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August 2024 Scholarships Awarded Page 6 Page 6

2Quote for the Month“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work..”-Thomas EdisonIn this issue:* Upcoming Events* Quote for the Month* Outlook* Manager Update* Hardwood Federaon Update* News* MovaonNo. 665July 2024WHA Board of Directors - OcersAaron Blumenkron PresidentTeana Larson Vice PresidentLouie Guyee TreasurerJamie Price Immediate Past PresidentWHA Board of Directors - Board MembersSco ClarkNils DickmannAdam DupliseaMarlin LangworthySco LeavengoodMike LipkeBrad MichaelRyan PetersonDennis SandersStephen ZamboDavid SweitzerSecretary/ManagerPO Box 1095Camas, WA 98607Ph: (360) 835-1600Web: www.westernhardwood.orgEmail: wha@westernhardwood.orgUpcoming Events August 6-9, 2024IWF Woodworking Fairhttps://www.iwfatlanta.com/the-show/about/August 14, 2024WHA Board Meetingwha@westernhardwood.orgAugust 28, 2024WHA Board Meetingwha@westernhardwood.orgSeptember 23-25, 2024WHA Annual ConventionEmail: wha@westernhardwood.orgSeptember 25-27, 2024Timber Processing & Energy Expohttps://timberprocessingandenergyexpo.com/October 2-4, 2024NHLA Annual Conventionhttps://nhla.com/convention/schedule/October 9-10, 2024WPMA Annual Meetinghttps://www.wpma.org/events/

3Register Now!Roll the dice on excitement at our high-stakes annual convenon! With a dash of casino avor, it's a surere jackpot for your business!With our excellent lineup of speakers:The Hardwood Export Market Mike Snow, AHEC What's Happening in Washington DC? DanaLeeCole,HardwoodFederaon RealAmericanHardwoodCoalion&NHLA Dana Spessert Hardwoods at PDX Ryan Temple, Sustainable NW Oregon HCP Ben Deumling, Zena Forest Products AI in the Wood Products Industry Panel Joey Nelson, JoeScan and Norvin Laudon, MiCROTECPlus:Annual Golf Tournament - Tri-Mountain Golf CourseAnnualFishingFun-SalmonshingontheColumbiaRiverAnnualAucon-SupporttheWHAScholarshipFundRae-Youcouldwinabeauful,customgamingtable!HandcraedbyTrilliumPacicMillworks in Hubbard, OR from Oregon White Oak donated by Epilogue, LLC in Portland, OR.DrawingtobeheldonSeptember27thattheTP&EEconvenoninPortland.Neednotbepresenttowin.ThetablewillbeondisplayattheAnnualConvenonandattheTP&EEwhere you can visit us at booth #130 and where the lucky winner will be announced on Friday, September 27th.2024 SPONSORSSEE PAGE 18 & 19 FOR SPONSOR & AUCTION FORMSWOOD PROTECTION PRODUCTS

OutlookWest Coast region lumber providers shared similar views regarding the health of their sales. Contacts in California aren't seeing much of a change over the last six months. They'd like to see the trend shi away from white oak as it has become more dicult to stock. Sales have been hurt by interest rates. Their customers are wanng to be sure they have a product sold before they commit to an order. A Washington provider also says sales seem to be about the same as six months ago, maybe a lile less. Housing starts are very slow and he doesn't see a lot of hardwood going into the houses being built. White oak is harder to get and he menoned that he is surprised poplar isn't moving faster as it is less expensive.Manager's MessageDave SweitzerSecretary/Manager, WHAAs we approach the Annual Convenon September 23-25, it provides all of us the opportunity to network, learn, enjoy each other, and parcipate in discussions pernent to the future of our industry. I believe the future is bright, albeit loaded with challenges (opportunies in disguise). Together, as an associaon, we are stronger, with greater inuence on decision makers, than alone. To expand our membership, we need your help. Talk to your vendors about joining the WHA, coming to the convenon, and help the hardwood industry. Just think, if each of us invites one company to come to the convenon and join the WHA, we can double our size and mulply our inuence.Here are some talking points. Add your personal tesmony of the importance to being a member.1. Unite for impact: Join forces, revoluonize mber harvest with sowood groups.2. Powerhouse representaon: Shape policies in DC, champion hardwood cause with Hardwood Federaon.3. Ignite domesc demand: Lead markeng crusade,

