Save the Dates 82nd OLC - February 20, 21, & 22, 2020, Eugene, Oregon
June 2019 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Vol. 3 Issue 12
In this issue:   Working Forests: Carbon Keepers. That’s the theme selected for the 82nd Annual Oregon Logging Conference in February 2020, scholarship recipients are announced by the Oregon Logging Conference Foundation, and timber industry news. Have a safe and happy 4 th of July
statueofliberty_fireworks.jpg
Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July?
Discussions of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence resulted in some minor changes, but the spirit of the document was unchanged. The process of revision continued through all of July 3 rd and into the late afternoon of July4th, when the Declaration was officially adopted.
 
Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, two (Pennsylvania and South Carolina) voted against, Delaware was undecided, and New York abstained.
 
John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, and it is said that he signed the document “with a great flourish” so England’s King George “can read that without his spectacles.”
 
Today, the original Declaration of Independence is housed in the National Archives in Washington D.C. and July 4 th has been designated a national holiday to commemorate the day the United States laid its claim to be a free and independent nation.
"Working Forests: Carbon Keepers"
Selected As 82nd Annual OLC Theme
Wanting a theme that reflects the benefits of Oregon forests, Working Forests: Carbon Keepers has been selected for the 82nd Annual Oregon Logging Conference in February 2020. This theme was selected during the OLC Spring Board of Directors meeting, held on June 1 st .
 
2020 OLC President Greg Stratton said he asked the Board of Directors to come up with a theme that would describe the importance of the timber industry and the current and future career opportunities in the industry.
 
The adopted theme is a combination of suggestions from two OLC Directors: Jim Geisinger (Associated Oregon Loggers, Salem, OR) and Craig Olson (Weyerhaeuser Co., Longview, WA).
 
Geisinger suggested the Working Forests piece of the theme. “Oregon is blessed to have the most productive and resilient forests in the United States and probably anywhere in the world,” he said. “They provide fresh, clean water, habitat for fish and wildlife, and they grow trees that provide a source of wood products used by every human being around the world,” he added. “And they provide a repository for carbon, whether in the form of standing trees or building products used to build homes and commercial structures.” He said the message is that working forests are forests that are managed to provide multiple benefits for society sustainably, including carbon sequestration and mitigating the impact of global climate change.
 
When Olson suggest the Carbon Keepers portion of the theme, he had HB 2020 in mind ( click here for details on HB2020) . “Oregon is comprised of 50% forest (and) the trees within these forests are true carbon keepers,” he said. “They absorb CO2 as they grow, store the carbon and release oxygen,” he added. “They hold this carbon their entire lifespan until it rots, decays, or is burned,” he said. “Well managed forests help control climate change through this process,” he added.

Wanting a theme that reflects the regulations facing the industry the Oregon Logging Conference (OLC) Board of Directors has selected “Working Forests: Carbon Keepers.”  

Working On The Details
OLC officers, directors, staff, and volunteers are working on program details,
such as setting up informative and thought-provoking seminars and panel topics, as well as speakers. Another top-notch, state-of-the-art equipment show is anticipated, along with some new activities being discussed. More details to come!
 
Mark the dates of February 20, 21, & 22 on your 2020 calendar and plan to attend the gathering at the Lane Events Center and Fairgrounds in Eugene, OR. The registration fee is $95 and includes the following activities:
  • Wednesday pre-registration meet & greet at the Graduate Eugene (formerly Eugene Hilton)
  • Thursday opening breakfast, meetings, and social networking at the popular Sawdust Bowl, which concludes Thursday activities
  • Friday opening breakfast, meetings, break-out seminar sessions, and social networking at the Friday Sawdust Bowl.
  • An opportunity to sign up for the 11th Annual Log Loader Competition.
  • See the largest equipment show west of the Mississippi, with millions of dollars of logging, construction, and heavy equipment on display.
  • Attend OLC activities and earn Pro Logger credits
More specifics will be found in future issues of the OLC NEWS newsletter.

Fourteen Scholarship Recipients Selected For 2019-2020 College Year

14 scholarship recipients have received a total of $25,000 in scholarships from the Oregon Logging Conference Foundation. Nearly half are repeat recipients. Seven of the students are attending four-year colleges and the other seven are attending two-year colleges or trade schools.
 
Since the OLCF program was established more than five decades ago, more than 375 scholarships with a value of over $875,000 have been awarded.
 
At the OLC spring board meeting dinner on June 1st OLC President Greg Stratton presented 2nd year OLCF recipient Natalie Dumford with a $1,000 scholarship. Natalie is attending Linn Benton Community College where she is majoring in Business and Photography. You may have seen Natalie’s photos of the 2019 OLC in previous issues of the OLC NEWS newsletter.

Four of the 2019/2020 scholarship recipients are high school graduates from this year.

2018 OLC President Rick Kreige from Prineville Oregon presented one scholarship during Crook County High School’s Awards Ceremony to Tyler Humeston for $1,000. This fall Tyler will attend Southwestern Community College in Coos bay Oregon where he will major in Wild Fire Science.

OLC 1st Vice President Scott Melcher from Sweet Home Oregon presented two scholarships during the Sweet Home High School Awards ceremony.  The first scholarship was awarded to Lace Anna Shiffert for $2,000, and she will be attending Linn Benton Community College and Oregon State University majoring in Forestry. The second scholarship of $1,500 went to Colton Smith, he will attend Southwestern Oregon Community College majoring in Forestry.

OLC board member Randy Zustiak attended Junction City High School’s Awards luncheon where he presented a $2,000 scholarship to Alexander Marshall. Alex will attend Northern Montana State University where he plans to receive a bachelor’s degree in Diesel Technology.

