August 2019 Issue <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>  Vol. 4 Issue 2
In this issue read about the charity that has been selected to benefit from the Desserts for Dreams luncheon, some of the many timber-related educational programs throughout the Northwest, and seminar and panel topics being selected for the 2020 Oregon Logging Conference.
Easy Quick Links to the 2020 OLC program schedule, panel and seminar topics, social events, competitions, and other activities can be found on the last page of this newsletter.
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The True Meaning of Labor Day

Labor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. It has been celebrated as a national holiday on the first Monday in September in the United States and Canada since 1894.

Labor Day was established by the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It is a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers make and have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Through the years the nation has given increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed in 1885 and 1886.

The first state to pursue legislation was New York, but the first state to actually pass Labor Day legislation was Oregon on February 21, 1887.
Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Others say that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

Information source for this article: Wikipedia
Hands-on Natural Resource Activities Highlighted at 3 rd Annual Future Forest Workers Career Day
 
High School students who attend this year’s Future Forestry Workers Day will be exposed to four specific logging-related topics: forestry, firefighting, heavy equipment, and diesel mechanics. The students will also participate in guided tours of the state-of the art equipment on display at the Oregon Logging Conference, and talk one-on-one with industry professionals.
 
More than 1,200 high school students have attended the past two career events at the Oregon Logging Conference, learning about employment opportunities available now and the skills required to start working in these well-paying jobs. These students represent current and future employees in the logging and forestry industry.

The 3rd Annual Future Forestry Workers Day is scheduled for February 21, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be held in the livestock arena at the Lane County Fairgrounds, allowing for more students to attend and learn about the industry.
 
The students will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with today's technologically advanced equipment and hear from industry professionals about the benefits and personal satisfaction of working in the timber industry.
 
For more information, contact the Oregon Logging Conference at 541-686-9191 or Rikki@oregonloggingconference.com .
Forest-Related Education Programs
This is part 1 in a series of articles that OLC NEWS will be publishing on forestry-related educational programs in the Pacific Northwest. Some have been in existence for several years, and others are just getting started. Please contact us to let us know about specific educational programs in your neck of the woods, and we’ll be sure to mention them in future articles.
 
In Part 1 of this series we will mention Oregon Logging Conference Foundation, Oregon Forest Resources Institute, Forests Today and Forever, Talk About Trees, Project Learning Tree and The Pacific Forest Foundation. Look for part 2 in this series in the September issue of OLC NEWS.

Contact information:
Email: info@ofri.org
Phone: 971.673.2944
 
OFRI Education Programs:

K – 12 programs: There are many programs and materials available to support forestry education in the field and in the classroom. Materials are broken down into grades K – 2, 3 – 5, 6 – 8, and 9 – 12. This information is based on the Oregon Forest Literacy Program developed in 2016 developed by forest resource specialists, educators and academics.

Rediscovery Forest: This is an actively managed working forest used for educational purposes and located in the park-like environment of The Oregon Garden in Silverton, OR. Visitors to this 15- acre forest can learn about different types of forests and forest management,

Landowner Education : This program offers a variety of training opportunities such as workshops, forest tours, and webinars to encourage sound forestry practices on family forests

Wood Products Education: This program promotes the benefits of using traditional and innovative wood products grown and manufactured in the Pacific Northwest. The program aims to strengthen demand for wood products among architects, engineers, contractors, and developers who design and construct commercial and residential buildings.

Forest Proud: There are many reasons to be proud to work in and support the Oregon forest sector. The Forest Proud toolkit is available to employers to share with their employees, reinforcing the key reasons for taking pride in working in the forest industry.

Publications: Includes 2019 Forest Report, and information on climate change, biomass energy, forest management, fire, streams, and reforestation.

Videos : Videos available for downloading on a variety of topics related to forest, forest management and forest products. OFRI works closely with the scientific and academic communities to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information provided in these educational videos.

Image Galleries: Select images, info-graphics and tables related to Oregon forests.
 
Contact information:
Email: coordinator@foreststodayandforever.org
Phone: 541.767.9078 or 541.554.1342
 
Promoting forest stewardship through education. This program includes k –12 custom curriculum, university tours, high school career education, forest and field days, outdoor school, high school field ops, and teachers.

Forests Today and Forever program is presented to nearly 900 elementary students on Thursday of the Annual Oregon Logging Conference.
 
