From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Jan 7 12:06:35 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 12:06:35 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forestry Board nears selection of new state forester, plans public forum Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A843FF@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Contacts: Dan Postrel, Oregon Department of Forestry, (503) 945-7420 Twyla Lawson, Senior Recruitment Consultant, Oregon Department of Administrative Services, (503) 373-7677 January 7, 2011 Forestry Board nears selection of new state forester, plans public forum Oregonians will have an opportunity to meet with finalists on Jan. 25 as the Oregon Board of Forestry prepares to select a new state forester. The board will conduct interviews and announce two to three finalists on Jan. 10. A final round of interviews, and the selection of a state forester, are scheduled for Jan. 26. The new forester will replace Marvin Brown, who served in the position from 2003 until his resignation in December 2010. Nancy Hirsch, chief of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) State Forests Division, is serving as acting state forester. The state forester carries out the board?s overarching policies and serves as director of ODF. The recruitment drew 15 applicants, 12 of whom met the qualifications for the position. The board has narrowed the field to six candidates, who will be interviewed in an executive session beginning at 7:45 a.m. Jan. 10 at ODF headquarters, at 2600 State St., in Salem. State law permits executive sessions, which are closed to the public, for limited purposes, including considering the employment of a chief executive officer. A final decision must be made in a meeting that is open to the public. Board Chair John Blackwell said the board plans to name two to three finalists following the Jan. 10 meeting. Those finalists will meet with ODF employees and with the public on Jan. 25. They will also have an opportunity to meet with Governor-elect John Kitzhaber before the board?s final selection. The public forum is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. in the Tillamook Room at ODF headquarters. Members of the public will have an opportunity to submit questions to moderator Twyla Lawson, a recruitment expert with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, who is coordinating the recruitment effort. Questions also can be emailed in advance to Twyla.Lawson at state.or.us At the end of the forum, attendees will be provided a link to an electronic survey that they can use until 9 p.m. to submit feedback, which will be compiled and submitted to the board. Board discussion and follow-up interviews with the finalists are scheduled for an 8 a.m. executive session at ODF headquarters on Jan. 26. The board will then enter an open session, which will include a public comment period, to make its appointment decision. The board?s goal is to have the new state forester on the job in early February. ?Forests are an enormously valuable resource in this state,? Blackwell said. But forests face major challenges, Blackwell noted, including securing adequate public funds for the department?s work in fire protection and enforcement of environmental laws. ?We?re seeking a state forester with strong leadership and communication skills, and the ability to connect with the public and a wide range of interest groups,? he said. ?This person will be a vital advocate for the protection and sustainable management of our forests.? ODF provides services including preventing and fighting wildfires on 15.8 million acres, most of them privately owned; managing state-owned forests; enforcing natural resource protection laws on private forestlands; advising landowners on sustainable forest management; and providing urban forestry assistance. The department has a $303 million two-year budget and about 650 employees. --- The Board of Forestry consists of seven citizen members nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate. For more information about the board and department, visit www.oregon.gov/odf . ### From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Jan 10 08:55:17 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:55:17 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Update Message from State Forester Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A32A9B@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News subscribers: Acting State Forester Nancy Hirsch provided this message to ODF staff Friday about a number of topics. Kevin Weeks Oregon Department of Forestry >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Message from Nancy Hirsch Hi everyone - I hope you all had some opportunities for rest and celebration during the holidays. The new year brings new challenges, opportunities and transitions - and some encouraging economic news. Here are a few updates to get us started. ***Selecting a new state forester The selection process is moving ahead, with the continued goal of having the position filled in early February. The Board of Forestry plans to announce two to three finalists after a series of interviews on Monday, and an employee/public forum is planned for January 25. Details of that event are being worked out, and I'll share more information about that in the near future. ***Lumber prices on the rise? After enduring some of the toughest market conditions in more than 75 years, the North American lumber market is poised for better times, thanks to recovering U.S. housing starts, improved repair and remodeling activity, and strong demand from China. That's the forecast from the International WOOD MARKETS Group, a consulting firm that provides ongoing market analysis. There's uncertainty about the timing - and more patience required - but the forecast suggests improvement starting in 2012, and strengthening demand