WVFA Fall 2018

T R E E F A R M N E W S www.wvfa.org Fall 2018 |  West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry 25 Improve Communications Effective communication is critical to the future success of ATFS. Your feedback underscored the need to focus our efforts to improve upon our current communication channels between and among us and the state committees, utilizing technology and building more avenues for effective two- way dialogue. An example of this is the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system being developed to manage relationships with landowners engaged throughout all AFF programs. Already one component of this system is helping to target unengaged landowners based on their circumstances and interests, and to connect them to the appropriate projects or foresters. This is expediting the vetting process and eliminating unnecessary work. We also want to find new ways to work with state programs, inspectors, sponsor organizations, State Foresters, and other stakeholders to reassess how we communicate most effectively. Recognizing Differences We know that every state program is different, and we intend to continue to work with you to shape your state’s program based on the needs of your state. Together we want to work through how best to build out and implement this recommended framework so that we can produce real growth and extend the impact Tree Farm has on family forest lands and the benefits they provide. Your leadership and partnership are essential to its successful implementation. ATFS is a respected and beloved program, representing an incredibly high standard of sustainable forestry. Our goal with these recommendations is to build on this strong foundation and map out a path for the next generation of good stewardship. What’s Next? We invite you to review the materials and offer your feedback in several ways. ƒ ƒ Please reach out to Sara Anrrich who will work with you to schedule a one-hour session with Purnima Chawla and Ravi Singh of CNPS, who many of you have interacted with as part of the process we launched early this year, to ask questions. They will be gathering your questions, concerns and ideas for us to all assess as we work on developing an implementation plan. ƒ ƒ If you also wish to speak to any of us personally, Chris Erwin, Sara Anrrich, and I are all available and any one of us would welcome a conversation with you. In addition to the above, we will focus the Third Quarter Webinar for State Leaders on September 13 on this topic. In addition, we plan to continue to engage with you through October as we work to on the details to take back to AFF’s Board in November. I know that this is a lot to take in, and that it represents change—something many of you are all too familiar with. We have not undertaken this work lightly; we recognize the changes you have implemented over the years as ATFS has evolved. The work you have done under State Voice, State Choice has been important and appreciated; it also has revealed that additional change is needed if we are to support a strong and growing program into the future. Your commitment and engagement in ATFS is greatly appreciated by AFF and the thousands of landowners who have been touched by Tree Farm. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I look forward to connecting with you soon.  Regards, Paul DeLong Senior Vice President, Conservation and American Tree Farm System Together we want to work through how best to build out and implement this recommended framework so that we can produce real growth and extend the impact Tree Farm has on family forest lands and the benefits they provide.