The Linn County Small Woodlands Association selected new officers and board members during its Saturday, Jan. 21, meeting at the ZCBJ Hall in Scio.
About 100 people attended the potluck dinner and business meeting, which was held for the first time following a three-year COVID-19 hiatus.
New chapter president Mike Barsotti is taking over for Tim Otis. Barsotti is a retired forester and past president of the statewide Oregon Small Woodlands Association. He and wife Jo manage a tree farm near Lyons.
New board member Christie Tye of Lebanon was named new board secretary, replacing Scio businessman Jonathan Christie. The daughter of Sherm and Fay Sallee has been active over the years in the 4-H Clever Clovers forestry group.
Shirley Holmberg will remain as treasurer, while Jim Merzenich is the new vice president.
Other approved board members include directors Jim Cota, Bonnie Marshall, Tim Otis (past president) and Lee Peterman.
The gathering included an update on 4-H Clever Clovers activities, as well as an introduction of LCSWA forestry scholarship students Joseph Passenant of Albany and Madelyn Neuschwander of Sweet Home.
Oregon Small Woodlands Association President Nicole Wood outlined the group’s mission. Among its priorities this year are the improvement of communication between the state’s chapters, including links to local web sites from the statewide OSWA site.
Given the absence of meetings over the past several years, the program featured presentations honoring the past three county “tree farmers of the year” and biographies of long-term members who had died during that interim.
Door prizes and a live auction featuring birdhouses and power tools. Broom Magic brooms were also part of the evening.
LCSWA membership currently stands at 113, with another seven subscription members.