in 2013 and 2014. You can view the company's press release at: www.woodmarkets.com/pressreleases.html ***A consolidated Forest Protection Division We're continuing to explore the concept of a consolidated division that would incorporate all of our protection functions - in fire, forest practices, insect and disease work, consultations with landowners, and urban forestry. We had a good conversation with the Board about the idea this week. While there is no specific timetable at this point, the Board is supportive, and would like us to continue to evaluate the efficiencies that might be gained. This is obviously a complex task, requiring input from the field as well as the Salem staff, along with our stakeholders. We'll continue to keep you updated as the process unfolds. ***Happy birthday to us One highlight of 2011 will be the celebration of ODF's 100th birthday. Thanks to much volunteer effort, particularly from our retirees, we'll be acknowledging this milestone in many ways. Look for more details about our centennial activities in an upcoming update from Doug Decker and Dan Thorpe, the co-chairs of our Centennial Workgroup. So, a happy new year to all. I'm looking forward to moving through 2011 with you. All the best, Nancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Jan 10 12:44:14 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:44:14 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] OFRI offers framework for forest literacy Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A32B6E@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) News Release Jan. 10, 2011 Contact: Dave Kvamme, OFRI - 971-673-2948 OFRI offers framework for forest literacy PORTLAND, Ore. - A new framework for Oregon forest literacy, developed over the past 12 months by a diverse statewide group, is now available on the Internet. Spearheaded by the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, the Oregon Forest Literacy Program, a K-12 Conceptual Guide to Teaching and Learning about Oregon Forests, presents a conceptual framework for educating Oregon's K-12 students about forests. The guide was made possible in part through a "Learn and Serve for Sustainability" grant from the Oregon Department of Education, jointly awarded to the Tillamook School District and OFRI. "As citizens of an abundantly forested state, Oregonians have a special responsibility to be forest-literate," said Paul Barnum, OFRI's executive director. "The literacy framework will enable us to prioritize the goals of our K-12 forest education programs and better align them with academic standards." The Oregon Forest Literacy Program contains two components. The first, called the Scope and Sequence, is a blueprint for helping teachers know what forest concepts to teach and when to teach them. It is built on a foundation of four questions: What is a forest? Why are forests important? How do we sustain our forests? What is our responsibility to Oregon forests? Within the framework, 62 concepts build on each other so students can progress from basic awareness to a deeper understanding of forest ecosystems, their importance, their sustainability and how they are managed. The second component includes templates for service-learning, an instructional and learning strategy in which students apply what they have learned in the classroom to natural-resource-based community service projects. Studies have shown that direct experiences in nature can improve students' overall academic performance. Nearly 70 people participated in the development of the program, including teachers, university faculty, conservationists, foresters, loggers, businesspeople and others. A steering group of education specialists directed the program. A statewide team developed the 62 concepts, which were reviewed by an even broader group of stakeholders. Beginning in the spring, OFRI will offer a series of workshops for forestry educators and professionals tied to the program. These workshops will help educators correlate classroom activities to the Scope and Sequence as well as to state academic standards. The Oregon Forest Literacy Program is available at Oregonforests.org, along with tools that correlate the forest-literacy concepts to Oregon's science and social science standards, as well as to OFRI's other educational materials. OFRI was created in 1991 by the Oregon legislature to improve public understanding of the state's forest resources and to encourage environmentally sound forest management through education. To learn more about the Oregon Forest Resources Institute and its work, visit OFRI online at Oregonforests.org. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Jan 10 19:29:11 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:29:11 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forestry Board names finalists for state forester position Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A84404@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Forestry Board names finalists for state forester position Contact: Dan Postrel, Oregon Department of Forestry, (503) 881-3453 The Oregon Board of Forestry Monday announced three finalists for the position of Oregon state forester. Board chair John Blackwell said the three are: Jim Paul, an assistant director with the Oregon Department of State Lands. Paul Bell, associate state forester with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and chief of the agency?s Fire Protection Division. Doug Decker, acting chief of ODF?s State Forests Division. Paul has been in his position with State Lands since May of 2010. He previously held a variety of positions at ODF, where he had worked since 1997, most recently as chief of the Private Forests Division. Bell held seasonal positions with ODF from 1977 through 1982, and returned to the agency in 1990, holding positions including Cascade district forester, based in Lyons, and private