From: Dan Seekins <dseekinsATfs.fed.us>
Subject: A 2005 FS Commemorative Rifle? 
Comments: Do y'all think that there might be adequate interest to inspire limited production of a commemorative rifle for the 2005
Centennial Anniversary of the Forest Service? Browning produced a fancy and quite expensive ($1600 in 1991)commemorative Model 1886 Winchester  in 45-70 for the 1991 one-hundreth of the National Forest System. This time, I'm thinking a Marlin Model 1894 "Cowboy" with hexagonal barrel in 44 Mag/Special (for reasons of utility rather than authenticity). Stock would be of straight-grained walnut as the early Rangers were themselves straight-grained in terms of character. Any engraving should perhaps be not too ornate.
Perhaps the engraving on the receiver might include depictions of Gifford Pinchot and Theodore Roosevelt, a Forest Shield, and "USDA Forest Service--One-Hundred Years--1905-2005".
Perhaps, then, costs might be held down to a more reasonable level. Assuming that there might be sufficient interest, I wonder how one would go about interesting Marlin Firearms and an appropriate engraving  company to enter upon such a venture. I'm afraid that my own business acumen is sadly lacking, perhaps in part to my 33 year FS career where I've had more practice at spending someone else's money as opposed  to productively investing my own.

From: Charles Mansfield coyote2ATswcp.com
Subject: Forest Health and fire 
Comments: Dick, Congrations on a surpurb white paper on forest health and fire. This overview has been needed by persons such an myself  who have been  working this issue. With this paper I can argue from the general to the specific. For example, I knew that the 1980's had been wetter than normal in the Southwest. This led to an abundence of reproduction (particularly in D. fir and mixed conifers) in the Jemez Mountains.
Some of  the thickets bordering the NPS land were an impenetratable mix of dead (insect kill) regrowth and new growth between the standing, dead reprod.
The combination amounted to an explosive fuel-air mixture. Cerro Grande is now history. I reported, in my paper "If you go for a walk in the Jemez today - you are going to have a surprise." that beetles were beginning to attack the standing, fire killed timber that remained from the Cerro Grande fire.
If you sat quietly you could hear the munching sounds. One of the conservations groups, Forest Guardians, threatened law suits if the FS tried to log the burned area so the FS gave up. The capitulation was primarily due to the time it would take to go through the courts and begin the salvage operations.
This summer the beetles have begun to swarm out of the fire area and have killed several thousand acres of Pinion pine and Ponderosa pine.
As far as the burn per year statistics are concerned , one of the ex-Smokejumpers has compiled some rough statistics on the Siskiyou NF.
Before 1941 the average  burn was around 35,000 acres per year. There had been almost no logging or road building. color="#ff0000">Reunion 2005
Comment: Retirees in R-6 will be hosting the next national retiree reunion in 2005 here in the Pacific Northwest. Bob Williams, retired R-6 RF, has agreed to chair the event. 

The Reunion 2005 will be at the Double Tree Inn on the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon. It will be held the week of September 5, 2005. Theme is "The Forest Service at 100, Celebrating its People", in keeping with the 100 year birthday of the Forest Service. You can find out more information at the "Old Smokey" home page, http:www.oldsmokeys.org. 

From: Webmaster <fsxATwizard.net>
Subject: Chief Bosworth's Letter to Retirees 
Comments: Dale Bosworth sent the following letter to all retirees 

Forest Service Retirees: 

I have told the National Leadership Team and current employees of the Forest Service how honored and humble I am to serve as the 15th Chief of the Forest Service. With the retiree community, these emotions are especially strong. Some of you who worked in the Pacific Southwest Region were friends and colleagues of my father. Others of you, from several Regions, Stations, and the Washington Office, helped and mentored me along the way. I feel especially close to you as a group and fortunate to have known and worked with many of you. 

As a second generation Forest Service employee who spent a good part of my childhood on ranger district compounds, the organization became part of my life early on. I know that some of you grew up the same way or also spent time on district compounds in your career or lived in remote areas and small communities, so you know what IÕm talking about. 

I remember when most of the houses had the old crank phones and were part of a phone system linking the lookout towers and all the administrative and residential facilities together. The system was connected by miles and miles of #9 telephone wire, maintained by Forest Service people like my father and probably many of you. The system was a miracle of modern communication! When you answered after hearing your personal ring, two long and three short for the Bosworths, the voice on the other end would slowly fade away as everyone else on the system picked up to find out who was calling and what was being said. It was probably the largest party line phone system in the world! 

