Chair's Corner
By Kurt Gottschalk, Allegheny SAF Chair
Fall for SAF!
As I write this column, fall is quickly approaching. The days are warm and nights
are cool. Autumn is my favorite time of year. I enjoy traveling in September and
October and watching the forests change and enjoying the pleasant weather
conditions. The “magic” that is manifested as fall leaf coloration is one of the
commonest hooks to explain the wonders of forests to the public and an
opportunity to explain how sustainable forest management can guarantee that
autumn magic forever.
Fall is also an important time for SAF. Most of the national conventions are in
the fall of the year. Autumn is the time when most SAF organizations - national,
state society, division, chapter, working groups, House of Society Delegates,
and Forest Science and Technology Board – hold elections of new officers, and
start planning the next year’s activities.
Fall is time to develop nominations for the Allegheny SAF awards and Fellow
nominations. Please take some time and think about whom is deserving of an
award or nomination, and then take a beautiful fall afternoon off from work
chores and nominate them.
Fall is the time to recruit new student members of SAF into our student chapters
and get them excited about being a part of SAF. Autumn is an excellent time to
recruit new members to SAF as well. Explain to them the benefits of
membership, ranging from quality programs at chapter, division, society, and
national meetings, to national and local policy inputs, to continuing education
certification, to professional networking and socializing.
Fall is time for fruits of the forest as well. Fresh pressed apple cider, walnuts,
hickory nuts, acorns, and many other tree byproducts provide the well being for
man and beast alike. While chestnut used to be an autumn mainstay, there is
some hope for its return as a fall fruit of the forest as we come closer to the
reintroduction of this Appalachian treasure. I will close out this column a little
shorter than my previous ones. I leave you with this fall message — May the
forest fruit be with you!
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