Tag Archives: 2011

Graduate Forest Technician Achievement Award

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Three foresters were awarded the Graduate Forest Technician Achievement Award at the annual meeting in Fredericton, NB Canada on August 4. Nominations came from CEFTS member schools in recognition of exceptional professional accomplishments and service.

This year’s winners include:

  • Mike Aultman, a forest technician with the State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Nominated by Itasca Community College.
  • Ken Roberts of Lavale, MD, a forester with the New Page Paper Company. Nominated by Allegany College of Maryland.
  • Steve Wipperman, a Forest Ranger with the Fire Control Division of the Maine Forest Service. Nominated by the  University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Congratulations to the honorees!

Links and Pictures from Fredericton

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The 2011 CEFTS meeting in Fredericton, New Brunswick had some really great field trips. Here are links for further information.

2011 CEFTS Meeting

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It’s been just a week since the end of the 2011 annual meeting sponsored by the Maritime College of Forest Technology in Fredericton, NB. The meeting was a great success! Here is a picture of the participants taken at a restored wetland and pond at the CFB Gagetown Training Area.

P1110556

Many thanks to Dave McDonald for organizing the meeting and our sincere appreciation to:

  • Robert Whitney, MCFT executive director.
  • Gaetan Bolduc and Mike Boucher, our van drivers.
  • Kenny McGinn and Julie Singleton for dendrology and ground plants help.
  • Heather Flinn, administrative assistant.
  • All the faculty and staff of MCFT.
    We appreciate your great hospitality!

Congratulations to all those who participated in the CEFTS auction, which raised over  $600 for the scholarship fund. Who ever knew that T-shirts, caps, and water bottles could be so valuable.

Click here to see a map of areas we visited during the meeting.

Cracker Barrel Topics

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Based on the response received, this year’s topic for discussion will be
Recruitment and Retention

Below you will find a series of questions intended to start the discussion of student recruitment and retention:

  • How much control do you have over recruitment?
  • Does small “p” politics play a role in retention (numbers = funding rule)?
  • Has your program been renamed in an attempt to attract greater numbers? Successful ?
  • Do you feel that your program been expanded but that fundamental subjects have been diluted?
  • Has your program been merged or joined with other programs?
  • Is the job market affecting your recruitment numbers?
  • Is the average age of your student changing?
  • Do you feel that the students need to be entertained?
  • As a teacher do you feel that you relate to the students?
  • How many of you graduated from the school that you now teach at?
  • If you could teach for another 20 years would you?
  • Are there any steps that you take to foster greater retention (beyond the normal teaching duties/ activities)?
  • What is the major reason that students give for leaving your program if not for academic reasons?
  • What kind of competition for students do you find in your area?
  • Do you have articulation agreements with institutes of higher learning and is this a benefit to your recruitment?

That being said, Harry Hutchins brought forward another topic for discussion which I felt was very appropriate. Harry talked about the importance of being able to transfer wisdom to the next generation of teachers. Specifically he talked about the importance of specific sites for labs, contacts for field trips, what works and what doesn’t. On behalf of Harry, I am mentioning this for future consideration.

from David McDonald

Latest Schedule for 2011 Annual Meeting in Fredericton, New Brunswick

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The Annual Meeting is fast approaching, so we are sending you an updated Schedule of Events. We have heard from some of you, on what you would like to discuss during the Cracker Barrel discussions.  We are always open to more suggestions. We are also looking at an optional fly fishing trip with guides (limited to 6 participants) before the Annual Meeting. Or maybe you would prefer a canoe jaunt on the St. John/Nashwaak Rivers.

Almost everyone flew into the Fredericton airport for the last meeting, but you can also fly into the Saint John airport, or Moncton airport (we will arrange pick-up from these points if requested).  We have arranged for lodging at one of our residences, which is located at our College – alternate accommodations at the Fredericton Inn – summer rates.