Contact information:
 
An interactive, on-site, hands-on science-based program is for preschool through 8 th grade students, presented by experienced facilitators and free to classrooms throughout Oregon. This program gives and overview of forest ecology, management practices, and forest products use. Over 3 million students and adults have participated in a Talk About Trees classroom program since 1991. The purpose of the program is to increase a student’s knowledge and awareness of forestry and related issues including the life cycle of trees, forest health, trees as a natural resource, forests as habitat for animals, and careers in forestry.

Talk About Trees program is also presented to nearly 900 elementary students on Thursday of the Annual Oregon Logging Conference.
 
Contact information:
Email: information@plt.org
Phone: 202.765.3641
 
Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators, parents, and community leaders, working with youth from preschool through grade 12.
 
PLT helps develop students’ awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the environment, builds their skills and ability to make informed decisions, and encourages them to take personal responsibility for sustaining the environment and the quality of life that depends on it.
 
Since its beginning in 1976, PLT has been using trees and forests as windows on the world to increase students' understanding of the environment, has reached 138 million students and trained 765,000 educators to help students learn “how” to think, not “what” to think about complex environmental issues.
 
Contact information:
Phone: 360.832.1745
 
Adopt a High School: This program involves one-on-one interaction with high school students, who represent the next generation of loggers and forestry workers .It is designed to develop, recruit, and retain a younger generation of employees for the industry. Instead of waiting for workers to come to companies, Adopt a High School takes companies to the students and potential employees. It also offers an opportunity to redefine any misunderstandings students might have about logging and the industry.
 
The program includes a self-directed toolbox of information allowing companies a clear understanding of work expectations and selecting a qualified candidate. Companies will learn new ways to present their business and employment opportunities in a positive, professional manner.
 
This is My Office: This video is an inside look about the variety of jobs available in today’s timber industry. There are well-paying jobs currently available for loggers, heavy equipment operators, biologists, diesel mechanics, and more.
 
This video shows young professionals involved in the industry talking about why they chose to work in the field and why they are interested in making it a long-term career.

Contact information:
Email: info@oregonloggingconference.com
Phone: 541.686.9191

Future Forestry Workers Career Day : This event attracts the next generation of workers to the timber and other natural resource industries. The event is held in conjunction with the Annual Oregon Logging Conference and will take place on Friday February 21, 2020 at the Lane Event Center and Fairgrounds.

This hands-on, career planning opportunity for 9 th  thru 12 th  grade students, teachers, and career counselors from high schools in Oregon, are invited to participate in this event. The event will include activities and exhibits that highlight current job opportunities for ambitious and interested young men and women.

Students will be able to view today’s state-of-the-art logging and forestry equipment and interact with industry professionals on a personal one-to-one basis.

The logging industry (and many other industries) are in desperate need for a younger workforce to step in and help guide business into the future. The goal of this on-site career day is to attract the next generation of workers.

Scholarship Program: The Oregon Logging Conference Foundation (OLCF) scholarship program offers financial aid to students who are studying in forestry and related areas. Applications for next school year will be accepted starting December 1st and must be received in the OLCF office no later than April 1st of the following year. To download the 2020 Scholarship application click here .
2020 Oregon Logging Conference Panel and Seminar Topics Being Discussed
Following the 2020 theme “Working Forests: Carbon Keepers,” topics being considered are: department of transportation regulations, what's going on in Salem that is going to impact forest management, steep slope / tethered logging practices and effective communication.

Oregon Logging Conference committee chairs are hard at work selecting top quality topics and speakers to address current rules and regulations, the latest technology in the industry, and forest practices updates at the 2020 OLC gathering in February of next year.

Check back frequently on the OLC website for updated topics and speakers.

Attendees can earn up to 10 Professional Logger (Pro Logger) credits by attending panel discussions, hands-on seminars, and presentations at the Oregon Logging Conference. These credits are applicable toward Pro Logger certification and fulfillment requirements as outlined in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

As in prior years, the hole-punch system will be used. All paid registered members of the OLC will receive a punch card in the registration packet. At the end of each seminar, as you exit, someone will be available to punch your card. AND just for attending the OLC, two additional Pro Loggers credits can be earned by all registered logging companies who come to the show.
 