forests program director. Decker began with ODF in 1987 as the agency?s assistant director of public affairs, and has held positions including public affairs director and State Forests Division project leader. Announcement of the finalists came after the board interviewed six candidates, narrowed from an initial field of 12 who had qualified for the position. The board is scheduled to make its final selection on Jan. 26. Forums with the public and with ODF employees are scheduled before the final selection. The finalists will also have an opportunity to meet with Governor John Kitzhaber. The public forum is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. Jan. 25 in the Tillamook Room at ODF headquarters, at 2600 State St., in Salem. The successful candidate will succeed Marvin Brown, who served in the position from 2003 until his resignation in December 2010. The state forester carries out the board?s overarching policies and serves as director of ODF. ### From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Jan 11 09:31:38 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:31:38 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Ad Hoc Forest Cluster Working Group meets on January 18 In-Reply-To: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A32C99@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> References: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A32C99@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A32CA7@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Department of Forestry issued the following news release today. Oregon Department of Forestry News Brief Released: January 11, 2011 Ad Hoc Forest Cluster Working Group meets on January 18 WHAT: Representatives of Oregon's forest industry cluster invited by the Oregon Board of Forestry to discuss and make recommendations on how state government can improve and maintain a more favorable investment climate that fosters globally competitive forest-based businesses throughout the state. Oregon's forest products industries are key to the state's economic health. However, there remain both significant challenges and opportunities for increased vitality and economic growth of the state's forest cluster of allied industries and businesses. During this first meeting, the working group will 1) work towards a shared understanding of the highest priority strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing Oregon's forest cluster; 2) learn about work already underway to develop and implement a comprehensive State of Oregon forest cluster economic development strategy; 3) begin identifying and prioritizing specific recommendations for addressing both short-term barriers and opportunities for a healthy and resilient Oregon forest cluster and long term initiatives to sustain an Oregon forest cluster economic development strategy; and, 4) plan next steps for the work group. WHO: The Ad Hoc Oregon Forest Cluster Working Group. WHEN: 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 18, 2011. WHERE: Cheatham Hall, World Forestry Center, 4033 Southwest Canyon Road, Portland. WHY: To develop recommendations on changes to Oregon laws, policies, education, financing, other economic development programs, and state agency responsibilities to improve the vitality of Oregon's forest cluster businesses. . Contact: David Morman, Oregon Department of Forestry, at 503-945-7413 or dmorman at odf.state.or.us. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Jan 12 06:45:00 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 06:45:00 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee meets January 20 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A32E40@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry / NEWS RELEASE State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee meets January 20 in Salem January 12, 2011 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 Oregon's State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee will meet on Thursday January 20, 2011 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) headquarters in Salem, 2600 State Street (Operations Building D - Santiam meeting room). The proposed agenda for the meeting is scheduled to include a review and approval of changes to ODF forest stewardship management planning guidelines, updates on the Partners for Forestry Education, Uniform Resource Plan and Endorsement System and family forest Ties to the Land projects funded through the Western States Competitive Grant program of the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry, updates to the on-line Oregon Forest Atlas project, and review of Oregon's Forest Legacy Areas - geographic regions of the state that define eligibility to Oregon's Forest Legacy Program. Forest Legacy is a national cooperative forestry program of the U.S. Forest Service that seeks to conserve private forest lands in areas where forests may be lost to non-forest uses. Public comments are scheduled to be heard at 10:00 a.m. Members of the public are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7368. Additional information about the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee is available on ODF's web site at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/sfscc.shtml ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer ODF Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Jan 12 14:12:44 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:12:44 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forest Biomass transition report available Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A32F7D@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Forest Health & Biomass Energy Transition Team Recommendations to Governor-Elect Kitzhaber are now available through the Governor's Transition Team site: http://transition.johnkitzhaber.com/biomass/ Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Jan 