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valuing you
April 28th, 2015
who’s on
THE MOVE
reflections from
NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION
•
If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go
Tracy Beck, Assistant
Director of Natural
Resources for R6 to Forest
Supervisor for the
Willamette NF
•
LucasGallegos, Budget
Analyst from R3 to Budget
Analyst and Regional
Workplan Administrator for
R6
•
Brenda Hallmark, Fuels
Assistant Fire Management
Officer for the McKenzie River
RD on the Willamette NF to
Fuels Specialist Program Lead
for the Ochoco NF, Crooked
River Grassland and Prineville
BLM
By: Josh Dawson
R6Update Editor
together. John Allen, Forest Supervisor for the Deschutes NF
shared that nugget of wisdom with us at the 2015 Regional New
Employee Orientation. Over 140 attendees, all having worked
in R6 for three years or less, took a personal journey learning
about the history and culture that makes our Region unique.
Critical thinking was the skill of the day. Sean Ferrell, Forest
Partnership and Conservation Education Program Manager for
the Deschutes NF, showed us the power of 1) admitting you
have an idea and 2) telling someone else about it. Regional
Forester Jim Peña discussed the need to reset our expectations
and priorities when we have competing demands. Most
importantly we talked about how we can't do it alone.
Collaboration and partnerships were the words of the day as we
broke into small groups to process what we heard and learned.
(pictures on pages 4-5)
Sponsored by the Regional Leadership Team, this year's annual
orientation was April 14th-16th at Skamania Lodge in Stevenson,Washington
what’s
INSIDE
ask
A RANGER
Getting to Know............. 2
Photo Bug...................... 3
Orientation 2015........... 4
Homesteads................... 6
Awards......................... 10
Digger Bear.................. 11
Where in the Region.... 12
Curious about something going on in the
Region? Send me the question!
Q: Where can I find an online version of my forest map?
A: The Interactive Visitor Map
(http://www.fs.fed.us/ivm) displays roads, trails*
and recreation sites on both computers and mobile touchscreen devices.
*trail information not yet available for all forests
who’s
ON THE MOVE
•
KarenKanes,Special Uses
Assistant for the Summit RD
on the Stanislaus NF to Visitor
Services Information Assistant
for the McKenzie River RD on
the Willamette NF
•
Monica Neal,Executive
Assistant to the Forest
Supervisor on the Shawnee NF
to Executive Assistant to the
Regional Forester for R6
•
Andrew Nepstad, Lead Forestry
Technician for the Detroit
RD on the Willamette NF to
Rappeller for the Sled Springs
Rappel Base on the WallowaWhitman NF
•
Raymond Perrault, from Silver
City, New Mexico to Dispatch
Apprentice for the Willamette
NF
•
Kathryn Price, Information
Receptionist for the McKenzie
River RD on the Willamette
NF to Visitor Services
Information Assistant for the
Mckenzie River RD on the
Willamette NF
•
MikeWilliams, Forest
Supervisor on the Kaibab NF
to Forest Supervisor on the
Okanogan-Wenatchee NF
stories wanted
If you have a story to tell
we want to hear it!
r6update@fs.fed.us
getting to know
LESLIE WELDON
Leslie Weldon is the Deputy Chief for the National Forest System
in Washington, D.C. and is responsible for policy, oversight and
direction for the natural resource programs for managing the
193 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands
Why did you start working for the Forest Service?
It might have started when I was in Girl Scouts, but I knew
from an early age that conservation is what I wanted to do. I
worked and lived at a Youth Conservation Corps facility on the Blue Ridge
Parkway in Virginia over two summers in high school and loved it. While
studying at Virginia Tech I had the opportunity to work on a reforestation crew
on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF and jumped at the chance. After graduating
with a degree in Biological Sciences I was hired on as a Fisheries Biologist on the
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF, and I've had various jobs in the agency since then
including Forest Supervisor of the Deschutes NF from 2000-2007. I’ve had
some good opportunities for learning, had a great mentor and guide (thanks Jim
Doyle!) and through lots of encouragement I knew that no matter what I did
and where I went I wanted to stay with the Forest Service.
Do you think the culture of the Forest Service is changing?
We're adapting because the culture is changing from the outside in and the
inside out. I feel good in that we're changing to be more responsive. There's a
big focus on early career development; what we need from people has evolved
more rapidly than it used to and now we have new opportunities like we've
never had before.
What would you like us to know about Every Kid in a Park?
It's a government-wide initiative intended to provide every 4th grader in the
United States with a meaningful experience on their public lands and waters.
