new format for annual meeting in 09 T

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1 nc ag department issues pesticide memo he North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued a general caution memo to consulting forest- W ers across North Carolina about making pesticide application recommendations as part of a forest management plan without being licensed as a Pest Control Consultant. he Agriculture Department issued the memo in response to receiving various complaints about consulting foresters who listed specific pesticide recommendations in a management plan that included details such as brands of pesticides, rates of application and general time for the application. he Agriculture Department noted the definition of a pest control consultant is defined as: Pest control consultant means any person, who, for a fee, offers or supplies technical advice, supervision, or aid, or recommends the use of specific pesticides for the purpose of controlling insects, plant diseases, weeds, and other pests, but does not include any person regulated by the North Carolina Structural Pest Control Act. Anyone wanting to obtain a pest control consultant license must possess a Ph.D., master s, or bachelor s degree in an agricultural or biological science from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of credit in subject areas pertinent to the category in which the applicant seeks to obtain a license. Upon satisfying these requirements, the applicant can apply for a Pest Control Consultant License in the category of Forest Pest Control and pay an annual fee of $50 for the license. here are a few exceptions to this requirement. Namely, reforestation management plans that do not include specific pesticide application recommendations do not require the author of the plan to acquire a Pest Control Consultant license. Also, a pest control consultant license is not required if the party who develops the reforestation plan is also the one who will make the pesticide application. In this case that person or business needs only to be licensed as a commercial applicator in the Forestry Pest Control category. (continued on page 5) ncfa to sponsor forestry day this month he NCFA s Forestry Day in the Legislature will take place on uesday, April 28th on the Halifax Mall at the North Carolina General Assembly. Forestry Day in the Legislature is the best opportunity for NCFA members to come to Raleigh and meet with their elected officials in the Senate and House of Representatives. he NCFA distributes invitations to legislators and their staff prior to the event. NCFA Executive Vice President Bob Slocum will provide a quick overview of the top issues in a meeting with NCFA members starting at 9:30 a.m. Members are then encouraged to visit with their elected officials and invite them back to the large tent set up to enjoy lunch. he luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m. and is concluded by 2:30 p.m. he NCFA encourages all of its members to take an active role in the political process. Forestry Day is one of the easiest ways to make your voice heard farm bill includes expanded emphasis on forestry hile some of the final details for some of the new initiatives in the 2009 Farm Bill are still being ironed out, it is clear that Washington finally heard the voices of persistent forest landowners such as Bob Cooper, North Carolina s 2007 ree Farmer of the Year and the National ree Farmer of the Year for Finally, according to Cooper, there is at least some respect for forestry. I grew up on a farm in eastern North Carolina, I can appreciate the demands and pressures on our farmers, stated Cooper in a recent interview. But it is not fair to leave forest landowners out of the equation either when it comes to the Farm Bill. We are making a longterm investment that reaps tremendous environmental benefits for everyone. he 2009 Farm Bill is getting a late roll out and while the sign up date for the forestry programs is later this month (April 24, 2009), facilitators of the program, the Farm Services Agency (FSA) and the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), encourage landowners who might be interested in various cost-share programs to begin planning now for next year. How to Apply What to Apply for Honor the Contract 1. Provide Initial Information: Forestland owners interested in any of the programs should visit their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) first. Landowners should bring a copy of the deed for the land and complete background information (name, address, social security) of any names listed on the deed. In the case of an LLC, the landowner who is designated as the president or leader must make the application, but all of the members listed in the LLC have to provide their respective information. his step will allow the FSA to properly identify the property. 2. Eligibility: he cost-share programs available through Farm Bill are not first-come, first serve programs. A landowner or LLC must first complete paperwork namely the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Limitation Form - to see if it is eligible based on the income of the applicant. hose applicants with an average non-farm AGI of more than one million dollars are not eligible. his limitation may be waived it the land has some specific environmental significance. Landowners who are unsure where they might fall in the AGI should take the time to investigate the paperwork with the FSA. 3. Investigate the Programs Available: he FSA and NRCS both administer to cost-share programs to landowners. In many cases, both agencies are located in the same building (continued on page 5) NC ree Farm Chair Dwight Batts was one of the speakers during a recent train the trainers workshop on the 2009 Farm Bill. new format for annual meeting in 09 he NCFA s will take place out of state at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes on October 7-9, he meeting will once again be a three-day affair, but the format has been tweaked to encourage more participation at this year s event. he meeting will get underway on Wednesday afternoon with a social event of choice - golf, clays or fishing - and will feature a reception that evening. On hursday, a full speaking program will be presented, including a business lunch where members will hear about the NCFA s activities in On hursday evening, there will be an awards dinner where the NCFA, Forestry Mutual and ree Farm will present their respective awards. A band will entertain members at the conclusion of the awards presentations. On Friday morning, the meeting will conclude with the Board of Directors Meeting. he North Carolina ree Farm Program is also planning to conduct its meeting the day prior to the NCFA s meeting as it has done for the past few years. he room rates for NCFA members will be $129 per night. Please note that room reservations should be made by calling (800) and all reservations should be placed prior to September 5, If you have any questions about this year s annual meeting, please contact Chris Brown with the NCFA at (800) ext. 3. NORH CAROLINA FORESRY ASSOCIAION APRIL 2009