13 07:06:09 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 07:06:09 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Committee for Family Forestlands advocates for small forest owners Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A32FF2@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Committee for Family Forestlands advocates for small-acreage forest owners; January meeting announced January 13, 2011 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 A landowner advisory group that advises the Oregon Board of Forestry on behalf of an estimated 65,000 owners of small-woodland or family owned forests - about 4.7 million acres of Oregon's forests - starts 2011 work with a meeting scheduled later in January. The Committee for Family Forestlands provides advice and information to the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester on ways to improve the vitality of Oregon's family forestlands, evaluate the impact of forest policy and regulatory changes on family forest owners, and expand opportunities for landowners to manage and market their timber, forest product and other economic resources. The next meeting of the Committee for Family Forestlands is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Thursday January 27, 2011 at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in Salem, 2600 State Street - Operations Building D, Sun Pass meeting room. The agenda for the meeting is under development. Twelve positions, seven voting members and five seats in non-voting roles, form the Committee. Voting members include family forest owners, an environmental community representative, a representative of Oregon's forest products industry and a citizen-at-large representing the public. Representatives of the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State University, forestry-related industry associations and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute serve in a non-voting capacity. Two members of the Committee, Craig Shinn of Canby and Sarah Deumling of Rickreall, were re-appointed to new three-year terms by the Board of Forestry during the Board's January 2011 meeting. Shinn serves as Chair of the Committee and represents the public as a citizen-at-large while Deumling serves as a representative of the environmental community. Members of the public are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7502. Oregon's forests are among one of the state's most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic and social benefits. Additional information about the Oregon Department of Forestry is available on ODF's web site, www.oregon.gov/ODF. ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer ODF Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Jan 14 16:31:45 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:31:45 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] State Forester finalist candidate information on web Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A3336E@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Department of Forestry on Friday posted additional information about the three finalists for the State Forester position on the ODF web site at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/stateforesterrecruitment.shtml The Board of Forestry has narrowed the field to three finalists for the Oregon State Forester position: Paul Bell, Doug Decker and Jim Paul. In forums to be held on January 25, they will field questions from Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) employees and the public. The board is scheduled to meet on January 26 for final interviews and selection of the new State Forester. Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Jan 18 14:19:56 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:19:56 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Public invited to Jan. 25 forum with Oregon state forester finalists Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1A33574@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. January 18, 2011 Public invited to Jan. 25 forum with Oregon state forester finalists Contacts: Twyla Lawson, Oregon Department of Administrative Services, (503) 373-7677 Dan Postrel, Oregon Department of Forestry, (503) 945-7420 Members of the public will have an opportunity at a Jan. 25 forum to meet with the three finalists for the position of Oregon State Forester, and to provide feedback through an electronic survey. The forum is scheduled for 12:45-3:45 p.m. in the Tillamook Room at the Oregon Department of Forestry's Salem headquarters, 2600 State St., in Salem. The event is organized by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS), which is coordinating the recruitment process. Twyla Lawson, senior recruitment consultant with DAS, said the forum will include opportunities to ask questions of the finalists (questions can also be sent to her in advance at Twyla.Lawson at state.or.us), and to use an electronic survey to offer input to the Oregon Board of Forestry. The board is scheduled to meet in executive session at Forestry headquarters at 8 a.m. on Jan. 26 for final interviews, review of input, and discussion, and then to enter an open session to make its appointment decision. The new state forester will succeed Marvin Brown, who resigned in December 2010. Lawson's invitation and description of the Jan. 25 event follows: - - - - - - - An invitation to meet the Oregon State Forester finalists Greetings, I'm writing to invite you to assist the Oregon Board of Forestry in selecting the next State Forester. As a stakeholder, we are interested in your thoughts about the candidates being considered for this important position. The Board has announced three finalists: Paul Bell, Associate State Forester and Fire Protection Division Chief with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF); Doug Decker, Acting State Forest