Highlights below from CWSF Executive Director Caitlyn Pollihan. These updates were featured in CWSF's August newsletter. 

Western Regional Partnership

• Chief Ken Pimlott, California State Forester and Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and Brian Cottam, Utah State Forester and Director of Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands, spoke about drought and wildland fire at the recent Western Regional Partnership (WRP) meeting in Salt Lake City, UT. The WRP provides a framework for senior-policy level Federal, State and Tribal leadership to identify common goals and emerging issues in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The attendees included representatives from natural resource agencies, local governments, states and the military.  

National Council of Forestry Association Executives

• Caitlyn Pollihan, is a member of National Council of Forestry Association Executives (NCFAE) and recently participated in NCFAE’s annual meeting in Kentucky. Speakers included a representative from Senator Mitch McConnell’s office, discussion of forestry association-specific issues such as supply chain issues and logging ordinances and discussion on the future of membership organizations.  

National Woodland Owner Association

• CWSF was recently featured in the Summer 2016 edition of the National Woodland Owners Association Magazine. The magazine is distributed to 14,000 readers who are family forest owners, forestry associations, and similar groups. The article is titled 'What's Happening in Western Forests' and provides an overview of CWSF's issue areas and the relationship to NWOA regions and issues. View the article here.

CWSF Staff Updates

• Caitlyn recently visited CWSF Chair Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE Director and California State Forester, at CAL FIRE headquarters in Sacramento, CA. Caitlyn spent time with the CAL FIRE leadership learning about current issues in the state and attended a Tree Mortality Task Force meeting at the State Capitol.
• Caitlyn and Sara Goodwin, CWSF Communications Director attended ASAE’s Annual Meeting, August 13-16 in Salt Lake City, UT. The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 9,300 organizations. The ASAE Annual Meeting provided an opportunity for association professionals and industry partners to exchange resources, strategies and solutions. This year’s meeting included a variety of educational sessions and networking opportunities, especially with other ‘small staff’ ASAE member organizations to share challenges and opportunities. Caitlyn is a Certified Association Executive and maintains her certification through continuing education opportunities such as this training opportunity.
• Kelsey Delaney, CWSF Policy Director, recently traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Congressional member offices and with partners. Among her visits, Kelsey met with staff from the offices of Congresswoman Aumua Amata, Congressman Gregorio Sablan, and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo. Additionally, she met with partners including members of the US Forest Service Washington Office, the Society of American Foresters, the National Association of State Foresters, and The Nature Conservancy.