2 2009 executive committee Dale hrash Chairman of the Board Mark Wiseman President Greg Decker President Elect-reasurer Jeff Hanks First Vice President Ashley Faircloth Eastern Vice President Art Cooper Piedmont Vice President Jack Swanner Western Vice President Michael Walters Chairman of the Board Forestry Mutual Insurance Bob Slocum Executive Vice President 2009 board of directors Adams, Stan Allen, Ray Alsup, Dean Batts, Dwight Beasely, Dianne Brown, Bob Capps, Chip Chesson, Boon Cooper, Art Cooper, Bob Corey, Billy Crawley, Steve Daniels, om Davis, Joel Henry Decker, Greg Dunagan, Doug Durham, Jim Faircloth, Ashley Godfrey, Cyndi Graham, ed Gray, John Gregg, Stewart Haney, Judy Hanks, Jeff Henson, Steve Hicks, Ed Hilliard, Marisue Hulka, Bryan Inman, om Jarrard, Roy Jones, Charles Jones, Ed Lentz, John Logan, Chris Lumpkin, Parker Miller, Chip Newcomb, Stephen Owen, Wib Parton, Patrick Phillips, Ron Pippen, Bob Rackley, Frank Shaver, Jimbo Stuart, Ken Swanner, Jack eel, Jaime hrash, Dale ombaugh, Larry Walters, Michael Weigel, Philip Wellborn, Jim Williams, Richard Windhorn, Mike Wiseman, Mark Woodmansee, Dave Do you have a news item? reeline is the monthly newsletter of the North Carolina Forestry Association. News items and photographs should be sent to Chris Brown at cbrown@ ncforestry.org. he NCFA, the state s oldest forest conservation organization, is a private, nonprofit partnership of forest managers, landowners, mill operators, loggers, furniture manufacturers and others that actively promote healthy, productive forests by supporting the efforts of landowners and forestry-related businesses and organizations that responsibly manage or use forests. NCFA, 1600 Glenwood Ave., Suite I, Raleigh, NC elephone (919) or (800) Fax (919) N CFA members can now sign up to receive legislative updates and action alerts directly from the NCFA on a regular basis, particularly during the legislative sessions. hings can happen fast in the North Carolina General Assembly and even in Washington, DC. During the state legislative session, NCFA sends out weekly legislative updates to keep members posted on what is going on of interest to forestry in both the state legislature and in Washington. his same network is employed on special action alerts that may ask members to contact their elected officials to support or oppose a particular piece of legislation. o sign up for the updates, send an to Bob Slocum at rwslocum@ncforestry.org. B sign up for legislative updates and action alerts North CaroliNa legislative Update IMPORAN DAES ON HE HORIZON: APRIl 28H - FORESRy DAy IN HE legislaure, HAlIFAx MAll, RAlEIgH AuguS 15H - CAROlINA log N DEMO, SAE FAIRgROuNDS, RAlEIgH OCObER NCFA ANNuAl MEEINg, MyRlE beach, SC Below is a summary of bills introduced to date that are some interest to us. Bills that were not included in H. 497, Annexation Moratorium the last report have an * by them. Sponsors: Goforth, Brown, Dollar, Steen, Allred, Avila, Blackwood, Blust, Brubaker, Cleveland, Coates, House Bill 255, Zoning/Agriculture Annexation Exemption saw action this week in the House Agriculture Current, England, Faison, Flowell, Guice, Hilton, Committee. At our request, primary sponsor George Hurley, Jones, Justice, Justus, Langdon, Lewis, Cleveland (R-Onslow) amended the bill to specifically McComas, McCormick, Moore, Randleman, Rhyne, include the production of trees and timber. Several Sager, Starnes, illis other additions were made by committee members he bill would adopt a moratorium on involuntary and the bill received a favorable report over the objections of the League of Municipalities. he bill was the Commission on Municipal Annexation. annexations, as endorsed by the Joint Legislative Study re-referred to the Finance Committee. Referred: Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of House Bill 684, NC Farmland Preservation rust the House Fund was also heard and received a favorable report and re-referred to the Appropriations Committee. H. 498, Annexation Vote of the People he Senate has begun its work on producing its version of the state budget and we will continue to push Blackwood, Blust, Brubaker, Cleveland, Coates, Sponsors: Goforth, Brown, Dollar, Steen, Allred, Avila, for some funding for the Forest Development Program Current, England, Faison, Flowell, Guice, Hilton, Hurley, Jones, Justice, Justus, Langdon, Lewis, and the Office of Environmental Education. A Senate budget is expected as early as next week. Introduced McComas, McCormick, Moore, Randleman, Rhyne, in the Senate this week was a bill (S 1025) to help small Sager, Starnes, illis businesses and self-employed individuals obtain affordable health and accident insurance. an involuntary annexation becoming effective, as en- he bill would require a vote of the people prior to Complete information on all bills and legislation dorsed by the Joint Legislative Study Commission on can be found on the state government website at www. Municipal Annexation. ncga.state.nc.us. Referred: Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House *S. 865, No State Regulation of oxic itle V Sources H. 727, Annexation Changes Sponsors: Hoyle, Jenkins Sponsors: Love, Starnes, Allen, K. Alexander, and he bill would remove hazardous itle V sources of ucker air pollution from state regulations since these sources he bill would make a number of changes in the are subject to federal regulations which applies maximum achievable control technology standards. process of annexation and its requirements, taxation of state s annexation laws, specifically as related to the Referred: Committee on Agriculture, Environment and property and provision of services. Natural Resources SAE LEGISLAIVE UPDAE - BILLS OF INERES O FORESRY elow is a summary of bills introduced to date that are some interest to our membership. House Bill 255, Zoning/Agriculture Annexation Exemption saw action this week in the House Agriculture Committee. At our request, primary sponsor George Cleveland (R-Onslow) amended the bill to specifically include the production of trees and timber. Several other additions were made by committee members and the bill received a favorable report over the objections of the League of Municipalities. he bill was the re-referred to the Finance Committee. H 684, NC Farmland Preservation rust Fund was also heard and received a favorable report and re-referred to the Appropriations Committee. he Senate released its budget proposals on April 6th. he Senate proposal would eliminate all state funding to the Forest Development Program. Not surprising but still disappointing given the Governor s apparent focus on green industries and renewable energy. As for the tax on the forest industry, the Senate would amend existing language to do the following: 1. Repeal the language that states that the tax (assessment in legislative terms) would not be collected in any year that the State did not appropriate funds; 