28 VIRGINIA FORESTS PRESIDENT’S COLUMN, continued from page 5. grateful for unselfish people who are moved to give to a cause bigger than themselves. We should also be inspired. The VFF Board is working through the final legal steps and paperwork necessary to complete the lengthy process involved in setting up a 501(c)(3), which includes opening a bank account. This will likely be accomplished by the time you read this, so visit VFA’s website (vaforestry.org) for current information about how you can give. Please consider making your own tax-deductible, end-of-year contribution to the new Virginia Forestry Foundation! The search for VFA’s next Executive Director is well underway, led by Dan Hockenberger, Personnel Committee Chair, and with much appreciated assistance from Interim Executive Director Sonnia Montemayor. The applicant pool was deep and has been trimmed down to a handful of excellent candidates for the committee’s final consideration. Interviews are underway, so if all goes well, we will have a new Executive Director hired and ready to start in January 2025! Last, I must take a minute to applaud the super-heroic efforts of Sonnia Montemayor in her role during the past www.bigredm.com Advertise to Support Your Association! Contact us today! William Hutabarat | 571-331-3361 [email protected] months as Interim Executive Director for VFA. She had a full plate before the resignation of former Director Corey Connors in mid-August and, since then, has taken on the additional responsibilities and obligations of the job with a great attitude, spirit, and perseverance. With a steady hand, she has balanced the needs of our membership, SFI, ongoing development of an Association Health Plan, planning for Legislative Day on the Hill and other legislative affairs, planning for the November Board of Directors meeting, assisting Treasurer Hager with a proposed 2025 budget, the Forest Leadership Retreat, the multi-step VFF formation process, preparation for the Wood Cup Golf Tournament, and more, along with many of the day-to-day tasks of our association office. She has done a tremendous job for us in an overwhelming situation, so on behalf of all the VFA members, thank you, Sonnia. We are grateful for your extraordinary efforts. Help is on the way!
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