We have around four million 10-11 year old children and during the 2015-2016
school year we intend to provide funding for school field trip transportation,
educational support for school visits and free access to public lands. It's an
ambitous goal and the only way to be successful is to work with our passionate,
over the top partners. I fully intend to make the most of this unique
opportunity.
Any last thoughts?
I've always wanted to care for and be a steward for natural resources and I
don't take any of it for granted. I want to thank folks for the hard work that
they do for the people that own the landscapes, and I hope everybody has a
safe and productive summer.
Page 2
photo bug
CONTEST WINNERS
It is our pleasure to announce the winners of this quarter’s ongoing photo bug contest!
Congratulations and good job everybody! Prizes will be mailed to your home units.
Right: Mardell Murrill Fisher Information Receptionist for the
La Grande RD on the WallowaWhitman NF with his photo submission of Recreation employee
Bill Reid on horseback in the
Dry Beaver-Ladd Canyon Elk
Habitat Enhancement Area.
Below: Marlene McCormack-Lee
Visitor Information Coordinator for the Sisters RD on the
Deschutes NF with her photo
submission of storyteller and Recreation Technician Dave Larson
and a group of children waiting in
the Salmon tent.
Page 3
living the journey
NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION 2015
Page 4
living the journey
NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION 2015
Page 5
homesteader garbage equals
ARCHEOLOGIST TREASURE
By: Paul Meznarich
Public Affairs Specialist, Siuslaw NF
M
any people enjoy living near a national forest for the scenic and recreational appeal. But there was a time in the
Siuslaw National Forest’s history when people actively sought to live within the Forest boundaries.
Early settlers inhabiting the Forest under the Forest Homestead Act of 1906 could claim land within the newly formed
National Forest System for agricultural purposes. Hundreds tried to forge a living amid the forested slopes of the
Oregon Coast Range. But one by one most were absorbed by the Forest, quickly consumed by the voracious vegetation
that the settlers once tried to tame.
“Homesteads are the most numerous type of archeological site on the Forest,” said Kevin Bruce, Archeologist for the
Siuslaw NF. “They provide a wealth of information concerning homesteading in this challenging landscape in the first
decades of the 20th Century.”
Unfortunately, little archaeological work has taken place on these sites so the Siuslaw NF Heritage Program is working
to fill this gap and incorporate the results with information already available in historic land records. Helping to
support this effort is an ongoing collaboration with Oregon State University graduate students as they assist with the
investigation of homestead sites.
During the course of seven days last August and September a team of five archaeologists from the Siuslaw NF and
OSU excavated two early 20th century homestead sites in the Indian Creek Watershed. Their focus was on collecting
artifacts from trash deposits near the locations of former dwellings at both homesteads. Some examples of materials
recovered from the sites include common household items (ceramics, container glass, utensils), personal items
(buttons, combs, marbles), and architectural items (nails, brick, window glass).
Lindsey Stallard, graduate student from OSU, has been processing and analyzing the artifacts recovered from the
sites, and using this information as the basis for her master’s thesis. “This partnership with the Siuslaw has been a
great avenue for students looking for research opportunities while gaining work experience with the Forest Service,”
said Stallard, who graduates in June and has already begun applying for archeology jobs with the federal government.
In early April, Stallard presented her research to Bruce and a group of volunteers serving on a Passport In Time
project. “Ultimately,” Bruce said, “These types of research projects will help the Siuslaw NF develop a historic context
for homestead sites to better manage these important cultural resources.”
For more information: http://www.passportintime.com
Page 6
passport in time
SIUSLAW HOMESTEADS
Early homestead - 1911
Homesteaders on trail with pack animals - 1910
Page 7
passport in time
SIUSLAW HOMESTEADS
Siletz homestead - 1910
Page 8
passport in time
SIUSLAW HOMESTEADS
Family homestead - 1910
Homestead children in the snow - 1911
Page 9
federal asian pacific american council
CIVILIAN AWARD
Robin Gyorgyfalvy, Landscape Architect and Scenic
Byways Leader on the Deschutes NF, will receive the
2015 Federal Asian Pacific American Council Civilian
Award for her “leadership in promoting diversity” and
her “contribution toward the representation of Asian
American and Pacific Islanders” in the U.S. Forest
Service. She created the HAPA’EA Cross Cultural
Awareness Storyteller Series which is an open forum
that addresses cultural sensitivity and bullying in the
workplace and community.