One of my early memories was when we lived in Dunsmuir, California, where my dad was the District Ranger. He was on the local radio station periodically to talk about the Forest Service and national forest management. I, of course, would listen, partly because he was my dad and I was proud to be the son of the Ranger, but mainly because my mother told me I had to. It was during one of those broadcasts where he talked about the concept of conservation of natural resources that I began to understand what his life's work was all about. I decided to make it mine as well. 

Forest Service employees and their families have always been integral members of their communities. IÕm sure you all have memories about the fire bell ringing in the middle of the night or floodwaters cresting through town. Watching my parents and other district people respond to these situations made a lasting impression on me. I said both my parents because while my mother was not a Forest Service employee, the job of relaying messages on the phone or radio sometimes fell on her when my dad was gone. 

Our history of giving Forest Service employees responsibility, with the expectation that they take appropriate individual and collective action without being told what to do by headquarters, is what provides the strong foundation that has made the Forest Service the great agency it is. 

While I look back on these times fondly, I'm not one that longs for the good old days. To borrow from a quote that I believe came from baseball great Satchel Paige "it is OK to look back -- just don't stare." Although the context is different, Satchel was looking back at what should have been and wasn't, and our look back is at a history rich in tradition and culture. I think the message is a good one for the Forest Service of today. 

It is a new era and the Forest Service of today is a modern, technological agency in a modern world. Issues that in the past have been ours to resolve are now highly politicized and the public expects to be part of the solution. Many in our workforce come from different disciplines and backgrounds than most of us did. They bring diversity and strength to the agency, building on the strong foundation that all of you provided. 

I respect all of you who dedicated your lives to doing the right thing by the land and the agency we continue to serve. I look forward to your advice and counsel as I undertake this job of Chief. 

Stay in touch and when you are in Washington, stop in. 

/s/ Dale N. Bosworth 

DALE N. BOSWORTH 
Chief 

From: Steve Coady <scoadyATfs.gov.us>
Subject: FS Living History - early uniforms 
Comments: The Forest Reserves were created 110 years ago (1891), Gifford Pinchot began his forestry career 104 years ago (1897), and the Forest Service began 96 years ago. For all of this time in history there is a legacy of artifacts to illustrate our lineage. Save for uniforms! Early employees had to purchase their own uniforms, along with pretty much everything else they used. There is a severe lack of period uniforms to re-create this time for living history presentations. If you know of a 1920's, 's, 1940's uniform, field or office, hat or ?, please contact me, Steve Coady, Middle Fork Ranger district, 541 937-2129. As time goes by, these garments become moth fodder in attics. These items, along with other artifacts I have, are used to tell the story of our beginnings, how we graduated from the "School of Hard Knocks - school colors were Black & Blue", etc. I hope you will intrust me with your heritage. thanks 

From: Doug LeiszdleiszATjps.net
Subject: Formation of National Association of Forest Service Retirees 
Comments: 

November 3,2000 

Dear Associate: 

Attached find the Charter, Operational Considerations, and Statement of Principles for our new "National Association of Forest Service Retirees." This is the product of earlier drafts and contributions from many of you. All of the contributions were thoughtful, constructive, and considered in producing the final Charter. Where there were conflicting suggestions, we tried to discriminate in favor of clarity of thought and what seemed most workable in operations, The Charter can be revised as our experience dictates the need. Dues and contributions are tax deductible. 

We need financial resources to get started. Regular membership dues are $25 per year, $15 for non-voting associates, and whatever more you wish to contribute. I'm sending this to all that indicated an interest at the Missoula reunion and have email addresses. Our hope is to recruit thousands of members, but that will take time and finances. 

I'm asking you to be among the first to join. Please send your check made payable to the National Association of Forest Service Retirees ( NAFSR ) to our Treasurer, John Combes, 13401 Point Pleasant Drive, Chantilly, VA 20151-2449. These dues will carry you through the year . With your timely contribution we can start a more general membership drive. Please join us in this effort! 

Here's the NAFSR charter

Doug Leisz 

From: Kelly Andersson Andersson_Kelly/wo_nifcATfs.fed.us
Subject: FIRE online 
Comments: USFS Fire & Aviation is now online at www.fs.fed.us/fire/ FEEDBACK WELCOME! 

From: FSXfsxATwizard.net 
Comments: Don't miss the fabulous letters of Baldy District Ranger, Anselmo Lewis, on the History Page.