Above: Mark Holman, ACF is an active member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Assoc. of Consulting Foresters of America, Inc. and currently serves as it’s Secretary.
At the center of the membership, our current Chapter Chair,
Joe Glover is organized, focused, and persuasive (evidenced
by the fact that he has convinced me to write this article).
In addition to an effective Chair, we have an enthusiastic
membership eager to volunteer for some aspect, large or
small, which will further promote our group.
Three times per year, we gather at a central location in our state, or simply put, equally difficult for most members to attend. We have adopted a practice of having a guest speaker before each meeting and we arrange to receive continuing education credits for those mini workshops / discussions. We gather in a meeting room at a restaurant, listen to the invited speaker in the morning, order lunch from the menu, enjoy fellowship during lunch, and proceed with our Chapter meeting in the afternoon.
One day prior to our most recent chapter meeting, we held a full-day class on “Operational GPS”. Member Bob McColly arranged for a speaker from SFI to give classroom instruction followed by in-the-field, hands–on use. The workshop was tailored to our group’s specific needs and was well attended and received. Having the class in conjunction with our regular meeting allowed the opportunity to stay overnight and attend the meeting the following day. Our guest speaker that next day was from PSU Cooperative Extension and the topic was the Marcellus Shale gas development, a very timely issue in our region.
Our members occasionally bring a non-ACF professional forester to a chapter meeting. Surely, we all know forestry professionals that are respected in the field and are not yet members of ACF (yes, they do exist). When a forester is invited to attend as a prospective member, an ACF member introduces the guest by summarizing the individual’s background and business. The Visitors are encouraged to participate in discussions and soon recognize the important issues in which ACF is involved on both the state and national level.
To further promote the group, we have developed a tabletop display that introduces our chapter specifically, as well as ACF as a whole. We utilize that display at agricultural and industry gatherings such as Penn state’s Ag Progress Days. Member Jeff Gossert as spearheaded that effort and staffs the booth regularly. Other members assist by attending and allowing Jeff freedom to leave the booth. We have agreed that having this display helps get the name out there to both landowners and other potential members alike.
As we work together, it is apparent that we have differing ideas on issues and lively discussions usually ensue. These divergences help to strengthen the group and allow for a healthy debate in an open-minded environment. Despite our differences, a strong common thread that remains is our desire to be a part of an exceptional group promoting a truly outstanding profession. That alone should ensure survival in even the harshest environment.
