the sluggish economy and some uncertainty about teaching jobs.   On a positive note, the Tuolumne FIT session is completely full.

Jane is helping vice-Chair Nick Dennis plan the August 8 Summer Meeting, which will be held in Yreka.  It should be a great meeting with plenty of lively discussion about issues in the Klamath basin.  Check out the summer edition of the NorCal SAF newsletter for more information and the registration form.  To keep meeting costs down, the hard copy brochure will only appear in the newsletter.  You will be able to download the brochure from this website and we are planning to e-mail the brochure to members with e-mail addresses from the SAF membership roster (is your information current?).

A number of forestry issues are swirling around at both the state and federal level.  NorCal SAF Policy Chair, John Kessler, is working on letters and a position paper that can be used by chapters and members.  If you are interested in the biomass issue in federal legislation, take a look at the SAF website where SAF policy expert Erica Rhoad has put together a comprehensive action alert.
Jane is using her frequent flyer miles for the SAF convention in Orlando.  What about you?  It’s a wonderful vacation spot to compliment the convention.   Even if you’re not keen on Disney World, Orlando is central to many interesting forests, parks and wildlife areas.  Definitely something to think about…have you ever been to a SAF convention that wasn’t a memorable experience?