Board of Forestry
Minutes
May 25, 2004

The Board of Forestry held a workshop on May 25, 2004, at the Department of Forestry Central Office in Charlottesville, Virginia. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss Senate Joint Resolution 75.

Convene Meeting

The Board meeting began at 9:03 a.m. on May 25, 2004. Those present were: Mary T. Bates, McChesney Goodall, Melvin L. Harrell, R. Easton Loving, Michael G. McGlothlin, E. Lee Showalter, C. Harrell Turner, Anitra B. Webster, Alpheus L. White, and James Garner and Donna Hoy with the Department of Forestry.

Call to Order

Mr. Turner called the workshop to order.

Ms. Hoy called roll.

Recognition of Guests and Visitors

Mr. Turner welcomed Andrew Smith, Virginia Farm Bureau; Jim Mooney, Virginia Logger's Association; Paul Haney, Association of Consulting Foresters; Paul Howe, Virginia Forestry Association; Mike Countess, Policy Analyst, Southern Group of State Foresters; and Walker Forehand, Intern, Department of Forestry.

Changes and Adoption of Agenda

Mr. Turner stated the focus of this meeting was to discuss Senator Ticer's Study and there would be no official agenda.

Approval of Minutes

Mr. Loving asked if there were any corrections/deletions to the March 30, 2004 minutes. Mr. Turner asked that under Changes and Adoption of Agenda that his name be changed to Mr. Loving. The minutes will stand approved as recorded with that one change.

SJR 75 Study

Mr. Garner asked Mr. Forehand, Intern with the Department of Forestry who will be working on the Ticer Study, and Mr. Countess, Policy Analyst, Southern Group of State Foresters, to introduce themselves and to give some information on their backgrounds. Mr. Countess has been involved in similar information gathering sessions and will be used as a resource. Mr. Forehand will serve as a recorder at the information gathering sessions and will assist with research and other needs in completing this project.

Mr. Garner announced the Department of Forestry was able to secure a grant from the U. S. Forest Service to help with expenses associated with this project. Dr. Mortimer has not received any response on his grant proposal.

Mr. Turner opened the floor for comments on the number of information gatherings to have and where the gatherings should be located. He also posed the question of ideas for other ways of gathering data from the public, as well as groups to be targeted to get an invitation to the information gatherings.

Mr. Garner stated that the Department of Forestry would handle logistics for the sessions. Mr. Turner stated that all Board members did not have to be present at each of the sessions. Selected Board members would cover the sessions in their area. Mr. Loving questioned if logistically the Department could handle 8 sessions within a 6-week time span. Mr. Garner stated the Department would be able to handle sessions as established by the Board. Information gathering sessions would need to be conducted back-to-back to accomplish in a 6-week time span.

Mr. McGlothlin made a motion that the information gathering sessions in the Draft Action Plan be approved as listed. Dr. White seconded the motion. All members were in favor of the list (Northern Virginia, Northern Valley, Charlottesville, Richmond, Tidewater, Southside, Roanoke/ Salem, Abingdon).

The Board discussed timeframes for the information gatherings. They felt it would be good to have a kick-off session in conjunction with the July Board meeting scheduled in the Winchester area. It was recommended that Senator Ticer be contacted to see if she could attend the session on July 13. Mr. Garner will contact Senator Ticer and get back with the Board on her availability.

Consensus of the Board was to have the kick-off meeting on July 13 in conjunction with the Board meeting. If Senator Ticer cannot attend the July 13 session, will go with July 12 as the kick-off date if she is available. Mr. McGlothlin motioned that the kick-off session be in the Northern Valley on the 13th and the Chairman and State Forester set the information gathering date for Northern Virginia. Mr. Easton seconded the motion. All members were in favor. NOTE: Senator Ticer's office has confirmed her attendance at the July 13 session.

Mr. McGlothlin motioned that the Abingdon session be held on July 20, the Roanoke/Salem session on July 21, and Southside on July 22nd. Ms. Webster seconded the motion. All members were in favor.

