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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008>ODF Private Forests News members:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008>State Forester Marvin Brown issued this message
yesterday following the release of the Governor's Recommended Budget, which does
contain proposed service reductions for ODF, contained primarily within the
Private Forests Division.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008>Questions about the ODF Private Forests News
service?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008>Contact:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008>Kevin Weeks</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008>ODF Agency Affairs / Private Forests
Division</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=350540715-02122008>(503) 945-7427</SPAN></FONT></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> BROWN Marvin D <BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday,
December 01, 2008 4:27 PM<BR><B>To:</B> ALL FORESTRY<BR><B>Subject:</B> from
Marvin Brown<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Dear Fellow Employees,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The Governor’s recommended budget came out today, and given the attention
that budgets and economic conditions have received of late I’d like to share
some thoughts.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Before I get to these, I want to say first that no matter the size of our
budget, the number of people working for us, or who makes up the executive
staff……you in the field and <SPAN class=816072600-02122008>those
</SPAN>serving on staff are the ones who make it possible for us to achieve our
mission and deliver on our commitments….even when times get uncertain.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you so much for your
dedication and continued hard work.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>It is so great to be able to work with all of you.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>So, to some thoughts on recent budget news.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">First, our
success isn’t measured by the size of our budget.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s measured by what we accomplish on
the ground.</B><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The time to
celebrate our achievements is not when we manage to get more funds and
people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When we’re able to improve
our systems in ways that allow doing more with less, that’s when we should be
very proud of ourselves.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Or when we
can sell a major initiative that can make significant positive improvements to
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s
forests, then that’s what we should be passionate about.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The reason we exist as an agency is because forests are important to
people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Taking care of that
resource should be our focus every day, using whatever resources we have
available.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My intent and direction
is that we fulfill that responsibility with our normal can-do vigor and sense of
commitment.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Second, there are
many government functions that are important to people.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are just one of those, and we’re
probably not the most important one.</B><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>When I first started my career some 30+ years ago, a retiring director
pointed out to me that those of us who are in this field come to it with such
passion that we sometimes lose perspective as to where we rank among the myriad
of human needs.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>When government leaders are making difficult choices about what to fund
we need to take a breath and maintain an appreciation for the full range of
government services that people need.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Food, shelter, the safety and security of our families, the education of
our children…..we can certainly make the case that forests play a vital role in
providing for important benefits……but when it comes to filling basic needs we’re
just one of a cast of<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>characters,
many of them being arguably more important.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Third, your
agency leadership has done truly outstanding work getting us to this point in
the process.</B><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m not talking
about myself.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The folks who lead
the programs and support functions are the ones who are realistically and
effectively anticipating what we need to be analyzing, sifting through every
option, thinking strategically, being creative and spending numerous extra hours
collaborating on what will produce the best possible outcome.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>They have put a heavy emphasis on planning and managing this in a way
that will try to minimize hardships to employees.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We know that the personal impacts from a
reduction in positions weigh on everyone and your leadership is working
diligently to mitigate those impacts whenever possible.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>We couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be leading us through
this effort.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Fourth, there is
never a good time to be “penny wise and pound foolish.”</B><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When you have fewer people they need to
be even better trained and equipped.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>When we’re negotiating some difficult times we need more communication
not less….much of that face to face…..even when that means travel to
meetings.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Training will continue, and as we should always be doing, we’ll look for
the most efficient ways to carry it out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We need to continue to make the right investments in equipment and
capital…..including the potential land acquisition that we have discussed in the
past.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">And finally, we
are a long way from knowing what our final budget will look like.</B><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our job is to support the Governor’s
Recommended Budget.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What the
Governor supports can evolve as the legislative session progresses and as the
overall economic picture may change.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We don’t ever know what the course of that evolution may be, but trust
that I and the other executive staff, as well as our stakeholders, will be fully
engaged.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>At this point the budget recommends that the fire budget stay fairly
whole, as does the state forests program, while private lands will take a
slightly less than ten percent reduction in total.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Jim Paul has done a good job keeping you informed on what such a
reduction might look like.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He’s
also nicely articulated that this is an excellent time to take a long overdue
look at the Private Lands Program overall.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The issues we’re expecting to face in the future are not the same issues
upon which the current program was built, and this is the perfect time to be
bringing that conversation together.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>In order to keep the fire budget whole the Governor is recommending some
of state forest timber revenues and increased landowner contribution proposals
that will no doubt get plenty of attention from various interests.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>It looks like we have the opportunity to continue to pursue a possible
land purchase which would be financed and then repaid through timber
revenues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And we should have the
chance to continue describing the merits of the Wildfire Reduction
Act.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Though some important initiatives like the federal forests liaison
program are not recommended, there are major stimulus packages being discussed
at the federal budget level that may eventually represent an
opportunity.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>All in all….under the circumstances…..and knowing that you’ve got some
determined folks at work….I don’t think we’re doing too badly.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And where we have challenges, I have a
lot of confidence that we will deal with them professionally and effectively.
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Marvin Brown</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>