December 2012

Max BraswellAFA Executive Vice President

AFA’s mission is to advocate the sustainable use and sound

stewardship of Arkansas’s forests and related resources to benefit the state’s forestry community and all Arkansans, today and in the future. This advocacy work takes center stage when the State Legislature is in session. The 89th General Assembly will convene on Monday, January 14, 2013, and AFA has been working for months in preparation.

During each regular legislative session, AFA coordinates and hosts a number of activities designed to build relationships with State Senate and House members and other legislative leaders. These activities also bring positive attention to AFA and the entire timber and forest products community.

Here is a quick rundown on some of the plans and activities:

House and Senate MapsThese posters feature the 2013-2014 Arkansas House and Senate District maps, along with color pictures of the state’s Constitutional officers, senators and representatives. They will be available to pick up, for free, at the AFA office after December 6.

Legislator Orientation Breakfast 7 a.m., Thursday, December 6 This event is hosted by AFA, the Arkansas Timber Producers

Association gearing up for legislative session

See ‘Advocacy’ on back

Regional meeting showcases nursery; promotes networking, listeningRegional membership meetings

provide a unique opportunity for members and guests to network, meet face-to-face with the staff and tour an AFA member’s operation.

On Wednesday, November 14, the ArborGen Fred C. Gragg SuperTree Nursery in Bluff City hosted 23 people for a regional meeting, which included a highlight of AFA’s recent accomplishments, an overview of production operations and a nursery tour.

“We appreciate ArborGen’s hospitality and look forward to planning more of these meetings around the state,” said AFA Executive Vice President Max Braswell. “It is important for the staff to go where our members are, listen to them and ensure our efforts are meeting their needs.”

“Now, more than ever before, it is important to have organizations like AFA to be our voice and protect our interests,” said Danny Glaze, with Green Pine Timber in Camden.

A $30 Friend of Forestry membership might be

the perfect gift for someone on your Christmas list.

In addition to helping AFA strengthen its voice representing forestry’s best interests at the local, state and national levels, a Friend of Forestry membership provides other benefits—weekly email updates, a printed monthly newsletter, meetings and special events.

“An AFA membership truly pays,” said AFA

Executive Vice President Max Braswell. “Each member has a voice as we work together to advocate for the sustainable use and sound stewardship of Arkansas’s forests and related resources.”

To give an AFA membership, please contact Jennifer Lambert at jlambert@arkforests.org or (501) 374-2441 by Friday, December 7. AFA will either mail a membership certificate and card directly to the recipient(s) or send them to you.

Consider gift of AFA membership

AFA members joined staff for an association update and nursery tour during the AFA Regional Meeting at the ArborGen nursery in Bluff City.

Pine seedling beds are ready for lifting.

CALENDAR

November 22-23AFA office CLOSED

in observanceof Thanksgiving

December 69:30 a.m. - AFA Executive

CommitteeAFA office, Little Rock

December 1110 a.m. - Program Committee

AFA office, Little Rock

December 1410:30 a.m. - Tree Farm Committee

and Inspectors MeetingGolden Corral, North Little Rock

December 24-26AFA office CLOSED

in observanceof Christmas

January 1AFA office CLOSED

in observanceof New Year’s Day

February 129:30 a.m. - Forest Practices

CommitteeAFA Office, Little Rock

May 1-2Spring Board of Directors Meeting

River Market DistrictLittle Rock

October 1-368th AFA Annual Meeting

Embassy SuitesLittle Rock

AFA-endorsed candidates do wellAFA-endorsed candidates suffered

only one loss in the recent election. The association made a total of 12 endorsements, including one during the primary of John Baine, D-El Dorado, who will be the new State Representative from District 7. He is a long-time AFA member.

Also, congratulations are in order for AFA Treasurer Ken Bragg on his election to the Arkansas House of Representatives, District 15. He works for Resource Management Service in Sheridan.