Click here to view the latest OLC program, panels and seminars and to find out how you can earn the maximum number of credits when attending the two days OLC.
Oregon Logging Conference Foundation Scholarships Recipients: Tell Us Your Story
Since 1968, the Oregon Logging Conference Foundation (OLCF) has been awarding scholarships to young people studying to have a career in the timber industry.
 
Today, we are reaching out to past scholarship recipients to learn their story about how this financial assistance influenced their career pathway. We are interested in finding out how it changed their lives and what they are doing now.
 
If you are a scholarship recipient, or you know someone who is, please send us your/their story. As an incentive to send us these stories, we are going to provide a comped 2020 OLC registration to all whose stories we receive and highlight in this newsletter.
 
OLCF is proud of its scholarship program and would like to share the impacts of these contributions. Since the establishment of the scholarship program, OLCF has awarded more than $875,000 in scholarships.
 
To submit a story, email info@oregonloggingconference.com or call 541.686.9191.
CHARITY SELECTED FOR THE 17TH ANNUAL
DESSERTS FOR DREAMS BENEFIT
In Our Backyard, a non-profit organization focused on the fight against human trafficking, has been selected as the charity to benefit from the 17 th Annual Desserts for Dreams luncheon, which is planned for February 21, 2020 during the Oregon Logging Conference.
 
In Our Backyard founder and Executive Director Nita Belles has written a book titled Human Trafficking In Our Backyard, to call attention to this issue.
   
“This year, as OLC first lady, I have selected Human Trafficking In Our Backyard as the recipient of our fundraising efforts,” said Cathy Stratton. “In my past role as a Medical Assistant, we had a patient that was a local police officer. He was struggling with many stressful situations at work. One of those was the increase in Human Trafficking in our local area. I was amazed to learn the extent of the problem, and ashamed that I really had no idea. I’m hoping that our very diverse, generous group of women will not only support this cause, but also help raise awareness with me. 
 
Stratton said she is hopeful the proceeds from Desserts for Dreams will help expand awareness of the continuing problem of human trafficking . 100% of the proceeds raised at the luncheon will be donated to Human Trafficking "In Our Backyard". Visit www.inourbackyard.org to learn more about this organization. For more information on this event visit www.oregonloggingconference.com
 
This sweet event includes a light lunch and desserts donated by local restaurants and bakeries. Sparkling wine, wine, cider, coffee, and tea are also included and tickets are $30 per person.
 
Something new in 2020 will be A SHUTTLE BUS FROM Lane County Fairgrounds to the Graduate Eugene, where Desserts for Dreams will be held. Transportation is provided for those who are at the Fairgrounds and want to attend the luncheon. The shuttle from the Fairgrounds to the Graduate Eugene will run between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and return to the Fairgrounds at 3 p.m. when Desserts for Dreams concludes.
2020 OLC Exhibit Booth
Contract Packet Now Available
The 2020 Exhibitor contract packets are now posted on the OLC website. The 82 nd OLC booths will be on display in more than 95,000 square feet of exhibit space in the main Convention Center, Auditorium, and sections of Expo Hall.
Click here to download the 2020 OLC Exhibitor Contract packet.
REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND!!
Plan to attend the 82nd OLC. Click here to download the Registration form. Or register online at www.oregonloggingconference.com
INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS AND NEWS
Plan to attend the 82nd OLC - February 20-22, 2020. Read more.

Apply now for the second annual Women in Wild-land Fire Boot Camp!
About 20 women attended the boot camp last fall in eastern Oregon, gaining skills, experience and certification in a first-of-its-kind wildfire training. Read more.

Calm wildfire season so far in Pacific Northwest but it isn't over.
So far this year, more than 166,000 acres have been affected by wildfires in the Northwest. This time last year, it was more than 1.2 million acres. Read more

Southern Oregon Trade Career Expo: Hands on activities and living wage careers come to life. Read more.

What is mass timber? In order to be considered ‘mass timber,’ buildings must use wood products (typically engineered panels) as the primary load-bearing structure. Read more .

Fire and Forestry : When regular, low-intensity fires occurred in forests, they helped burn away smaller trees and brush that could serve as fuel for future wildfires. Read more.

Annual Pacific Logging Congress. The 110th PLC convention will be held in Hawaii November 4-6, 2019. Read more

Private Working Forests Provide Significant Support for Rural Economies . Read more.
  PUBLISHER / EDITOR / WRITER

Mary Bullwinkel, Freelance
Rikki Wellman, Conference Manager

Office 541.686.9191

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