October 2018 | #ForestProud
Pennsylvania Forestry Association
News You Can Use
Dive deep into this month's News You Can Use! The leaves may be changing, but our commitment to sharing quality information with you isn't!

Have news to share? Send it to cwright@versantstrategies.net.

#ForestProud
Managing and Conserving Pennsylvania's Forested Waters
On Saturday, October 6, Over 50 members and guests attended PFA's 132nd Annual Meeting at Toftrees Resort in State College, Pennsylvania. Meeting attendees enjoyed outstanding presentations on the different aspects of forest water quality from tiny Keystone headwaters to the Chesapeake Bay. Copies of the PowerPoint presentations will soon be available on the PFA website at www.paforestry.org. These presentations include:

The Importance of Forests to Waters – Brian Swistock
Riparian Forests for Pollinators and Wildlife – Ryan Davis
Resource First: Penn's Woods and Waters - John Arway
Establishment and Maintenance of Successful Streamside Buffers – David Wise
Building Capacity and Partnerships to Fulfill Your Stewardship Goals – Katie Ombalski


PFA members receiving awards at the meeting were:

Rothrock Award – Jim Walizer
Cochran Award - Bryan Swistock
Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year – Bob and Jane Slagter
Outstanding Tree Farm Inspector of the Year - Rob Piper
PFA President's Award - Linda Finley

John and Maureen Burnham also received recognition for their past two years of service as PA Tree Farm Committee Co-Chairs.

Many thanks to our many sponsors for their generous donations to the Annual Meeting and Log A Load for Kids Sporting Clay Shoot.
Luncheon: Richard and Jakie Lewis, Jim and Linda Finley
Breakfast: Mid Penn Bank
Morning Break: Maureen and John Burnham, Dwight Lewis Lumber
Afternoon Break: Ken and Sharon Manno
Student Sponsorship: Jim and Linda Finley, Mark and Olivia Ott, Marc Lewis, Dave Twining
Friends of the Association: AgChoice Farm Credit, Charles Merroth, Dauphin County Woodland Owners Association
Log A Load Sporting Clay Shoot: The Forestland Group, PA Association of Consulting Foresters, Richard Lewis, The Dauphin County Woodland Owners Association

On the Friday before the annual meeting a successful joint Pennsylvania Forestry Association/Pennsylvania Forest Products Association Log a Load for Kids Sporting Clay Shoot raised $1000 for Pennsylvania’s Children’s Hospital’s.

Please save the date for next year's annual meeting, Saturday, September 28, 2019 at the Toftrees Resort, State College, PA and please send your suggestions for topics/speakers to Annual Meeting Committee Chair Linda Finley ( llfinley@gmail.com) or PFA Executive Director Caleb Wright ( cwright@versantstrategies.net) by December 1st.

I offer my special thanks to 2018 Annual Meeting Committee Co-chairs Linda Finley and Cecile Stelter, as well as the rest of the members of the Committee, for their hard work that made our 2018 Annual Meeting a success.

With best wishes,
Richard Lewis

PFA President
#forestproud #resourcefirst
Jim Walizer being presented the Rothrock Award by Awards Committee Co-Chair Jim Finley
Awards Committee Co-Chair Jim Finley presenting the Sandy Cochran Award to Bryan Swistock
Robb Piper, recipient of the 2018 Tree Farm Inspector of the Year Award presented by PA Tree Farm Program Co-Chairs John and Maureen Burnham
PFA President's Award Recipient Linda Finley with her Energizer Bunny from President Richard Lewis as a thank you for her "energizing work."

Tree Farm Co-Chairs John and Maureen Burnham (center) with incoming Tree Farm Vice-Chairs Gay and Harold Thistle (outside) with a plaque of recognition and a wood turned bowl from Jim Finley for their service to the Tree Farm Program in Pennsylvania
The shooters at the Log a Load for Kids Sporting Clay Shoot which raised $1,000 for the Chidren's Hospitals of Pennsylvania.
Walk in Penn's Woods a Success!
Sunday, October 7th marked the 2nd Annual Walk in Penn's Woods. This year there were 68 walks with over 1,000 participants! These events stretched from a beautiful Lake Erie Bluffs overlook to Tree ID in Philadelphia County’s Wissahickon Valley Park; from the Nature Conservancy’s Susquehanna County old growth hemlock to the National Historic Landmark Meadowcroft Rockshelter woods in Washington County. Walks were hosted on Tree Farms, State Forests and Parks, PGC lands, conserved lands, private lands, research facilities, with active management for woodlands, meadows, water, wildlife, and timber.

Thanks to all who hosted walks or participated in another way. Below are photos submitted by PFA Board Member, Matt Sampson, of the walk on PA Game Lands 37 in Tioga County.
Forestry News You Can Use
PFA Board Member, Rachel Reyna, recieves National SAF Diversity Leadership Award
As printed in the Forestry Source September 2018 edition.

The Diversity Leadership Award recognizes outstanding individual achievement leading to innovative and exemplary diversity and inclusion efforts.

