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RELEASE: March 9, 2007
CONTACT: Neil Ward (301/838-9385))
FRA Chairman Jim Brody conveyed FRA’s congratulations through PPRC’s Melvin Dixon, since neck surgery prevented Wesson from accepting the award in person at FRA’s 2007 Awards Dinner, March 4 in San Antonio, Texas: “Please offer Don our best wishes for his speedy recovery, and tell him how much we appreciate all that PPRC does for us.” Wesson sent a recorded message, conveying his thanks for the Award and mentioning the personal rewards his activism on behalf of the forest industry had brought to him: “It is the networking with people across the United States. I thank God for letting me work with the great people of this industry.” His message also conveyed thanks to his employer, Potlatch, for 28 years of employment and for supporting his work with PRPC. Wesson’s PPRC colleague Melvin Dixon, employed by Georgia-Pacific, added some words of his own: “You can’t imagine how important this award is to Don Wesson. In Don’s words, his work is not a job; it’s a passion.” Don Wesson, who works at Potlatch’s Cypress Bend, Arkansas pulp and paper mill, has long been a pro-forestry advocate, currently serving as PPRC’s National Chairman, lending his voice to promote the benefits of maintaining a strong U.S. forest industry. Don became involved in the PPRC in 1992, to expand this grassroots organization composed primarily of mill workers across the U.S. Don says, “The PPRC operates successfully on the premise that labor and management have to work together because we have shared interests when it comes to resources and environmental issues. We’re in the same boat, and if we don’t work together, we’re all gonna sink.” Morbark generously sponsors FRA’s National Outstanding Forestry Activist Award, which recognizes exemplary activism in support of America’s forest products industry. Candidates are nominated following regional competitions. The Forest Resources Association Inc. is a nonprofit trade association concerned with the safe, efficient, and sustainable harvest of forest products and their transport from woods to mill. FRA represents wood consumers, independent logging contractors, and wood dealers, as well as businesses providing products and services to the forest resource-based industries. ######
Print Quality Image for Media Use Don Wesson, FRA’s 2007 National Outstanding Forestry Activist Photo Caption: Don Wesson, FRA’s 2007 National Outstanding Forestry Activist
Forest Resources Association
Inc. (FRA) |
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Rockville,
MD – The Forest Resources Association awarded its 2007 National
Outstanding Forestry Activist Award to Don Wesson, National
Chairman of the Pulp and Paperworkers’ Resource Council, for his
strong campaigning, nationally and locally, on behalf of a sustainable and
competitive forest industry.