April 2001, Volume 2, Issue 1

It is unfortunate that in the same month I was asked to pen a CAF update for the second edition of this newsletter, we all received the sad news of the death, at 88 years of age, of one of our true leaders, Hank Vaux, Professor Emeritus. Ironically, 23 years ago, I took on the task to author a dedication of the 1978 edition of Timber (the Forestry Club Yearbook) to then retiring Professor Hank Vaux. I noted in that edition that we also had the sad duty to include the last photo taken of Professor Rudy Grah, Forestry Department Chairman, who died suddenly a few weeks before graduation. In both the dedication to Hank and in Rudy's letter to the graduates (written before his death) these dedicated men challenged us as professional foresters to continue to strive to understand the political, legal and social environment in which we practice, but to never abandon the scientific underpinnings of our decisions. Hank's emphasis was that it was more important that we receive our forestry education in the midst of an urban environment than in a rural forested region. The thrust of Rudy's letter to the graduates of 1978 was, in his words: "In each of you, whether through personal inclination or from the character of education you have obtained, is the potential to become a highly competent professional while at the same time playing an important role as a scientist. These two roles are not separate because your professional practice must rest on a sound scientific base." He also presented a third task, "that of commu-nicating and extending your knowledge to others outside of the immediate professional field...this means working with special interest groups, news media, and all other aspects of the general public who in the final analysis are those who judge the success of what you do and in a major way influence how you do it." It is with respect to these men and the 87 years of Forestry education at CAL that we work for its future success as the members of CAF.

ABOVE: Associate Dean Barbara Allen-Diaz with Spotted Owl on CAF/Industry Tour.

CAF Activities

The 2000-01 CAF Executive Committee (which includes Russ Forsburg '78, Ed Murphy '78, Kim Rodrigues '81, Larry Camp '71 and Al Stangenberger '65) took office at the annual business meeting and banquet the Faculty Club on October 13th, 2000. At the banquet, which had an excellent turnout of over 100, Dean Dick Malkin remarked that he was very impressed with the support CAF provides forestry students.

In late October, 2000, CAF, with the support of the forest products industry (Neal Ewald, Simpson, Ed Murphy, Sierra Pacific Indus-tries, and Russ Forsburg, Pacific Coast Farm Credit, plus other SPI and Simpson staff) invited the new CNR Dean Dick Malkin, all of the Associate Deans of the College, Barbara Allen-Diaz, Don Dahlsten, and Rick Standiford, Associate Vice President of DANR Henry Vaux, Jr. and Kevin O'Hara, silviculture professor, on a very informative two-day tour focusing on the scale, scope, and depth of issues currently facing the forestry profession in northern California. We dodged the early winter storms and all participants left with new respect for the importance of a quality forestry education at Berkeley.

In November the CAF Executive Committee met with Joe McBride, Rick Standiford, Ara Erickson (a recent grad) and Richard Dodd to discuss the status of the Forest Science Division and the Forestry Major. The Committee will be involved in recruitment efforts this year for the Forest Watershed/Hydrology and Forest Genetics positions.

Endowment Funds

Last year CAF announced two means by which alums can support the forestry program with tax-free donations. The Professional Forester Scholarship Endowment is intended for students in the Forestry and Resource Management Majors who have reached junior class standing, have successfully completed Summer Camp, and intend to pursue a career in professional forest management. The Foresters' Teaching Fund is designed to meet the short-term needs of the professional forestry program by providing funds for equipment, teaching supplies, and other items. CAF is hoping that these opportunities will be well received by the alumni and others concerned about maintaining excellence in Berkeley's forestry program. To date Associate Dean Standiford has received $19,000 from 62 generous donors - Many Thanks!