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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier>It is difficult for me as a golden member and
past chapter chair to express my frustration over the need to cancel or
reschedule the January meeting due to projected poor attendance. Travel to
Lewiston should not have been a problem because Jo Ellen offered a car pool
opportunity.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier>Poor attendance has become common for the
Palouse/Snake River Chapter. It seems rare to have more than ten including
students at meetings. Last Friday I gave a program on "Problems With
Restoring Historic Fire Regimes" at the Selkirk Chapter meeting in Spokane.
There was more than 30 in attendance. I gave a version of this
program to the Palouse/Snake River Chapter meeting in September and
attendance was 12 including four students. The December meeting featured
Dean Pregitzer and if Rob Keefe had not encouraged student attendance the
meeting would not have been worth while. Frankly, I was shocked at the lack of
interest in learning about the new Dean's plans for the College of Natural
Resources.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier>I have been a Chapter Chair four times. The work
that has to go into a program is considerable. The January program required me
to travel to Orofeno to meet with Randall and Supervisor Rick Brazel to line up
the program, which should have been very interesting for anyone interested in
where management of the Clearwater/Nez Perce National Forest is headed. The
speaker had to spend a few hours in prepairing the program. The Chapter Chair
has to spend some time prepairing remarks for the the meeting. It is very
discouraging for a Chapter Chair to have to explain to the speaker why there
was little interest in the topic.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier>I have given the poor attendance at meetings a
lot of thought. Unfortunately, I do not know a solution. Perhaps the
proposal to give it up as a chapter that was discussed last spring was the
correct proposal. That is difficult for me to understand with two universities.
If members are not willing to travel to Lewiston to attend a meeting I can not
believe they would be willing to travel to a Selkirk Chapter meeting in Spokane
or Coeur d' Alene. If the meals are too expensive as I have heard
perhaps we could meet later in the evening without a meal. (The meal at the
Selkirk Chapter meeting last Friday was $21.) If Wednesdays are a poor time are
Fridays better? If the University Inn is not a good meeting place there are
other places available. I received some critical remarks for not scheduling a
meeting in Lewiston, but if most members are not willing to travel to Lewiston
we can only hold meetings in Moscow or Pullman.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier>Please let Randall know your thoughts. As Chapter
Chair he needs your help and Rob Keefe as Chair Elect in charge of programs
needs your help. As the past chair and a golden member interested in Forest
Management I am just frustrated.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier>Ned Pence</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Courier></FONT> </DIV>
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