Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. ic ( L ^ Help for Transition 1995 September Edition Tensions Recisions! Buyouts! Transitions! Tensions! Published for Forest Service employees and retirees by the: Public Affairs Office Intermountain Region Forest Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Office Building 324 25th Street Ogden, Utah 84401 Meghan Dugan, Editor Susan McDaniel, Design & Layout IN THIS ISSUE T 2 ransitioning from the old to in Region 4 over the years. Regional Forester’s Message the new under Reinvention Updated for the '90's and has impacted nearly every customized for the Forest Service in ...4 RUT to the Rescue... employee in the Region, and we're these times of transition, "Invest¬ just getting started! When it's fin¬ ment in Excellence for the '90's", is .7 ished, we'll be a more responsive, designed to improve human func¬ The Toilet Trauma has Ended customer focused, productive organ¬ tioning both on and off the job. It's a ization. But, in the meantime . . . ? catalyst for lifelong growth. By 10 Unique Boat Ramp.. Help for those "Transition looking at life from a "want to" Tensions" can be found in one of the opportunity rather than as a "have most exciting and beneficial training to" deterrent, the improved thinking Reaching Out to 12 Native American Youth. programs ever offered in the Region. skills, self-efficacy, and goal setting "Investment in Excellence" has techniques taught provide excellent been taken by more than 1,700 people coping skills for today's pressures. Continued on page 3 Page 1 RF ivies sage AWARDS OR REWARDS? M any of you probably saw organization, doing valuable work. an open letter from the I think this is really what the Chief that made the engineer was saying. Timber people rounds on the DG earlier this were doing what they were asked to summer. A forest engineer on the do, and suddenly they're blamed for Mt. Hood National Forest had all the ills of the Forest Service. Then written the Forest Supervisor, we come back and say people still expressing his concerns over awards have the responsibility to get the cut for "ologists" while the understaffed out. In a sense it's almost like we If we can't stop thinking like and underecognized timber staff still hired timber people to put up timber "special interest" groups ourselves, was being asked to "get the cut out." sales, then hired wildlife biologists how can we work across many The engineer had some valid to stop them. Then we wonder why organization boundaries and concerns and the Chief had some we aren't getting anything done. interests for ecosystem manage¬ thoughts about working together. Wouldn't it be interesting if ment? We are slipping into the But I saw something else in that timber people saw their job as polarized, special interest views that discussion I would like to talk about. providing viable wildlife habitat often frustrate us in working with It's a growing attitude in the Forest for all species and wildlife people the public. Service. saw their job as providing raw Where we really are having What bothered me is there's material? Shouldn't we all be difficulty in this organization is for too much focus on awards rather responsible to provide viable everyone fo see where they fit. I than rewards. The award system habitat and all be responsible to get think we need to look at the bigger seems to be the only way we reward the cut out? picture of the land and its capacities, people. Awards are one way of If we are going to even talk the public needs, the legal mandates, recognizing people. We ought not about caring for whole ecosysfems, and realize we all have part of a depend on that for rewarding we need to lose the focus on "my bigger mission. There are rewards in people. award" and "my job." The "entitle¬ that for everybody. I don't really think the $50, or ment mentality" is rampant in even the $500 is what turns most America, but we can't let it become people on. The rewards that make our outlook. It will make us bitter me happy are when I believe I am and mean-spirited, and rob us of the being listened to, valuable to the joy of the important work we do. Editorial Policy—Intermountain Reporter The following editorial policy reflects the 3. The Regional Forester's message will Meghan Dugan, Payette NF, P.O. Box 1026, Regional Forester's desire to produce a express his current feelings regarding McCall, Idaho 83638. Photos to accompany quality Regional newsletter that enhances situations within the Region. text are to be sent to the Editor separately. internal communications and helps make 4. The content of the Reporter will be 7. Articles should not exceed 800 words in the Intermountain Region a good place to consistent with Forest Service policy. length. work. 5. All submissions must be delivered to the 8. Photos should be black and white. Editor by the 1st of the month prior to the 9. All articles are subject to editing. 1. Articles in the Intermountain Reporter desired publication date. 10. Not all articles that are submitted will will feature people. 6. Articles should be sent to the Editor on DG, be printed. 