2007 MN SAF Officers Chart

Executive Committee:

The Executive Committee consists of the chair of the state society acting as the chair of the 
committee, past chair, chair-elect, secretary-treasurer, and chairs of the state standing 
committees. In accordance with the MN SAF bylaws, the Executive Committee shall give 
general supervision to affairs of the state society and its contacts with the national society; 
control the expenditure of all funds; approve the place, date and program of all state meetings; 
adopt a charter for each standing committee outlining its objectives, organization, and activities; 
appoint members to the unexpired term of any Executive Committee member; advise the chair 
on all matters brought by the chair to the committee; and act for the state society on urgent 
matters which require immediate action between state society meetings. For more information 
contact the State Chair.

Current Chair  
Lynn Mizner - MnDNR
1200 Minnesota Ave.
Aitkin, MN 56431

218-927-7511 Lynn.Mizner@dnr.state.mn.us

Chair Elect      
Beth Jacqmain - Aitkin County Land Dept.
209 2nd St. NW Room 209
Aitkin, MN 56431

218-927-7333    beth.jacqmain@co.aitkin.mn.us

Past Chair

Lance Sorensen - MnDNR
1801 S. Oak St.
Lake City, MN 55041
651- 345-3216    lance.sorensen@dnr.state.mn.us

Secretary/Treasurer
Richard Peterson - MnDNR
1810 30th St. NW
Faribault, MN 55021-1843
507-333-2012    Richard.Peterson@dnr.state.mn.us

Forester's Fund Chair  
Eli Sagor
1530 Cleveland Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
612-624-6948    esagor@umn.edu

State Meeting Minutes 12-01-2004  

Student Fund Guidelines

Student Fund Application  

MN Forester Newsletter:  

The newsletter editor publishes the Minnesota Forester and chapter newsletters; develops policies for newsletter content; and coordinates newsletter content with the work done by other committees.

Submissions to the MN Forester are welcome. If you would like to make a submission please use the following guidelines.

• Text files should be in MS Word. Content should reflect SAF activities or “in the field” related stories.
  

• Photos and other graphics should be created as a .JPEG or GIF file.
  

• Submissions should be sent electronically to the Newsletter Editor.
  

• Dues dates are June 1^st, September 1^st, December 1^st, and March 1^st.

For more information contact the Newsletter Editor:

Patty Thielen
206 Main St. E
Baudette, MN 56623                        218-634-2172
patty.thielen@dnr.state.mn.us

The MN Forester Newsletter will soon be available as a PDF file.  To download Adobe Acrobat Reader software click on the icon below:  

NEW: Archives of the Minn-E-Forester monthly E-newsletter are now available!! If you need information
on past SAF activities and issues or want to receive future updates click on the the following link:

Minn-E-Forester

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MN Forests For Humanity:                                                                  
Mission Statement

The goal of Forests for Humanity is to provide a positive emotional message that can enhance public understanding of the value of active forest management to maintain viable, high quality, diverse forest ecosystems while providing for human needs.  It will put the concept of "think globally, act locally" into realistic, meaningful terms people can appreciate and participate in directly.

What Is Forests For Humanity?

Forests for Humanity is a national project sponsored by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). It emphasizes the relationship between people and sound forest management by demonstrating how foresters, forest landowners, loggers, and the forest industry help grow and enhance forests to provide healthy habitats for all living things, including people. This message is communicated directly through involvement of the public, and indirectly through news articles, TV station reports, and educational programs.

Forests For Humanity is MN SAF’s effort to participate in and expand the scope of the national partnership between SAF and Habitat for Humanity. Minnesota continues to be a leader in the FFH project.

MN SAF Forests for Humanity works in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity, Log- A- Load for Kids, and other partner organizations. Habitat for Humanity Minnesota provides decent, safe, affordable housing for needy families. Log-A-Load for Kids donates funds to support special medical care for children.

How Does It Work?

Forests for Humanity begins when SAF members work with forest landowners to prepare environmentally sound forest management plans. If the plan recommends harvesting timber, the landowner can then contribute a portion of wood to the program. Cash donations are also gratefully accepted as an alternative for those that do not own forest land, or do not plan to harvest timber.