5spotlight American hardwoods with Real American Hardwood Coalion.4. Conquer global markets: Showcase nest American hardwoods worldwide with American Hardwood Export Council.5. Connect and thrive: Network at electrifying WHA events, spark innovaon and success.6. Inspire future leaders: Empower forestry students with capvang contests and scholarships.7. Stay ahead with insights: Level up with ground breaking webinars, including AI revoluon in business.8. Unlock knowledge wealth: Revamped website oers hardwood educaonal resources at your ngerps.9. Shape the future:Drive acon with Strategic Plan, lead in acon commiees.10. Stay informed, promote brand: Monthly Digital Magazine oers industry pulse, adversing opportuniesNext year we will celebrate 70 years as an associaon. Let's double our eorts to double our membership and Annual Convenon aendance.Be sure to join us at our Annual Convenon coming September 23 – 25, 2024, at Ilani Casino and Resort in Ridgeeld, WA. Registraon is online! www.westernhardwood.org/2024Update from Hardwood FederaonDana Cole, Execuve DirectorJuly 2024Supreme Court Issues Landmark “Loper” Ruling, Evens Regulatory LandscapeOn June 28, the Supreme Court made a signicant decision in *Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo*, challenging the "Chevron doctrine." This principle had allowed federal courts to defer to federal agencies' interpretaons of ambiguous laws, beneng regulators in 77% of cases. Supporters of the *Loper Bright* decision believe it will require Congress to provide clearer regulatory guidelines, while opponents worry courts may make decisions on complex technical issues beer le to experts. Deregulaon acvists see it as a step toward dismantling past court cases upholding federal agencies' authority. However, legal experts cauon that industries might not rush to religate seled cases due to nancial investments made based on previous rulings. The Court emphasized that long-seled cases using Chevron do not jusfy overturning past decisions, and the doctrine of *stare decisis* (leng decisions stand) is expected to limit re-ligaons of past Cont on pg 8

62024 Scholarship AwardsKelly Cantrell began aending Forestry Challenge events in high school, gaining experience in forest management and data collecon. She is currently a Forestry major at the University of Montana and acve in related clubs and organizaons.Growing up in a Sierra Nevada logging town, David Reinhart's love of forestry began early. Parcipang in the Forestry Challenge and working with the Forest Service built a strong foundaon. Now, he is excelling in the private sector and pursuing a forestry educaon at Cal Poly Humboldt..Kelly Cantrell David ReinhartSummer Mini-TourSeveral WHA members experienced an excing tour of three facilies July 25th near Philomath, OR, organized by WHA board member Dennis Sanders, Patrick Lumber Manufacturing.Dennis Sanders describes locaon of new specialty hardwood mill at Patrick Lumber Manufacturing. Scheduled to start operaon in July 2025, the mill will specialize in most of the underulized hardwoods of the Northwest. However, Alder, the most prominent Western hardwood, will be produced in 12-16 foot lengths.Jake Thompson, le, describes the Thompson Tree Farm's sort yard where all specied sorts are correct all of the me without error.The nale was lunch on Thompson Tree Farm's private lake amid their forest. Je Minter, Starker Forests, Inc., treated the aendees to an acve logging site that featured saw logs and long logs for poles. Extensive mechanized equipment captured the aenon of the aendees.

7TheWesternHardwoodAssociaon(WHA)isexcitedtoannounceitsAnnualConvenon,themed"ALLINONHARDWOOD:CRAFTINGAWINNINGSTRATEGYINTIMBERMARKETS."Thisyear’sconvenonwillbeheldfromSeptember23-25,2024,attheIlaniCasinoHotel,locatedat1CowlitzWay,Ridgeeld,WA98642.TheshitoSeptemberallowstheWHAtoalignwiththeTimberProcessing&EnergyExpo(TP&EE)trade show in Portland, Oregon, enhancing synergy between the two events. This change provides aendeeswithacomprehensiveexperience,promongnetworkingopportuniesandvaluableindustryinsights. Main events will occur on Tuesday, September 24, the day before TP&EE opens, with a golf tournamentonSeptember23andaguidedshingtripontheColumbiaRiveronSeptember25.TheIlaniCasinoHotelservesasanidealvenue,oeringstate-of-the-artfaciliesandameniesamidstthepicturesquebackdropofRidgeeld,Washington,just20milesfromthePortlandExpoCenter.Aendeescanancipateaseamlessblendofeducaon,networking,andentertainmentthroughouttheconvenon.RegistraonfortheWHAAnnualConvenonisnowopen.Staytunedforupdatesonspeakers,sessions,andspecialeventsbyvisinghps://westernhardwood.org/2024.Forsponsorshipopportunies,inquiries,orfurtherinformaon,pleasecontactDaveSweitzeratwha@westernhardwood.org.WHA Annual Convenon aligns with TP&EE in PortlandTheWHAconvenonpromisestoexploretheintricaciesofthewesternhardwoodlumberindustry,featuringengagingdiscussionsandinformavesessionsdesignedtohelpprofessionalsnavigatetheevolving market landscape. Aaron Blumenkron, current President of WHA, expressed enthusiasm for bringingtogetherindustryleadersandstakeholderstoempowercollaboraonwithinthehardwoodcommunity.Aendees from the 2023 and 2022 Annual Convenon