Division Chief with ODF; and Jim Paul, an assistant director with the Oregon Department of State Lands, in charge of the agency's Land Management Division. The stakeholder forum is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, January 25 (detailed schedule provided below). Further information about the candidates is available on the ODF web site, www.oregon.gov/odf. The candidates will be asked to introduce themselves and provide a summary presentation of their background and experience. At the beginning of the forum, note cards will be provided for you to write down and submit questions you would like the candidates to address. In formulating your questions, I recommend that you think about one or two attributes or characteristics that are important to you in this position. You are also welcome to email your questions in advance to me at Twyla.Lawson at state.or.us. I know there is high interest in this selection process. As facilitator, I will do my best to fit in as many questions as possible. At the end of the forum, audio recordings will be posted to the ODF web site. Also at the end of the event, we will provide a survey link to collect your feedback regarding the candidates' strengths and weaknesses. The survey will be open until 9 p.m. The survey input will then be compiled and provided to the Board for their use prior to their making a final decision. The schedule is as follows: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 12:45 p.m. - 1 p.m. Orientation/explanation of the process 1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Paul Bell 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Doug Decker 3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Jim Paul 4:00 p.m. - 9 p.m. Submit your feedback via the electronic survey If you have questions about the process or would like to submit questions for the candidates in advance, feel free to email me at Twyla.Lawson at state.or.us. Sincerely, Twyla Lawson, SPHR Sr. Recruitment Consultant HR Management & Consultation, DAS http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/HR/index.shtml ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Jan 20 13:26:56 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:26:56 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] You're invited to celebrate on Feb 23 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1B624FF@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> SAVE THE DATE! A 100th birthday celebration for the Board and Department of Forestry When: February 23, 2011 Where: Oregon State Capitol - Galleria, 900 Court Street in Salem What: Historic displays (including a vintage fire engine), refreshments, a photo op with Smokey, presentation of a Governor's proclamation recognizing the ODF centennial, and more. We currently plan activities from 10 to 3, including a ceremonial presentation of the proclamation. We have invited Governor John Kitzhaber to join us. If he is able to do so, we'll adjust the ceremony times accordingly. Please pass the word to others - kids and grandkids included! Additional information about the ODF Centennial Year is available on the ODF web site, www.oregon.gov/ODF Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Jan 25 14:06:41 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:06:41 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Audio from State Forester Q&A Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1B62AE0@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Greetings - The three finalists for the position of Oregon State Forester are meeting with the public this afternoon for question & answer forums at the Oregon Department of Forestry's (ODF) Salem campus. We are making recordings of the session available online for those who are interested, and also providing an opportunity for you to provide feedback to the Board of Forestry through an electronic survey. We have now posted audio from the first portion of the forum, with finalist Paul Bell, on the ODF web site, at http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/stateforesterrecruitment.shtml We expect to post audio of the second portion, with finalist Doug Decker, shortly after 3:00pm, and the third, with Jim Paul, at about 4:00pm. If you're interested in providing feedback to the Board after listening to the recordings, you'll find a link to the survey in the same place on our web site. The survey will be available until 9 p.m. Tuesday. Also posted for your reference are profiles of each finalist, as well as recent ODF news releases about the recruitment process. The Board has set aside time during its executive session Wednesday morning to review the public feedback received through the survey. The Board is scheduled to begin an open session at 2 p.m. Wednesday to make its final selection. Thanks for your interest and participation in this process. Dan Postrel Agency Affairs Director Oregon Department of Forestry 2600 State Street Salem, OR 97310 (503) 945-7420 www.oregon.gov/odf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Jan 26 16:23:22 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:23:22 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Doug Decker selected as new Oregon State Forester Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1B62D02@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE January 26, 2011 Contacts: Dan Postrel, Oregon Department of Forestry, (503) 945-7420 Twyla Lawson, Oregon Department of Administrative Services, (503) 373-7677 Doug Decker selected as new Oregon State Forester The state Board of Forestry Wednesday selected Doug Decker, a Department of Forestry executive and leader of several major agency initiatives in recent years, as Oregon's next state forester. Decker will assume his duties on Feb. 1, succeeding Marvin Brown, who resigned effective last Dec. 31. "Doug is an excellent communicator and understands the