[ODF_Private_Forests] OFRI names new board chair

[WEEKS Kevin]

ODF Private Forests News list members -

This news release from the Oregon Forest Resources Institute is forwarded to you at OFRI's request.



Kevin Weeks

Oregon Dept. of Forestry

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Oregon Forest Resources Institute

News Release



August 27, 2008



Contact:  Dave Kvamme, OFRI - 971-673-2948



Oregon Forest Resources Institute names Peter Sikora new board chair



PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon Forest Resources Institute's (OFRI) Board of Directors today announced that it elected Peter Sikora to be its new board chair. OFRI is a semi-independent state organization dedicated to forestry education.



      Sikora, chief operating officer for Giustina Resources in Eugene, replaces Carol Whipple who has served for two consecutive terms as OFRI's board chair. Whipple, owner of the Rocking C Ranch near Elkton, remains on OFRI's board. Sikora has served as OFRI's vice chair for two terms.



      "I'm honored," said Sikora, "and look forward to working with OFRI's award-winning staff to build on the work of past boards in providing the public and forest landowners with accurate and credible information about Oregon's forests."



      OFRI's board also named Sara Leiman, co-owner of Coast Range Conifers LLC in Monroe, as vice chair of OFRI's board. Earlier this month, OFRI's board named Paul Barnum as its new executive director assuming the post from Leslie Lehmann, who retired after 16 years as OFRI's founding executive director.



      OFRI has completed the first year of a five-year strategic plan. That plan articulates OFRI's mission to inform the public about Oregon's forests and to promote healthy, productive forestlands. The plan also seeks to educate forest landowners about public expectations for forest stewardship and best forest management practices to meet or exceed the requirements of Oregon's landmark Forest Practices Act first passed by the Oregon Legislature in 1971. OFRI's strategic plan also reaches out to K-12 audiences and promotes a growing skilled and technology-savvy forestry workforce.



      The Oregon State Legislature created the Oregon Forest Resources Institute in 1991 and is dedicated to public understanding of forest stewardship to meet the social, environmental and the economic needs of both present and future generations of Oregonians. OFRI is funded by a portion of the harvest tax on forest products producers. The OFRI Board represents small, medium and large forest products producers, small woodland owners and forest products employees. Ex-officio board members include the dean of the Oregon State University College of Forestry and a representative of the general public appointed jointly by the president of the Oregon Senate and the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.



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For questions about the ODF Private Forests News service, contact -



Kevin Weeks

ODF Agency Affairs / Private Forests Division

(503) 945-7427
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