2008 Chapter Officers
Chair: Frank Riley ()
Chair-elect: Morgan Melette ()
Past Chair: Richard D. Rightmyer (), CF
Secretary/Treasurer: Richard D. Rightmyer (), CF
2008 Meeting Dates
Date: January 24
Location: U.S. Forest Service office in Gainesville, GA
Speaker and Topic: Morgan Mellette - Conservation Easements
Notes: Johnny's BBQ
Date: March 20
Location: Flinchum's Phoenix at UGA Whitehall Forest, Athens, GA
Speaker and Topic: Tim Lowrimore (GFA) - GA Legislature and Forest Policy Update
Notes: Catered with UGA Student Chapter
Date: July 17
Location: Blue Hole fishing spot in Hiwassee, GA
Speaker and Topic: Kent Kammermeyer (retired DNR)
Notes: Catered meal
Date: Mid-August
Location: Smithgall Woods - DNR facility in Helen, GA
Speaker and Topic: Nathan McClure (GFC) - tentative program
Notes: Low country boil
Date: September 18
Location: U.S. Forest Service office in Gainesville, GA
Speaker and Topic: Kate Robie - Forest Investments and land management
Date: November 20
Location: Athens, GA. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources building on campus. Park in Lot S-7 (parking information)
Speaker and Topic: Dr. Dale Greene, Professor of Forest Engineering. "The Future of Forestry and Renewable Energy"
Notes: Hosted by UGA SAF Student Chapter. 6:15pm - meal ($8.00/person), 7:15pm - program.
RSVP: If you plan to take part in the meal for this meeting, please send an email to Richard D. Rightmyer (), or phone message 770.297.3070 by 4:00pm Tuesday, November 18.
2007 Review
2007 Chapter Officers
Chair: vacant
Secretary/Treasurer: Richard D. Rightmyer (), CF.
2007 Meeting Dates
Date: March
Location: U.S. Forest Service office in Gainesville, GA
Speaker and Topic: Dennis Martin, Water Quality Coordinator - Georgia Forestry Commission, presented information on the latest updates to Georgia's Best Management Practices for Forestry manual
Notes: Twenty-five chapter members and several guests enjoyed BBQ and getting up to date with one another for the first meeting of 2007. Dennis provided a slide presentation overview of changes in classification for headwater streams or ephemeral areas. The new direction is in effect for silvicultural operations.
Date: April 26
Location: Colbert, GA
Speaker and Topic: Tour of Weyerhaeuser Laminated Products Plant in Colbert, GA, GA Hiway 72;
about 10 miles east of Athens. Tour begins 4:00pm, finish about 6:00pm. Limited to 25 participants -
hardhat, safety glasses, closed toe shoes required. Meal and short business meeting will follow the tour -- off-site.
Date: May 24
Location: Oakwood, GA, exit 16, I-985
Speaker and Topic: Remote Sensing and GIS at Gainesville State College's Institute of Environmental and Spatial Analysis
Notes: 6:00pm low-country boil (outdoors) at campus pavilion before business meeting and program; program follows 7:00pm at Science Building.
Date: July 19
Location: Riley Farm, Hiwassee River, Hiwassee, GA
Speaker and Topic: Trout management in North Georgia with DNR Wildlife Resources specialist Jeff Durniak
Notes: cookout at meeting
Date: September 20
Location: Presentation from Timber-Mart South staff
Speaker and Topic: Athens, GA - UGA Flinchum's Phoenix
Notes: Meal at meeting. Joint meeting with UGA Student Chapter
All meetings qualify for CFE credit and are open to all SAF members and guests. For information contact Dick Rightmyer () in Gainesville (770.297.3070).
2006 Review
Five Chapter meetings were hosted by the Oconee Chapter of the Georgia Division Society of American Foresters in 2006. The Chapter's membership territory draws from several counties in northeast Georgia and currently has close to 100 members. A side benefit of the Chapter's location is the presence of the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources in Athens, adding a variety of potential speakers from faculty and staff, and the UGA Student Chapter of SAF. Meetings of the Chapter are held in several locations to reach as many members as possible.
Topics for meeting programs in 2006 covered several current issues and challenges facing Oconee Chapter members.