2. Insert new language that would (a) give the Secretary of DENR the authority to raise the tax to a level deemed appropriate; and (b) double the allowable tax on the industry. So if this were to pass, the authorized assessment rates would be double what they are today and the DENR Secretary could unilaterally increase the tax within the authorized level. At our request, Senator David Rouzer (R-Johnston) ran an amendment to eliminate the tax increases but it was defeated in full committee. he Senate budget proposal is expected to be approved by the full Senate on April 9th. It will then go to the House for discussion. We will continue to oppose the tax increase and will push form some state funding to the program. Introduced in the Senate this week was a bill (S 1025) to help small businesses and self-employed individuals obtain affordable health and accident insurance. Complete information on all bills and legislation can be found on the state government website at AIR QUALIY REGULAION S. 865, No State Regulation of oxic itle V Sources Sponsors: Hoyle, Jenkins he bill would remove hazardous itle V sources of air pollution from state regulations since these sources are subject to federal regulations which applies maximum achievable control technology standards. Referred: Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources ANNEXAION H. 497, Annexation Moratorium Sponsors: Goforth, Brown, Dollar, Steen, Allred, Avila, Blackwood, Blust, Brubaker, Cleveland, Coates, Current, England, Faison, Flowell, Guice, Hilton, Hurley, Jones, Justice, Justus, Langdon, Lewis, McComas, McCormick, Moore, Randleman, Rhyne, Sager, Starnes, illis he bill would adopt a moratorium on involuntary annexations, as endorsed by the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Municipal Annexation. Referred: Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House (continued on page 3) NORH CAROLINA FORESRY ASSOCIAION APRIL AIR QUALIY REGULAION FridaY, april 3, 2009 ANNEXAION Bob Slocum NCFA Executive Vice President

3 State Legislative Update...(from page 2) H. 498, Annexation Vote of the People Sponsors: Goforth, Brown, Dollar, Steen, Allred, Avila, Blackwood, Blust, Brubaker, Cleveland, Coates, Current, England, Faison, Flowell, Guice, Hilton, Hurley, Jones, Justice, Justus, Langdon, Lewis, McComas, McCormick, Moore, Randleman, Rhyne, Sager, Starnes, illis he bill would require a vote of the people prior to an involuntary annexation becoming effective, as endorsed by the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Municipal Annexation. Referred: Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House H. 727, Annexation Changes Sponsors: Love, Starnes, Allen, K. Alexander, and ucker he bill would make a number of changes in the state s annexation laws, specifically as related to the process of annexation and its requirements, taxation of property and provision of services. S. 711, Annexation Law Omnibus Sponsor: Clodfelter, Hartsell, Swindell he bill is entitled, An Act to modernize the laws relating to municipal annexation and the exercise of extraterritorial planning and zoning jurisdiction in order to conform the principles and policies of the 1959 report of the municipal annexation study commission to the present circumstances of urbanization and urban development in NC; to codify the holding of the decision in Nolan vs. Village of Marvin, to more closely align the purposes and operation of the law relating to municipal annexation and extraterritorial planning and zoning jurisdiction; and to require that all existing municipal corporations in NC offer a meaningful level of urban services to their citizens in order to retain their charters. Additional annexation bill include S. 472, Annexation Changes, and H. 524, Annexation Omnibus Changes. APPROPRIAIONS H. 371, NC Biotech Center Appropriations for Economic Development Sponsors: Holliman, M. Alexander, Crawford, Dockham, Faison, Glazier, Hughes, Insko, McLawhorn, Wainwright, E. Warren, Wray he bill would appropriate $1.25 million to the NC Biotechnology Center to support the Center s economic development and statewide operations for job creation, expand NC s research capacity to foster new intellectual property and job creation and to support he Center s national and international competitive marketing of NC to new and expanding biotechnology companies. Referred: Appropriations Committee H. 618, Funds/Farmland Preservation rust Fund Sponsors: Harrison, Allen, Hill, Haire (Primary Sponsors); K. Alexander, M. Alexander, Blue, Bordsen, Braxton, Brisson, Brubaker, Bryant, Carney, Coates, Cole, Cotham, Crawford, Dickson, Earle, England, Faison, Farmer-Butterfield, Fisher, E. Floyd, Gibson, Glazier, Goforth, Goodwin, Hall, Harrell, Holliman, Howard, Hughes, Hurley, Insko, Jackson, Jeffus, Jones, Justice, Langdon, Lewis, Love, Lucas, Luebke, Mackey, Martin, McLawhorn, Parmon, Pierce, Rapp, Sager, Samuelson, Spear, Starnes, Steen, Stewart, Sutton, arleton, olson, ucker, Underhill, Wainwright, E. Warren, R. Warren, Weiss, Whilden, Wiley, Wilkins, Williams, Womble, Wray, Yongue he bill would appropriate $4 million for the next fiscal year. Referred: Committee on Appropriations (continued on page 4) F NC DEPARMEN OF LABOR RENEWS SAFEY RAINING ALLIANCE WIH NCFA & FM or the past fifteen years, the North Carolina Forestry Association and the North Carolina Department of Labor (NC DOL) have been partners in a commitment to safety and health for the forest products workers of North Carolina. he NCFA and NC DOL started their partnership after a tragic year in the woods where 13 fatalities occurred among loggers. I got a phone call from Labor Commissioner Harry Payne and he said we had a serious problem with logging safety and had to find ways to address it, stated NCFA Executive Vice President Bob Slocum. hat provided a major push to our ProLogger program and created a partnership that has been mutually beneficial to the NCFA, the NC DOL, Forestry Mutual and everyone involved in the forest products industry across the state. We are extremely proud of the training that we have developed through his partnership with the department and Forestry Mutual. It has certainly made a difference to our membership and the forest products industry. Since that original phone call, the NCFA, Forestry Mutual and NC DOL renew and the cooperation between the two has done nothing but grow stronger over the years. he partnership agreement says, in part: he Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSH) of the North Carolina Department of Labor and the North Carolina Forestry Association (NCFA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSH and NCFA hereby form an Alliance to use their collective expertise to help foster a culture of prevention while sharing best practices and technical knowledge. OSH and NCFA agree to maintain an alliance to promote safe and healthful working conditions by: Providing NCFA members with information and guidance that will help them protect employees health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to