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Board of Forestry
Minutes
September 11, 2006

The Board of Forestry met on September 11, 2006 at the Department of Forestry Central Office, in Charlottesville.

Convene Meeting:

The formal Board meeting began at 9:03 a.m. on September 11, 2006. Those present were: David Blount, Judy Guse-Noritake, R. Easton Loving, Marvin P. Wilson, III, E. Lee Showalter, C. Harrell Turner, Anitra B. Webster, Frank O. Brooks, David Wm. Smith, Floyd H. Miles, Sr., Hillary F. Little, and Carl E. Garrison, III and Donna Hoy with the Department of Forestry.

Call to Order:

Chairman Turner called the meeting to order.

Ms. Hoy called roll.

Changes and Adoption of Agenda:

Chairman Turner asked if there were any changes that needed to be made to the agenda. Chairman Turner requested that the Department of Forestry orientation be moved to the end. The agenda was adopted with that change.

Recognition of Guests and Visitors:

Chairman Turner welcomed The Honorable Robert S. Bloxom, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Mr. Jim Mooney, Virginia Loggers Association; Mr. Randy Bush, Virginia Forest Products Association; Ms. Tammi Belinsky, WildWood; Mr. John Campbell, Mr. Paul Revell, Mr. Mike Foreman, Ms. Debbie Howe, and Ms. Faye DiFazio with the Department of Forestry.

Approval of Minutes:

Chairman Turner asked if there were any corrections/deletions to the April 17, 2006 minutes. Mr. Smith moved that the minutes be accepted as written. Mr. Miles seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Hearing of Citizens and Delegations:

Secretary Bloxom thanked the Board members for their service and efforts made in the past. He stated one of the Governor’s goals is to conserve 400,000 acres of forestland by 2010 for future generations. The Secretary of Natural Resources is the lead for this goal. The Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry stated that help from the Board of Forestry would be needed to meet the Governor’s goal of 400,000 acres.

Information Items:

Chairman Turner stated the Board is required by Code to hold three meetings each year. One meeting will take place in June, at which time a new Chair and Vice-Chair will be elected. All other Board meetings will be conducted throughout the state. At least one of the three meetings will be held at the Department of Forestry Central Office in Charlottesville.

Over the past two years, the Board was responsible for developing two legislative studies. Each study required a lot of extra work for Board members, as well as Department of Forestry staff. Chairman Turner reported that developing these studies was a good experience for the Board because it allowed the Board to open up and address forestry issues in Virginia.

New Board members were given a copy of both legislative studies.

State Forester's Report:

Mr. Garrison reviewed the Code section referencing the Board of Forestry. He also reviewed the mission statement and three key performance objectives (with distinctive measures) for the Department of Forestry. These performance measures have been approved by the Department of Planning and Budget, but not the Governor.

Each Board member was given a copy of the BOF Annual Report, which is developed by Department of Forestry staff, and is posted on the Legislative Services website. Each member also received several Department publications that have been recently printed.

Mr. Garrison presented the Board with a list of concerns within the Department of Forestry for the upcoming year:

The Department of Forestry staff made presentations to the Board on each of the following Divisions and their work within the agency: fiscal operations, forest management, general services, human resources, information technology/telecommunications, public information, resource information, and resource protection.

Action Items:

Chairman Turner opened the floor for nominations for Chair and Vice Chair for the Board of Forestry. Mr. Showalter nominated Mr. Turner for Chair. Ms. Guse-Noritake seconded the nomination. Mr. Blount moved that the nominations be closed. Mr. Wilson seconded the closing of the nominations for Chair.

Ms. Webster nominated Mr. Loving for Vice-Chair. Ms. Guse-Noritake seconded the nomination. Mr. Showalter motioned to close the nominations. Mr. Brooks seconded the motion to close the nominations for Vice-Chair.

Mr. Turner will serve as Chair and Mr. Loving will serve as Vice-Chair on the Board of Forestry until the June 2007 election.

Committee Liaison Report:

Chairman Turner gave an overview of the various liaison committees that a Board member attends. Committees include Industry Relations, Landowner Assistance, Forest Resources, Legislative Affairs, and Education. Chairman Turner asked that Board members let him know which committee they would be interested in serving on. Ms. Webster volunteered to attend the Virginia Forestry Association Committee meetings.

Mr. Mooney reported that the Virginia Loggers Association will hold its next meeting on October 13 in Virginia Beach. He welcomed Board members to attend.

Mr. Bush reported that Virginia Forest Products Association will hold its Summer Conference in Virginia Beach on September 16-17. He welcomed Board members to attend.

Ms. Belinski reported that Virginia Forest Watch will hold its next meeting on November 11 at the Boy Scout Camp near Claytor Lake. She welcomed Board members to attend.

Other Business:

None.

Scheduling of Next Meeting:

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for November 13, 2006 in the Board Room of the Department of Forestry Central Office starting at 10:00 a.m. New members will be given a tour of the Central Office facility at that time.

The next meeting will be held on February 5, 2007. The location will be determined at the November meeting.

Chairman Turner asked that Board members bring suggestions on where to hold meetings in 2007 to the November meeting. He also asked that the Board share their interests and things they would like to see over the next four years, as well as additional suggestions for goals/priorities/ accomplishments for the Department.

Adjournment:

There being no further business, Chairman Turner made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was officially adjourned at 2:22 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Hoy
Recording Secretary

c: Board Members
Dr. J. Michael Kelly, Dean, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech
Mr. J. R. Bush, Virginia Forest Products Association
Mr. Paul Howe, Virginia Forestry Association
Mr. David E. Anderton, Jr., Association of Consulting Foresters
Ms. Tammi Belinski, WildWood
Mr. Steve Brooks, Virginia Forest Watch
Ms. Ann Duff, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
Mr. Jim Mooney, Virginia Loggers Association
Mr. Gerald Gray, Virginia Forest Watch
Ms. Donna Pugh-Johnson, Virginia Agribusiness Council
Ms. Martha Moore, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
Mr. Roger Sherman, MeadWestvaco Corporation
Ms. Staci Henshaw, Auditor of Public Accounts
Mr. Charles F. Finley, Jr., Forest Landowners Association
Mr. Andrew Smith, Virginia Farm Bureau

NOTE: Tapes of Board meetings are on file in the Office of the State Forester.

Last modified: Monday, 19-Oct-2009 15:01:58 EDT

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