2. Each issue will attempt to contain (M.DUGAN;R04F12A) and a hard copy to 11. The Editor has final say over confent. something about each National Forest within the Region, Page! Region Continued from page 1 personal improvement, and coping National Taskforce on Supervisory with the new stresses of our time. and Management Competencies. Last year's trainees had this to The facilitated video presenta¬ Check the electronic training say about the course: tion features Mr. Lou Tice, Founder and meeting schedule on DC for and Chair of The Pacific Institute. detailed information on dates and "The course is excellent. Each facilitator His internationally-acclaimed locations of upcoming courses. To was excellent." teaching style makes learning new schedule a special course on your ways to think easy, exciting, and forest, or for additional information, "The course got me excited again and fulfilling. He translates the latest contact A.J. Skeen at the Regional made me realize there is more to focus on research into immediately useful Office. than the affirmation part of the program. guidelines for successfully reaching A refresher course, "Reinvest¬ The program gives insight and tools to high standards of learning and, in ment In Excellence for Alumni," will create a different way of looking at the turn, dealing with change. also be scheduled. This provides an world. It opens doors to new thinking excellent opportunity for graduates and ways of doing business." of the "Investment in Excellence" "Investment In Excellence course to refresh and update their "This has been an excellent refresher for the '90s" is helping knowledge and skills. Dates and course. All employees should be encour¬ millions of people deal locations are also found in the aged to take this session. The material electronic training and meeting more effectively with selected was excellent and timely." schedule. change by dealing more Transition tension can be "1 enjoyed the whole course, but openly, honestly, and relieved. Instead of Excedrin, help especially the self-talk and the resilience yourself to a fresh point of view. candidly with beliefs, portions. This is one course 1 can share Invest in yourself. Take one of the with my family." attitudes, and habits. best courses offered anywhere. Take After all, when people an "Investment in Excellence" class The Regional Office has this year! think they make a renewed the contract with Pacific Institute for "Investment In Excel¬ difference, they really do. by A.J. Skeen lence for the '90s." Employees new Employee Development Specialist to the Region and those who didn't Regional Office have the opportunity to take the HE Other concepts included in the '80s course can now sign up for this course are building co-responsible excellent program. Facilitators Shane teams, principles of decision mak¬ Brown, Bill Thompson, Jim Baker, ing, problem solving, communica¬ and A.J. Skeen have been trained in tion, empowerment, and self-esteem. the curriculum and will be facilitat¬ "Investment In Excellence for ing this two-day class in FY 1996 the '90s" is specifically tied to the which addresses reinvention. Mission, Vision and Guiding Prin¬ Tips for Using Visual Aids ciples of the Forest Service, and is a vital link to customer If you're counting on slides or service and quality. It has overheads to pepper your next been approved by our presentation, consider these tips: Leadership Team as one of the Foundation Skills •Keep the information simple and easy to follow. in the Regional Training •Use two or three colors per visual. Plan, and is highly •Focus on one key point per visual. recommended by our •Use bulleted items. Regional Forester. It also •Be sure that the audience will be will assist employees in able to easily grasp the point. becoming proficient in • If dealing with complex points, Interpersonal Relations, break them into simple points and one of the six competen¬ use overlays to show relationships. cies identified by the •Use bar charts to show compari¬ sons and pie charts to show the relationship of parts to a whole. A.J. Skeen and Shane Brown from the Regional Office are two of the facilitators for "Investment in Excellence for the '90s." Paged Region early stages of an incident, each RUT than the phone line. The "hot line" consists of three highly skilled received only a few calls during the individuals. Assigned to the Salmon ten days the RUT was in the area, and Challis National Forests were but the fact that two local residents Sue Preece, Susan Haywood, and were called in to help answer the RUT Jim Stone, all of the Regional Office. phones ensured that many members RIITs work closely with of the public were kept informed via Incident Commanders and local the "grapevine." to the Public Affairs Officers (PAO), in this One concern of Challis resi¬ case Joe Carvelho and Kent dents was a rumor that the Forest Fuellenbach. Team members can Service offices in Challis would be plan and carry out all information closed. They were quite upset about Rescue! activities for routine and complex this, and Sue was able to assure multi-division incidents, including them that the rumor wasn't true. wildfires, earthquakes, and floods. Given a willing ear, they also poured They provide organized expertise to out their thoughts on NMFS, wolf any Forest facing a major incident, reintroduction, and other issues of and can be requested by a Forest local and regional interest. Supervisor or IC through the official Although the Salmon assignees F dispatch system. didn't walk the streets as much, they One of this team's first actions made sure that the "hot line" was to write up a "timeline" detail¬ numbers were widely publicized, ollowing Judge David Ezra's ing the historical background of the and spread the word that the Forest January 12,1995 injunction of injunction and post it on bulletin Service was doing everything it all timber sales, range activi¬ boards all over Salmon and Challis, could, but that as a Federal agency it ties, mining, and road building on so residents could see what had had to obey the law. six National Forests in Idaho, happened and why. They also Susan Haywood remembered confusion and concern reigned chased rumors, contacted local one of her more challenging fele- among local residents and National newspapers, and arranged for