recognized occupational hazards. Providing OSH employees with information and training on the industry s best practices. Increasing access to safety and health information and training resources. his alliance is focused on education, training and outreach efforts which are geared more toward EA and consultation bureaus, stated Wanda Lagoe, Bureau Chief, Education raining & echnical Assistance, Division of Occupational Safety and Health at the Department of Labor. Compliance and PSIM also plays a part in these areas but on a smaller scale. Further, the agreement cements the relationship between OSH and the NCFA by participating in the ProLogger program, continuing the Logger Safety Checklist Booklet (which is free to all ProLoggers), training of compliance officers (when budgets permit) and other areas of mutual interest. Opening lines of communication has been the key to this partnership, stated Forestry Mutual Keith Biggs. Our safety representatives stay in constant contact with OSH folks explaining the unique conditions our policyholders work in and the safety programs that we have been promoting. We have encouraged our policyholders to actively involve OSH personnel through voluntary inspections, which are free and prevent any future non-compliance issues. Bryan Wagner (man with saw) goes over some safety issues with OSH compliance officers. (l-r) Bob Slocum and Cherie Berry, NC Labor Secretary posed for a photograph during a joint training session at Howell Woods. he NCFA s ProLogger program is regarded as one of the top logger training programs in the nation. Currently, there are roughly 1,400 loggers in North Carolina that have taken the base ProLogger class and have maintained their continuing education requirement. brandeis takes over forest service fia resource analysis section om Brandeis is the new lead for the Southern Research Station (SRS) Resource Analysis Section for the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program. He replaces Ray Sheffield who retired last year. om started with the SRS FIA program in 2003 as a Research Forester in the Resource Analysis Section in Knoxville. He has a PhD in silviculture from Oregon State University. He can be contacted at 865/ or tjbrandeis@fs.fed.us. NORH CAROLINA s RANKS SECOND among 13 southern states in forests he Southern Forest Research Station, in their latest forest inventory newsletter, presented summary data showing standing forest inventory (volume of all live trees on forestland) in the 13 southern states. North Carolina ranks second in total forest inventory with billion cubic feet (23.08 bcf of hardwood and in softwoods). Only Georgia has more total inventory volume (37.5 bcf). North Carolina ranks third in standing hardwood volume behind Virginia (25.28 bcf) and ennessee (23.92 bcf) and ranks fourth in standing softwood inventory behind Georgia (17.96 bcf), Alabama (14.25 bcf) and Mississippi (13.18 bcf). NORH CAROLINA FORESRY ASSOCIAION APRIL 2009

4 he NCFA s ProLogger Program, which has been training loggers since 1994, does have a policy on helping loggers with certified training from another state program that does not require a logger to take the introductory three-day ProLogger course. If you have logger certification on one state and wish to become current in North Carolina (ProLogger), the process is rather simple. 1) Contact the Logger coordinator in the state where you are current (listed on their database) and let them know you wish to apply for the NC ProLogger program; 2) he coordinator in that state will contact the NCFA (Roger Pyle) to document the fact that you are current in their respective state; 3) Pay a fee of $100 to get listed in the North Carolina ProLogger system; 4) ake the current continuing education class (Module 9 for the year); 5) Continue to remain current in North Carolina by submitting the annual fee and taking the continuing education component for that year. You are not required to take the three-day base class IF you are current in the state where you originally took the class, and you can be concurrent in more than one state, as long as you complete the requirements in each state to remain up-to-date with your training and payment. his procedure applies to all states that border North Carolina (South Carolina, Virginia, ennessee, and Georgia.) If you have any questions, please contact Roger Pyle with the NCFA at (800) or at rpyle@ncforestry.org. prologger program recognizes other state training programs he NCFA and Forest Resources Association (FRA) will be sponsoring a free trucking profitability workshop conducted by Ricky Meyer of the Forest Resources Association on hursday, April 23 at the Hampton Inn in Roanoke Rapids, NC. here will be two sessions - 1:00-3:30 p.m. and 5:30-8:00 p.m. he workshop is geared toward log and chip truck owners. he Hampton Inn is located on 85 Hampton Boulevard, Roanoke Rapids, NC. he phone number is (252) Sheila Clary of Kapstone Kraft Paper Company will be handling the registration for this workshop. Please call her at (252) Carolina log n demo to be held at state fairgrounds on august 15th he Carolina Log N Demo has been moved to the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh and the date has been moved up to August 15th in response to the growing concerns about the economy. he demo will feature a static show for the first time, but will include all of the elements that make the show a worthwhile family event. ncfa & fra to host trucking profitability workshop PROLOGGER year winding down! he ProLogger year is winding down rapidly! As you know, the ProLogger year ends on June 30th. In order to be eligible to keep your ProLogger status current for (next year); you must attend this year s continuing education class, Module 9. here are no extensions! A schedule of class locations and times is posted below. Keep an eye out in the monthly reeline for any changes or additions to this schedule. You can also check online at for information. here is no charge to attend these classes. Invoices for the year are scheduled to be sent out in early May to those individuals who have completed the class. PROLOGGER BASE CLASS OFFERINGS IN 2009 April 29 May 1, Martin Community College, Williamston, NC... Domtar Paper Co., LLC August 26-28, Mitchell Community College, Statesville, NC... Godfrey, L-Pacific, Weyerhaeuser September 23-25, Blue Ridge Paper, Canton, NC...Suncrest Land & imber, Blue Ridge Paper CONINUING EDUCAION MODULE RAINING - ANNUAL RAINING (MODULE 9) Date...ime...Location...Sponsor/Contact May 1...1:00-4:00 PM...Piedmont Community College, Roxboro, NC...Everett itus, LP May :30 10:00 PM...College of Albemarle, Elizabeth City, NC...Bob Pippen, J.W. Jones Lbr. Co. May :00-8:00 PM...GP Dudley CNS raining Center, Dudley, NC...Joe Evans, GP May :00-12 Noon...Canton Mill, Blue Ridge Paper, Blue Ridge, NC... Ron Heatherly, Evergreen June 2...6:00 9:30 PM...Roaring River VFD, Roaring River, NC...Mike Adams, LP State Legislative Update...