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Woodland Owners of Centre County

Do you love forests and wildlife? Want to learn about products from your forest? Join us at WOCC.
Let us help you manage your forest, sustainable and to meet your goals.

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WOCC Contacts

President Mark Ott
Vice President (vacant)
Secretary Leslie Demmert
Treasurer Mark Ellenberger
Newsletter and Publicity Kathy Ryba
Board Members John and Jane Buzzell, Bill and Ruth Park, Nick Salamon, Keith Udine, Jim Walizer, Susan Benedict
Advisors Tim Cole (DCNR); Dave Jackson (Cooperative Extension)

Next Membership Meeting
Saturday, February 27. Central Region ForestForest Resources Building, University Park. Registration is $20 per person. Please register by February 19. Contact Dave Landowners Conference: What Every Forest Landowner Needs to Know, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m, Penn State School of Jackson, Penn State Cooperative Extension – Centre County, 814-355-4897 or CentreExt@psu.edu.
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Keith "Bo" Crawford Udine
State College and Julian, died Thursday, Dec. 17,
2009, at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Keith
was a Pa Forest Steward, class of 2001, and a
long time WOCC Board member. He will be
remembered for his contributions to our organiz-
ation and for his wonderful sense of humor.Memorial contributions may be made to the
Penn State Arboretum, 101 Ferguson Building,
University Park, PA 16804.

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Keep your senators and representatives informed with help from American Forest Foundation

This website will let you know what votes are being taken that have forestry issues as well as a link to your federal representatives.

1) House passes one-year extension of conservation easement tax incentives - on Dec 10 the House of Representatives passed the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, HR 4213, including a one-year extension of the enhanced tax deduction for conservation easements. This tax deduction is similar to legislation that AFF supports, HR 1831/S 812, which would permanently extend the conservation easement tax deduction. The debate now moves to the Senate, where they will likely take up a tax extenders package as part of an end of the year package. It's unclear whether this provision will be included in that package.

2) Estate Tax Update - In early December the House passed estate tax legislation (HR 4154) that would do little to improve the estate tax for family woodland owners, and address the impacts of the tax on the conservation and management of woodlands. AFF grassroots weighed in heavily on this bill, but unfortunately, it was teamed with another piece of legislation that was difficult for our usual champions to vote against. The debate now shifts to the Senate, where they may take up the estate tax in a tax extenders package before the end of the year, or more likely, take up the tax when they return in January.

Next Board Meeting
Jan 19,2010
April 27, 2010
Sept 14, 2010
All Board meetings are at Foxdale at 7:00

LOST

WOCC loudspeaker; last seen about a year ago; please return to any Board Member

Other Activities

Please email John Buzzell to help staff the Pa Tree Farm display at the Farm Show in Harrisburg

JANUARY 9 to 16, 2010

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Webinars 2^nd Tuesday of every month at 12:00-1:00 and 7:00-8:00pm, email Natural Resources Extension Office for instructions.

Looking Ahead

January 12
Beginning Maple Syrup Production, Bob Hansen, Forest Resources/ Maple Products Extension Educator, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Noon and 7 p.m.
February 9
Regeneration Hardwood Forests: Managing Competing Plants, Deer, and Light, Dave Jackson, Extension Forester, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Noon and 7 p.m.
March 9
Deer Habitat Management, Tim Pierson, Extension Forester, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Noon and 7 p.m.

ForestConnect webinars. to register, please visit www.ForestConnect.info All webinars are live at noon and again at 7:00 PM. Webinars are recorded and archived for viewing.

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Forest Service estate planning publication updated, "Estate Planning for Forest Landowners: What Will Become of Your Timberland?" It is written to assist woodland owners and their advisors, attorneys, consulting foresters, tax preparers, financial planners, as well as state agency foresters and cooperative extension agents. The electronic version is available free. Hardcopies will be available from the Forest Service.