Bending, changing with the times
by Mike Crouse Log Trucker- february 2003
There's never an end to the change in this industry. We were reminded yet again of the rapid, if sometimes absurd, changes in rules in regulations during a session outlining those changes at the recently completed Associated California Loggers annual meeting in Reno last month. A similar presentation is scheduled in each of the others state association annual meetings over the coming months.
In contrast to the way we've been painted by the eco-industry, we have constantly changed with changing times, incorporating new methods and approaches towards harvesting as processes have evolved. The equipment, on the ground methods, restoration, conscious efforts to reduce our imprint on the land have been a constant source of pride in how we do our job.
Considering what we are now logging, and the boundless forests we are surrounded by everyday are largely second, third, and fourth growth, all logged and regenerated prior to today's stringent rules and regulations, you would think the public's perception of our business would be very positive. Yet the public's perception is far different from that as it stands. Our image is improving, but still suffering from the picture painted by the eco-industry in their quest towards their own social agenda.
What remains to be done is painting our own image based on what we have done in the past, along with both what and how we are performing our work presently. Many of the individual state associations, and the American Loggers Council, are at work making the contacts, and encouraging the media and other publications to see what we are doing, and how we are doing it today. We think this is a move in the right direction, and one which each of you can, and should, be a part of in some way and at some pint. The only practical way to coordinate such an effort is through your state logging associations, telling the story of our greatest asset, the contractors and individual logging crews. Similarly, we encourage you to work with and encourage your state association being involved developing and nurturing media contracts, taking our story to them, and painting our image in reality, rather than letting others paint it for us.