In addition to exhibiting at IWF …

The HFF Board of Directors conducted its fall Board meeting on Friday, August 27 with Board members in attendance in person and by teleconference.  Thank you to IWF for arranging meeting space. 

The HFF Board presented Columbia Forest Products with the Gifford Pinchot Award at Columbia’s booth on Friday, August 27 at 11AM in front of an audience of invited guests and IWF media. Columbia was recognized for outstanding corporate efforts toward forest sustainability. Congratulations Columbia!

The winner of the drawing for the HFF shirt is Greg Kern of Dassault Falcon Jet Corp of Little Rock, AR.

The HFF’s Gifford Pinchot Award recognizes significant corporate achievements in promoting sustainable forestry. Gifford Pinchot (1865-1946) was a forester, conservationist, first Chief of the US Forest Service, and Society of American Forester founder and president.  Gifford Pinchot’s lasting legacy to forest management and conservation (wise use of resources) is mirrored in the goals of the Hardwood Forestry Fund. The Gifford Pinchot Award is designed to go to a company that shows leadership in forest sustainability.

Stuart Clarke said, “ Columbia receives this special award for their tremendous environmental and conservation focus and leadership. Columbia has made significant investments in:
 
• educating people about America’s vast and renewable forest resources –this includes Columbia’s personnel and staff of professionally licensed  foresters, logger safety training programs, private landowner education, and web-based forest management outreach. 

• raising the bar on the sourcing of legal and certified products by connecting forest woodland owners, distributors, fabricators and consumers to the hardwood resource through certification

• leading efforts to expand tree replacement on public forests with a focus on the management and health of public and private hardwood timberlands.
 
On behalf of the Hardwood Forestry Fund Board of Directors I am proud to share the Gifford Pinchot Award with Columbia Forests Products and commend them on their leadership and award winning efforts to support sustainable forestry.”

HFF Volunteer Board members were on hand to answer media questions about Hardwood Forestry Fund programs that create sustainable forests by replacing hardwood trees on quality public sites and managing these emerging forests for wildlife habitat, water quality, soil conservation, timber products, and natural resources education.

 The Hardwood Forestry Fund’s Gifford Pinchot Award recognizes significant corporate achievements in promoting sustainable forestry. Gifford Pinchot is considered to be the United States’ first forester.  He was the first Chief of the US Forest Service, and founded the Society of American Foresters and served as its first president.

Anderson Hardwood Floors received this special award for their tremendous environmental and conservation focus.  Anderson has invested significant time and money:
 
• educating people about America’s vast and renewable forest resources
• raising the bar on the sourcing of legal products
• leading efforts to expand tree replacement on national forests
• converting wood waste to energy

and last but not least…

• taking an industry leadership role in providing customers with environmentally conscious “green” products from around the world

Anderson’s vision statement has always been, “Replace what you take, and leave the place better than you found it.”

Congratulations to Anderson Hardwood Floors, Inc.

The severe ice storm of 2003 bent and bowed 20 acres of saplings, creating a jumble of broken tops and sucker branching.  The young trees were so badly damaged the site was essentially out of production.  The project manager wanted to try a management technique to flatten 13.6 acres of damaged saplings to promote new regeneration. This was done using a D6 bulldozer.  The following spring, a large amount of Pin Cherry sprouted and continued to grow at an impressive rate throughout the growing season.  The Pin Cherry competed more successfully against other species. Competition control to reduce the amount of pin cherry was performed in 2007.  Currently there are several native tree species growing on the site including: Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Aspen, Black Birch and White Ash.    
  
All trees on this site are a result of natural regeneration. The saplings range in height from 6 ft to 1 ft depending on the tree species and the effects of deer browsing.   
 
Stocking is approximately 1,300 young trees per acre. The overall health of the stand is good although some deer browsing is still taking place. 

In the summer of 2009, twelve DCNR foresters from adjoining districts visited the site for an educational field day.  They learned about different ways to deal with ice damage in pole size stands.  They learned that if a stand has a tremendous amount of ice damage that bulldozing and possibly competition control afterwards is a good method to regenerate the stand and to create a healthy forest.

Update from Project Manager June 2010:
The planted hardwood trees range in height from 6′ high with 0.5″ diameter to 15′ high with 3″ diameter.

Pin cherry dominates the site with more than 1,000 stems/acre.  Red oak is approximately 100 stems/ acre while black cherry stems are near 50/ acre. 
 
The stand is in good health.  It is completely vegetated, although dominated by early successional species. 

