WVFA Spring 2019

I N D U S T R Y N E W S www.wvfa.org Spring 2019 | West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry 15 A.B. Brooks Symposium & Capitol Day Success OVER 90 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED in at least one of our A.B. Brooks Symposium events this year. Attendance was slightly higher than last year. The event certainly delivered one of the most interesting sets of subjects we have seen at our symposium. Many thanks to John Holstine, WVFA First Vice President— Holstine Forestry Consulting, LLC—for doing such a great job moderating. And we extend a special thank you to the following speakers for their excellent presentations and support: Workers’ Compensation Opportunity for Loggers & Mills – Kris Belcher, Nash & Powers Health Insurance for WVFA Members – Bill Knox, Hub International, Inc. Innovations & Tethered Logging – Ben Spong, Appalachian Hardwood Center Truck Weights & Logger Training Options – Danny Dructor, American Loggers Council Forest Products Industry representatives being recognized from the Floor, in the Senate Chamber Gallery, at the Forestry at the Capitol Day WSRI – FRA Transition AFTER 20 YEARS OF EXISTENCE and for a variety of reasons, the Wood Supply Research Institute (WSRI) has decided that it is time to dissolve. The organization is transferring its assets and some of its mission to the Forest Resources Association (FRA). This move guarantees that WSRI’s research on the wood supply chain will not be lost. While the dissolution of a great industry partner is difficult, this is a good opportunity to recognize WSRI. Formed in 1999, WSRI was born out of a desire to raise the caliber of dialog between wood suppliers and consumers, and identify opportunities for supply chain efficiency. Over the last 20 years, WSRI has commissioned and published dozens of reports on topics related to logging, trucking, planning, communications, receiving mill efficiency, raw material sustainability, and more.