Having trouble reading this e-mail? View it as a Web page.

October 2010 In This Issue: Board of Forestry recognizes Simon Babcock for excellence in forestry education Forestry education award OFRI Speakers Bureau RFP Forest Seedling Network Forest products sales course New building materials program at OSU   The Oregon Board of Forestry has recognized Simon Babcock, the forestry instructor at Philomath High School, for excellence in forestry education. During the board’s September meeting, Babcock received the Mary Rellergert Forestry Education Award, which honors individuals and organizations making significant contributions to public education and understanding of forestry in Oregon. Babcock, now in his seventh year as forestry instructor at PHS, received the award based upon his enthusiastic and inspirational teaching style, his ability to engage his school and the wider community in creative and fun forestry education projects, and the positive effect his teaching has had on his students. Babcock has also been an active leader in the Associated Oregon Forestry Clubs. The award honors the Oregon Department of Forestry’s former Tillamook State Forest Education Coordinator, Mary Rellergert, who passed away in February 2004. The 2010 Mary Rellergert Forestry Education Award winner was selected by a panel of forestry educators from the Oregon Natural Resources Education Program at the Oregon State University College of Forestry, the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, the Oregon Department of Forestry and past recipients of the award. Pcitured above (from left): John Blackwell, chair, Board of Forestry; Susan Sahnow, Oregon Natural Resources Education Program; Norie Dimeo-Ediger, OFRI; Simon Babcock, Philomath High School; and Doug Decker, Oregon Department of Forestry. OFRI seeking contractor to run its popular Speakers Bureau program Upcoming Events Oct. 23 Tree Farmer Recognition Banquet More Info Nov. 17 Swiss Needle Cast Operational Management More Info   The OFRI Speakers Bureau, a volunteer-powered outreach program bringing forest presentations to community groups, is accepting proposals for a contractor to coordinate and expand the program.  The OFRI Speakers Bureau has been in existence since 2003. The intention of the program is to expose civic groups such as chambers of commerce and Lions and Rotary clubs to current forestry issues through brief, informative presentations. These presentations are often given at group meetings. The response to the program continues to be overwhelmingly positive. For anyone interested in this opportunity, please view the RFP. To be considered, applicants must: Register on the State of Oregon’s free ORPIN system Use the "Browse Opportunities" link and then "Advanced Search" to find RFP #628-1016-10, then click on "Express/View Interest" link Download the RFP , then complete and return the proposal by Nov. 1, 2010 Additional information can be found by downloading the RFP, posted on OFRI’s website. Requests for clarification must be made by 3 p.m. on Oct. 15. Review the Speakers Bureau program and presentations. Forest Seedling Network might be just what you need as planting season nears New search options and mapping resources have been added to the Forest Seedling Network, a must-visit website for anyone sourcing forest seedlings in Oregon. Forest landowners can search by text, category, state and even proximity to their location. Currently the Forest Seedling Network lists nearly 1,200 forest-management service providers in the region. Seedlings are now being posted for the coming season. There are nearly 200 species listed for the five Pacific Northwest states. Searchers should be aware that forest seedlings are already hard to find due to reduced sowing in 2009, freezing weather last December and a wet spring in 2010. Signing up for an FSN account is easy and free! Visit the site. 10th annual Selling Forest Products course at OSU, Dec. 9-10 The Oregon Wood Innovation Center and OSU’s Department of Wood Science and Engineering are offering their 10th annual Selling Forest Products course Dec. 9-10. The course is designed for new and senior sales and marketing personnel in the forest products industry who want to improve their sales skills, as well as sales managers who would like to improve their sales force's effectiveness. Robert Smith of Virginia Tech University is the instructor. He is a veteran salesman who specialized in treated wood products before joining Virginia Tech. Register at: http://www.regonline.com/osu_selling_forest_products. Projects, programs bring research revenue to OSU College of Forestry Oregon State University, along with Virginia Tech University, recently announced a new $2.2 million National Science Foundation-funded research center focused on environmentally friendly wood-based composite materials. Research will focus on renewable, environmentally benign versions of wood composites such as laminated veneer lumber, as well as improved types of wood adhesives. One of the first projects to be performed at OSU will investigate the durability of adhesive bonds using advanced technology and numerical modeling techniques. Fred Kamke, professor of wood science and engineering at the OSU College of Forestry, will be the site director for the new center, called the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center.