Some of you may prefer to fly into Bangor or Portland, Maine in which case perhaps Steve Resh or others attending may be able to co-ordinate a ride.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Monday, August 1st, 2011
5:00 – 6:00 pm             Early check-in

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

6:00 am                        Leave Forestry complex for fly fishing trip (confirmed fly fishing attendees only)
8:00 am                       Leave Forestry complex for canoe jaunt on Saint John river (confirmed attendees only)
12:00 – 6:00 p.m.         Annual Meeting check in – Hugh John Flemming Forestry Complex Lobby
7:00 p.m.                     Supper (BBQ)
7:45 p.m                      Welcome, Aboriginal Ceremony, Intro to the Maritimes (drinks and discourse in the Social Courtyard)
8:30 p.m.                     Executive Committee meeting

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 {Hardhats will be provided if required}
7:00 a.m.                     Breakfast (provided)
8:00 a.m.                     Tour of MCFT and HJFFC and Teaching Forest
12:00 -1:00 p.m.          Lunch (provided)
1:00 p.m.                     Depart for Tour (Odell Park and Urban forestry tour)
5:00 p.m.                     Supper – Maritime fare – Racine’s  (sponsored)
7:30 p.m.                     Cracker Barrel – possible topics Recruitment and Retention, The Unwritten  Lessons, Threats to Teaching Forests…

Thursday, August 4, 2011 {Hardhats will be provided if required
7:00 a.m.                     Breakfast
8:00 a.m.                     Depart for Tour – Gagetown Army base
1: 00 p.m.                    Lunch (downtown Fredericton or in the field [sponsored])
2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.    Kings Landing Historical site.
5:00 p.m.                     Supper – Acadian fare (sponsored)
6:00 p.m.                     Business meeting
8:00 p.m.                     Aboriginal ceremony, Auction, Drinks, and social discussion

Friday, August 5, 2011
7:00 a.m.                     Breakfast
8:00 a.m.                     Depart for home or various activities

Contact Information: Heather Flinn is my Administrative Assistant, and can be reached at 506 458 0199, or her e-mail address is hflinn@mcft.ca.  I can be reached at 506 458 5124 or at dmcdonald@mcft.ca

**        The tours that we are looking at are an Urban Forestry guided walk-about, and then a tour of Forestry on the largest Military Base in the Commonwealth.

Note:   A number of you have indicated that you may like to extend your stay to appreciate some of what the Maritimes has to offer. We will be sending information packages out to those who plan on attending which will give a very good idea of what there is going on.

Fair warning to y’all, once you’ve been here you’ll never want to leave.

Dave

 

University of New Hampshire Forest Technology Student Wins Granite State SAF Award

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This is from a University of New Hampshire, Thompson School press release:

Nicholas Haskell is the recipient of the Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Forest Technology Student of the Year Award.
The second year class in the Forest Technology program recently attended the annual meeting of the Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters. It was a great opportunity for the students to hear the latest topics on forestry here in the northeast. The students also made contacts with forestry professionals who work throughout the state. These contacts are certain to be valuable once the students begin their careers in the forestry profession.
Each year, the Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters selects one student to be the recipient of the Forest Technology Student of the Year Award. This year Forest Technology senior Nicholas Haskell received this award. He is an excellent student, a leader in the classroom and exemplifies the spirit of the award.
Nick is from Brattleboro, Vermont and comes to the school with a background in forestry work in his high school vocational program. His hard work and dependability set the standard for the classroom. In addition to his accomplishments in the classroom, he works part time for the Forest Technology program and also finds time to be heavily involved with the UNH Woodsmen Team.
Last Summer Nick was employed by Cersosimo Lumber Company in Brattleboro. His work there provided a valuable opportunity to learn about the forest products industry. His goals after graduation from the Thompson School include a season or two on a western fire crew. Nick also plans to continue his education by earning a baccalaureate degree in Forest Management.

Click here to see the full story.

