Committees
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Committees and Representatives
Tree Improvement Committee
The Tree Improvement Committee shall report new publications and personnel changes in walnut genetics; report on recent developments in walnut improvement action programs by industry, states, and federal agencies; serve as liaison to promote exchange of walnut materials; and suggest and encourage further research to be conducted in areas where additional information is needed.
Protection Committee
The Protection Committee shall report on the status of insects, diseases, wildlife, and other problems associated with the culture of black walnut; provide information to individual members when contacted about specific protection problems; aid in the preparation of periodic pest alert notices if such information is requested by membership; and suggest and encourage further research to be conducted in areas where additional information is needed.
Silviculture Committee
The Silviculture Committee shall be concerned with the evaluation and assessment of all silvicultural practices that may be applied to maintain and enhance walnut productivity; report on current biological information and alternatives that might be utilized in growing walnut; and suggest and encourage further research to be conducted in areas where additional information is needed.
Economics Committee
The Economics Committee shall identify economically-oriented problem areas in the culture, marketing, harvesting, and utilization of plantation grown and natural stands of black walnut, report on program materials and publications dealing with expected revenues, costs, return on investments, or other financial information pertaining to growing black walnut; review research proposals to insure the inclusion of variables and methodology most likely to efficiently and scientifically measure the economic phenomena involved; and suggest and encourage further research to be conducted in areas where additional information is needed.
Nut Culture Committee
The Nut Culture Committee shall focus attention on increased nut production from existing trees; encourage the development and application of management practices that will produce nuts of higher quality and yield; encourage research in the areas of physiology and genetic control of nut production; and suggest and encourage further research to be conducted in areas where additional information is needed.
Utilization and Marketing Committee
The Utilization and Marketing Committee shall report on domestic and foreign market conditions as they relate to black walnut; encourage greater use of black walnut products; educate growers about log grades and the techniques used by walnut buyers to evaluate walnut logs; suggest and encourage further research to be conducted in areas where additional information is needed.
State Chapters Committee
The State Chapters Committee shall assist in the establishment of new state chapters, serve as an information source for state chapters, maintain a file of program materials for state chapter meetings, and coordinate state chapter activities with the board of directors.
Awards and Nominations Committee
The Awards and Nominations Committee shall be chaired by the Immediate Past President who also serve as Chair of the Awards Sub-Committee and the Nominations Sub-Committee.
The Nominations Sub-Committee shall solicit nominations and prepare the slate of officers including at least one candidate from council membership for each position to be filled.
The Awards Sub-Committee shall solicit nominations and determine the recipient {s} of Council awards. The Awards Sub-Committee shall consist of the Immediate Past President as Chair, a member of the Board of Directors selected by the President, a single representative from the group of sponsors contributing $200 or more toward the awards, and the Executive Director/Executive Secretary.
Education Committee
The Education Committee shall facilitate information Exchange on the Council's website, recommend literature and audio-visual materials to be acquired or developed by the national office, seek funding for these materials, and maintain a list of materials available through the Council's lending library. The Council's Webmaster and Librarian are automatic members of the Education Committee.
Legislative Committee
The Legislative Committee shall report on the status of pending legislation that may affect walnut growers and processors and serve as a source of information for federal and state legislators as to impact of pending legislation on Council members.
Audit and Finance Committee
The Audit and Finance Committee shall audit financial records of the Council as kept by the Executive Director/Executive Secretary and report its findings to the Board of Directors and to the membership at the annual meeting. The committee shall evaluate the financial health of current investments and make recommendations for changes to the Board of Directors.
Local Arrangements Committee
The Local Arrangements Committee for the annual meeting, under the direction of the Vice President, shall be responsible for all local arrangements, including meeting location, motel accommodations optional local tours, banquet, the program {theme and speakers}, and arrangements and content of the field tour in accordance with guidelines received from the Board of Directors.
Tellers Committee
The Tellers Committee shall tabulate results of paper ballots at the annual meeting and certify election results.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall explore and implement methods for increasing numbers of members of the Council.
Bylaws Committee
The Bylaws Committee shall be established in even-numbered years to review current bylaws to assure they are consistent with past actions of the Board of Directors, propose revisions for consideration by the Board of Directors, and prepare a copy of the amended bylaws for publication in the Walnut Council Bulletin.
AWMA Representative
The AWMA (American Black Walnut Manufacturers Association) Representative shall report on the AWMA and their activities and serve as a liaison between the AWMA and the Walnut Council.
Federal Representative
The Federal Representative shall be a federal Employee; shall report on new publications and personnel changes of interest within State and Private Forestry and Federal Research Laboratories, and act as a contact with federal agencies as directed by the President and the Board of Directors.
HTIRC Representative
The HTIRC (Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center) Representative shall be an employee of the HTIRC; shall report on HTIRC research on fine hardwoods; report new publications of interest to the Council; and inform the membership about programs of interest.
Industry Representative
The Industry Representative shall be an employee of a walnut-related or other wood products business and shall report on business conditions and activities as they are related to walnut.
International Representative
The International Representative shall be a member involved in or knowledgeable about international activities with walnut that shall report on those activities as they are related to walnut in countries outside the U.S.
Landowner Representative
Landowner Representatives shall expedite the exchange of information between landowner members and walnut experts from other membership categories survey landowners to determine their needs; and serve as liaison between the Board and individuals that desire to set up state chapters of the Council.
Logger Representative
The Logger Representative shall be a member involved in the logging business; shall advance the exchange of information between landowners and loggers; and shall serve as a liaison between the Board, Landowners, and Loggers.
State Representative
The State Representative shall be a state employee; shall report on state activities, as they relate to all state level programs not just the state he or she is from; and serve as a contact with state agencies.
University Representative
The University Representative shall be an employee of a university; shall report on university research on walnut; report new publications and personnel changes of interest to the Council; and inform the membership about Extension or other programs related to walnut.