Rachel R. Reyna is the forest program manager for the Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry’s
rural and community forestry section. Much of her effort as a leader within SAF has been devoted to
promoting diversity and inclusion within the Society and the profession. In 2016, as a member of the SAF Board of Directors, the Board embarked on a process to develop a first-ever
national policy on diversity and inclusion. From the beginning, Reyna took on a leadership role in this effort. She helped develop policy goals and wrote drafts of policy statements.

Reyna was involved in the creation of the new national SAF Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, which focuses on professional diversity and inclusion dialogue, planning, teaching, training, and discussion by a wide variety of SAF members from across the country. Her involvement has been instrumental in getting the
new group up and running. Reyna also has been involved with the national SAF Diversity Ambassadors Program since 2015, when she became the program coordinator. The program has supported the growth and development of a diverse group of participants over the years, many
of whom have become leaders within SAF. The program includes the management of the Student Diversity Scholarship Program for attendance at the SAF National Conventions. Reyna coordinates evaluations of student applications and selecting
scholarship recipients and helps organize program events at national conventions, including a two-hour leadership skills and networking workshop.

Since 2015, Reyna has organized and moderated a Diversity Reception at each SAF National Convention. In addition, at the 2015, 2016, and 2017 conventions, she planned, presented, and/or moderated the following sessions: a 2015 Diversity Track technical session regarding Diversity, Empathy, and Inclusion; a 2016 “Women
in Forestry” workshop; a 2016 “Recruiting the Next Generation” technical session; a 2017 “Women in Forestry” workshop; and a 2017 “So You’ve Been Told to be More Inclusive” technical session.

Congratulations, Rachel!
DCNR Grant Programs
Be sure to check out the Grant Programs that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is currently offering. These include the All-Terrain Vehichle and Snowmobile Grant, Peer and Circuit Rider Grant, and the Riparian Forest Buffer Grant.

Click here for more information.
DEP Launches Electronic Permit for New Projects Affecting Wetlands and Waterways, Continuing Campaign to Modernize Permitting
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today launched an electronic permit system to provide landowners a more efficient way to request permit registrations for new projects that affect wetlands and waterways and get a faster response from DEP.
 
“As part of Governor Wolf’s commitment to improve the permitting process, DEP is committed to improving customer service by employing the best technologies we can, while also understanding the needs of the permit applicants,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “We’ve launched this new system at the request of those who want the convenience and speed of a web-based permit process.”
 
A variety of projects are covered by Chapter 105 Wetland and Waterway Obstruction and Encroachment General Permits, including stream crossings, small docks and boat ramps, streambank rehabilitation or protection, gravel bar removal, intake and outfall structures, agricultural crossings and ramps, minor road crossings, agricultural activities, and fish habitat enhancement structures.
 
DEP processes at least 2,500 Chapter 105 registration requests for business, municipal, and individual landowners each year. The Chapter 105 e-permit, which is accessed through DEP GreenPort (registration is required for first-time users), will save time for applicants and department reviewers, include online permit payment, reduce the expense of printing complex design drawings, and make information available in real-time to the public, for increased transparency. DEP will also continue to accept paper registrations to accommodate applicants whose only option is a paper form.
 
The Chapter 105 e-permit is the latest electronic tool in DEP’s continuing efforts to use technology solutions to improve customer service, reduce paper-driven processes, and further protect the environment. Stakeholders can now use online tools to file permit applications for surface coal mining, storage tank renewals, and radiation protection renewal, and other regulated activities. In addition, DEP has developed online processes to digitize grants systems, modernize facility inspection processes, and archive content for access by both staff and the public.
 
As DEP continues to seek ways to modernize and increase efficiency, the agency encourages applicants to use the Chapter 105 e-permit and provide feedback on it. 
 
“We value the community’s insights on using the e-permit. They’ll be very helpful as we work to perfect a tool that enables improved service, efficiency, response time, and transparency,” said McDonnell.
 
Applicants are encouraged to send comments and suggestions on the e-permit to a dedicated email account: ra-epbweweperdwet105@pa.gov. All messages will be reviewed and considered for future improvements. Applicants will also be invited to participate in a web-based conference call to learn more about the functionality of the new tool and provide recommendations for potential enhancements.
PA Tree Farm Update
Sharing Great News and Important Tree Farm Happenings
Pennsylvania Tree Farm System continues to support the American Tree Farm System Standards of Sustainable Forest Management. The PATF Program came to be in 1947. Over seventy years later
we continue with this process.

Congratulations to the Tree Farmer of the Year, Jane and Bob Slagter, and the PA Tree Farm Inspector of the Year, Robb Piper!

