Endowment to Gain Help from Retired Forest Service Professionals

The National Association of Forest Service Retirees (NAFSR) and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) today announced an informal partnership whereby NAFSR members will assist the Endowment with certain research, planning or programmatic initiatives on a project basis as either advisors or short-term unpaid staff. Carlton Owen, Endowment President said of the relationship, “We’re excited that we will be able to draw upon the NAFSR members for their outstanding credentials and rich experience to address issues of common concern.” NAFSR Chairman, George Leonard, former Forest Service Associate Chief noted, “Our members hail from a diversity of roles within the Service from former Chiefs to Ranger District Staff — some were involved in Research; others in State and Private Forestry, and some in International Forestry. While we’ve officially retired, we still care deeply about the state of the nation’s forests and rural communities.” As the relationship develops, one or more NAFSR members may take on the role of “Distinguished Visiting Fellows” with the Endowment for a period of perhaps 1-6 months to assist with a broader array of issues and activities. Assignments, while mostly conducted remotely, could include one or more short-term on-site visits at the Endowment’s headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina. The NAFSR is an organization of Forest Service retirees who retain their interest in the sound management of our National Forests and other forest lands. NAFSR currently has over 400 members nationwide.