MFA 2006 Annual Meeting


2nd Vice President Ellen Dabbs, Johnnie Carlisle, and Jackie Walburn

Work on the Habitat for Humanity House

What does over 500 MFA members and Friends of Forestry gathered for fun, fellowship, professional development and networking bring to your mind?

Sunglasses?

Well, it should because if you missed out on Mississippi’s largest annual forestry meeting, you missed another informative and educational program themed “The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades.” To the left, you'll notice some of our members showing off their sunglasses! On the first day of the Meeting, at for Humanity house at 1317 Central Street. Later, members enjoyed the Welcome Reception at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum where they viewed some antique tools from the Priester Family, and took in the local wood artists!

John and Randalin Guthrie, Sr.

Thursday brought the informational and educational sessions with Dr. Bruce Leopold, Professor and Head of Wildlife and Fisheries at MSU; the Honorable Phil Bryant; Sumesh Arora, Director of the Strategic Biomass Initiative for the Mississippi Technology Alliance; and Dr. Liam Leightley, Professor and Director of the Forest & Wildlife Research Center at MSU. The focus of these sessions were the future of forestry in Mississippi. At the President's Banquet that night, 2006 MFA President Robby Toombs gave the Logger of Year, Tree Farmer of the Year, TCW Alumni, and Meritorious Service to Forestry awards. It was an exciting evening.

Eleana Pope and Bruce Alt

Some of the other outstanding speakers included: Dr. Mark Keenum, Chief of Staff for Senator Thad Cochran; Secretary of State Eric Clark, Mississippi StateSenator Charlie Ross; Deborah Baker, Vice President ofSustainable Forestry and Environmental and Community Outreach, Georgia-Pacific Corporation; and Charlie Morgan, Mississippi’s State Forester. Come on everyone!

Everard Baker and State Forester Charlie Morgan

The Future's So Bright

You Gotta Wear Shades!



2006 MFA Annual Meeting Agenda

MFA's 69th Annual Meeting
The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades!

                                                                  
Wednesday, October 25

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.              Timber Wealth Mgmt. Amphitheater, Hilton Jackson($200 fee) (CFE Cat 1/CLE Cat I: 8 hour

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.                 Tree Farm Inspector Training  - Cabana, Hilton Jackson (CFE Cat 1/CLE Cat I:6 hours)

11:30 a.m.                             Golf and Lunch at Deerfield Golf Course
               
11:45 to 4 p.m.                     Habitat House Construction— Metro Jackson

1 p.m.                                     Sporting Clays at Kearney Park, Flora

               
3 to 6 p.m.                             Annual Meeting Registration – Lobby, Hilton Jackson

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.                    Welcome  Reception—Forestry Aud., Miss. Ag and Forestry Museum

Thursday, October 26

7 a.m.          MSU College of Forest Resources Alumni Breakfast

7:30 to 8:30 a.m.   rade Show Open - Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors
               
7:30 a.m.     Registration and Silent Auction Open

8:30 a.m.    Spouse/Guests Event– Tour the Eudora Welty House -lunch

9 a.m.         General Session—The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades
                                                               

Natural Resources Initiative
Dr. Bruce Leopold, Professor and Head, Wildlife and Fisheries
Mississippi State University

A Forest Industry’s Perspective of the Future
Deborah Baker, Vice President,
Sustainable Forestry, Environmental/Community Outreach
Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Atlanta

Economic Impact of Hurricane Katrina
The Honorable Phil Bryant, Mississippi State Auditor
Jackson
(CFE Cat 1/CLE Cat I: 2 hours)
                                                                       
12 Noon    County Forestry Association Officers/Directors Luncheon
(All meeting registrants are cordially invited)
Charlie Morgan, State Forester, Miss. Forestry Commission
(CFE Cat. 1/CLE Cat I: 1 hour)

Technical Session and Tours
1:45 p.m.   Leave for Tour of New Construction Products (Vans leave from Hotel Lobby Area)  Seating limited, must preregister.
(CFE Cat. 2/CLE Cat II: 0.5)
                         

2 p.m.   Renewable Energy - An Emerging Industry in the Forest Base Marketplace
Dr. Liam Leightley
Professor, Head of Department of Forest Products
Mississippi State University
(CFE Cat. 1/CLE Cat I: 1 hour)

2 p.m.    Forestry Based Renewable Energy Technologies
Sumesh Arora, Director of Strategic Biomass Initiative
Mississippi Technology Alliance
(CFE Cat. 1/CLE Cat I: 1 hour)

2:45 p.m.     Repeat of 2 o’clock sessions

6:30 p.m.    President’s  Reception

7 p.m.      President’s Banquet, Presiding: Robby Toombs MFA President

Logger of the Year            Tree Farmer of the Year   
TCW Alumni Award            Meritorious Service To Forestry
Dr. Mark Keenum, Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Thad Cochran
(CFE Cat. 1/CLE Cat. I: 1 hour)

Friday, October 27

7-9 a.m.                 Exhibits Open, Silent Auction, Coffee

7:30 a.m.               MFA Board of Directors Meeting  and CFA Forum (CFE Cat. 5/CLE Cat. I: 1 hour)
The Secretary of State’s Role as Mississippi’s Land Manager
The Honorable Eric Clark, Mississippi Secretary of State          
                                                                 

9-10:30 a.m.   MFA Awards Breakfast and Membership Meeting
Presiding: Robby Toombs MFA President
Youth Forestry Achievement Award                  President’s Citation
Prize Drawings                                                    Raffle Drawing
Mississippi Legislature - Going Forward
The Honorable Charlie Ross, Chairman Judiciary A Committee, Miss. Senate (CFE Cat. 5/CLE Cat. I: 1.5 hour)

10:30 a.m.             Ethics for Foresters  (CFE Cat. 1/CLE Cat. I: 1 hour)

11:30 a.m.             Association of Consulting Foresters Meeting