(from page 2) S. 841, Funds for the Biofuels Center Sponsors: Albertson, Berger, Bingham, Clodfelter, Dorsett, Goss, Hoyle, Jenkins, Kinnaird, Malone, Queen, Stein, Weinstein he bill would appropriate $9 million each year through the 2011 fiscal year to continue implementation of the Center s Strategic Plan for bio-fuels development. Referred: Committee on Appropriations/Base Budget S. 847, Funds for Farmland Preservation rust Fund Sponsors: Albertson, Atwater, Purcell, Weinstein he bill would appropriate $4 million for the next fiscal year for this trust fund. Referred: Appropriations Subcommittee on Base Budget CONSERVAION EASEMENS S. 600, Condemnation of Conservation Easements Sponsors: Clodfelter he bill would place new requirements on public condemnors in order to condemn property that is under a conservation easement and would require additional compensation to holders of condemned conservation easements. Referred: Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources ENERGY/POWER GENERAION H. 340, Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act Sponsors: Harrison, Haire, Fisher, Howard, M. Alexander, Bordsen, Brisson, Bryant, Cotham, Current, Glazier, Goforth, Gulley, Hall, Harrell, Holliman, Hughes, Insko, Jeffus, Jones, Luebke, Martin, Mobley, Parmon, Rapp, Underhill, R. Warren, Weiss, Whilden, Womble, Wray he bill would prohibit public electric utilities that operate coalfired generating units located in NC from purchasing or using coal that is extracted using mountaintop removal coal mining. Mountain top mining is defined to include surface coal mining, cross-ridge mining, box-cut mining, steep slope mining, area mining, mountaintop mining and any method of coal mining that utilizes valley fills. Note: his is estimated to impact about 50% of the state s coal supply. Referred: House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources S. 341, Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act Sponsors: Goss, Atwater, Bingham, Kinnaird Same as H. 340 Referred: Senate Committee on Commerce H. 811, Moratorium on Coal-Fired Power Plants Sponsors: Harrison, Luebke, Fisher, Insko he bill would place a moratorium on the construction of coalfired power plants in North Carolina beginning on July 1, 2009 and extending until July 1, S. 1044, Moratorium on Coal-Fired Power Plants Sponsors: Kinnaird his is the companion bill to H 811 (above) FARMLAND PRESERVAION RUS FUND H. 684, NC Farmland Preservation rust Fund Sponsors: Harrison, Hill, Faison, Fisher, Lucas, Starnes, arleton, Wainwright, R. Warren, Wray he bill would clarify that the rust Fund is a non-reverting account, would add a member to the Advisory Board and makes some minor technical changes. Referred: Committee on Agriculture Action: Favorable Report and re-referred to Appropriations Committee S. 846, NC Farmland Preservation rust Fund Sponsors: Albertson, Atwater Companion bill to H 684 (above). Referred: Appropriations Subcommittee on Base Budget (continued on page 5) NORH CAROLINA FORESRY ASSOCIAION APRIL

5 State Legislative Update...(from page 2) GREEN BUILDINGS H. 282, Green School Construction/Loan Fund Sponsors: Harrison, Glazier, Cotham, Fisher, M. Alexander, Bryant, Faison, E. Floyd, Jeffus, Lucas, Luebke, Mackey, Martin, Weiss, Wray he bill would broaden the scope of the sustainable energy efficient buildings program to include public school buildings and would require the State Energy Office to develop and maintain sustainable school design protocol standards. he bill would also create a green school construction loan fund. Referred: House Committee on Energy and Energy Efficiency HEALH INSURANCE S. 1025, Small Business Health Insurance Expansion Sponsors: Stein, Apodaca, Berger of Franklin, Dorsett, Jenkins, Kinnaird, Nesbitt, Purcell, Stevens, illman he bill would extend and increase the sunset for the credit for small business employee health benefits; would create the Healthy NC program to facilitate the availability of affordable accident and health insurance coverage to small employers and self-employed individuals; and to appropriate funds for implementation. HUNING S. 329 Right to Hunt Sponsors: Hoyle, Allran, Apodaca, Berger of Franklin, P. Berger, Bingham, Blake, Boseman, Brock, Brown, Clary, East, Forrester, Goss, Jacumin, Jenkins, Jones, Preston, Queen, Rouzer, Snow, Swindell, illman, Vaughan, Weinstein he bill would, if approved by voters, amend the NC Constitution to recognize the right to hunt and fish in North Carolina. It would establish public hunting and fishing as the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. Referred: Committee on Ways and Means LAND DISURBANCE/CONSRUCION H. 782, Safe Artificial Slope Construction Act Sponsors: Rapp, Fisher, Haire, Glazier, Harrison, Insko he bill would (1) require local governments to adopt ordinances to regulate site planning, design and construction of artificial slopes in mountainous areas; (2) direct the Sedimentation Pollution Control Commission to develop a model ordinance for local governments; and (3) provide for disclosure of information to purchasers of properties located in certain areas designated on site stability maps. Referred: Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources LEGISLAIVE SUDIES S. 835, Extend Climate Change Commission Sponsors: Albertson, Kinnaird he bill would extend the Legislative Study Commission on Climate Change until October 1, Note: he NCFA is represented on this Commission. Referred: Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Action: Favorable report S. 876, Study Consolidated Environmental Commission Sponsors: Clodfelter, Hartsell he bill directs the Environmental Review Commission to study the desirability and feasibility of consolidating the State s environmental policy-making, rule-making and quasi-judicial functions into on comprehensive full time environmental commission. Referred: Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources MANUFACURING/JOBS S. 308, Endangered Manufacturing and Jobs Act Sponsors: Jacumin, Albertson, Allran, Atwater, P. Berger, Blake, Brock, Brown, Foriest, Forrester, Garrou, Goss, Hunt, Jenkins, Jones, McKissick, Preston, Rucho, Snow, Swindell, illman. (continued on page 6) martin named president & ceo of american forest foundation he American Forest Foundation (AFF) announced in March that om Martin was unanimously elected by its board of trustees to succeed Larry Wiseman as president and chief executive officer. Wiseman, who founded the organization as its first president, has led AFF since Martin is well-known from several decades of conservation leadership including senior positions at National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Earth Force, National Audubon Society, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. I am excited to join an organization with such a long and successful history of conservation, forest stewardship, and environmental education, Martin said. his is a critical time for America to use incentives for sustainable forest management to help combat global warming, protect