association news

WSRI Meeting

A well-attended and productive 2016 WSRI Annual Meeting was held (jointly with the Forest Resources Annual Meeting) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on May 4, 2016. The meeting agenda included budget and dues discussions, a membership update, a marketing project report, discussion on whether WSRI research should be available only on a fee-basis for nonmembers, and the appointment of the 2016 Executive Committee.

WSRI Chair Crad Jaynes thanked retiring WSRI Executive Director Jim Fendig for his fourteen years of service to WSRI. He presented Fendig an appreciation plaque and leather bound keepsake book of tribute letters from colleagues who had worked with Jim throughout his distinguished forest industry career. Also presented to Jim was a WSRI Board of Directors resolution that grants Fendig lifetime WSRI membership.

2015 APA Safety and Health Award Winners

APA (the Engineered Wood Association) recently announced the winners of its 2015 Safety and Health Awards, a program that encourages and recognizes safety and operational excellence in the North American structural panel and engineered wood industry.

Resolute-LP Engineered Wood and LP Building Products won Safest Company Awards in their respective categories, while the coveted Innovation in Safety Award went to two winners: LP of Jasper, Texas, for the Equipment-Based Innovation Award, and Boise Cascade of Kettle Falls, Washington, for the Jeff Wagner Process-Based Innovation Award.

Candidates for Public Lands Commissioner

The AFRC reported that following Dr. Peter Goldmark’s April 5 announcement that he will not seek a third term, three additional candidates have filed for the office. Former Washington state representative and current King County Councilman Dave Upthegrove formally filed on April 22. Upthegrove served in the state legislature from 2002 to 2011 and was Washington Conservation Voters’ Legislator of the Year in 2011. His campaign website displays a long list of endorsements from elected officials.

Mary Verner, current DNR Deputy Supervisor for Fire and Administration, filed April 14. Verner was Mayor of Spokane from 2007 to 2011 and has worked for the Spokane Indian Tribe. At present, she continues her work at DNR, campaigning on personal time. Hilary Franz, Executive Director of Futurewise (formerly 1000 Friends of Washington), filed April 27. A land use attorney and former Bainbridge Island city council member, she is currently on the Conservation Northwest board and formerly served on the boards of the Washington Environmental Council, the Center for Environmental Law and Policy, and Friends of the Farms. Franz will take a leave of absence from Futurewise to campaign.

The three new filers join Karen Porterfield (D) and Steven Nielson (Libertarian).

OWIT Raises $75,000 for Talk About Trees

The Oregon Women in Timber (OWIT), on behalf of the Talk About Trees forest education program, want to thank everyone for their generous support at their 25th annual auction, held this past February. They estimate the auction raised more than $75,000 for the Talk About Trees program.

OWIT gave a special thank you to the Oregon Logging Conference for partnering with them each year and Richie Bros., who auctioneer the event. They also thanked Rick Kriege of Prineville for the “Partners in Education” fundraiser, which brought in $7,800. Big thanks also went out to the NW Ford Dealers Advertising Association who donated $5,000 and Westech Rigging who sponsored the raffle and filled the mystery money jar with cash.

“A huge thank you goes out to the heroes of the auction. They are the donors who come up with awesome items and the OWIT ladies who tirelessly put it all together, making it look like it took nothing to make it happen,” says an OWIT spokesperson. “Without you all, the auction would not be as successful as it is. We look forward to working with you all again next year. See you in February!”