WHAT: RMGA MEMBERS MEETING –
WHEN: October 12, 2020, 6:00pm – Networking; 6:30pm – Short Meeting; 6:45pm – Program:
WHERE: Via Zoom.
PROGRAM: Join the Colorado State Forest Service for an opportunity to learn about forest health. We will share an overview of Colorado’s forests, their importance to the tourism industry, and the work that CSFS does to improve their health. We will help answer your questions and give you relevant information that you can share with your clients.
Forest Health
Colorado State Forest Service
RMGA Membership Meeting Review
Membership Meeting – Colorado State Forest Service
October 12, 2020
Group Chat:
Attendees liked the meeting format, one of the first Zoom meetings, Networking followed, and discussions about what people are doing during the COVID 19 times.
Sid suggested having small parties on Zoom. Regarding the Xmas RMGA party, a Zoom meeting was suggested. Looking for suggestions from the members.
Updates related to a few members were noted, Tom is no longer working at the Union Station. Julie is joining as an new business listing on RMGA. Further details on the RMGA Website.
Carol: (Health business) Produced educational material. Had their convention two weeks prior to this meeting. She said it was nice to see people in person. She works with hotel products to improve the immune system – Holistic – Not Pharmaceutical. Sid: attended Governor’s Conference. He was on TV.
President Mike Pearl opened the membership meeting – 13 members attended.
He announced that we have 13 people in attendance. We have a quorum.
Sid asked how is this format/Zoom working. Mike responded that it is working very well.
Mike started the business section with welcoming all to the meeting. He talked about former officers who had resigned, as explained in the Newsletter.
Membership needs to confirm the election of new Officers. With 13 members present, we had a quorum. Mike introduced the nominated board members. Tom had prepared an online ballot, and all members voted online, via Zoom. Sid made the motion to elect new Officers. All members in attendance voted in favor.
The new board of directors will be:
President Mike Pearl
Vice President J. Mark Blaising
Secretary Deanna Scott
Treasurer Wendy Pickering
Director at Large David White
Mike introduced new member Julie Marlatt, the Denver representative for Bespoke Private Tours.
Next Monthly Meeting: Will be a Zoom meeting, 2nd Monday in November, 2020
Mark Blaising will be presenter: History of Cheesman Park
December Holiday Party: Wendy will plan a Zoom meeting. We can bring alcoholic drinks to the meeting!! No one will be driving home!!! Others with ideas contact Mark to plan. You may invite others to participate.
Sign up for Facebook Group. Mike and Tom will help you signup if needed.
Tonight’s Program
Tonight’s speaker will be Adam Moore, Supervisory Forester of Communications and Communities, Colorado State Forest Service (CFS) Alamosa, CO
A guest from the CSFS will be Danielle Ardrey, Conservation & Youth Education Specialist, Colorado State Forest Service. Maria Thomas, Communications Manager, Colorado State Forest Service, was scheduled to attend but was unable to make it.
Adam’s PowerPoint presentation will be on RMGA Website Members Only Page. A recording of the program will be made available to the members.
Adam started the presentation noting that the full Power Point presentation is available at the RMBA Member only website: Listed below are only brief list of topics discussed.
Adam started with introducing Roxborough Neighborhood. Showing people’s homes mixed with wild nature that could harm them. He noted that questions regarding living in the forests can be addressed to local offices. The organization is part of CO State University extension services. They work with private land owners on wildfire restriction and reduction. They have outreach to educators to involve youth of their activities.
One of their special areas is working with insect and disease problems.
They have large and small landscape maintenance projects. The Colorado land/forest ownership project showed the breakdown of ownership; with 27% private ownership. Different owners have different regulations and receive different permits. About 19% is owned by the Bureau of Land Management.
US Forest Service: Manages high elevation forests, has 8 National forests in CO. Often manages similar forests, but some have specific requirements. BLM managed forests are mostly at lower elevations.
Adam explained different composition of Forest Fires. Showed percentage break down of various trees, shrub land, etc. Discussed ideas of how recreation impacts CO. He noted that 92% of Coloradans participate in recreation regularly. He added how forest management and integration impacts total economics of the State.
Impacts of forest fires was discussed through chat/interactive Q&A. Aspen is one of the three types of trees that often comes back after fires. Adam explained the chemistry of colors of Autumn leaves. He explained how producing Chlorophyll impacts the colors in the Autumn leaves. Site for reference: https://csfs.colostate.edu/.
Chat Q/A: What keeps trees from freezing? A: Evergreens are active all year long, other trees go to sleep in the winter, with minimum moisture in them.
Over 50% of CO forests have been affected by wildfire, insects, or disease over the last 20 years. Spruce Beatle caused mortality of high elevations, He explained ownership percentage.
Chat Q/A: Is CFS working with Native CO tribes? Yes we actively work with them.
Adam noted that 19 US states are affected by how we in Colorado manage our forests. 80% of CO’s population relies on forest watershed to deliver water to population. Trees generate oxygen, minimize air pollution, control soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and recycle water.
Chat Q/A: How insects kill trees? A: trees stressed by years will be attacked by disease. Insects try to attack leaves, tips of trees, thin living layers of the bark. Trees need to photosensitize, make sugar to survive. Example of caterpillar covering a tree, eating the bark part. Each insect has a different timeframe. Some have a one year life cycle, some two years, some different life cycles. He added that various trees affected by beetles, budworms, etc. in 2019, and how large areas were impacted. At the peak of impact three quarter of a mile of pine trees were impacted. On their website you can find what has affected these trees, what happened to them, where did the insects go.
Historical Q/A: Did increase in population of Europe increase insect population? A: We might have killed some trees. We may not have affected the forests. We did not make it worse, by bringing greater attention to it. There are many Programs: Grant programs to work with land and home owners – tax 8. There are lots of ways to work with public. – Active forest management, small trees, pine trees, and mountain pine needles will not be attracted to beetles. Open space between trees reduces chance of wild fires and gives trees room to grow. He explained detailed active forest management for forest growth, beautification and employment possibility, providing work for state of CO.
Wildfire habitat: A photo of a deer’s in the middle of trees shows how proper forest management actually gives a chance for vegetation to grow and provide an opportunity for hunting. Avalanche of broken trees may feed more insects and diseases. We constantly watch to see what happens. This is part of Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative.
Chat Q/A: Any volunteer Opportunities? A: Varies by the Field Office. Might be opportunities to volunteer depending on local Field Office. For Company questions reach out to the Field Office and ask questions. There are 17 Field Offices in CO with contact information on line.
Contacts:
Danielle Ardrey
Conservation and Youth Education Specialist
Colorado State Forest Service
970-732-0569
Danielle.ardrey@colostate.edu
Website for Colorado State Forest Service: https://csfs.colostate.edu/
Speaker: Adam Moore, Adam.more@colostate.edu
Written by Mahvash (Marsha) Momeni