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December In this issue: Team of three managers named Oregon Tree Farmers of the Year Oregon Tree Farmers of the Year New amphibian report National Engineering Month approaching OFRI new board members Cloughesy elected chair-elect of OSAF OFRI Outlook going electronic       Charlie Krebs (USDA Forest Service Region Six staff), Jim Cota, Scott Melcher, State Forester of Oregon Marvin Brown. Not pictured: Robbie Melcher. Photo: Kevin Weeks Jim Cota (second from left), Robbie Melcher (not pictured) and Scott Melcher (second from right), the managers of the Fun Forest Tree Farm in Linn County, have been named Oregon’s Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year for 2009. Cota and the Melchers manage the 1,500-acre forest near Sweet Home both for wood production and for recreation services such as camping, all-terrain vehicle trails and fishing sites. “It’s a fun place to be. I especially hope kids can come here and develop the same love for the land that I have.” –Jim Cota. The Tree farm also places a focus on outreach and education to the central Linn County region, including work with Sweet Home High School to renew a forestry program for students.   New OFRI report looks at the relationship between forest management and amphibians Upcoming Landowner Educational Opportunities Tree School Clackamas March 20 Oregon City Tree School Umpqua March 25 Roseburg Tree School East April 17 Baker City OSWA Annual Meeting April 29 - May 1 Clackamas Klamath Tree School May 22 Klamath Falls     One quarter of amphibians in the Northwest depend on headwater streams for food, cover and breeding habitat. Most of these headwaters originate in forestland. How do forest management choices affect this sensitive class of species? Stream-Associated Amphibians, a new report from OFRI, introduces the common riparian amphibians of the region, explores the relationship between forest management and amphibian health, and reviews ongoing watershed research throughout the Northwest. This publication is the third in a series of publications exploring wildlife in managed forests. The other two publications cover: Elk Spotted Owl   There’s still time to volunteer for National Engineers Month Photograph courtesy of Vernier Software & Technology Just a few volunteer slots remain open for forest engineer presenters during National Engineers Month in February. National Engineers Month matches volunteer presenters with math and science classrooms for one-hour presentations. To participate, visit the Business Education Compact Web site and follow the links for National Engineers Month. You can also e-mail Julie Woodward for more information.     OFRI welcomes new board members Anne Hanschu Little Beaver Creek Tree Farm Board position: Small woodland owner A former teacher and Western Regional Tree Farmer of the Year, Anne Hanschu and husband Richard have worked for nearly two decades to create a thriving tree farm that is also an educational venue for conservation and forestry and that hosts educational tours and visitors from around the world. Ron Stuntzner Stuntzner Engineering & Forestry, LLC Board position: Producer class 1 As principle of Stuntzner Engineering & Forestry, LLC, Ron Stuntzner owns and manages a 50-year-old multi-office consulting business as well as a family tree farm with educational programs that focus on forest stewardship and local youth education. "We are fortunate to have the involvement of such well-respected leaders in their fields. OFRI will be guided by an extremely strong board in this tough recessionary time."         – Pete Sikora, OFRI board chair   OFRI’s Cloughesy elected chair-elect of Oregon Society of American Foresters Mike Cloughesy, OFRI’s director of forestry, has recently been elected chair-elect of the Oregon Society of American Foresters. Mike will serve as chair-elect for 2010, chair for 2011 and past-chair for 2012. The chair serves as chair of the executive committee, as ex officio member of all other committees, oversees the business affairs committee, appoints committee,; acts as the official delegate to the House of Society Delegates and fills many similar duties. With more than 1,000 members in 12 chapters throughout the state, the Oregon Society of American Foresters is the largest of the 33 state/multi-state affiliates of the national society.   OFRI Outlook: Goodbye mailbox, hello inbox OFRI Outlook, OFRI’s quarterly newsletter, will switch to an all-electronic format. Starting next summer, Outlook will be arriving in your inbox instead of your mailbox, and bringing with it color photos, expanded information and links to supporting content. In preparing for this switch, OFRI is updating its records to accurately serve our audience. A postcard will be headed your way in the coming months. It’s your opportunity to update contact information and include your e-mail so that you can continue to receive OFRI information.   Christmas Tree Donations from the Rediscovery Forest This holiday season the Rediscovery Forest's Christmas Tree Demonstration area is harvesting a variety of trees from the site and sharing them with local community members and volunteers. The demonstration area was planted approximately 10 years ago with 10 varieties of Christmas tree species.  OFRI staff and local Christmas tree growers have managed the area and have discovered which tree species grow successfully given the site conditions, such as elevation and soil.