Following are the results of the races where AFA endorsed a candidate (a W indicates a win and an L indicates a loss):

U.S. House of RepresentativesW 1st District – U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford (R)W 2nd District – U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin (R)W 3rd District – U.S. Rep Steve Womack (R)W 4th District – Tom Cotton (R)

Arkansas SenateL District 13 - Sen. Mike Fletcher (D-Hot Springs)W District 27 - Rep. Bobby Pierce (D-Sheridan)

Arkansas House of RepresentativesW District 4 - Fonda Hawthorne (D-Ashdown)

W District 9 - Rep. Sheilla Lampkin (D-Monticello)W District 15 - Ken Bragg (R-Sheridan)W District 62 - Rep. Tommy Wren (D-Melbourne)W District 65 - Rep. Tommy Thompson (D-Morrilton)

In the state-level races, candidates received a financial contribution from AFA’s Forest Express Political Action Committee (PAC).

“An effective government affairs program uses many strategies—from special events and projects, such as our legislative dinners, to building personal relationships with legislators,” said AFA Executive Vice President Max Braswell.

Financial support is important as well. That’s why it is essential to keep the association’s Forest Express PAC strong. AFA needs to increase its presence at the Capitol. You can help by contributing to the AFA Forest Express PAC. For those filing Arkansas income tax returns, you can receive a $50-per-person or $100-per-couple dollar-for-dollar tax credit.

To learn more about the PAC, go to the AFA website at arkforests.org and look under Programs/Advocacy or call (501) 374-2441.

Log A Load For Kids wraps up

This custom-designed quilt commemorates Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s 100th birthday. It sold for $5,000 in the live auction at the Central Arkansas Log A Load For Kids event, held October 20 in Sheridan.

The statewide estimate for Arkansas Log A Load For Kids in 2012 is $455,264. These

funds go toward a $4 million commitment to support the new Log A Load For Kids of Arkansas Emergency Department and Trauma Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Following are the totals from recent events:• September 22 - Bradley County,

$42,000• September 29 - River Valley, $103,355• October 20 - Central Arkansas,

$127,000

Committee activity picks up pace; work invaluable to associationBeing involved in an AFA committee is an

excellent opportunity to learn, network and contribute to the association and forestry community. Committee meetings picked up the pace in recent months. Following is a summary of their work:

MEMBERSHIP met September 13 for the first time in several years as a step toward building a culture that prioritizes membership recruitment. The committee discussed the history of membership efforts, established their mission and purpose for the work that will be accomplished, and reviewed the AFA Membership Recruitment Strategy. Key points of the meeting included the need for good membership data, the importance of personal relationships in membership recruitment, tools for members of the committee and others to reach out to prospective members, and the regional membership meeting November 14.

TREE FARM met September 19 with a focus on completion of outstanding inspections. The group also continues to work on the recommended action steps to remedy non-compliance issues from the spring audit.

WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY met October 16 with two primary issues of importance on the agenda: endangered species and possible strengthening of the state’s feral hog laws. AFA is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and others to identify species from various lists of under consideration for possible inclusion as endangered (see sidebar).

Preceding the Wildlife Committee meeting, AFA was part of a large coalition that met October 9 in Hot Springs to hear an update from USFWS. While the timeframe for any listing is six to ten years, AFA will work closely with these partners to identify any potential impacts to forest landowners as well as the tools that can be implemented, such as voluntary Best Management Practicess to help minimize the number of listings.

AFA is also working with another coalition to develop more stringent laws on the transportation of feral hogs in Arkansas. Draft legislation is being reviewed by a number of partners and will most likely

be introduced during the 2013 legislative session. Legislation passed in 2011 increased the fines for releasing a feral hog on private property. The next round of legislation will focus on transportation in an ongoing effort to decrease the damage caused by the animals.

FOREST PROTECTION met October 24. In addition to the usual updates on fire, insects and invasive species, the committee discussed needed updates to the AFA Witness Reward Program. Implemented in 1995, the program provides a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons involved with arson, timber theft, illegal dumping, or equipment vandalism or theft. The committee is interested in increasing the amount of the reward, updating and producing new signs and stickers to promote the program, and making the associated changes to the program by-laws.

