Association News

Organizational Changes for APA
On January 23 the Engineered Wood Association (APA) announced it would close its international offices in Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom effective March 10, and that it is making other organizational changes in response to market conditions and budget constraints imposed by membership and dues income declines. Recent APA member mill closures and withdrawals will reduce the Association’s income by about 10 percent this year, says APA President Dave Rogoway. Closure of the international offices and other cost-cutting measures, which include both staff and program reductions, are "designed to enable us to continue providing the core quality, technical and market support services of greatest value to our members," Rogoway says. The Association also announced that Thomas G. Williamson has been appointed to the newly created position of Vice President, Quality Assurance and Technical Services.

Intermountain Logging Conference
The 65th annual Intermountain Logging Conference will be held April 8-11 at the Spokane County Fairgrounds in Spokane, Wash. Attendees will enjoy displays of the latest logging equipment, accredited seminars and new revised registration dues to fit any company budget. For more information call (208) 983-1108, e-mail timber@theofficenet.com or log onto their web site at www.intermountainlogging.com.

FRA Holds Annual Meeting
The Forest Resources Association (FRA) will hold its 2003 annual meeting May 2-5 at the Harvey’s Hotel on Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The focus will be "Stewardship and Sustainability: Where is the Common Ground?" and "The President’s Healthy Forests Initiative." Interior Secretary Gale Norton has been invited to deliver the keynote address on implementing the HFI.

PLC Announces 2003 Officers
The Pacific Logging Congress announced its officers for 2003. The elected group consists of Larry Duysen, 2003 President; Allen Ribelin, 1st Vice President; Ralph Torney, 2nd Vice President; Ed Hanscom, 3rd Vice President; Jim Petersen, 4th Vice President; Ron Simon, Treasurer; and 2002 Immediate Past President Dave Wellman. The new officers will work closely with the Pacific Logging Congress Board of Directors and staff in preparation for the 2003 Convention to be held at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii, November 3, 4, and 5, 2003.

ALC of Idaho Holds Annual Meeting
The 35th annual Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho annual meeting will be held April 24-26 at the Quality Inn in Clarkston, Wash. For more information contact that ALC office at (208) 667-6473 or (800) 632-8743.

Reduction in Greenhouse Gases
On February 12 the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas intensity as part of President Bush’s voluntary plan to address climate change. AF&PAmembers have a number of programs under way to meet the President’s climate objectives. Among them are inventorying and reporting on greenhouse gases, enhancing sequestration in managed forests and products, improving technologies and energy efficiency, using co-generation, and increasing use of renewable energy and recycling. "Based on preliminary calculations, we expect that these programs will reduce our greenhouse gas intensity by 12 percent by 2012 relative to 2000," Moore said in the letter.

PPRC in Washington, D.C.
The Pulp and Paperworkers Resource Council held its annual fly-in to Washington, D.C. the week of February 1-7. Approximately 60 pulp, paper, and other forest products mill employees met for issue briefings (hearing from Ag Undersecretary Mark Rey, along with FRA’s Richard Lewis and Steve Jarvis and other industry and congressional content experts). They visited an estimated 300 congressional offices during the week, focusing on four issues they have identified as most crucial to preserving their jobs:
• Continued favorable action on the "New Source Review" regulations under the Clean Air Act;
• A fair resolution of the Canadian lumber dispute;
• Reform of the Endangered Species Act; and
• Addressing the forest health crisis.

FRA Pushes For Action
 FRA President Richard Lewis is asking that the industry join together to push ahead the President's Healthy Forests Initiative. "President Bush has asked for the forest industry's support for his Healthy Forests Initiative as it turns from an idea to policy," says Lewis. "While congress can and may make some of these changes happen, there are others the administration can accomplish itself – with our help. Part of that means giving the President support through numbers." By linking to the web site below, you can put your name in the record in support of five different administrative processes pushing for changes. "Response has been building and now exceeds 200 submissions per day," says Lewis. "We want to build it further." The process is simple and takes less than two minutes. The web site is http://capwiz.com/landsense/home.

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