our drinking water supply and preserve critical habitat and open space. It is also critical for the longterm health of our forests and planet that the Foundation s award-winning environmental education programs expand their reach. At NPCA, Martin was responsible for leading the senior management team and providing dayto-day management of programs and services. From strategic communications to development, he established NPCA as the nation s leading advocate for a strong National Parks System. Martin also served as president of Earth Force, the nation s largest young people s environmental and civic education group. Previously he was executive vice president and chief operating officer for the National Audubon Society, overseeing all program, development, membership, and communications work. He also directed the Everglades System Restoration Campaign for Audubon. Earlier in his career, Martin was a practicing environmental lawyer, then held senior management positions with Michigan s Department of Natural Resources. Martin holds a J.D. from UCLA School of Law, and a B.S. from he American University. He has served on many boards and advisory groups, including as chair of the Great Lakes Commission. Pesticide Memo...(from page 1) It is a violation of the North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971 for anyone to operate in the capacity of a Pest Control Consultant without being licensed as such. Such violation could result in regulatory action that may include monetary penalty of up to $2,000. he Department of Agriculture encourages those who are developing reforestation plans that include specific pesticide recommendations or making any pesticide recommendations for which they are compensated to obtain a Pest Control Consultant License. If you have specific questions or would like more information on this issue, please call (919) or consult Farm Bill...(from page 1) so it will not be difficult to explore all of the programs that are available. In general, there are programs that address working lands, easements and stewardship. 4. Applications are Ranked: FSA and NRCS personnel will rank applications based on their environmental significance and impact. In general, a plan that creates the most benefits will gain a higher rating. he highest rated projects obtain the top priority spots for funding. 5. Understand the Contract: It is important for landowners to understand that they when they sign up for one of these cost-share programs, they are entering into a contract with the United States Government. Work detailed in the plan must be commenced within 12 months of signing the agreement. here are more options than ever for forest landowners in this new Farm Bill. he following contact information for NRCS and the Farm Services Agency should be consulted for more information on the individual programs. NRCS FSA (919) MEMBER... City Biofuels Center of NC... Oxford Lonnie Brendle...Bryson City Nicky Fowler... Marshall Gregory S Griffin... Enfield Barbara Hunt...Lumberton Leslie Hunter... Clyde David Jones...Franklin K B J Logging...Wallace Danniel Ledford...Franklin Kermit D Mann...Canton James Mathis...Saluda Mark Quimby...Chesapeake, VA homas Rathbone... Clyde Shane Riddle...Canton Ridge Road Wood Products, Inc...Boone Bruce Stanley... Leicester Jeremy ysinger...star Kenneth Wike...Franklin Hyman Young... Marshall NORH CAROLINA FORESRY ASSOCIAION APRIL

6 State Legislative Update...(from page 5) he bill would provide enhanced economic development incentives to endangered manufacturers and would clarify that a low-profit limited liability company is a limited liability company under state law. Referred Senate Committee on Finance H. 769, Endangered Manufacturing and Jobs Act Sponsors: Crawford, Dollar, Faison, Frye, Lucas, R. Warren Companion bill to S. 308 (above), Small Business and Entrepreneurship H. 814, Small Business Assistance Fund Sponsors: Crawford, Dockham, arleton he bill would establish the Small Business Jobs Preservation Fund in the Office of State Budget and Management with related programs coordinated by technical assistance provider. Small business is defined as a business with 100 or fewer employees or annual receipts of $1 million or less. Referred: Ref to the committee on Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Appropriations MINIMUM WAGE H. 175, State Minimum Wage/Inflation Increases Sponsors: Adams, Wainwright, Luebke, K. Alexander, M. Alexander, Blue, Bryant, Faison, Fisher, Goodwin, Harrison, Insko, Jones, Lucas, Mackey, Pierce, Ross, Weiss, Womble. his bill would provide for an automatic adjustment of the state s minimum wage based on increases in the consumer price index. Referred: House Committee on Commerce, Small Business and Entrepreneurship PAID SICK LEAVE H. 177, Healthy Families and Healthy Workplaces Act Sponsors: Adams, Ross, Blue, Wainwright, K. Alexander, M. Alexander, Bell, Bryant, Cotham, Faison, Fisher, Glazier, Goodwin, Harrison, Hughes, Insko, Jeffus, Jones, Lucas, Luebke, Mackey, Martin, Pierce, Underhill, Weiss, Womble, Wray he bill would require that all businesses provide paid sick leave to all employees covered by the Wage and Hour Act. It requires employers with 10 or fewer employees to provide up to 32 hours of paid sick leave/year and for other employers (10+ employees) it is a max of 56 hours/year. Hours accrue at a rate of 1 hour sick leave per 30 hours worked. Sick leave can be carried over year to year but the max remains in place. he only exemptions are volunteers in organizations where an employer/employee relationship does not exist and for persons exempted from the Wage and Hour Act. Paid sick leave would begin to accrue at the time of employment. he employer could require certification by a health care provider if the paid sick time period covers more than 3 consecutive days. Violations of the act would make the employer liable to the employee(s) for the amount of unpaid sick time plus interest and in addition, the court shall award liquidated damages in an amount equal to the amount found to be due, Small Business and Entrepreneurship S. 534, Healthy Families and Healthy Workplaces Act Sponsors: Dorsett, Atwater, D. Berger, Bingham, Dannelly, Davis, Goss, Kinnaird, Malone, McKissick, Nesbitt, Purcell, Rand, Snow his is the companion bill to H 177 (see above). RENEWABLE ENERGY/ ENERGY CONSERVAION H. 284, Extend Renewable Energy Credit Sunset Sponsors: K. Alexander, Bryant, Faison, Harrison, Hughes, Samuelson he bill would extend the sunset on the credit for investing in renewable energy property from 2011 to Referred: House Committee on Energy and Energy Efficiency S. 305, Incentives for Energy Conservation Sponsors: Clodfelter, Atwater, Graham, Kinnaird, Queen, Shaw, Stein he bill would create incentives for high performance homes and renewable energy, would require reporting on energy usage by public schools and state institutions of higher learning and add the design principles of the NC Healthy Built Homes Program to the certification or rating systems