8acons under environmental laws. However, regulaons that have never been challenged remain open to scruny.The immediate fallout includes a federal court in Texas suspending the Department of Labor’s new overme pay rule. In another example, the Naonal Associaon of Manufacturers (NAM) led a lawsuit against the EPA over a new standard for ne parculate maer (PM 2.5), arguing that the EPA ignored economic impacts. Without Chevron, the EPA cannot rely on courts to defer to its interpretaon, potenally making it easier to overturn these rules.The *Loper* decision shis power from agencies to courts, oen favoring industry but potenally cung both ways. Environmental groups could challenge U.S. Forest Service plans that favor industry. The full consequences of the decision will unfold over the coming years.Biparsan Senators Urge Administraon to Adopt Red Oak for Military Vehicles - In coordinaon with the Hardwood Federaon, on July 12, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a biparsan group of eight other senators in a leer to the Department of Defense (DOD) and General Services Administraon (GSA) “to expedite transion to domesc Red Oak lumber for hardwood oorboards in U.S. military and other government vehicles, trailers and plaorms.” The senators point out that using Red Oak will replace “crically endangered Apitong hardwood from tropical forests with a readily available, sustainable domesc source of lumber,” scoring a win/win for the U.S. economy and environment. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), who co-led the eort, Bob Casey (D-PA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Coon (R-AR), Angus King (I-ME) and JD Vance (R-OH) joined Sen. Shaheen in the leer. Rep. Westerman Readies Endangered Species Amendments - In the near future, House Natural Resources Commiee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR) is expected to oer a bill that would streamline the Endangered Species Act (ESA), creang more certainty within a federal statute that’s subject to numerous agency rulemakings. The amendments will, among other things, include a denion of “habitat as it relates to crical habitat,” thereby creang more certainty for forest management plans. It also rejects adopon of the so-called “blanket rule” which expands “endangered species” control measures, consistent with industry comments led in August, 2023. The Federaon will keep you posted on the bill’s progress following formal introducon. House Lawmakers Advance Wood Products Research Per Industry Advocacy -Consistent with advocacy from the Hardwood Federaon and our wood products allies, House lawmakers acknowledge the importance of performing studies that will quanfy the amount of carbon stored in wood products in a Commiee Report that accompanies the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 spending bill to fund the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL). The report states that the Forest Service Research and Development secon, for example, will “undertake a range of carbon research including” the impacts of forest management. The report also promotes FPL university partnerships to study biomass commercializaon and mass mber construcon. The Federaon will keep you posted on pro-industry programs at the FPL as developments unfold.House Lawmakers Approve Spending Bill, Adopt Hardwood Priories - Consistent with robust advocacy from the Federaon, the House passed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 funding bill that arms classicaon of forest products biomass as “carbon neutral” and hinders implementaon of two of the Administraon’s most ambious regulaons. Earlier this month when the bill was being considered by the Appropriaons Commiee, industry ally Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) oered an amendment adopted by the commiee to block implementaon of EPA’s new air quality standard for ne parculate maer (PM 2.5) and the Forest Service’s old growth amendment plans. The Federaon advocated against both of these regulaons and welcomes congressional intervenon. Next steps include consideraon in the Senate where the outcome remains uncertain. U.S. Chamber, Federaon and Allies Push Perming Reform - On August 1, the Federaon will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other industry groups to discuss ongoing advocacy related to perming reform, Wood treatment plant manufacturing, worldwide since 1983.The most environmentally friendly wood treatment ever known!Hydro-Thermo Modication 1-877-785-0274 www.americanwoodtechnology.comAmerican Wood Technology AWT Options: design, fabrication, layouts & accessories• Smallest footprint & simplest installation• Most gentle process available• Most eective heat transfer• Fastest process time & better product quality• Lowest processing cost per board footOur thermo plant designs provide:(Cont from pg 5)

9Hardwood Industries, Inc.www.hardwoodind.com“Partners in Success since 1981”Next Generation Distribution

