South Puget Sound (SPS) Chapter of the Society of American Foresters was formed in the 1950s as the University of Washington Chapter. Since its inception the chapter has grown and subsequently split into three separate chapters and two student chapters. The SPS Chapter is the largest in Washington state. Its membership is quite diverse with technician members through national and international professionals; family foresters through Ph.D. professors and researchers; undergraduates to Golden members. The chapter can also boast that over 75% of its members use advanced technology in their everyday communications and forestry professional work.
Our next meeting will be held at Green River College (GRC) on November 16 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The meeting will be a fundraiser for the GRC student chapter. It will be in the Cedar Hall, Room 109. Students will be providing hot chocolate and light refreshments along with boughs and other materials to make wreaths. Attendees are encouraged to bring materials such as bows, ribbons, cones, etc. Parking is free and accessible by entering the campus via the west entrance (approximately 1/4 mile west of the traffic light at 320th and 124th. Stay to the right until reaching a stop sign. Turn right and the first building on the left is Cedar Hall. SPS meeting to be briefly held to discuss future meetings including the upcoming holiday meeting.
SPS November 2023 Newsletter at a Glance:
- Thank you to all who volunteered at the State Fair booth in Puyallup this summer. It was fantastic to be able to reach out to so many people and discuss forestry and Washington State forests with them.
- Our chapter is off and running again! We now have our banking materials and are able to begin hosting speakers and fundraisers. Anyone interested in holding the position of Treasurer for the chapter, please contact the current chair.
- During the September meeting, it was decided to bring back our Christmas Dinner during the month of December. The intended venue is Trotter’s in Auburn. Date, time and details will be discussed at the wreath making fundraiser at Green River College and forthcoming communication will be sent out.
- Thank you to all of our members who were present at the September meeting at the Poodle Dog in Fife and the Southwest Chapter meeting at Talking Cedar in Rochester. Both meetings were very informative and productive. Our September meeting was small but it was great to see people in person. The Southwest chapter meeting was a great success. A handful of SPS members were able to make it and it was great to see such a large turnout for the event . Thank you to Brady Dier for hosting us and to Connie Harrington for the great presentation on variable density thinning. Meeting minutes are available upon request.
- A communication will be going out later this month to solicit ideas from membership for speakers throughout the year. Be on the lookout for a survey in your email inbox!
- In March, 2024 Half Lion Brewing has offered to assist us in holding a fundraiser. Their “Pints for the People” program will provide free venue and proceeds from sales to the SPS Chapter for the event. Please reach out if you are interested in helping to plan the event. Additional details will be shared as we get closer to the meeting.
Aaron Goodman, SPS Chair
(206) 853-7010
Chair: Aaron Goodman
