KANE — The Kane area logging safety committee will celebrate 50 years of logging safety at a meeting April 3 at the Johnsonburg Fire Hall.
This milestone represents the longest running safety meeting of its kind in the nation.
The spring safety meeting will include a full day of events. Nationally known speaker Bruce Vincent is coming to address the group.
He is a third generation logger from Libby, Mont. He will give an afternoon presentation titled “How NOT to be the career of last choice.” This presentation will be part of the SFI continuing education credits. Every year the committee puts together an afternoon class and evening presentation that gives loggers the opportunity to get the SFI credits. Participants must attend both the afternoon and evening sessions to get their credits. They can sign up for the class online at www.SFIOFPA.ORG. There is a $20 fee for the class.
The committee has arranged for a High Voltage demonstration in the afternoon from 4:10 until 5:30 pm. Tri-County Electric will show the consequences of hitting electric lines and how to avoid those issues.
As always, there will be vendors with logging safety equipment displays as well as other informational displays.
A complimentary dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. The evening meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. The celebration will really begin with a look back at the past 50 years and the people who have contributed to this safety oriented event and how the logging profession has changed over the years.
The evening presentation, also by Vincent, will be “With Vision There is Hope”.
Vincent has appeared on 60 Minutes, is a Montana Timberman of the Year, and was awarded the Preserve America Award by President George Bush. He and his family lived through the timber wars in the west, as environmental groups sought to permanently shut down timber harvesting on the public land. His insight on where they have been and have come to is fascinating and will ring true for all resources-driven rural communities.
Updates will be given on pertinent issues. All loggers and forestry professionals and their families are welcome and invited to attend.