10including a focus on the Naonal Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) perming process. The coalion supports a biparsan Congressional Review Act (CRA) measure introduced by Sens. Manchin (D-WV) and Sullivan (R-AK) and Garret Graves (R-LA) to revoke more stringent NEPA rules. Rather than streamline the environmental perming process, as advocated by the Federaon in coalion comments led in 2023, the new rule is poised to create new legal roadblocks that will cause delays and undermine regulatory certainty. Agenda items will also include discussion of the Energy Perming Reform Act of 2024, a biparsan bill sponsored by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY). Dana will be joining us in September at the WHA Annual Convenon! Don't miss it!Update - Real American Hardwood CoalionHardwood Industry Launches New Tool for Architecture and Design Professionals The Real American Hardwood Coalion (RAHC) and the Naonal Hardwood Lumber Associaon (NHLA), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, have launched a new website at RealAmericanHardwood.pro. The website was developed to educate architects, interior designers, and construcon professionals on the aributes of Real American Hardwood® products, as well as introduce new and innovave hardwood product technologies for the built environment. Filled with informaon on the uses, value, and benets of the most commonly specied domesc hardwood species, the website also explores new ways for design/build professionals to incorporate hardwood products—such as thermally modied hardwood and cross-laminated mber—into commercial and residenal spaces. A sustainability secon provides visitors with data—backed by science and research—on the environmental and climate friendly qualies of hardwood products, and how they compare to alternaves, such as vinyl and steel. Linda Jovanovich, chair of the RAHC, says the new website plays an important role in educang current and future professionals. “As the RAHC works with and educates architects, designers, speciers, and students, RealAmericanHardwood.pro is a valuable resource to serve those communies. I am looking forward to adding it to our educaon toolbox and pung it to work alongside our website at RealAmericanHardwood.com, which is designed to inform and inspire consumers and prosumers alike.”“There are many dierent factors that are important to consider when designing a space for people to gather, while celebrang the Naturally Authenc® beauty and character of Real American Hardwood products,” says Dallin Brooks, execuve director of the NHLA. “From the visual aesthecs of lumber to the funconality of dierent species, this new plaorm will equip all involved in the design/build community with the informaon they need to create a posive impact on both people within design spaces and on the environment outside by specifying Real American Hardwood ooring, cabinetry, millwork, furniture, and more.” The website also includes a featured projects secon, where visitors can read case studies about unique projects and submit their own work for publicaon.Member NewsOn August 14th, as you walk through the new PDX Airport Terminal, you'll be stepping on 75,000 square feet of Zena Forest Products' Zena EdgeGrain™ ooring. Zena has worked on this project for over eight years, making it a signicant milestone for the company. Developed with ZGF Architects, this innovave ooring addresses the technical challenges of a large, high-trac area.More importantly, Zena EdgeGrain™ ooring supports ecological sustainability in Oregon. Aligned with the Port of Portland's mission, the ooring is made from locally sourced materials, promotes good forest stewardship, and meets FSC® cercaon standards. This product ulizes more of the tree and a variety of smaller trees, which supports restoraon eorts by using trees that would otherwise be discarded.A big thank you goes to ZGF Architects, HSJV, the Port of Portland, Ed Mays from Endurawood, John Valachovic at OMEP, SEDCOR, Business Oregon, Pure Floors, and the enre Zena Crew for their dedicaon. The project involved creang 100,000 les and two million scks, all produced in the Willamee Valley, just 75 miles from the airport.Visitors to PDX can enjoy the new terminal space without a boarding pass and share photos of this beauful, locally manufactured oak oor..JoeScan, a leading innovator in sawmill scanning technology, announces the United States Patent and Trademark Oce (USPTO) has granted a patent (US11924530B2) for its revoluonary JS-50 line of Sawmill Scanners. The patent recognizes JoeScan's groundbreaking advancements in creang a robust scanning soluon tailored specically for the demanding environment of sawmills.Each model of JS-50 laser scanner is designed for specic machine centers in the

