AOL's 42nd Annual Meeting: Ready for Change

Article by Mike Crouse

Loggers from throughout Oregon converged on Eugene, Oregon’s Valley River Inn for the 42nd Annual Convention of the Associated Oregon Loggers. In presenting the most value for their time, there are two other events scheduled the day prior to the AOL’s annual meeting: the day-long COFE (Western Region Council on Forest Engineering) Seminar, a (Oregon) Forest Practices Seminar in the afternoon, each located at the Valley River Inn as well. Participation at the preliminary programs and the annual convention is another way of accumulating the annual credits needed to maintain OPL (Oregon Professional Logger) accreditation, and something most make full use of during the events.

The convention’s meet and greet on Thursday was sponsored by the Valley River Inn, and well attended per usual.

Friday morning’s opening session was keynoted by Oregon State and Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Ted Ferrioli, who is very optimistic looking into the upcoming state elections next November, replacing the long entrenched Democrat control, and asserting controls on state spending, agency largesse, and creating a more favorable climate (at long last) for business in the state.

Ferrioli then introduced Knute Buehler, a candidate fo the Oregon Secretary of State’s position, who’d logged to pay his way through college, became a Rhodes Scholar, and earning a Master’s Degree from Oxford University, and later earned a medical degree from John Hopkins.
“Its exactly the right time to get into politics,” Buehler explained, “when times are toughest is when leaders can get involved.”

The second session brought USFS Reg. 6 forester Kent Connaughton, Oregon State BLM Director Ed Shaphard, and Oregon State Forester Doug Decker for the “Ask the Boss” program. The federal side of the ledger explained they’re working to stay ahead of the curve in these challenging budget times. Decker explained this past year’s been one of rebuilding, “...we’ve brought back a dozen stewardship foresters,” and they’re undertaking a compliance audit on the Forest Practices Act asked by the legislature. “We’re using technology to be more efficient,” he noted.

Luncheon speaker was OR-OSHA administrator Michael Woods, who focused on their new penalty structure for workplace safety violations now in final draft and comment phase before adoption. The audience was somewhat skeptical. To Woods credit he is accessible and open to comment.
A crowd of roughly 150 attended the annual membership meeting, which was called to order by Pres. Bruce Zuber following lunch. This year’s seen the restructuring of the AOL into four distinct districts, “that so far is working well,” Zuber said. “The biggest victory came from the (Oregon) personal property tax exemption on most logging equipment is now a permanent law.”

AOL Membership level remained even with the past year, and they sold the former AOL office site in Salem as well.

Executive Secretary Jim Geisinger outlined the past and coming state and federal legislative issues, in particular working to reconnect county funding with managing our federal resource. There’s a strong interest in the counties and with members of congress to achieve that end, particularly because the federal subsidies (in lieu of timber receipts from an essentially non-existent federal timber sale program) ends January. “There are a lot of moving parts,” Geisinger explained. “We’ll watch.”

Saturday morning’s motivational speaker was Bodine Balesco, explaining “Creating desired results.” A very expressively active Balesco noted, “It’s not what the desired result is (that creates positive results)...It’s what committing to the Desired Result does.”
A copy of his motivational program is available free at: www.aol-bodine.com.

The most anticipated presentation came from WSRI’s (Wood Supply Research Institute) Don Taylor, presenting a preliminary report on the national study of relationships between logging contractors, landowners and consuming mills. A brief summary of this preliminary report is the topic of this month’s “From the Stump” beginning on page four of Log Trucker.

The final session, prior to lunch, came from attorney George Goodman, giving perspective on the potential perils in the soon to be adopted OR-OSHA change in penalties for workplace safety violations. He noted these changes are far from benign, and outlined some of the OR-OSHA practices, accepted without challenge, preparation, or understanding your rights under the law, can be not only costly but put you in a precarious position. As is the case in any business interaction, especially with agencies and regulators, good preparation and understanding your rights is key.

A number of AOL Scholarship winners were at Saturday’s lunch, and introduced by soon to be retiring Dean of the OSU College of Forestry, Hal Salwasser.

Also speaking at lunch was Rob Cornilles, Republican candidate for Oregon’s First Congressional District seat’s special election the end of January.

AOL’s annual convention always delivers a tightly run series of programs that is well worth one’s time and effort.