The Illinois Forestry Association: A Unified Voice for Illinois Forests
The Illinois Forestry Association (IFA) is a new state organization being formed to
represent forestry in Illinois. The Illinois Forestry Association will act on issues that
impact rural and community forests and promote forestry in Illinois.
The need for a statewide organization was identified at the Illinois Forestry Summit
on March 22 & 23, 2005, sponsored by the Illinois Forestry Development Council.
Purposes of the Illinois Forestry Association include providing a statewide voice for
the common interests of urban and rural forestry in Illinois, networking and sharing
information, connecting people to technical support and forest management
training, leveraging the activities of local forestry groups, and more.
The newly chartered Illinois Forestry Association recently adopted bylaws,
submitted its articles of incorporation, and elected interim officers. The Illinois
Forestry Association is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. The interim officers are
Stephanie Brown, President; Ray Herman, Vice-President; Dave Gillespie,
Secretary; and Bob Sloan, Treasurer. The first annual meeting of the organization
is slated for Saturday, July 22, 2006 in Springfield.
In order to create an effective organization that meets your needs, IFA needs to
hear from you! Everyone with an interest in Illinois forests -- including people who
own forestland, care about trees and forests, work in forestry, or recreate on
forestland -- is encouraged to join the association
For more information on Illinois Forestry Association membership and how to get
involved in the organization please contact – Jay Hayek at jhayek@uiuc.edu
or 217.244.0534.
#