Association News

FRA Examines "Tree-Free" Claim
FRA and other industry organizations are taking a stand against claims made that consuming "tree-free" products will save the forests and possibly the planet. In the spring of 2002, FRA adopted a policy of confronting organizations that make these claims. When FRA President Richard Lewis recently noticed a rack of greeting cards imprinted with the message "Paper can be made with an alternative to trees—saving our forests. We use kenaf, a plant grown in the southern United States. By using kenaf, we are supporting farmers and preserving valuable animal habitat . . . etc.," he took action. He purchased both the card and the accompanying envelope, submitted them to Integrated Paper Services and requested a microscopic fiber analysis. The results? Neither the card nor the envelope contained kenaf. The card is 27 percent pine pulp and 73 percent hardwood, and the envelope is 44 percent "spruce and/or hemlock" and 56 percent hardwood. The president of the card manufacturing company, when confronted, suggested that either his printer or the printer’s paper supplier was practicing a deception, and vowed to take corrective action. FRA says anyone can deploy this system for keeping manufacturers, retailers, or direct mailers honest. Obtaining an optical fiber analysis of any paper sample costs about $100. Contact Mr. Walter J. Rantanen, Group Leader, Fiber and Optical Science, Integrated Paper Services, Inc., P.O. Box 446, Appleton, Wisconsin 54912-0446; phone (920) 749-3040; www.integratedpaperservice.com .

NWPA Looks At Underutilized Species
In December, the NWPA (Northwest Woods Products Association) has completed a research study on the Underutilized Wood Species of Oregon. The purpose of the study was to help Oregon's forest products industry adapt to changes in the wood supply, improve competitiveness, take advantage of worldwide information sources and electronic commerce opportunities, and develop sustainable and environmentally-sensitive strategies for lesser-known wood species. The executive summary is now available on the web. For more information on the study or if you wish to receive a complete copy of the report, please contact the NWPA office at (541) 385-9910.

ALC Annual Meeting Receives Top Marks
The 9th Annual General Meeting of the American Loggers Council, recently held in Portland, Ore., was a great success. Over 200 professional loggers from 24 states took part in this year’s convention that was "Focusing on the Future". President Bob Luoto presided over the three-day event that reflected on the association's many accomplishments of the past year and focused on continuing the efforts in the year ahead. Highlights included an Oregon Logging Tour, a reception/ tour and dinner at the World Forestry Center and a lively award banquet and fund raising auction which raised $20,000 for ALC. Key note speakers included: Leslie Lehmann, Executive Director of the Oregon Resources Institute; Jim Peterson, Executive Director of the Evergreen Foundation and Congressman Greg Walden. Dave Holder, owner of Wheeler Logging, Inc. of Red Bluff, Calif., received Timber Harvesting's 2003 Logging Business of the Year award. Next year's annual meeting, will be held in Bangor, Maine. For more information you can log onto www.americanloggers.org 

Davis Leaving FRA
FRA’s Southeastern Technical Division Forester Larry Davis accepted an offer to head up Rayonier’s Southern Lands and Property Division. FRA has decided not to replace Larry with a new full-time Division Forester, but to extend Appalachian Technical Division Forester Rick Meyer’s responsibilities to cover the Southeastern Technical Division, as well as the Appalachians. Rick has a 10-year record of outstanding service as ATD Forester, and prior professional experience in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions. TW President Luoto passed the gavel to the new President, Steven Hanington.

This service is temporarily unavailable