challenges facing the Oregon Department of Forestry," Blackwell said. "He has the skills to bring ODF into better alignment with a multitude of stakeholders, and to keep the department focused on its mission. "Doug understands the leadership role required of the state forester, and is deeply committed to building on the agency's 100-year legacy of forest protection and management." Decker, of Portland, most recently has been acting chief of the department's state forests division. He began with the agency in 1987 as a public affairs specialist, and served as public affairs director from 1990 to 1996. He led development of the Tillamook Forest Center, an interpretive facility in the Tillamook State Forest, from 1996 to 2006. Most recently, he oversaw acquisition in Central Oregon of the Gilchrist State Forest, Oregon's first new state forest in more than 60 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Montana. "I am deeply honored to be selected for this job and look forward to working with the board, the Governor and our many stakeholders and partners to shape the conversation about forests and forestry," Decker said. The selection followed a recruitment process, coordinated by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, that included a nationwide search. Decker was selected from a field of 12 candidates who met qualifications for the position. On Wednesday, the board chose Decker from among three finalists. Although the vote was 4-2, all members expressed support for Decker, and said all three finalists were well qualified. The others were Paul Bell, associate state forester at the department and chief of its fire protection division, and Jim Paul, an assistant director at the Oregon Department of State Lands and former Department of Forestry executive. Oregon's state forester carries out the board's overarching policies through leadership of the Department of Forestry. The state forester serves as director of the department, which provides services including preventing and fighting wildfires, managing state-owned forests, enforcing natural resource protection laws on private forestlands, advising landowners, and providing urban forestry assistance. The agency has about 650 employees and a two-year budget of about $303 million. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Jan 27 07:07:31 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:07:31 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Request for USDA Oregon grant proposals Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E1B62D42@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> From: Deiss, Jeff - Portland, OR Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 11:23 AM To: Jeff Deiss (jeff.deiss at or.usda.gov) Subject: Request for Oregon RBEG proposals Dear friend of rural business development in Oregon! USDA Rural Development-Oregon is now seeking concept papers for our general Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program in Oregon. THE RBEG PROGRAM: Through our RBEG program, USDA Rural Development (RD) provides grant funds for PRECISELY-TARGETED technical assistance, training, feasibility studies, and other activities that support the development of SPECIFICALLY-IDENTIFIABLE, privately-owned, small business enterprises in rural areas. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, public bodies, and tribes. DEADLINE! If you are interested, please review the following guidance and submit a proposal as outlined below by March 4, 2011. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW: Everything you need to know about the RBEG program and to respond to this opportunity is available on RD-Oregon's RBEG web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbeg.htm FUNDS AVAILABLE: Although the exact amount of RBEG funding available is not yet certain, it is likely that there will be about $400,000 of RBEG funds allocated to Oregon (roughly the same amount as last year). Although the RBEG program is relatively small, it can still be an invaluable tool in rural business development. Last year our office received 107 Oregon RBEG proposals seeking just over $2,000,000, out of which we awarded 40 grants, with sizes ranging from $5,000-$25,000. TYPES OF PROPOSALS WE ARE SEEKING: In order to distribute the limited RBEG funds among as many worthy proposals as possible, we are encouraging proposals seeking not more than $25,000. However, in order to provide a meaningful level of assistance, we would generally not encourage proposals for less than $10,000. Technical assistance/problem-solving proposals are encouraged over real estate and revolving loan fund projects. In developing your proposal, please pay particular attention to the priority scoring system described in the "RBEG program overview" link on our web site. It is used by USDA to select among RBEG applicants. Design your project to maximize your project's priority score and thereby improve your prospects of success. Note that in order to be competitive, a minimum 1:1 match with nonfederal funds is advised. In FY2011, USDA's State Director discretionary points will be awarded to projects emphasizing: Baseline Priority #1: Projects likely to lead to immediate job creation Priority #2: Projects with a regional approach, leveraging regional resources Economic development strategies Food & Value-Added * Value-added processing * Local foods & food hubs * Healthy Foods Financing Initiative * Rural groceries * Food deserts * USDA's Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices Energy * Energy efficiency assistance for small business & farmers * Renewable energy for small business & farmers * Biomass (especially involving US Forest Service) * Ethanol pump deployment Underserved Groups * Hispanic business development * Native American business development Main Streets & downtown revitalization * Linking historic preservation & economic development * Energy efficient Main Streets * Electric charging stations supporting rural tourism * Smart growth New Capital Markets * Angel investment network development * Ecosystem financing General Business Assistance * Legal aid * Remote rural TA * Entrepreneurship development Workforce Development that increases employment opportunities or job security Innovative financing * Microlending best practices * Peer lending * New Market Tax Credits International Markets and Export Development Sustainable Forestry * Projects receiving support from US Forest Service's Collaborative Landscape Restoration Grant Natural resource-based tourism Business development utilizing telecommunications & broadband New and creative approaches to rural business development A CONCEPT PAPER IS REQUESTED: Since we expect to receive many more RBEG proposals than we can fund, instead of seeking full, detailed applications, we are only seeking a brief "concept paper" from prospective applicants. This will save everyone time and effort while still allowing USDA to survey the field of candidate projects. The RBEG "Concept Paper" can be downloaded from our RBEG web site (see above). Please be succinct and clear in completing it. When finished, a "Concept Paper" should not need to be more than 2 pages, and no advantage will be given to longer proposals. Remember, we are soliciting concepts, not full RBEG application packages. DEADLINE FOR CONCEPT PAPERS: Your RBEG "Concept Paper" should be submitted to the Oregon Rural Development State Office - preferably by e-mail to julie.stedman at or.usda.gov by not later than March 4, 2011. If you wish to send it by regular mail, our address is: USDA Rural Development, Attn: Business & Cooperative Programs, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Ste. 801, Portland, OR 97232. THE REVIEW & SELECTION PROCESS: This year we will again use a geographic allocation of RBEG funds within Oregon corresponding to RD's organizational structure of four Area Offices - one in eastern Oregon (Pendleton), one in central Oregon (Redmond), one in northwestern Oregon (Corvallis), and one in southwestern Oregon (Roseburg). 20% of the RBEG funds will be allotted to each area, with the remaining 20% used as either a state reserve or for projects that transcend area boundaries. Concept proposers are strongly encouraged to discuss their proposals with the RD Business Programs Specialist in the Area Office responsible for the part of the state where the project will focus. Contact information for these individuals is online at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/bizcontact.htm Feedback will be provided to all Concept Paper proposers. Proposals that appear to be most competitive will be especially encouraged to submit full applications, though of course everyone will be welcome to apply formally. Tentatively, we will be asking for full applications by around April 4. This should allow us to make RBEG award announcements in May so that projects can start by not later than June. (This estimated timeframe is based on the assumption that the FY2011 Federal Budget will be finalized in the next month or so.) QUESTIONS? If you have questions or concerns, please contact anyone on Oregon's Business & Cooperative Programs staff. Our contact information is on-line at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/bizcontact.htm Thanks for your efforts in Oregon rural business development. We look forward to working with you on your innovative proposals! Jeff Deiss, Business & Cooperative Program Director USDA Rural Development, Oregon State Office 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Ste. 801, Portland, OR 97232-1274 jeff.deiss at or.usda.gov 503-414-3367 phone; 503-414-3397 fax Visit our web site, http://www.ruralOregon.biz For energy programs, http://energy.ruralOregon.biz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Jan 31 11:31:04 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:31:04 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] OFRI 2011 Forest Facts and Figures now available Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E237FFE6@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> OREGON FOREST RESOURCES INSTITUTE News Release Jan. 31, 2011 Contact: Dave Kvamme, OFRI - 971-673-2948 Available now from OFRI:"Oregon Forest Facts and Figures 2011" PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon Forest Resources Institute has published the 2011 edition of "Oregon Forest Facts and Figures," which can be downloaded or ordered from OFRI's website. The publication offers 32 jam-packed pages of current, accurate forestry information at a glance. Repeated and updated from the first version are basic statistics such as Oregon's total forestland area (30,472,000 acres), forestland by owner (60 percent federal government) and potential biomass acreage (4.25 million acres), as well as many other up-to-date statistics. Changes in the new 2011 edition focus on economics and jobs. For example, additional topics provide data regarding loss of infrastructure, decline in forest-sector employment during the recession, and the forest sector's ranking in Oregon's total payroll. On the positive side, numbers document progress on watershed restoration and how the green economy offers high-paying blue-collar jobs. "Oregon Forest Facts and Figures" offers a snapshot of the state's forest sector at a crossroads. On one path are at-risk forests and loss of jobs. Down another path is a nimble forest sector with the assets to supply good-paying employment, thriving ecosystems and healthy communities. To order a copy, please visit Oregonforests.org. Under the pull-down menu for "Facts & Resources," choose "Publications." Scroll down to "Oregon Forest Facts and Figures 2011" and download a PDF version or order a copy to be shipped to you at no cost. -30- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: