The most significant event has to be the hosting of the CIF Annual General Meeting in Banff. Congratulations to the 1999 HAMPCO Committee. Every aspect of the event, from the Log Driver’s Waltz to the RMS birthday cake was well planned and executed. What a great success and what a credit to Alberta and the RMS. Thanks to Con and Cliff and the cast of thousands who did us proud. For those RMS members that did not make it to Banff many of the speaker notes will be published in the upcoming November/December Forestry Chronicle.

The RMS Program Committee is well along with the Technical Session planning for the 1999-2000. The Winter Technical Session will be held in Edson on January 28, 2000. The session will focus on the new Water Act. Come and explore the mysteries of implementing new legislation. Our afternoon session will be held in conjunction with meetings of AFTA and ARPFA on the Friday morning.

The Spring Technical Session will be held in Edmonton on March 24, 2000. Tentatively, we are planning to examine the tenure system in Alberta with a focus on overlapping tenure. Following the Technical Session, we will be hosting a wine and cheese reception to honor this year’s forestry graduates from the University of Alberta. Make plans to stay on and meet the students (and bring your business cards). Graduating students have requested that we present the CIF rings the next evening at their graduation ceremony.

Evelynne Wrangler (CIF National Executive), Don Podlubny (Alberta Forest Technologists Association), and myself are working on the integration of Alberta’s forest technologists into the Rocky Mountain Section. Our focus has been on drafting a "Principles of Association" document for discussion by the technologists and CIF members. The draft "principles" will soon be posted on our website and copies are available through Todd Nash, our Secretary-Treasurer. Get your hands on a copy and let me know what you think. Don Podlubny intends to take a resolution forward to the Technologists’ AGM in February that will call for an association between the RMS and AFTA. If the resolution passes the RMS could add 300-400 members over night! The RMS Executive is working through a number of challenges and opportunities that may arise if the technologists join us "en-masse". It may be more difficult to organize Technical Sessions for 800 forest practitioner, but we may also be able to negotiate a dues break for AFTA and ARPFA members. An association with the technologists will certainly give us a stronger voice on the provincial scene.