that may qualify for building permit fee reductions or partial rebates allowed by counties and cities in order to encourage construction of buildings using sustainable design to achieve energy efficiency. Referred: Senate Committee on Commerce H. 512, Incentives for Energy Conservation Sponsors: Holliman, Harrison, Luebke, M. Alexander, Cotham, Faison, Farmer-Butterfield, Hughes, Insko, Lucas, Pierce, Samuelson, arlton, Weiss, Womble, Wray his bill is the House companion of S Referred: House Committee on Energy and Energy Efficiency S. 651, Study NC Government to Up Alternative Energy Use Sponsor: Goss he bill would establish a joint study commission to study state government expanding its use of alternative sources of energy. Referred: Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate RESOURCE PLANNING S. 968, Mountain Resources Planning Sponsors: Joe Sam Queen, Goss, Martin, Nesbitt, Snow he bill would create the Mountain Resources Planning Act to encourage quality growth and development while preserving the natural resources, open spaces, and farmland in the mountain region of western NC. he bill would create a Mountain Resources Fund to support local programs; and a Mountain Resources Commission and a echnical Advisory Council to implement the act. he bill states that all of this is advisory and the commission has no regulatory authority. Referred: Committee on State and Local Government ROADS S. 758, ransfer Secondary Roads to Counties Sponsors: Rucho, Clodfelter he bill would remove the secondary roads from the State Highway System and transfer responsibility for construction and maintenance of secondary roads to counties. Referred: Appropriations Subcommittee on Base Budget RULE-MAKING H. 393, Modify Rule-Making Process Sponsors: Allred, Owens, Earle, Hughes, Starnes he bill would modify the rulemaking process to make all rules approved by the Rules Review Commission subject to legislative review. Note: he bill strikes the Objection section that lays out the requirements for legislative review and would make all rules subject to legislative review. Referred: Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, if favorable, Judiciary I, if favorable, State Government/State Personnel S. 866, APA Rules: Increasing Costs Prohibition Sponsors: Hoyle, Atwater, Boseman, Dannelly, East, Hunt, Jacumin, Jenkins, illman he bill would prevent any state agency from adopting a rule that resulted in an increased cost on persons subject to the rule unless required by an unforeseen threat to public health and safety; an act of the General Assembly; a change in federal or state budgetary policy; a federal regulation; or a court order. Referred: Committee on Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources AXAION H. 445, Small Business ax Exemption Sponsors: Holloway, Blackwood, Blust, Coates, Hughes, Justice, Moore, Randleman, Starnes he bill would provide a small business income tax exemption of $50,000 to C corporations; and to minimize the monetary impact of the tax exemption on the public school building capital fund. Referred: Commerce, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee H. 730, Increase Corporate Income ax Rate Parity Between States Sponsors: Starnes, Blust he bill would reduce the corporate income tax rate from the current 6.9% to 6.5% in 2010 and there after. Referred: Committee on Finance S. 572, Repeal Estate ax Sponsors: Goodall, Allran, Apodaca, Brock, Brunstetter, East, Forrester, Hunt, Jacumin, Rucho he bill would repeal the estate tax. Referred: Finance Committee S. 574, Make Better Use of Economic Incentives Sponsors: Hoyle, Foriest, Brunstetter, Hartsell, Jenkins, Malone, Soles, Clodfelter he bill would reallocate NC s economic incentives portfolio to make it more effective, targeted and measurable by eliminating ineffective tax credits, reducing the corporate income tax rate, targeting stressed areas and strategic industries, and providing ongoing legislative assessment of the State s economic incentives portfolio. Note: the bill would reduce the corporate income rate to 6.6% by 2012 and rename and expand the Revenue Laws Study Commission to the Finance and Economic Development Study Committee. Referred: Finance Committee S. 685, Reduce Corporate Income ax Rate Sponsors: East, Gss, Allran, Apodaca, P. Berger, Bingham, Blake, Brock, Brown, Brunstetter, Clary, Forrester, Goodall, Hartsell, Hunt, Jacumin, Rouzer, Rucho, Stevens, illman he bill would reduce the corporate income tax rate from the current 6.9% to 5.9% in 2009; 4.9% in 2010; 3.9% in ; and then to 5.9% after Referred: Committee on Finance S. 915, Repeal County Land ransfer ax Sponsors: Hoyle, Apodaca, Boseman, Jacumin, Jenkins, Jones, Malone, Joe Sam Queen, Shaw, Snow, Swindell, illman, Vaughan he bill would repeal the authority for all counties to levy a.4% local land transfer tax. Referred: Committee on Finance IMBER HEF S. 990, Increase Penalty/imber heft Sponsors: Davis, Apodaca, Bingham, Jenkins, Kinnaird, McKissick, Nesbitt, Snow he bill would increase the criminal penalty for cutting, injuring or removing another s timber resulting (continued on page 7) NORH CAROLINA FORESRY ASSOCIAION APRIL

7 State Legislative Update...(from page 6) in damages that exceed $2,500. Damages under $2,500 would be a class 1 misdemeanor and over $2,500 would be a Class I felony. Referred: Judiciary 1 Committee RANSPORAION S. 153, DMV to Notify Employer of CDL Convictions Sponsors: P. Berger, Allran, Atwater, Blake, Brock, Brown, East, Forrester, Goodall, Goss, Hunt, Jacumin, Snow, illman he bill would require the Division of Motor Vehicles to notify an employer of any convictions affecting the status of a commercial drivers license by an employee. Referred: Judiciary 1 Committee S. 295, Clarify Closest Market Sponsors: Jenkins, Davis he bill would establish that the closest market to which a crop may be hauled is within 150 miles of the farm from which the crops is hauled. Referred: Senate Committee on Commerce S. 368, Various Changes in Motor Vehicle Law (requested by DO) Sponsors: Jenkins and Snow he bill makes a number of technical changes in regulations on trucking. We are working with the Professional Loggers Association and the agency to make sure these changes are appropriate and worded correctly to avoid problems. Referred: Committee on Commerce S. 931, Commercial Driver s License Changes Sponsors: Goss he bill would provide for reciprocity to CDL holders from Mexico, expand the definition of conviction for out of state violations expand the definition of employer with regards to CDL s, to add a disqualifying violation to CDL s, to increase civil penalties; expand employer reporting responsibilities; and to modify requirements for convictions 10 years old or older. H. 879, Commercial Drivers License Changes Sponsors: Cole, Lucas, Wray his is the companion bill to S 931 above. Referred: Committee on ransportation, if favorable, Finance H. 880, Motor Vehicle Size & Weight Law Changes Sponsors: Cole, Lucas, Wray his is the companion bill to S below