The six scholarship recipients for the 2019-2020 college year who have also received scholarships in previous years are:

Daniel Virtue, Oregon State, Forest Engineering
Trevor Sartnurak, Oregon State, Forest / Civil Engineering
Kimberly Ortiz, Umpqua CC, Forest Management
Tanner Trimble, Lane Community College, Diesel Technology
Jeremiah McGuigan, Linn Benton Comm College, Heavy Eq / Diesel Tech
Natalie Dumford, Linn Benton Comm. College, Business Admin.
 
First time recipients attending 4 Year College:
Ashley Bracken, Oregon State, Forest Management
Dane Maben, Oregon State, Forest / Civil Engineering
Lace Anna Shiffert, Oregon State / Linn Benton CC, Forest / Civil Engineer.
Alexander Marshall, Northern Montana State, Bachelor's Degree Diesel Tech
Hannah Halla, OSU, Forestry, Forest Mgmt, Forest Restoration & Fire
 
First time recipients attending 2 Year College and Trade Vocational Colleges:          
Colton Smith, Linn Benton CC, Forest Management
Tyler Humeston, Southwest Comm. College, Fire Science
Frank Garcia, Lane Comm. College, Diesel Tech / Heavy Eq
 
Learn more about each recipient in the July issue of the OLC NEWS which were will show case each recipient.  Starting on December 1st applications for the 2020-2021 college year will be accepted. Deadline for the application is April 1st.   Click here for more details on the OLC Foundation scholarship program.
OLC 1st VP Scott Melcher presents Colton Smith and Lace Anna Shiffert with their OLC Foundation Scholarship
OLC President Greg Stratton presents 2nd year OLCF scholarship to Natalie Dumford
OLC board member Randy Zustiak presents Alex Marshall with the OLC Foundation Scholarship
Women of #TIMBERUNITY Meeting
July 11th, 5:30-7:30pm
Uptown Cafe, Warrenton, Oregon
Discussion of recent events and update on cap and trade and other legislation affecting the timber industry will be covered. Representatives from Oregon Women In Timber, Clatsop Working Watershed Cooperative and the Oregon Forest Industries Council will join the discussion to share information about future opportunities to make your voice heard.

A Logger’s Legacy

by Kala Cota
He stands upon our Capitol with an axe held in his hand
A reminder of the men that pioneered this timberland
Brave men from afar traveled deep into the woods
Carved out a place to live and built a neighborhood
 
Who’d have ever thought when that golden man was placed
That the logger and the trucker would have to rally and race
To the Capitol building and fight to be heard
Our pioneers would be outraged, “That is just absurd!”
 
That statue on our Capitol, a symbol standing tall
Tells me that our loggers won’t be backing down at all
Timber dollars built this state back in the day
Recall your history! These men won’t be swayed
 
They provide for their family and wood to build a home
The truckers do their part to deliver every load
From dawn until dusk, they work side by side
An honest day’s work completed with rural hometown pride
 
They are stewards of the land with a long history
The loggers of today strive for the same proud legacy
They take care of our forests so they can insure
The next generation’s way of life can endure
 
We are proud of our history and the men that still stand tall
Our loggers and our truckers, the best men of them all!
Today, our way of life we must work to defend!
Let them hear us at the Capitol! We won’t let them win!
TIMBER INDUSTRY NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
Two Views: HB 2020 will devastate Oregon families, communities and businesses ... Read more

Timber families protest climate bills at Oregon Capitol ... Read more

One of the most pressing topics in the wood products industry is how to entice young people to want to work in the industry. The challenge of attracting talent to forest products has huge implications on the industry as we move forward and needs to be addressed before it’s too late. However, the question remains: How can the industry attract and retain young people? ... Read more

Boot camp in Oregon aims to bring more women to wildland firefighting ... Read more

OSU fields community input on potential Elliot State Forest purchase at session in Roseburg ... Read more

Lawsuit aims to protect salmon from logging on Oregon State forests ... Read more

Timber company president Rob Freres Gives $1 Million to Campaign to Refer Newly Passed Corporate Tax. Freres has been an outspoken critic of Democrats environmental and tax policies ... Read more

Lane County looks to educate the public on Emergency Protocol ahead of fire season ... Read more

Got burn piles? Oregon winery tries a new approach: Turning wood debris into biochar ... Read more

Bigfoot leads State’s effort to prevent wildfires, asks Oregonians to ‘believe’ ... Read more

Oregon’s forests provide a host of benefits to our state, including clean air and water, fish and wildlife habitat and more ... Read more

Meet the women on the front lines of Oregon’s timber industry. Making the Cut ... Read more

Captain Carbon Capture to the rescue! Our forests are real life super heroes that try to save the world everyday ... Read more
FEBRUARY 20, 2, & 23, 2019
LANE EVENTS CENTER & FAIRGROUNDS
EUGENE, OREGON
PUBLISHER / EDITOR / WRITER

Mary Bullwinkel, Freelance
Rikki Wellman, Conference Manager

Office 541.686.9191

Photos and articles are welcome.
Please email to rikki@oregonloggingconference.com

Quick Links To
the 2020 - 82nd OLC Events
Pages and links will be updated in July
MEET THE OLC OFFICERS & BOARD

PANELS & SEMINARS SCHEDULE

SPEAKERS

THURSDAY OPENING BREAKFAST

FRIDAY MEMBERS BREAKFAST

OLC FOUNDATION AUCTION

SOCIAL EVENTS

PRE-REGISTRATION MEET & GREET

82nd CELEBRATION PARTY

LADIES DESSERTS FOR DREAMS

SAWDUST BOWL & NETWORKING

FAMILY EVENTS

ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL

ONLINE REGISTRATION

LOG LOADER COMPETITION

HIGH SCHOOL SKILLS COMPETITION

WOOD CARVERS