January: held in Gainesville at the U.S. Forest Service office - program by Nathan McClure of the Georgia Forestry Commission - information from a recent market and utilization survey of the forest products industry in Georgia, along with highlights of several emerging product opportunities.
March: met at Flinchum's Phoenix at UGA for a meal hosted by the UGA Student Chapter. Forty-five attendees learned about the many opportunities for forestry continuing education from Dr. Ben Jackson, Coordinator for Forestry Continuing Education at UGA's Georgia Center.
May: Chapter toured the Thompson Mills Arboretum led by Bill Lott of the UGA Staff. Meal was a low country shrimp boil prepared by Larry Luckett followed by training in Professional Ethics for Foresters presented by Bob Izlar, a Chapter member and Director of the Center for Forest Business at UGA.
July: a continuing tradition of the Oconee Chapter is to gather at a favorite fishing hole on the Hiwassee River in July, survey the local trout population and enjoy a meal and program outdoors. Dr. David Moorhead, UGA professor of silviculture, provided an update on the challenges of invasive plants and forestry in Georgia.
September: The last meeting of 2006 was hosted by Dr. Richard Porterfield, Dean of the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, in the original building of the forestry school. The meal was hosted by the SAF Student Chapter as a fund raiser to support their programs. Dr. Porterfield introduced four new faculty members at Warnell giving each an opportunity to briefly discuss their research or instruction programs. Dr. John Maerz introduced his work with "herps" and Dr. Craig Miller shared insight into the growing influence of urban population on natural resources. Dr. Rebecca Moore discussed Georgia's current water policy and laws as they influence forest management and Dr. Michael Yabsley presented information on wildlife diseases.
Each of the programs presented by the Oconee Chapter is submitted to Dr. Ben Jackson for Continuing Forestry Education credit giving members a bonus of participating and attending meetings. Each meeting earns a minimum of one hour of CFE credit.
2005 Review
Governor Helps Dedicate Forestry Exhibit at I-85 Welcome Center
Reprinted with permission from The Toccoa Record
Visitors coming to Georgia can now see a three-dimensional tribute to Georgia's forestry industry, thank to the Oconee Chapter of the Society of American Foresters and Governor Roy Barnes.
Governor Barnes, his wife Marie, and former Governor Ernest Vandiver were among those who gathered Saturday at the Georgia-South Carolina Welcome Center near Lavonia to dedicate the exhibit.
The display, which is encased in Plexiglas, depicts landmarks and features from throughout the Piedmont area, from Madison to Dahlonega. It was built by Louie F. Deaton, Georgia's first Urban Forester. Oconee Chapter members Gary White is on the left, Walter Fox is on the right.
Deaton has been making such displays for 20 out of his 30 years with the Georgia Forestry Commission. His work can be seen in Forestry Commission offices from the Okefenokee Swamp to Dawsonville. In all, he has 20 such displays to his credit.
Governor Barnes, right, noted that Atlanta was now the nation's 11th largest metropolitan area, and has eclipsed Miami in terms of size.
In asking newcomers what brought them to the area, Barnes said that invariably mentioned Georgia's trees.
Barnes said such comments were on his mind when he began his "Greenspace" initiative statewide. The initiative is designed to preserve Georgia's lush arbored areas. Currently he said, 66 percent of Georgia's land is covered by forest. "If trees have played such a large role in giving us our quality of life...why in the world would you cut them down?"
Barnes said the exhibit was also a fitting tribute to the state's foresters. "Our Forestry Commission is second to none, not only in the Southeast, but nationally," the Governor said.
The project was spearheaded by Walter Fox, left, a retired forester and member of the Oconee Chapter of American Foresters. Fox, who lives on Lake Hartwell near the Stephens-Franklin County line, began working on the project after the rest area was built in conjunction with the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Fox thanked Rep. Jeanette Jamieson, D-Toccoa, for her help in procuring the grant from the Governor's Office. Rep. Eddie Madden, D-Elberton, was also on hand for the dedication. The rest area also includes a display showcasing the many products made from trees.
"In light of the importance of trees to our economy, and to our way of life, we felt we needed an exhibit right when you come into the state," Fox said. "Hopefully, these exhibits will promote a better appreciation of our forest land, both recreationally and as a renewable economic resource."