The award will be presented during the FAPAC National Leadership Training Program and recognizes
Robin’s “remarkable contribution towards diversity
and inclusion through collaboration and against all
odds” as specified for the “outstanding individual
leadership” category for which she was nominated.
Robin has served on the Deschutes NF for 25 years.
Her induction into the American Society of Landscape Architects Council of Fellows in 2012 recognized not only her professional skills but also her
agency and community leadership and accomplishments.
Tom Tidwell, Chief of the Forest Service, will be on
hand as one of several featured speakers during this
year’s annual FAPAC awards banquet which is scheduled for May 7th, 2015 in Rockville, Maryland.
For more information: http://www.fapac.org/2015NLTP
Robin Gyorgyfalvy
youth engagement strategy coordinator
AWARD
R6 Youth Engagement Strategy (“YES”) Coordinator of the Year: Aleta Eng, Partnership Specialist
for the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF
frontliner of the year
AWARD
R6 Frontliner of the Year: Erika Morris and Matt Riggen, Visitor Information Assistants for the Darrington RD on
the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF
Page 10
operator of the year
AWARD
The Washington State Department of Ecology
presented the 2014 Operator of the Year award
to Pete Ohlson, Fire Ecologist for the Methow
Valley RD on the Okonogan-Wenatchee NF.
Richy Haarod, Deputy Fire Staff for Fuels and
Fire Ecology, along with Mike Thompson, Greg
Hannahs and Sean Lundblad of the Washington State Department of Ecology presented the
award on February 25th at the Wenatchee FS
office. Pete is the FS operator for the Chelan,
Leavenworth, Naches, Twisp and Winthrop
nephelometer sites (air quality and smoke
monitoring equipment) that are all part of the
Washington state network.
Pete Ohlson (2nd from right) and Richy Harrod (far right)
engineer of the year
AWARDS
R6 Managerial Engineer of the Year: Douglas J. Bladek, Forest Engineer for the Colville NF
R6 Technical Engineer of the Year: Pete Bolander, Pavement/Geotech Engineer for the R6 Sub-Regional
Engineering Organization - Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, Mt. Hood, Siuslaw and Willamette NF’s
R6 Engineering Technician of the Year: Kenneth Kittrell, Transportation Planner for the Deschutes and Ochoco NF’s
digger
BEAR
As always, thanks to Jimmye Turner, Walla Walla RD
Page 11
where
IN THE REGION
Win a prize if you have the most correct answers this quarter!
Below are new photos from somewhere in Washington or Oregon.
Using the following haiku hints, try to figure out the location of the photos.
Send your guess to r6update@fs.fed.us. If you have photos of places in R6 please send them our way!
Photo courtesy of Norm Hodges
This red barn landmark
With wilderness in the back
In Oregon’s Alps
Once called Mirror Lake
Reflections of Glacier Peak
In the North Cascades
where in the region
PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS
It is our pleasure to announce the winners of this quarter’s photo contest!
We here at the R6Update couldn’t be more pleased and congratulations are in order as this time around we had
more than one winner. We had seven people with the same number of correct answers and please congratulate:
Rolene Mesa - Program Support Clerk at the Supervisor’s Office on the Umpqua NF
Joshua Reed - Rangeland Management Specialist on the Blue Mountain RD of the Malheur NF
Lucie Immoos - Resource Specialist at the Supervisor’s Office on the Malheur NF
Charles Howe - Natural Resources Specialist on the Blue Mountain RD of the Malheur NF
Jim Carnahan - Bridge and Dam Engineer for the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman NF’s
Stephen Todd Jankowski - Assistant District Archaeologist on the Middle Fork RD of the Willamette NF
Jerry Messinger - Air Tactical Group Supervisor for the Pacific Northwest Regional Aviation Group
Congratulations and good job everybody! Prizes will be mailed to your home units.
Page 12
where
IN THE REGION
Answers to last edition’s photos are: Paulina Lake in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument/Deschutes
NF (top left) and the Eagle Creek Restroom in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (top right)
Left:
Interrorem Cabin,
Olympic NF
(February)
Right:
Strawberry Lake,
Malheur NF
(February)
Three Sisters (Oregon)
Left:
Butler Butte Cabin,
Umpqua NF
(January)
Right:
Sullivan Lake,
Colville NF
(January)
r6update
STAFF
Publisher, Shoshona Pilip-Florea
smpilipflorea@fs.fed.us, 503.808.2240
Managing Editor, Margaret Petersen
mpetersen02@fs.fed.us, 503.808.2414
04-29
Editor, Josh Dawson
jdawson@fs.fed.us, 541.782.5229
Page 13