sawmill. The newly patented technology addresses the inherent challenges faced by sawmill operators, including wide temperature ranges, moisture, vibraon, and dust. By ensuring thermal stability, JoeScan's scanner oers precise and repeatable scanning capabilies, even in the harshest condions. The patent also covers features such as single-cable power over ethernet (PoE) connectors and global encoder mings to reduce the number of cables in a system. These innovaons allow sawmills to maintain uninterrupted producon without the need for frequent servicing of scanner systems. JS-50 Sawmill Scanners ulize advanced opcal systems housed within a specially designed enclosure. This enclosure not only protects the delicate internal components from environmental factors, but also maintains the accuracy and reliability of the scanning process. By incorporang mulple laser line beam zones, the scanner provides comprehensive 3D log proles, enabling sawmill operators to opmize the ulizaon of each log. "Reliability and simplicity through innovaon has always been at the core of JoeScan's mission. The issuance of this patent underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of sawmill scanning technology," said Joey Nelson, founder and president of JoeScan. "Scanning systems play a crical role in sawmill eciency and producvity, and our JS-50 family of scanners delivers a signicant leap forward in addressing those requirements."The patent serves as a testament to JoeScan's dedicaon to research and development in the eld of sawmill scanners. By integrang cung-edge technology with praccal soluons, JoeScan connues to empower sawmill operators with the tools they need to thrive in today's compeve market.For more informaon about JoeScan and its range of scanning soluons, visit joescan.com.Following the launch of ve new models in its 25th anniversary year in 2023, Irish materials handling specialist Combili has already announced the premiere of yet another innovaon. The Combi-CLL (Container Log-Loader) was recently exhibited at EXPO Richmond 2024, one of America’s leading trade shows for the forest products industry. The concept and operaon of the Combi-CLL is based on that of the Combi-CSS (Container Slip Sheet), which has been successfully deployed across numerous industries for the mechanized loading of long products such as packs of mber or steel into containers. This not only reduces the risk of accidents to the workforce and product damage but is incredibly fast compared to other methods – a 40’ container can be fully loaded by one operator in under 6 minutes. The 65,000 lbs capacity electro-hydraulically powered Combi-CLL oers the same benets when it comes to speed, safety and product integrity. It was designed to address the requirements of exporters of sowood and hardwood logs, the nature and shape of which make them much trickier to handle than pellezed or packed products. Logs can be individually lied and pre-loaded into a robust, high-sided metal “tub” before the patented push-pull mechanism powers the tub into the container. Once inside, the hydraulic dropdown hatch is closed and locked into posion to hold the logs securely in place, and the tub is retracted to allow the logs to sele within the container.Once again, Combili has come up with a customer-led soluon that also has potenal for applicaons beyond the forestry and mber industries. Watch the video here: hps://youtu.be/1H_78Oqtlvs?si=26BQh095DnNQTHz_For more informaon, please visit: hps://combili.com/combi-css-log-loader/NewsDeepfake Dupes: Cybercriminals are increasingly using AI technology to create sophiscated deepfakes, deceiving employees and execuves by impersonang colleagues through voice spoong, manipulated photos, and AI-generated videos. This has resulted in signicant nancial losses, such as a case where a nance leader transferred $25 million to scammers aer believing he was on a genuine video call with senior execuves.The rise of deepfake technology has made it dicult for people to disnguish between real and fake, leading to an increase in funds transfer fraud (FTF) and business email compromise (BEC). In 2023, these types of fraud comprised 56% of all cyber claims, with FTF incidents rising 15% and average claim severity increasing by 24% to $275,000. Business email scams resulted in $2.9 billion in losses, making them the second-costliest cybercrime aer investment scams.Employees at all levels are prime targets as they oen respond quickly to requests from senior execuves, unaware they might be falling for a scam. The consequences can be devastang, including nancial losses, nes, and compromised data security. Deepfake scams also pose threats to personal reputaon and safety, creang fake images, videos, and voices for various malicious

12Safety Stor ageEffici ency Enhance the Safety, Capacity & Efficiency of your Storage FacilityManage your hardwood safely, more producively, and using less space with Combilit’s materials handling soluionsOur range of electric forklits combine powerful mulidirecional performance, emission free operaion and a host of up to the minute technologies to ofer the most eicient way to handle long loads.Contact Us TodayTToo ffiinndd oouutt hhooww CCoommbbiilliifftt ccaann hheellpp yyoouu ssaaffeellyy aanndd eeffffiicciieennttllyy llooaadd ccoonnttaaiinneerrss iinn 66 mmiinnuutteess..combilift.comHardwood Amanda 7.5x4.875.indd 1Hardwood Amanda 7.5x4.875.indd 1 22/08/2022 16:47:2922/08/2022 16:47:2945 Years Leading Dry Kiln Efciency!kilnsales@nyle.com (800) 777-6953