Where Do Houses Come From? The Forests for Humanity Cycle:

The first Habitat for Humanity home was built in August, 1998. The delivery of wood to build several Habitat for Humanity homes through 2003 represents years of planning, work and follow-up by dozens of people involved in Minnesota’s forestry and wood products communities.

The process of turning trees into homes for this project began and ends with neighboring landowners interested in the long-term health and vitality of their forested lands.  Along the way, many have donated their time, resources and abilities to benefit Minnesota’s families.

2005 Projects

• FEB 2005: A private landowner is donating all the harvestable timber on 300 acres south of Blackberry (about 20 miles SE of Grand Rapids) to the MN SAF Forests for Humanity program. The timber will be converted to cash and building products that will benefit Habitat for Humanity and Log-A-Load for Kids. We are working with forestry students from the U of M (Feb 12 and March 5) and Vermillion Community College (Feb 11 and 22) to cruise the timber.
  
  We need at least 5 foresters on each field day in order to permit dividing the students into teams of 3. We will also need snowmobiles to ferry people into the site, and the usual field gear for cruising and painting permit boundaries.  We also need some help on coordinating logistics.
  
  SAF participants should be prepared to demonstrate the use of cruising tools and procedures, including species identification. SAF participants should also encourage student discussion on if a stand should be harvested and how the harvest should be designed. We will use point sampling and record individual plot data and field observation so the students can use the data back in the classroom.
  
  If you would like to participate in this great project please give FFH coordinator Rick Dahlman a call ASAP 651-259-5257 or rick.dahlman@dnr.state.mn.us

2004 Projects

• On Oct 6, 2004 forester Kevin O'Brien and FFH Coordinator Rick Dahlman will be meeting with private landowner Dave Arnold and Johnson logging to sign the timber harvest agreement so the Arnold timber can be harvested this winter (see the 2004 FFH project by clicking here).
  
  Lance Sorensen and Rick Dahlman will be meeting with Riviera Cabinets in Red Wing, MN as well. They have tentatively agreed to work with us to convert the Arnold donation into kitchen cabinets. Woodcraft Industries in St Cloud, MN manufactures the solid wood components for Riviera.
  
  In addition, private landowner Dave Parent of Blackberry, MN would like to meet with the FFH Committee to begin organizing how to proceed with the harvest of the timber he is offering to FFH to benefit Habitat for Humanity and Log-A-Load for Kids. Forest management classes from both the University of Minnesota and Vermillion Community College and the Log-A-Load for Kids program have agreed to work with us to put a timber harvest plan together for this 300 acres. We will need a number of members to help with the field work and overall project coordination. Anyone interested in participating in the field visit being scheduled is welcome. Please contact the FFH Coordinator for more information.
   

• Prairie Home Bike Ride 500: This year's ride starts in Hutchinson and includes overnight stops in Lake Crystal, Faribault, Albert Lea, Le Sueur, New Ulm, and Willmar. The ride begins July 11th and ends the 17th. You can support Minnesota SAF riders by sending a cash donation to these folks. Each rider must raise at least $750. Riders will peddle their bikes 500 miles as their way of directly supporting Habitat for Humanity.
  
  If you want to support your fellow SAF members on this ride, send your tax-deductible donations to: 
  
  Craig Sterle- MN DNR Forestry
  1604 S. Hwy. 33
  Cloquet, MN 55720
  
  Please make all checks out to Habitat for Humanity Minnesota. 
  
  For more information about the ride, contact Craig Sterle at craig.sterle@dnr.state.us
  

Why Should You Participate?

Forests for Humanity provides an opportunity for landowners, foresters, loggers, and forest product companies to contribute to the health of their communities and to the well-being of local citizens. It provides a means of showcasing the importance of managing our forests to meet the needs of people and protecting the environment in a practical and tangible manner.