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All Tree Farms targeted for 2018 inspection have been notified. If you have not yet done so, please contact your inspector. To find a list of certified Tree Farm Inspectors, visit www.patreefarm.org/inspectors If you need assistance, contact PATF via phone at 1-800-835-8065 or email at thePFA@paforestry.org or  burnhamjc@msncom .
PATF Continues to Offer Discounted Registration for Game of Logging Course to Certified Tree Farmers
Game of Logging is acknowledged as one of the premier chainsaw safety and felling trainings in the United States. Instructors combine demonstration with participation to teach chainsaw safety, productivity, conservation, and cutting techniques that includes directional felling. Level 1 training topics include personal protective equipment, chainsaw safety features, chainsaw reactive forces, bore cutting, pre-planning the fell, and understanding hinge wood strength.
October 25, 2018

October 30, 2018

November 13, 2018
To participate in this offer, Certified PA Tree Farmers should visit the SFI website at https://www.sfiofpa.org/course-registration.php to register or call 888-734-9366. Participants will pay the full price of $95 to register. Please note that the registration is nonrefundable. Once the course is completed, the Certified Tree Farmer should contact Caleb Wright ( cwright@versantstrategies.net or at 1-800-835-8065) to arrange the scholarship of $35. Information that you will need to provide Caleb will include your name, Tree Farm number, and date of Game Of Logging course completed. The course must be completed to receive the refund. This refund offer is valid for only the SFI offered Game of Logging Level 1 trainings. Check the SFI website for the schedule of courses beyond the listed dates.
 
PA Tree Farm Committee values landowners that are taking part in actively managing their forestland. This scholarship refund is only available to Certified Tree Farmers. To check on your status contact the PFA office at (800) 835-8065. Stay tuned for more information about benefits offered to Certified Tree Farmers that will help you be safe on the job and learn skills needed to manage high quality forests.
Community Trees Update
Here is this month’s listing of upcoming arboriculture and community forestry events in and around Pennsylvania and online. For more information on a particular program, please use the listed contact information for that program.
 
  1. Tree Tenders Training – Various locations throughout Pennsylvania
  2. Tree Canopy Conference: Science, Practice, and Culture – Haverford, PA
  3. Commercial and Public Applicator Pesticide Short Course – Erie, PA
  4. Arborist Short Course – Philadelphia, PA
  5. Webinar: Leaf Spots, Scorches, & Wilts Affecting Southeastern US Deciduous Trees – Online
  6. Webinar: Starting a State Urban Wood Network – Online
  7. Community Tree Workshop – Montgomeryville, PA
EVENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Ohio Tree Farm Announces Tree Farmer of the Year Tour
From the Ohio Tree Farm Program:

This year’s Tree Farmer of the Year is located is Woodsfield, Ohio, on the eastern border not too far from the Ohio River. On behalf of the Ohio Tree Farm Committee, we would like to extend our invitation to attend this tour to our neighbors in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

The event is scheduled for October 20, 2018.
Join the Alliance for tree plantings in Pennsylvania!
You're invited to join the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and our Pennsylvania team, to help us plant trees along streams this fall.

We have four plantings scheduled, and nearly 1,500 trees to plant -
so we need your help! 

Check out our planting schedule below, and RSVP by emailing Jenna Mackley at jmackley@allianceforthebay.org or calling (717) 517-8698. 

Dates include:
  • Trick-or-Trees, Hampden Township, October 28, 1-4 PM
  • Fayetteville Contractors, Greencastle, PA, November 4th, 9-12 Noon
  • Christiana Park, Christiana, PA, November 11th, 1-4 PM
  • Paradise Community Park, Gordonville, PA, 9-12 Noon
In the news
WARREN –– The state Bureau of Forestry and Allegheny National Forest officials have forged an agreement that provides the bureau the opportunity to undertake future forest and watershed restoration activities on the federally owned Allegheny National Forest.... -  Bradford Era

Few things get a hunter's heart pumping more than the cackle of a flushing ring-necked pheasant or the thunder of a ruffed grouse as it takes to the air. Other hunters have heightened anticipation when their baying beagles turn the corner and they know that a cottontail will be running their way.... -  State College News

The "Restore Our Parks Act," recently introduced in the U.S. Senate, calls for funding a multi-year program to attack the $11.6 billion deferred maintenance backlog in our national parks as detailed in a 2017 report released by the National Park Service. A similar bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.... -  Penn Live, Patriot-News

There’s still a good bit of green out there on Pennsylvania trees. The bright oranges, reds and yellows we crave every fall haven’t hit yet — but it’s not far off. According to the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, there’s no change in leaf color in the middle and southern... -  Uniontown Herald-Standard

  (Press Release)

The lack of crimson Virginia creeper vines setting off the autumn parade of colors should have been a tip-off: Fall is late with less-spectacular colors expected, according to the latest forecast. Peak colors of the state’s deciduous trees and shrubs will run seven to... -  Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

While the proposed listing of the northern long-eared bat, tri-colored bat and little brown bat on the state’s endangered and threatened species list is hoped to stave off extinction, the preliminary action is not expected to impact the local forest industry.... -  Bradford Era

  (Press Release)

On April 22, a spring wildfire roared through Penn State Forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, sending 100-foot flames shooting from the crowns of the pitch pines. The fire consumed half a square mile in 40 minutes and could be seen from space. By the time the New Jersey Forest Fire Service... -  New York Times
The Pennsylvania Forestry Association | 1(800) 835-8065 | thePFA@paforestry.org | www.paforestry.org