1345 Years Leading Dry Kiln Efciency!kilnsales@nyle.com (800) 777-6953purposes.To combat these scams, organizaons must develop tailored risk management plans and educate employees to be skepcal of all requests involving sensive data or funds. Simple vericaon methods, such as using code words and direct communicaon, are crucial. Implemenng advanced security protocols, deepfake detecon tools, and ongoing training can help prevent fraud. Addionally, employees should be vigilant for signs of deepfakes, such as unusual visual cues like strange shadows, inconsistent glare on glasses, and abnormal blinking paerns.- excerpted from Deepfakes dupe businesses: How to protect yourself. HUB Internaonal. (2024, July 9). hps://www.hubinternaonal.com/blog/2024/07/deepfakes-dupe-businesses-how-to-protect-yourself/ More signs that the economy is slowing: Durable goods orders inched higher in May but have largely remained at, increasing just 0.1% through the rst ve months of the year.Yes, but inaon is also slowing: Inaon connues to trend in the right direcon and condence is growing that inaon will connue to decrease. Year-over-year, the Personal Consumpon Expenditures (PCE) price index for May increased 2.6%. Over the same period, goods prices decreased 0.1%, and services prices rose 3.9%. Food prices are up 1.2%, and energy prices are up 4.8%. Excluding food and energy, the core PCE price index is up 2.6% compared to the previous year. - excerpted from DuBravac, Shawn, Dr.. “NAM-Weekly Economic Report - July 1, 2024”| NAM. Naonal Associaon of Manufacturers.: n. pag.Inaon is falling: The Consumer Price Index declined 0.1% in June, the rst decline in consumer prices since the pandemic. The decline was driven in part by a 3.8% fall in gasoline prices, which followed a 3.6% decline in May. Excluding food and energy, core CPI rose 0.1% in June aer a 0.2% increase in May.Yes, but: Looking further up the supply chain, inaon pressures remain prevalent. The Producer Price Index for nal demand rose 0.2%, exceeding an ancipated 0.1% gain. The year-over-year trend accelerated from 2.4% in May to 2.6% in June, surpassing the expected 2.3% growth. - excerpted from DuBravac, Shawn, Dr. “NAM-Weekly Economic Report - July 15, 2024”| NAM. Naonal Associaon of Manufacturers.: n. pag.The housing market remains subdued: Builder condence declined in July likely due to high mortgage and construcon loan rates, potenally aecng demand for construcon-related manufacturing products, with sales condions and buyer trac remaining low. - excerpted from DuBravac, Shawn, Dr. “NAM-Weekly Economic Report - July 22, 2024”| NAM. Naonal Associaon of Manufacturers.: n. pag.House Panel Approves Fix Our Forests Act: The House Natural Resources Commiee approved the biparsan “Fix Our Forests Act” (FOFA) on Wednesday, June 26th on a voice vote. The measure, spearheaded by Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Sco Peters (D-CA) includes relief from unnecessary Endangered Species reviews and improvements to the Good Neighbor Act program. “It’s no secret that I’m passionate about implemenng scienc forest management soluons,” Chairman Bruce Westerman said, kicking o the markup. “The Fix Our Forests Act is a pivotal step towards making America’s wooded areas healthier, more abundant, and resilient.” He praised Rep. Sco Peters, the bill’s cosponsor, for working with him on a biparsan basis to cra the bill. "America’s forests are in desperate need of management, and it’s

