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California SAF 2016 Summer Meeting: A Centennial Celebration – Professional Forestry in California
August 25, 2016 @ 9:00 am - August 26, 2016 @ 4:00 pm
Please join members of the Northern and Southern California Societies of American Foresters in celebration of the California SAF Centennial. This year’s 2016 Summer Conference will be held near Coarsegold at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, while the field tour will visit Yosemite and Bass Lake.
In recognition of the Centennial, the Conference has invited a distinguished panel of speakers that are recognized for their leadership in California forestry. This is a unique opportunity to hear these leaders present their visions for the future of forestry in California. Presenters will include CAL FIRE Director Ken Pimlott; Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Chair, Dr. Keith Gilless; Past President of SAF Bob Alverts; Laurie Wayburn. President of the Pacific Forest Trust; Cal Forest President Dave Bischel; and John Exline, the Director of Ecosystem Management for the USDA Forest Service Region 5.
The Thursday evening dinner will be a time to reflect on the past and to be a part of where CalSAF will be headed for the next 100 years. Official proclamations recognizing the role of SAF in California over the last 100 years will be presented. The Oral History Project presentation will show the unique effort by SAF to preserve the insights and reflections of forestry leaders in California. SAF members in California have voted to become one society and a presentation will inform attendees about the future implications of this historic decision. Our dinner event will also include our annual auction fund raiser for the Foresters Fund; so please bid on an item! The evening will culminate with a unique one-man stage presentation of the founder of SAF. Gifford Pinchot, as portrayed by actor Gary Hines, who will reflect on the beginnings of the conservation movement, forestry, his role in establishment of the National Forests and the founding of SAF.
The Friday field tour will travel by bus to Wawona and the Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Yosemite National Park. At the first stop, Yosemite National Park Forester Brian Mattos will explain the Park’s approaches to maintaining forest and ecosystem health. Time will be provided for a short self-guided tour of the Pioneer History Center. The next stop will be hosted by Bass Lake District Ranger Denise Tolmie and her staff to discuss past, current and future management of Forest Service lands on the District. At the third stop a catered lunch will be provided by Calvin Crest Conference Center at their outdoor pavilion. Participants will hear about Yosemite, President Roosevelt, and conservation as viewed by John Muir, portrayed by actor Lee Stetson. The final stop at Bass Lake will provide a dramatic view of the drought and bark beetle mortality.
We encourage you to mark your calendar and join us to celebrate the California SAF Centennial and the future of California forestry
2016 Centennial and Celebration
Thursday – August 25th Executive Committee
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Executive Committee Meeting at Chukchansi Gold Resort (Limited seating for non-committee attendees)
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch on your own at Resort
Thursday – August 25th Centennial Conference
12:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Registration
1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Centennial Panel – Forestry Predictions for the Next Century
Detailed Speaker Agenda:
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Ken Pimlott, Director of CAL FIRE – People, Landscapes, Forests, & Fire
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Dr. Keith Gilless, Chair of California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection – Policy, Regulations and Forests-Engaging Small Landowners
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Bob Alverts, Past President of Society of American Foresters – Maintaining SAF’s Relevance
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. BREAK
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Laurie Wayburn, President of Pacific Forest Trust – The Role of Land Trusts and NGOs in Forest Ownership and Management
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. John Exline, Director of Ecosystem Management, USDA Forest Service, Region 5 – National Forest Ecosystems and Ecosystem Health in the Next Century
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Dave Bischel, President of California Forestry Association – Role of Forest Industry in Sustainable Communities
Thursday – August 25th Evening Centennial Celebration in the Chukchansi Fireside Lounge
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Social Hour and Silent Auction
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Evening Program
Detailed Evening Agenda:
6:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Gala Buffet Dinner, Acknowledgments and Speakers
Presentations of Proclamations: Bob Alverts, Bill Snyder, J. Lopez, Keith Gilless, and Rick Standiford
Oral History Project Presentation: Julie Lydick, Wendy Snyder and Mark Garman
One California Society: Doug Piirto and Rick Standiford
7:45 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. Break and Silent Auction
8:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. “An Evening with Gifford Pinchot,” Portrayed by Actor, Gary Hines
A unique one-man performance reflecting on the beginnings of the conservation movement, forestry and Pinchot’s role in establishment of the National Forests
Friday – August 26th
7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Registration/Load Buses (Breakfast is on your own at resort)
8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Travel to First Stop – Wawona, Yosemite National Park
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Welcome to Yosemite National Park & Maintaining the Health of Yosemite’s Forested Landscapes: Brian Mattos, Park Forester at Yosemite National Park
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Yosemite National Park –Wawona Pioneer Park History Museum Tour
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Load Buses and Travel to Second Stop – Bass Lake Ranger District, USFS
11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. Welcome: Denise Tolmie, Bass Lake District Ranger, USDA Forest Service
11:25 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Past, Present and Future Forest Management Prescriptions: Dave Smith, Silviculturalist, USDA Forest Service, Bass Lake Ranger District
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pros and Cons of Prescribed Fire use in Managed Stands: Burt Stalter, Fire and Fuel Officer, USDA Forest Service, Bass Lake Ranger District
12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Load Buses and Travel to Third Stop – Lunch
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Lunch at Calvin Crest Conference Center
Welcome to Calvin Crest
Lunch with John Muir – One-man Performance by Actor Lee Stetson
1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Load Buses and Travel to Fourth Stop – Bass Lake Overlook
1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Scope and Scale of Bark Beetle Mortality: TBA,
2:00.p,m. – 2:15 p.m. Governor’s Executive Order – Implementation and Action Plan: Glenn Barley, Chair, Tree Mortality Task Force, CAL FIRE
2:15 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. Local Government Response: Madera County BOS Member: Tom Wheeler, Supervisor
2:35 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Utilization Challenges: Larry Duysen, Logging Superintendent, Sierra Forest Products
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Load Buses and Return Trip to Chukchansi Resort
Chukschansi Gold Resort & Casino: Please call 866-794-6946 to make your reservations and use the group code: SAF0825
Group Rates:
Wednesday August 24th & Thursday August 25th– $76.99 (includes resort fee)
Friday August 26th– $116.99 (includes resort fee)
Other Local Travel & Lodging Information: http://coarsegoldca.com/index.html
A room block at a special rate will be available! More information later.