Oregon Forest Homeowners' Association
Generations of family and friends in Oregon’s forests.
Stewards and conservationists of Oregon’s forests.
Preserving and protecting Oregon’s Forest Service cabins.
Leaving a legacy in Oregon’s forests
for the next generation of cabin users.
Greetings!
By the time you read this web update, something has changed in our effort to enact the Cabin Fee Act of 2012. Please refer to the website for National Forest Homeowners as their site is the first to be updated on our effort.
As the 112th Congress reconvened in late January, cabin owners prepared for what may be the final steps before enactment of the Cabin Fee Act (CFA). Following November approval by the House Natural Resources Committee of H.R. 3397, under Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA), who introduced and championed it, the bill was sent to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for fiscal review and the search began for legislation to which the bill could be attached. The Senate CFA, S. 1906, introduced in November by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) with informal CBO approval, was assigned to the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests where it was expected to receive an early formal hearing.
Although there are differences between the House and Senate CFAs, the NFH and the C2 Coalition support both while proposing technical changes in each bill that are expected to be adopted.
To give Congress enough time to pass the CFA and avoid what may otherwise have been dramatic fee increases, the Forest Service National Headquarters in December directed that 2012 cabin fees will not be increased more than 25% over 2011 fee levels plus a modest cost of living inflationary index increase.
Special Note to California cabin owners: During his presentation to cabin owners gathered at the NFH Forum, held January 21, 2012 in Walnut Creek, CA, Mr. King encouraged California cabin owners to contact Senator Feinstein urging her support and co-sponsorship of Senate Bill S.1906, The Cabin Fee Act (CFA) of 2012. Both as a member of the Senate's Appropriations Committee, and as a representative of over 40% of the cabin owning public on our National Forests, Senator Feinstein's leadership in support of S.1906 is considered to be absolutely essential to its adoption. You/we need her support now! Please contact Senator Feinstein by telephone (202-224-3841); fax (202-228-3954); or by email. Please do it today!
To Cabin Owners all across the Nation: We are optimistic about successful passage of the CFA in 2012, but much work remains ahead. Please be prepared to do your part by contacting your Congressional delegation when asked by C2. Without solid grassroots support our efforts in Washington DC fall on deaf ears. Your voice must be heard! Expect at least one request to act in the next month and perhaps two more requests in the months ahead.
Finally, I offer a sincere Thank You for your continued support and engagement.
Pete Bailey, C2 Legislative Contact chair
Updating our website takes some thought and a little bit of planning by a small group of dedicated cabin owners that reside on the OFHA Board. Our website looks great and the desire is to update it on a frequent basis.
The challenge is getting new information and photos together in a meaningful presentation and putting it on our site. There is plenty of good information to share including current political directions in Congress, in Salem and in our specific forests. People want to know about the success with the Wild land-Urban Interface treatments that create a healthy forest and reduce catastrophic fires. We also try to keep everyone updated as to the newest information on the Cabin Fee Act and C2 effort which has been on-going these past couple of years. There are changes in these topics, sometimes on a weekly basis.
We also want more variety for our website. So now, I encourage you to get engaged. Here is my advocacy to you. Please think about interesting stories you can write to share with other cabin owners. How did your tract association's Pancake Breakfast or Roadside Cleanup event go last weekend? What does it mean to see one of your loved ones wander off and take that last walk in the woods? How about that great recipe that someone brought to the Homeowner's Association potluck? Have you read a recent book on the history of the forest in your area that others might enjoy?
So, please give us a helping hand.
Provide us with cabin stories.
Provide us with your perspective on a topic.
Provide us with book recommendations, especially related to cabins,
forests or nature.
Provide us with photos or cabin-winning recipes.Provide us with a little bit so we can share it with everyone!
Our best wishes to you and your families.
Bill Kennedy
Oregon Forest Homeowners' Association
OFHA Meetings
OFHA Annual Meeting
Date: Saturday, March 10, 2012
Location:
The Courtyard by Marriott
600 Airport Road
Medford, OR 97504
1 541-772-5656
OFHA September Board Meeting
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2012
Location: TBD
NFHA Meetings
National Convention
Date: April 13, 2012
Location:
The Heathman Lodge
Vancouver, WA
NFHA Forum
Date:September 15, 2012
Location:
Hilton Garden Inn
Billings, MT
Contacts
President
Past President: Bill Kennedy
541-891-1794
lostriverranch@earthlink.net
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