LFA plans 63rd annual meeting in Bossier City By James Ronald Skains "The theme of our 63rd annual convention is `Stand For Forestry,' C.A. (Buck) Vandersteen told the Piney Woods Journal. "I think that it is a very appropriate theme considering the tough time the forest industry is experiencing." The 2010 annual meeting will be held at Diamond Jacks in Bossier City. Three of the four speakers are involved directly in the forest industry while the fourth speaker in the conference works with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Vandersteen, Executive Director of the LFA based in Alexandria, said, "We think that our lineup of speakers will give us not only a comprehensive but a detailed look at what is really happening in our industry. Stan Lancey is the chief economist the American Forest & Paper Association headquartered in Washington. He has been on the AF&PA staff since 1977." "Ray Dillon is president and CEO for Deltic Timber Corporation in El Dorado, Arkansas," said Vandersteen, who has been Executive Director of the Louisiana Forestry Association for 28 years. "Deltic owns forestland in both Arkansas and Louisiana and operates two sawmills." "Chris Davidson is the manager of environmental performance for International Paper's Office of Sustainability," Vandersteen said. "Chris is responsible for the certification standard for the company's fiber supply. It is hard to believe that IP no longer owns any timber land." "We are especially looking forward to what Danielle DiMartino will have to tell us," Vandersteen acknowledged. "Danielle is a financial analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and will talk to us about the real future of the housing industry. What our industry needs is a big rebound in housing starts, but when you don't have a job or are worried about keeping your job, you aren't in the market to buy a house, no matter how low the mortgage interest rates are". When asked by the Journal as to his personal and professional opinion as to the causes of our current nationwide economic crisis, Vandersteen had this to say: "We are caught in a vicious circle. Government policy encouraged risky investments. Private industry then began taking too much risk and individuals began to shirk their responsibility of making good financial decisions." The 63rd annual LFA meeting kicks off on Tuesday morning, August 31 with a golf tournament at the Stonebridge course in Bossier City. A clay shoot begins at 1 p.m. at the Shreveport Gun Club. At 6 p.m., the President's social hour begins and is followed by a seated dinner honoring LFA President Steve Muslow. Muslow is a consulting forester from northwest Louisiana. The LFA which has more than 4,000 members making it the largest association of its kind in the south begins Wednesday with its Foundation Breakfast. That is followed by the opening of the silent auction. The general session begins at 9 a.m. with Lancey speaking on `Our Emerging Forest Economy,' followed by Davidson talking about Fiber Supply Challenges with Dillion delivering the final presentation of the day on `The Landowners Perspective on Growing Trees.' "We are very concerned on what is going on in Washington," Vandersteen admitted. "We don't know if and how much funding for forestry the Farm Bill will have in it this year." "Also, we are concerned about the funding for the National Food Institute Research organization," Vandersteen acknowledged. "This group has far reaching impact on all our lives. We are also apprehensive about any government policies that might negatively impact small businesses." "We were encouraged a few years back by the Biomass Conversion program but in actuality it only eschewed the flow of wood," Vandersteen, who has a Forestry degree from the University of Massachusetts stated. "What actually happened in this program, which has since been suspended, was that wood went from a higher value to a lower value under B-CAP." "Our Louisiana Congressional delegation has always been very supportive and helpful for our industry," Vandersteen pointed out. "They always check with the LFA to see if any legislation may have an adverse effect on forestry." The Tree Farmer of the Year will be announced at the noon luncheon sponsored by IP on September 1. That will be followed by a meeting of the Louisiana Consulting Foresters group. Graphic Packing of West Monroe will sponsor a Wednesday Night Fun Night in the Crowne Ballroom. The Outstanding Logger of 2010 will be presented during this event at a seated dinner followed by fun and games with the Hilarious Hypnotist, Dr. Holiday. "Even though I grew up and went to college on the east coast, I guess I was destined to come to Louisiana," Vandersteen said. "After finishing college during a slow job market, I decided to join the Peace Corp and work in a forestry program that they had going in Liberia, West Africa. I did that for two years then worked in a private industry in Africa that cut exotic trees and sold the lumber all over the world," Vandersteeen added. "When I came back to the States, the job market in forestry was still a little slow but I found a job with Stone Forest Products in Savannah. They told me that their only opening was in Hodge, Louisiana," Vandersteen said with a laugh. "I guess they thought if I could handle the heat in Africa, that I could handle Louisiana." "Actually, that was the beginning of what turned out to be my career with the LFA," Vandersteen explained. "Working with Stone out of their Winnfield operation, I met a lot of wonderful people including my wife to be, Beth Kohler, of Jonesboro. We were married during the time I was working with Billy Trocquille, Benny Martin, Levi Price and others. I had also got to know Randy Ewing while in the Jonesboro area." "After a few years, I was transferred to Virginia,'' Vandersteen pointed out. "Later when Stone was going through some changes, I called Randy to ask him if there were any opportunities open in Louisiana. He asked me if I had ever considered doing association work," Vandersteen recalled. "The LFA had been looking for a Director for about ten months. I came down and interviewed," Vandersteen remembered. "There were sixteen people in the room during my interview. Gordon Condit was head of the search committee and John Sheely was LFA President that year. About two weeks later, the LFA called me and offered me the job." Vandersteen acknowledged. "I responded by saying that I wanted to talk to my wife first before accepting. I called my wife and asked her would she like to move back to Louisiana. She replied, I'll be ready to leave in five minutes," Vandersteen said with a laugh. "And 28 great years later we are still here in Louisiana. Although I am 59 years old and have been with the LFA nearly 30 years, I have no plans to retire as long as I can be effective in my job." |