Increasing educational opportunities for Oregon logging companies has been a major goal during a Sweet Home man’s two years as president of Associated Oregon Loggers.
Gary Betts, president of More Fibre, Inc., turned over the gavel for the 841 company member organization recently during the AOL annual convention held in Eugene.
Betts said that when he took office two years ago, he set a goal of increasing membership and to increase services available to members. He believes both goals were met during that tenure.
During a speech before the AOL members at the Hilton Hotel in Eugene, Betts said the organization has taken some large steps in the past year.
Among them…
– He noted that the AOL has grown to include some 840 member companies.
– In 1998, the Friends of Paul Bunyon Foundation was established to “promote, educate and inform school children and the public about forest lands.”
– Named a new executive vice president, Jim Geisinger, to succeed Mike Miller, who retired after 14 years at the helm of the AOL.
– Succeeded, after eight years, in persuading the Oregon legislature to reduce personal property taxes on logging equipment.
– Raised $121,000 through the Log A Load program for three children’s hospitals in Oregon.
“This year we will take steps to combat the Clinton-Gore legacy,” Betts said. “We will try to bring real balance back to managing our natural resources in our forests, energy production and other similar interests.”
Betts predicted that President George W. Bush will bring that balance back to the nation.
Betts called the Clinton-Gore administration incompetent in terms of forest management policies that lead to a devastating fire season in 2000.
“The wildfires this summer could have been prevented,” Betts said. “Since the early 1950s, the loss to firests in our forests has averaged 600,000 acres per year. This year we lost 7 million acres—this destruction of our national forests should be the Clinton-Gore legacy. They earned it!”
Oregon logging companies will face continued challenges in 2001, Betts said.
“Log markets are down, while the cost of fuels, insurance, operational costs and equipment continue to sky rocket,” Betts said. “Mills have been hit hard by the influx of Canadian wood products and low markets cut costs.”
Despite hardships, Betts said loggers are “natural fighters.”
“…willing to work hard and occasionally play hard, with huge hearts and a love for the forests and wood industry that is as natural to us as breathing. We are surviving.”
Betts urged his fellow loggers to “choose your next steps wisely. Whether in your logging job, the commitment to your family and friends or working in your community–you are a logger and you do represent the best Oregon has to offer!”
New officers elected
New officers were elected 2001-2003. They include: Mark Crawford, Crawford Logging, president; Jim Gahlsdorf, Gahlsdorf Logging Inc., internal vice president; Tracy Brostrom, Julius, Inc., external vice president; Ben Swaggart, Swaggart Enterprises, Inc., secretary-treasurer; Gary Betts, More Fibre, Inc., immediate past president; Rick Gibbons, Allen and Gibbons Logging Company, member services representative.
Annual awards
Dale Moffett, owner of Moffett Logging Company, Inc., Junction City. The Logger of the Year award is given to the AOL member who has made significant contributions to the association and sets the example of a logger to which peers look up.
Moffett is a second generation logger, who has been in the business for more than 30 years. He has served AOL on several committees and was instrumental in helping initiate the AOL Member’s Scholarship.
Judy Montgomery was named Woman of the Year. She and her husband Dave have been in the logging business for 27 years. She has lobbied in Washington, D.C., is an active member of the Log A Load for Kids committee, and coordinates meetings for the largest AOL chapter in the state.
Tracy Brostrom of Julius Inc., Salem, was named chapter chairman of the year. She brings enthusiasm, leadership, creativity and fun to the position. This is the second time she has received the award.