14me to take immediate acon. Onerous regulaons and weaponizaon of environmental laws have turned our forests into cking me bombs. Fortunately, the Fix Our Forests Act is a biparsan soluon that will apply the best possible science and empower America's land managers with the necessary tools to make our incredible forests healthier and more resilient for generaons to come."Total housing inventory at the end of June was 1.32 million units, up 3.1% from May and 23.4% from a year ago. Unsold inventory represented a 4.1-month supply at the current sales rate, up from 3.7 months in May and 3.1 months in June 2023, the highest since May 2020.The median price for exisng homes in June was $426,900, an all-me high and a 4.1% increase from a year ago, with all four U.S. regions seeing price gains. Tight inventory levels constrained acvity but also pushed prices higher, even in the face of high mortgage rates.. - excerpted from DuBravac, Shawn, Dr. “NAM-Weekly Economic Report - July 29, 2024”| NAM. Naonal Associaon of Manufacturers.: n. pag.The Caldor Fire, which burned 221,835 acres in California's El Dorado Naonal Forest between August and October 2021, highlights the growing issue of wildre management. The U.S. Forest Service has increasingly shied resources toward wildre suppression, with re management funding rising from 16% to 57% of the budget since 1995, reducing funds for essenal restoraon acvies.Chris Dunn, a former Forest Service hotshot and now a forest scienst at Oregon State University, stresses the complexies of managed res. While they can be benecial, few areas in western forests are safe for such pracces. The Naonal Associaon of Forest Service Rerees (NAFSR) calls for clear guidelines on managed wildres.The Forest Service currently faces a shortage of specialists for eecve forest management, worsened by high arion rates due to low morale and pay. Frank Carroll describes the agency’s approach as "blowtorch forestry," reecng its reliance on managed re to avoid conicts with an-forestry advocates. This strategy poses severe risks for rural communies. The Forest Service must priorize proacve management to safeguard both the environment and the public. - condensed from Petersen, J. (2024, July 23). Our managed re debate is now a polical restorm: Part 2:. Evergreen Magazine. hps://evergreenmagazine.com/our-managed-re-debate-is-now-a-polical-restorm-part-2/?ref=friends-of-evergreen-newsleerThe Southern United States has been a hub for wood-based biofuel, biomass export, pulp, and paper producon, with hardwood mills crucial to the rural economy. However, recent closures of biomass export terminals and paper plants due to economic challenges and regulatory hurdles have le these mills struggling to manage their residuals. This has led to increased operaonal costs and decreased protability, pushing the industry towards local power generaon.Hardwood mills generate signicant quanes of residues like sawdust, bark, pulpwood, and wood chips, but small biomass volumes, strict regulaons, and high capital costs hinder power generaon eorts. Addressing these issues requires concerted eorts from policy makers and stakeholders to develop supporve regulatory frameworks and nancial incenves, foster cooperaon, and invest in infrastructure. These measures can help migate the impacts of plant closures, promote sustainable energy producon, and ensure the resilience of the hardwood industry. - condensed from Brooks, D. (2024, July 2). Why knot advocate to solve our biomass crisis. Miller Wood Trade Publicaons. hps://millerwoodtradepub.com/why-knot-advocate-to-solve-our-biomass-crisis/MovateNEVER CONFUSE BUSYNESS WITH PROGRESSby Larry DennisMemorial Day: honestly, a few decades ago now, but I sll remember it. I got up earlier than anyone else in the house. Everyone, all three boys and the The Caldor Fire burns through trees on Mormon Emigrant Trail east of Sly Park, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2021.Ethan Swope / AP

15SIMPLY BETTERSAWMILL SCANNINGJS-50X6BNEWCARRIAGES & SHORT-INFEEDEDGERS

16dog, were sll asleep. I walked downstairs and grabbed a book I had picked up at a store a few weeks earlier, a lile book called All Men See God. It was a Hallmark book. Then I grabbed a chair and went down to the river, which ran through our property at that me in Beverly Hills Village, Michigan. The river not only ran through the backyard, but we also had a waterfall there. It was about three feet tall, maybe a lile taller.As I seled into reading, I read a page or two and then looked up. I noced a lile green apple coming over the waterfall. It crashed at the boom and shot out about three or four feet, maybe a lile further. Then it started to slow down, bobbing in an eddy. Aer a moment or two, it found its way back to the boom of the waterfall and shot out again. I watched it as it slowed down once more and began to bob around again. The apple repeated this cycle several mes.I returned to my reading, and a few minutes later, the breakfast bell rang. The family was up by then, and I went back to the house for breakfast. I have to tell you, I moved a lile faster than usual, maybe because I wanted to check on my lile green apple. When I got back down to the waterfall, it had gone on by that me. Over the years, as I thought about that lile green apple, I realized how easy it can be to get in such a hurry. I don't know how many miles that lile apple traveled that day, but it traveled a long way without making any progress—out and back, out and back.I see people who are moving so fast and are so busy that they make no progress. Roune is a good thing; we need rounes. Habits are a good thing; we need good habits. But to make progress, we need to check in on our rounes and ask ourselves, "Are these rounes serving me, or am I caught up in an eddy that's bringing me back?" We may go fast for a while, but then we get pulled back again and again. As you reect over the year so far and the progress you've made as you endeavor to "Soar in '24," check in and see if there are any habits that may be pulling you back and not allowing you to soar in '24. Dennis, L. (2024, May 27). Never confuse busyness with progress. YouTube. hps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRA5F5KuOsc .

