National Hardwood Magazine - October 2018

NEWS DEVELOPMENTS

NEWS DEVELOPMENTS Continued from page 23 Empowerment) program. The R.I.S.E. program builds custom, specialty adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. The home dedication for United States Army Sergeant Eric Hunter (Ret.) took place recently in Fayetteville, GA. During his second deployment in Southern Helmand Province, Sergeant Hunter was on a dismounted patrol with his unit when he stepped on an improvised explosive device. The bomb took his right leg and shattered his left leg, along with many other injuries. Flooring for Sergeant Hunter’s home was donated by NWFA members Mullican Flooring, JJ Haines and DriTac Flooring Products. By the end of 2018, the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program will have completed or have underway 68 specially adapted smart homes. To learn more about the program, call 800-422-4556 or email anita.howard@nwfa.org. n AHEC REPORT Continued from page 26 brief) and a special jig was made to ensure all components were cut to the right angle. Other items were designed and created as well. The road that led to the student show display started 13 weeks earlier when the project participants, all second year students at Rycotewood College in The Foundation Degree in Furniture Design and Make course, were introduced for the first time to a pile of Red Oak. None of them had used the timber before, which is not surprising said Venables, given its lack of following in Europe. “This seems partly due to the long-term market dominance of U.S. White and European Oak, partly the word ‘red’ which puts buyers off, even if at most Red Oak has a subtle rose pink striation,” he said. “But it’s used extensively in other markets, including of course the USA itself, and in a huge range of applications, from flooring, through stairs and joinery to furniture and construction. It is also the most prolific wood in the U.S. Hardwood forest, accounting for 20 percent of the total and growing at the rate of a football pitch every two minutes. That also makes it the most sustainable U.S. species, which means using it makes most environmentally sound use of the forest resource.” More information is available at www.americanhardwood.org. n 90 OCTOBER 2018 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

HARDWOOD FEDERATION UPDATE Continued from page 28 The Economic Impact Study is being funded by the following associations: the American Hardwood Export Council, the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., the Decorative Hardwood Association, the Hardwood Federation, the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, the Lake States Lumber Association, the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association, the National Hardwood Lumber Association, the National Wood Flooring Association, the Railway Tie Association, and the Wood Component Manufacturers Association. Each association is represented on the Steering Committee which works with the research company to ensure that our data is accurate and represents the industry fairly. We hope to have preliminary numbers this fall to help us with both the Farm Bill and trade debates…but our real target is to have state and national figures ready for January 2019, when the new Congress will be seated. This is an exciting development for all of the associations that work to provide services to the industry and one we look forward to rolling out. The bottom line is that regardless of the issue, the timing, or the intensity, we must engage using solid, compelling facts. While we have certainly made progress on both fronts, there is more we can and will do to improve and preserve the American Hardwood industry. The Economic Impact Study is an important step towards that end. n it come to life, especially when it’s a challenging thing to do. Both the exhibit and the folders were ‘what if’ ideas, and to see them happen has been really satisfying. It’s a huge opportunity for the industry to get in front of young kids and their parents and expose them to the sustainable forestry message as well as the great career opportunities in our industries.” We appreciate the support and donations of so many in our industry. To help support the educational kits and other programs of the Hardwood Forest Foundation, you can visit our website at www.hardwoodforest.org or call us at 901- 507-0312. n nationalhardwoodmag.com HARDWOOD FOREST FOUNDATION NEWS Continued from page 30 Science,” which teaches how the byproducts of forest products manufacturing create energy to run sawmills; and “Wood Works,” a play house that kids can finish with different wooden materials. Together the Forever Forest exhibit and T.A.T. kits have the opportunity to reach millions of school age children and their parents. As Langan said, “It’s just amazing to take an idea and see OCTOBER 2018 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 91