Associated Oregon Loggers: 50 Years Strong

Celebrating a major milestone, Associated Oregon Loggers (AOL) held its 50th Annual Convention in late January, attended by more than 400 members, friends, and guests at Eugene’s Valley River Inn.  According to AOL Interim Executive Vice President Rex Storm, the group’s 50th Anniversary Convention was a rewarding success, with great attendance, informative speakers, social time with peers and fun entertainment.  “We celebrated the association’s five decades of service and being the voice for Oregon loggers,” Storm said, noting the program was delivered by the voluntary efforts of dozens of AOL members, and of course AOL’s professional staff.

AOL President Greg Schmitz described three principles that focus AOL’s Executive Committee and association programs:

• Strengthen and grow AOL’s positive program impact for forest contractors.
• Conduct strategic planning to develop a 2020-21 budget and organization—by considering changing markets and service needs.
• Align AOL’s staffing to strengthen strong business relationships with members and coalition partners

Loggers heard from 36 informative speakers over the three days of programming.  Speakers addressed many topics, including: trucking and driver training; leadership strategies that can work for your company; AOL-M&G insurance services; SAIF-AOL workers comp group insurance; a new direction in federal forestry; Timber Unity grassroots allied efforts; Oregon’s legislature; preventing fraud; forest practices; and contract logging business innovation.

Friday evening’s ‘Shoot for The Stars’ fundraiser for the 2020 Log A Load For Kids campaign successfully raised over $82,000 for three Oregon Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Co-Chairs Marilyn Gahlsdorf and Jean Zuber presented ceremonial checks to the hospitals, bringing AOL’s 2019 Log A Load campaign to $132,311.

• Rachel Surcamp with Surco Log Inc. was recognized by President Greg Schmitz as the AOL’s 2019 Woman of the Year.  Rachel over the past two years demonstrated unexpected courage and initiative to learn and persevere, returning to Oregon from Florida in 2018 to become office manager of Surco Log in Springfield, and in 2019 became her family’s third generation legacy, when she took over management at Surco Log. 
•  Dick Gilkison with Gilkison & Dad Inc. in Cottage Grove, received honors as AOL’s 2019 Logger of the Year.  After 30 years of learning his craft employed by other logging outfits, Dick Gilkison in 1984 began a family business with the best partners in the world—wife Barb, and sons Mike and Bret.  During the past 35 years the company has remained reliable and safe, delivering quality production from a right-sized logging business.  According to Storm, Gilkison is an advocate for AOL services, regularly standing up at conferences to vocally encourage fellow loggers to participate in AOL Group insurance programs.
• Senior Safety Management Consultant, Roger Lulay, received a 25 Year Service Award to recognize Roger’s dedication and expertise brought to the AOL staff team.  We thanked Roger for his more than two and a half decades of contribution to AOL member companies.  Retaining and developing quality employees is the solid timber of any organization. 

During the Saturday Contractor’s Lunch, AOL honored the two living “First Men” of AOL:

• The only living AOL Charter Member is Edgar “Eddie” Roberts of Oakridge-based Roberts Logging Co.  Now retired, Eddie still lives in Oakridge and sent well wishes though he was unable to attend.
• Recognized for his 50 years of AOL service and five decades of membership (current honorary member), Wilbur Heath of Cottage Grove attended. Heath was AOL’s 1st and 7th president, 1st Co-Chair of Oregon Log A Load For Kids, AOL Champion Award winner, and he was featured on the cover of LIFE Magazine in 1989 at the height of the old-growth timber and spotted owl controversy.

The Saturday evening Awards & 50th Anniversary Program included an “AOL 5 Decades Tribute, 1969-2019.”