17Joining our hardwood associaon is an exhilarang opportunity packed with dynamic benets! Here's why you should jump on board with unmatched enthusiasm:1.**UniteforGreaterImpact:**Let'samplifyourinuencebyjoiningforceswithsowoodgroups,revoluonizingmberharvesttogether!2.**PowerhouseRepresentaon:**Gainavoicethatresonatesinthecorridorsofpower!WithourmembershipintheHardwoodFederaon,we'reshapingpoliciesinWashingtonDCandchampioningthehardwoodcause!3.**IgniteDomescDemand:**WiththeRealAmericanHardwoodCoalion,we'respearheadingathrillingdomescmarkengcrusadethat'spunghardwoodsinthespotlightwheretheybelong!4.**ConquerGlobalMarkets:**BuckleupforanexhilarangrideasweconquerinternaonalmarketsthroughourmembershipintheAmericanHardwoodExportCouncil,showcasingthenestAmericanhardwoodstotheworld!5. **Connect and Thrive:** Dive into a whirlwind of networking opportuniesattheWHA'selectrifyingannualconvenonandbeyond,whereconneconssparkinnovaonandsuccess!6.**InspireFutureLeaders:**Joinusinempoweringforestrystudents to embrace the wonders of hardwoods through our capvangDesignContestandScholarshipProgram!7.**StayAheadwithCung-EdgeInsights:**Getreadytolevelupyourgame.We’replanningground-breakingwebinars,includingmust-knowtopicslikenavigangtheAIrevoluoninbusiness!8.**UnlockaWealthofKnowledge:**Oursoon-to-berevampedwebsitecanbeyourulmatedesnaonforeverythinghardwood-related,oeringatreasuretroveofeducaonalresourcesatyourngerps!9.**ShapetheFuture:**DiveintoaconwithournewlymintedStrategicPlanandtakethehelminoneofoursixaconcommiees,whereyourexpersecanshapethefutureofourassociaon!10.**StayInformedandPromoteYourBrand:**Don'tmissouton the excitement of our Monthly Digital Magazine, where you'll ndthepulseoftheindustry,unbeatableadversingrates,andthechancetoshowcaseyourcompany'ssuccessstories!Withsomuchpassion,innovaon,andopportunityawaing,joiningourhardwoodassociaonisn'tjustachoice—it'sanadventureyouwon'twanttomiss!Joinustodayandlet'scarveoutafutureofunparalleledsuccesstogether!Going to a meeting? Contact us to take along one of these popups for your table and help grow WHA!

WESTERN HARDWOOD ASSOCIATIONWESTERN HARDWOOD ASSOCIATIONANNUAL CONVENTIONANNUAL CONVENTIONALL IN ON HARDWOOD: ALL IN ON HARDWOOD: CRAFTING A WINNING STRATEGY IN TIMBER MARKETSCRAFTING A WINNING STRATEGY IN TIMBER MARKETSSEPTEMBER 23-25, 2024SEPTEMBER 23-25, 2024Ilani Casino Hotel - Ridgeeld, WAIlani Casino Hotel - Ridgeeld, WALevel:$ Invoice meName on card: _______________________________________________ Card #: ___________________________ Exp:_______ CVV: __________ Address: ____________________City: _____________________________ State: _______ Zip: _____ Phone: _____________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________ Email form to: wha@westernhardwood.orgOr online: www.westernhardwood.org/$10,000 - $10,000 - ALDERALDER 4 free registrations, 12 months of full page magazine ads, logo on banner at meeting, special recognition during the meeting.$5,000 - $5,000 - PC PC MAPLE MAPLE 3 free registrations, 12 months of full page magazine ads, logo on banner at meeting.$3,000 - $3,000 - OAKOAK2 free registrations, 12 months of 1/2 page magazine ads, logo on banner at meeting.$1,000 - WALNUT$1,000 - WALNUT1 free registration, 6 months of 1/2 page magazine ads, logo on banner at meeting.$500 - $500 - COTTONWOODCOTTONWOOD 12 months of quarter page size magazine ads, logo on banner at meeting.All sponsors will be featured in promotion materials, magazine, logo on webpage.SEND

WESTERN HARDWOOD ASSOCIATIONWESTERN HARDWOOD ASSOCIATIONANNUAL CONVENTIONANNUAL CONVENTIONALL IN ON HARDWOOD: ALL IN ON HARDWOOD: CRAFTING A WINNING STRATEGY IN TIMBER MARKETSCRAFTING A WINNING STRATEGY IN TIMBER MARKETSSEPTEMBER 23-25, 2024SEPTEMBER 23-25, 2024Ilani Casino Hotel - Ridgeeld, WAIlani Casino Hotel - Ridgeeld, WAYour donation to the WHA Annual Auction helps support the WHA Scholarship Fund as well as other industry support. Company _____________________________________Donor Name ______________________________Address __________________________________City _____________________________________State _________ Zip ______________________Oce Phone _____________________________Cell Phone __________________________________Item Value $___________________________________Item Description __________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________We also need to have a photo of the item(s). Please email it to us along with this form before August 15th.Email form to: wha@westernhardwood.orgSEND