Two educational events were held at the site in spring 2010.  One event focused on the 10th anniversary of the tornado and the other event taught participants about hiking and bird watching in this area.  About 15 people attended each event.  Participants of the first event were shown the stages of natural and artificial regeneration at the site.  Participants of the second event hiked on the Finger Lakes Hiking Trail adjacent to the planting site and were shown various bird species that are attracted to the young forest.

Gifford Pinchot (1865-1946) was a forester, conservationist, first Chief of the US Forest Service, and Society of American Foresters founder and president.  Gifford Pinchot’s lasting legacy to forest management and conservation (wise use of resources) is mirrored in the goals of the Hardwood Forestry Fund. 

The Hardwood Forestry Fund Gifford Pinchot Award honors a forest products company that has demonstrated a similar commitment to the environment and “generation after generation of people and trees” through tree planting, sustainable forest conservation, and environmental education.
 
Qualifications for the Hardwood Forestry Fund’s Gifford Pinchot Award are:
• Demonstrated financial commitment to forest sustainability programs
• Extensive environmental education efforts
• Defined corporate strategy, policies, and procedures to extend use of hardwood resources

You can help the Hardwood Forestry Fund Board of Directors select the Gifford Pinchot Award recipient by nominating a company you feel should receive the award.  You are encouraged to promote your corporate environmental efforts by nominating your company.  Media releases in industry journals will identify the award winning company.

Previous Gifford Pinchot Winners:
 ARMSTRONG WOOD PRODUCTS.  2001
 WALZCRAFT INDUSTRIES INC.  2006
 
Complete the nomination form and return it to the Hardwood Forestry Fund by April 30, 2010. The award will be presented at the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta in August 2010.  Please direct questions to the Hardwood Forestry Fund, Barbara@hardwoodforestryfund.org or call 703-503-1155.  Your support and nominations are appreciated.

The 2010 Veneer Tech Craftsman’s Challenge rewards excellence in the use of veneer and wood products through cash awards and other recognition for the entire supply chain including craftsmen, distributors and distributor sales representatives, and also for student designers. The competition is co-sponsored this year by CabinetMaker+FDM.

Robert Lang is a professional woodworker and author of several books including Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture, named in 2005 by Fine Woodworking magazine as one of the “Books Every Woodworker Should Read.” His experience includes building custom furniture and cabinets as well as managing large architectural millwork projects. “I’m looking forward to seeing the best examples of current work entered in the Veneer Tech Craftsman’s Challenge,” said Lang. “Previous years’ entries have been an inspiring collection from skilled and creative craftsmen and I’m sure this year’s entries will be even better.”

Patrick Molzahn joined the faculty of Madison Area Technical College, Madison, WI, after several years of running his own woodworking business. Originally trained as an architect, his interests include architectural millwork and wooden boatbuilding. In 2008 he was the recipient of the WMIA Educator of the Year award. “As the wood industry works to recover from the recent economic downturn, it is critical to our success that we encourage and reward our best craftsmen and students,” Molzahn commented. “Veneer Tech is to be commended for its support of current and future woodworkers.”

Robert Stout of RLS Commercial Interiors in Wendell, NC, specializes in institutional, retail and restaurant casework, paneling, doors and interior windows. He has served on the board of AWI for several years. “The Craftsman’s Challenge is the premier showcase for cutting edge veneer work, showing the wide gamut of applications from student projects to high end architectural installations,” said Stout. “It is exciting to see the variety of work entered.”

Entries are accepted through June 11, 2010. Competition categories include Cabinetry, Architectural Woodworking, Furniture, Specialty Products, Store Fixtures, and Student Design. Entry materials are available from Veneer Technologies sales representatives, distributors, and through www.veneertech.com. Online entry is encouraged.

A cash award of $3000 will be made to the creator of the grand prize winning entry. The distributor of the veneer for the grand prize winning entry will receive $2000, and the corresponding distributor salesman will receive $1000. Winners of each of the six categories receive $1000 each. There is also an additional $1000 award to the grand prizewinner for early entry by March 31, 2010. Awards will be presented at IWF 2010, August 25-28, in Atlanta, GA.

Veneer Technologies, a long-time Hardwood Forestry Fund supporter,  is located in Newport, NC, and specializes in natural face veneers, sheet veneer and edgebanding. The company also offers exotic hardwood lumber, door skins and reconstituted veneer products.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 15, 2010
CONTACT:  Alan Hubbard, Veneer Technologies, Inc., alan@veneertech.com
P. O. Box 1145, Newport, NC  28570; TEL 252-223-5600
www.veneertech.com