Referred: Committee on Agriculture, if favorable, ransportation S. 1000, Motor Vehicle Size & Weight Law Changes Sponsors: Jenkins he bill would restrict the overall length of a single vehicle with two or more axles 40 feet; would restrict the overall length of vehicles transporting poles for emergency repair to 53 feet and to make certain farm vehicles be self-propelled. Referred: Committee on Commerce REE ORDINANCES H. 771, owns/ordinances Regulating rees Sponsors: illis he bill would eliminate the exemption from any ordinance for property to be developed for single family or duplex residential use. Referred: Committee on State and Local Government WAER QUALIY H. 3/H. 239, Disapprove Jordan Lake Rules H. 3 Sponsors: Allred, McCormick, Blust, Cole, West H. 239 Sponsors: Allen, Gibson, Bordsen, M. Alexander, Faison his legislation would disapprove the proposed water quality/buffer rules for the Jordan Lake. his would send the rules back to the Environmental Management Commission for further development. Referred: House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources S. 166, Disapprove Jordan Lake Rules Sponsors: Foriest, Vaughan his legislation would disapprove the proposed water quality/buffer rules for the Jordan Lake. his would send the rules back to the Environmental Management Commission for further development. Referred: Senate Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate WORKERS COMPENSAION INSURANCE S. 781, Workers Compensation/Choice of Physician Sponsors: Doug Berger, Atwater, Bingham, Boseman, Dannelly, Davis, Dorsett, Forrester, Goss, Graham, Jones, Kinnaird, Malone, McKissick, Nesbitt, Purcell, Queen, Shaw, Snow, Soles, Stein, Don Vaughan, Weinstein he bill would allow a patient to choose a physician for injury covered under the Workers Compensation Act. Note: his legislation is strongly opposed by insurance carriers including Forestry Mutual Insurance. H. 805, Workers Compensation/ Calculation of Income Sponsors: Glazier, Faison, Lucas he bill would provide that an employer s contribution to an employee retirement account be included in the calculation of average weekly wage under the Workers Compensation Act. Referred: Committee on Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship H. 843, Workers Compensation/Medical Diagnostic esting Sponsors: Jackson, Faison, Goodwin, Stewart he bill would require the attending physician of an employee to select the health care provider and the diagnostic services center to administer and analyze tests authorized by a physician. Referred: Committee on Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship, if favorable, Judiciary II S. 975, Workers Compensation/Duration of otal Disability Sponsors: Apodaca he bill would specify that total disability compensation would continue until the injured employee reached the age of retirement (specified as 65 yrs. Old) or for 300 weeks, whichever is longer. H. 1022, Workers Compensation/Duration of otal Disability Sponsors: Goforth, Folwell, Hill, Hurley, Rhyne, Owens his is the companion bill to S 975 above. ZONING H. 255, Zoning/Agriculture Annexation Exemption Sponsors: Cleveland, Hill, Langdon, McGee, Allred, Blackwood, Brown, Brubaker, Burris-Floyd, Coates, Current, Dockham, Dollar, Faison, McElraft, Moore, Neumann, Rhyne, Sager, Setzer, ucker, West his bill would provide a zoning exemption for any agricultural interest annexed by a municipality. Referred: House Committee on Agriculture. Action: Amended to specifically include production of trees and timber plus some other items and given favorable report and re-referred to the Finance Committee H. 313, No EJ with County Zoning Regulations Sponsors: Brown, illis, Allred, Cleveland, Folwell, Howard, Langdon, McGee, Moore, Randleman, Starnes, Steen he bill would prohibit a city from exercising extraterritorial jurisdiction in an area if the county has adopted and is enforcing a zoning ordinance. Referred: House Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House AND IN WASHINGON... S. 22, the Omnibus Public Lands Bill, was signed by President Obama and became law. he House Energy and Commerce Committee is slated to release its draft climate change and energy bill on uesday, March 31. It is expected to be similar to previous cap-and-trade and renewable energy proposals from Chairmen Waxman and Markey, and may include provisions designed to minimize leakage from energy intensive, trade exposed manufacturing industries. Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman remains intent on passing legislation out of the Committee before Memorial Day. he U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision issued on March 3, ruled that an environmental group must show an imminent personal environmental injury to one of its members to challenge procedural regulations in federal court. Summers v. Earth Island Institute. AF&PA joined a friend of the court brief supporting the government s contention that the plaintiffs in this case lacked standing under the Constitution to challenge the regulations. he Court rejected the environmental groups argument that an injury may be established based on a statistical probability that one of a group s many members will at some point be injured by a project adopted under the challenged procedures. Rather, the Court held that the groups must show specific injury to a specific member from a specific project. he Court emphasized that such a showing is all the more critical because the challenged regulations are procedural; that is, they neither require nor forbid an action by the environmental groups. he ruling came in a case challenging Forest Service regulations that dispensed with notice to the public and the opportunity to appeal projects that are unlikely to cause significant environmental impacts, such as small timber sales. While the decision will not preclude challenges to agency rules, it should have the salutary effect of slowing down the rush to the courthouse based purely on disagreement with agency policy. just one certified burner class to be held in 2009 ue to budget restrictions, NCDFR will only hold one Certified Burner training for 2009 instead of the two originally scheduled. It is required by law that NCDFR hold the class at least once a year. he 2009 class will be October 27 and 28, in the central part of the state. As details become finalized in terms of location and times, the information will be posted on the web at: NORH CAROLINA FORESRY ASSOCIAION APRIL D

8 reeline APRIL 2009 North Carolina Forestry Association 1600 Glenwood Ave., Suite I Raleigh, NC / NON-PROFI ORGANIZAION U.S. POSAGE PAID Raleigh, NC Permit No. 459 MAY 13 - SIC Meeting, Raleigh, NC JUNE eachers Academy, New Bern, NC JULY 15 - SLC Meeting, Old Fort, NC eachers Academy, Asheville, NC AUGUS 15 - Carolina Log N Demo, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC ProLogger Base Class, Mitchell Community College, Statesville, NC SEPEMBER ProLogger Base Class, Blue Ridge Paper, Canton, NC OCOBER Annual Meeting, Myrtle Beach, SC