The following schedule was agreed to for these sessions: July 27 - Tidewater, July 28 - Richmond, July 29 - Charlottesville.

Mr. Forehand stated he plans to tape each of the information sessions. Due to cost and time constraints, the sessions will not be transcribed verbatim; however, these tapes will be available upon request at the Department's Central Office.

Mr. McGlothlin questioned if the information from the gatherings would be placed on the Internet so the public would be able to review the comments/data. This would provide information to individuals that could not make the meetings. Other options were discussed for individuals that cannot make the meetings. A mechanism for submitting comments (hard copy, Internet, e-mail, etc.) will be developed.

Each Board member was asked to send comments to Chairman Turner, Mr. Garner, or Ms. Hoy on vehicle used to communicate with the public (newspapers, mailing lists, Virginia Forestry Association, Virginia Loggers Association, etc.) to get the word out.

It was agreed that legislators, county administrators, city, town, and county officials, extension service, etc. should receive information on the sessions. Mr. Goodall stated he felt that Land-Use Planners would have valuable information to add and should be included in the invitation list for the sessions. The Department of Forestry will handle the mailings. Mr. Turner asked Board members to also provide comments on who should be included on the mailing list.

The Department has trained facilitators that will be used at the sessions. Mr. Turner stated that once the information is gathered, it is the responsibility of the Board to complete the study. Either the full Board or a sub-committee will need to look at the information and summarize main ideas/issues that have emerged. Mr. Showalter recommended a sub-committee summarize the information and present to the full Board. Ms. Bates, Mr. Loving, Mr. Goodall, Ms. Webster, and Mr. Turner will serve on the sub-committee.

Chairman Turner discussed the role of the Board members at these sessions. He stated there would not be a lot of work for the host. Board member involvement can be as much or as little as they want it to be. The local Board member will do the welcome remarks, acknowledging any legislators in attendance.

Mr. Carroll reviewed the proposed PowerPoint to be used at each of these sessions. The title of the presentation is "Conserving Virginia's Forests: History, Problem Identification, and Incentives for Private Forestland Conservation". Once Mr. Carroll had given the presentation, each slide was reviewed and members were given the opportunity to discuss any editing remarks/suggested changes they may have. Mr. Forehand will revise the presentation and send out to the Board.

A sign-in sheet will be available at the registration desk for individuals to sign if they wish to speak/address the group. These sign-in sheets will be given to the host before the session starts so they will know who plans to speak. If legislators are present, the host needs to be given their names so they can introduce them during the introduction.

There will be a 30-minute "meet and greet" period from 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. at the beginning of each session. Following the "meet and greet", the information session will begin at 7:30 and end around 9:00 p.m.

Mr. McGlothlin stated a contact with law schools would be an option for researching the comparison of the incentives provided by other states. He thought there may be an interest in that arena and there may be grants available that could cover the cost of the research.

Mr. Turner will work with Mr. Loving and Mr. Garner to revise the Action Plan. A draft news release will be written and shared with Board members.

Mr. Turner would like to set a meeting date for the sub-committee no later than August 1. Once the meeting locations are confirmed, he will inquire about a date for the sub-committee to meet.

A script will be written for each Board host to use for the introduction.

Scheduling of Next Meetings

The summer meeting will be held in the Front Royal area on Wednesday, July 14, 2004. Dr. White will readjust the agenda based on the change of having the kick-off information gathering in conjunction with the Board meeting.

The Board will meet on September 21, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. at the Department of Forestry Central Office Board Room to discuss information collected from the information gatherings.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Hoy
Recording Secretary

c: Board Members
Dr. Gregory Brown, VPI
Mr. J. R. Bush, VFPA
Mr. Paul Howe, VFA
Mr. Cliff Rexrode, ACF
Ms. Maxine Kenny, WMMT News
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

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

Last modified: Friday, 07-Mar-2008 19:13:22 UTC