Welcome back from another summer season in the field and what a season it was. This was one of the most intense fire seasons in a long time.  Now comes the time to assess what happened and do the planning that necessarily comes from a fire season like this past one.  Congratulations to all on a job well done this summer and best of luck as we move back into our offices. 

It’s been a good summer for the RMS as well.  We had a large turn over on Executive this year and we’ve got an enthusiastic crew ready to work for the membership and offer a rewarding and informative 2002-03. Given that people were out on fires, or on holidays we managed to move forward quite nicely and a full meeting on the 6^th of September helped clear up some backlogged business.   

The RMS will again offer 3 Technical Sessions in 2002-03.  The first will be in conjunction with the National Forest Strategy (October 24 & 25 in Edmonton). Forest practitioners will have an opportunity to participate in this new national dialogue on the forest practices of the future.  On January 30, 2003, in Red Deer, we will offer a long overdue Technical Session looking at the effects of surface mining (oil sands and other surface mining) operations on forest operations.  On March 21, 2003, in Edmonton, the third Technical Session will be on Fire.

This year in conjunction with the College of Alberta Professional Foresters (CAPF) and the College of Alberta Professional Forest Technologists (CAPFT), the RMS will be undertaking information and awards nights at both NAIT and the UofA to let the future forest practitioners know about the CIF and the professional colleges as well as present the numerous CIF or RMS sponsored awards. 

Planning is ongoing for the CIF/Society of American Foresters annual meeting to be in Edmonton in October 2004.  Brydon Ward the CIF Chair for this session is making good progress in getting the committees together and will be working very closely with CIF National office and the SAF. 

Work is already beginning to make the Silver Ring Ceremonies for both UofA and NAIT graduates the best ever.  We’re all looking forward to working with both institutions to welcome the new forest practitioners into the profession. The RMS will also be offering a special Silver Ring Ceremony for all the technologists, who wish to participate, tentatively scheduled for the CAPFT AGM. 

Finally we’re encouraging all RMS members to make some time to attend a short meeting at the October’s session where we hope to complete some section business. 

Best of luck to all as we enter the colorful autumn season and then, too quickly, head into winter.   If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact a RMS Executive member or me. 

Cheers,
Alex Drummond
RMS Chair 2002/03
alex.drummond@ualberta.ca

| Fall 2002 |