How To Get Involved

For general information about the FFH events or how you can get involved please contact Forests for Humanity Chair

Rick Dahlman – MN DNR Forestry
500 Lafayette Rd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
Rick.dahlman@dnr.state.mn.us
651-259-5257

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Communications:

The Communications Committee is responsible for external communications to the media, general public, and special interest groups concerning MN SAF events, programs, and issues of concern. The Communications chair oversees the development and content of the MN SAF website, Minn-E-Forester newsletter, and keeps SAF members updated on new website information. For more information contact the Communications Chair.

Archives of the Minn-E-Forester monthly E-newsletter are now available!! If you need information on past SAF activities and issues or want to receive future updates click on the the following link:

Minn-E-Forester

Stephen J. Nicholson
Kunde Consultants

405 Hardman Ave.
South Saint Paul, MN 55075
SteveN@sstree.com
651-484-0114

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Education: 

The Youth Education Chair is responsible for encouraging and coordinating SAF involvement in education programs for schools and youth groups. For more information contact the Education Chair

Vacant 

• MN SAF Natural Resources in the Classroom
   

• MN Project Learning Tree Article Jan. 2005
   

The Continuing Education Chair is responsible for managing the Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credit program, and serving as a liaison to institutions of higher learning that offer courses in forestry within the state society boundaries.

For more information contact the Continuing Education Chair:

Larry Westerberg
treeguru@juno.com

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Policy & Legislation:

The Policy and Legislation Committee is responsible for monitoring forestry-related legislation and public agency policies and keeping MN SAF members informed about them. The Committee is responsible for reviewing or developing new position statements for the MN SAF to consider and recommending modification, reaffirmation, or termination of any existing position statements. For more information contact the Policy Chair

Bruce Cox- Clearwater Co. Land Department 
RR2 Box 405
Shevlin, MN 56676
218-694-6227
bruce@cox.co.clearwater.mn.us

Policy Issues: 

June, 2004: The MN Executive Committee and Policy Chair Bruce Cox wrote a letter to 
the Federal Committee on Appropriations regarding the possible cancellation of funding for the 
Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP).  You can read this response here--
MN SAF FLEP Letter  

For background information about FLEP visit www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/flep.shtml

2003 MN SAF Position Statement-- Short Rotation Woody Crops  

1998 MN SAF Position Statement-- Canada Lynx  

Look here for more information on National SAF Policy.

For an overview of National SAF Forest Briefings click on the icon   

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Forester Certification:  

For more information on this program click on the national SAF Certified Forester icon below:

The MN SAF Certification Program reflects the current standards of the national SAF program.  These include:

• A B.S. degree in forestry, or a closely related field with appropriate additional course
  work.
  

• Five years of forestry experience within the last ten years.
  

• Completion of 60 CEUs in approved topics.  Continued certification requires an additional 60 CEUs every three years. 

MN SAF certification efforts are strongly supported by the Stewardship Program and the MN Association of Consulting Foresters 

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Membership:

The Membership Committee is responsible for promoting membership in MN SAF, including the recruit of new members, students, and other natural resource professionals. The Committee shall encourage retention of existing members by helping to involve members in SAF activities and by evaluating and recommending improvements in member services. For more information contact the Membership Chair or click on the Membership Link.  

Vacant

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Nominations/Awards:

     
Awards Criteria  

SAF Fellowship Nomination & Process  

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Foresters Fund:

The Forester’s Fund Committee helps generate revenue for the MN Forester’s Fund that shall be used to support SAF programs, especially those programs appropriate for forestry students, and aimed at external audiences. The Forester’s Fund Committee also helps with fundraising activities at the annual state convention. For more information contact the Forester’s Fund Chair.

Eli Sagor- University of Minnesota Extension Service
116B Green Hall
1530 N Cleveland Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
esagor@umn.edu
612-624-6948

To find out how to apply for a National Foresters Fund grant. 

2004 MN SAF Foresters Fund Report 

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The History Committee collects and organizes documents that depict the MN SAF’s history. The Committee shall promote past successes of foresters and SAF. For more information contact the History Chair

Keith Matson--USFS (retired)
Box 132
Deer River, MN 56636
keithmatson@hotmail.com
218-246-8104

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