The PROJECT LEARNING TREE STEERING COMMITTEE met October 24 at the Weyerhaeuser office in Hot Springs to discuss the success and future of the PLT program in Arkansas. PLT remains one of the top professional development providers for educators in the state, conducting 45 workshops for 869 educators so far this year with another 14 scheduled through the end of the year. New officers were elected for the 2013 year: Philip Osborne, Project WET (chairman); Betsy Spetich, ADEQ Solid Waste and Recycling (vice-chairman); and Kathy Rusert, Acorn Schools (secretary). Two new members were appointed to the committee as well: Kelli Martin, principal at Wooster Elementary School will represent school administrators and Eric Myers, county forester, will represent the Arkansas Forestry Commission. The committee selected Michelle Viney, with the Audubon Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Field Office, as the Arkansas nominee for the 2013 Outstanding PLT Educator award at the national level. A sub-committee was formed to update the strategic plan for the Arkansas PLT program.

Also, the Forest Practices Committee met on November 13; Government Affairs Committee met November 15; AFA Executive Committee will meet on December 6; Program Committee will meet December 11, and the Tree Farm Committee will meet on December 14.

USFWS proposes listing mussels

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),

evidence suggests that the Neosho mucket mussel is in danger of becoming extinct and the rabbitsfoot mussel may become threatened with extinction. As a result, USFWS has proposed to protect the species under the Endangered Species Act, and is seeking information from the public and scientific community.

Service biologists have identified 2,138 miles of stream channels in 12 states that may contain stream channel habitat essential to the conservation of these species. The proposed critical habitat for the Neosho mucket is located in Benton and Washington Counties in Arkansas. The proposed critical habitat for the rabbitsfoot is located in Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Clark, Cleveland, Dallas, Drew, Fulton, Grant, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Little River, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Newton, Ouachita, Randolph, Saline, Searcy, Sevier, Sharp, Van Buren, White and Woodruff Counties.

The decision to add the species to the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, as well as identifying essential habitat, will be based on the scientific information and economic analysis.

USFWS has opened a 60-day public comment period, allowing the public to review and comment on the proposal through December 17.

Comments should be submitted by one of the following methods:• Federal eRulemaking Portal:

www.regulations.gov. Follow instructions for submitting comments on Attn: FWS–ES–R4–2012–0031

• U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R4–ES–2012–0031, Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203.

‘Advocacy,’continued from front

Association and the Arkansas Forest and Paper Council in the Capitol Hill building. It is an opportunity to meet and mingle with new and returning lawmakers.

AFA Legislative ReceptionsMonday, March 4, at 4: 30 p.m.Monday, March 18, at 4:30 p.m.We will host two receptions at the AFA office. House and Senate members, and legislative leadership and staff will be invited to join us for food and drink. There is no program, just a great opportunity to build relationships in a casual setting. We will invite two Congressional districts to each event, replacing the four sit-down dinners held in the past. Sponsorships will be available.

Please contact me at (501) 374-2441 or mbraswell@arkforests.org if you have questions.

Forestry community news>> Foresters who need Forest Ethics training or CFE hours can get three hours of Category 1-CF credit—one in Forestry Ethics—on December 5. The workshop will be at the Cooperative Extension State Office in Little Rock. For more information, contact KeriJo Halpine at (501) 671-2329 or khalpine@uaex.edu.

>> Stribling Equipment, LLC, has acquired the heavy equipment dealership operations of Warrior of Arkansas, a company operating locations servicing Arkansas and portions of Texas and Oklahoma. Stribling Equipment’s operations for John Deere Construction and Forestry now encompass all of Mississippi, Arkansas, the 21 western counties of Tennessee and four eastern counties of Texas and Oklahoma. The Western territories will be served by seven new locations: Little Rock, Fayetteville, Texarkana, Fort Smith, Camden, Monticello and Arkadelphia.

>> A new national website, WomenOwningWoodlands.net, is a collaborative project of the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA) and the USDA Forest Service, Cooperative

Forestry Office. This project provides information to woodland owners and forest practitioners through articles, blogs, events, resources and personal stories.

>> The American Forest & Paper Association recently presented its first-ever Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Awards.

Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Large Company)

• Georgia-Pacific: “Improving Energy Efficiency”

• International Paper: “Climate Leadership Initiative”

Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Small Company)

• Thilmany Papers: “Energy and Water Restructuring Program”

Safety• International Paper: “It’s about…LIFE”

Water• MWV: “Mahrt Mill Water and Energy

Reduction Project”Innovation in Sustainability

• Green Bay Packaging: “Fiber Reclaim Project”