Forest Tech Students Attend Professional Meetings

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When forest technology students attend professional meetings they meet foresters already working in the field. They learn new things and reinforce what they have studied in school. More importantly they make connections for future jobs and relationships. They get to see what it’s like to be a forester.

In spring 2011 students from Penn State Mont Alto and Allegany College of Maryland attended the Allegheny SAF meeting in Clarion, PA. Click here for pictures and a story from Mont Alto, who won the quiz bowl.

Haywood Community College foresters attended the Appalachian SAF meeting in Charleston, SC. For a recap and pictures click here.

Ten Horry-Georgetown Technical College Forestry students were able to attend the 2011 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Timber Producers Association in Myrtle Beach last month. In addition to outstanding speakers and exhibits, the students were able to meet and greet Bobby Goodson the “Swamp Logger” from the Discovery Channel series. Click here for more information.

2011 Meeting Information

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The conference is several months away, and I know that some of you may be planning for your summer.  This is a tentative schedule.  We are looking at an optional fly fishing trip with guides (limited to 6 participants) before the conference. A possible canoe jaunt on the St. John/Nashwaak Rivers and a third possibility is an urban forestry walkabout (we have a very well established and far sighted urban forestry program in Fredericton).

Almost everyone flew into the Fredericton airport for the last meeting, but you can also come into Saint John airport, or Moncton airport.  We have arranged for lodging at one of our residences, which is located at our College (alternate accommodations at the Fredericton Inn – summer rates).  If I have forgotten any business events, or if they need to be rescheduled, please let me know.

Some of you may prefer to fly into Bangor or Portland, Maine in which case perhaps Steve Resh or others attending may be able to co-ordinate a ride.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

  • 6:00 p.m.         Conference check-in – Hugh John Fleming Forestry Convention Centre Lobby
  • 7:00 p.m.         Supper (pot luck provided by MCFT Staff)
  • 7:45 p.m          Welcome, Intro to the Maritimes (drinks and discourse in the Social Courtyard)
  • 8:30 p.m.         Executive Committee meeting

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 {Hardhats will be provided if required}

  • 7:00 a.m.         Breakfast (provided)
  • 8:00 a.m.         Tour of MCFT and HJFCC and teaching forest
  • 12:00 -1:00      Lunch (provided)
  • 1:00 p.m.         Depart for Tour
  • 5:00 p.m.         Supper – Maritime fare (sponsored)
  • 7:30 p.m.         Cracker Barrel (possible topics Recruitment and Retention, The Unwritten Lessons, Threats to Teaching Forests)

Thursday, August 4, 2011 {If Hard Hat required we will supply}

  • 7:00 a.m.         Breakfast
  • 8:00 a.m.         Depart for Tour
  • 1: 00 p.m.        Lunch (downtown Fredericton or in the field [sponsored])
  • 2:00 – 4:00       Downtown walkabout (Art Gallery, Craft exhibits, Historical district, Stores)
  • 5:00 p.m.         Supper – Acadian fare (sponsored)
  • 6:00 p.m.         Business meeting
  • 8:00 p.m.         Aboriginal ceremony, Auction, Drinks and social discussion

Friday, August 5, 2011

  • 7:00 a.m.         Breakfast
  • 8:00 a.m.         Depart for home or various activities

Contact Information:

Heather Flinn is Administrative Assistant to the Instructors and field Instructors, and she can be reached at 506 458 0199, her e-mail address is hflinn@mcft.ca.  I can be reached at 506 458 5124 or at dmcdonald@mcft.ca

** The tours that we are looking at are to a Value Added facility; that in part has work done by disabled persons, and then a tour of Forestry on the largest Military Base in the Commonwealth.

Note:   A number of you have indicated that you may like to extend your stay to appreciate some of what the Maritimes has to offer. We will be sending information packages out to those who plan on attending which will give a very good idea of what there is going on.

Fair warning to y’all, once you’ve been here you’ll never want to leave.

Registration Form – Draft 2011
Tentative Schedule of Events