radio phone inquiries. "A woman wanted Forest employees alike. interviews with Forest officials. to know 'where the judge got off On January 19, a spirited Sue Preece, assigned to Challis, doing something like that?' I was exchange in the parking lot of the walked around a lot, doing "com¬ able to look up the codes for her and Salmon and Challis National Forests munity sensing"—^just listening to quote her chapter and verse of the headquarters building in Salmon what people were saying. She laws, which is what she wanted to between Acting Forest Supervisor described her function as part know." Chuck Wildes and a large group of information conduit, part opportu¬ Susan has been on the RUT for concerned local citizens sparked a nity to "vent." about four years, but this was her call to the Regional Office requesfing "Most residents were not upset first non-fire assignment as a team that a Regional Incident Information with the Forest Service," she says, member. An average day consisted Team (RUT) be sent to work with the "They were upset with the National of updating releases, taking them Incident Command (IC) Team Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) around town, talking to already in place. and had no one to talk to. We did a businesspeople, and listening in Requested on Friday, January lot of good just by listening, and restaurants. Another interesting 20, the three-person team slipped saying, 'yes, we agree we haven't experience was attendance at the quietly out of Ogden on Saturday really worked together as a team, giant rally at the Lemhi County afternoon in a rented van, wearing and we'll do better in the future.' Fairgrounds, where the famous civilian clothes. By Sunday, they People wanted to be heard and photo of several hundred local were working with the IC Team in treated as real persons. Mostly I just residents was taken. Salmon, and in short order had set listened—at lunch, at dinner, at the Press releases left around town up two "hot lines" for public inquir¬ bowling alley. Although Challis was for people to take and read disap¬ ies. One team member went to very leery of strangers, once they peared quickly, helping to spread the Challis to work with Jim James on found out who I was, they felt latest news about the injunction and another "hot line." better." keep rumors to a minimum. Established several years ago In Challis, word-of-mouth "It was just a different experi¬ to assist line officers with critical turned out to be more important ence than we were used to as a communication efforts during the Page 4 Region team," Susan said. "With fires you Although the team was warned are: Jocelyn Biro of the Toiyabe NF, have an ongoing situation; with this that the situation was "kind of Loyal Clark and Lola Murray of the you just had to wait until something tense" in Lemhi and Custer Coun¬ Uinta, Nancy Wright of the Inter¬ happened." ties, which made them cautious at mountain Station, Meghan Dugan of While waiting, the team had an first, they soon felt more secure. The the Regional Office (Payette NF), opportunity to sample the varied team agreed that although this issue and John Knorr and Jeanne Felmy of and exciting cuisine of Salmon and was very important to local people, the Regional Office. Carl Gidlund, Challis. Susan admits to favoring the and many were upset, the at¬ currently with the Upper Columbia Shady Nook, while Sue Preece spoke mosphere was not threatening. River Basin Team, is a team leader highly of the salad bar at the Challis The team remained until trainee. bowling alley. Jim enjoyed the January 31. Although they weren't The team's function is pri¬ friendly atmosphere of the Union as busy as they had thought they marily short-term: to make sure Avenue Depot. "The owner really would be, they feel that a firm information and communications made us feel at home," Jim remem¬ groundwork now exists in case of activities are established and func¬ bers fondly. other natural or human-caused tioning properly. That done, the Jim Stone himself is no stranger emergencies. teams don't linger, but move on to Salmon—from 1981 to 1987, he The Team left Salmon and quickly to be available for other was the public affairs officer on the Challis only to regroup with mem¬ incidents. The team can be contacted Salmon NF. Since joining the team, bers of the IC Team in Boise at the by calling Jim Stone at (801) 625- he has been on standby for floods in State Disaster Services Office. The 5517. Utah and the bombing of the Carson State officials were unfamiliar with City Forest Service office, and was the 1C system and wanted to learn by Louise Brannon assigned to work with the State of how it worked. The RlIT was able to Writer/Editor Utah following a dual fatality on the show the State agency the Forest Salmon and Challis National Forests 1990 Wasatch Mountains Fire. Jim's Service plan, and how it was generic name may also be familiar to some enough to fit almost any situation. as the editor of the Region's publica¬ Other Regional personnel tion "Inside Track." available for dispatch with the RUT THE DYNAMICS OF DISAGREEMENT Differences of opinion can be sources of friction that escalate to destructive exchanges if ignored, dismissed, or treated with disrespect. The first step toward defusing a touchy situation, says trainer Karen Ander¬ son, is to thank the person for his or her comment, even if it was a verbal attack. Next, restate the comment to make sure you properly understood what was said and to show that you are taking the disagreement seriously. Finally, look for something in the other's argument that you can agree with- at least partially. For example, "1 agree it's an unfortunate situation" or "I think you have a valid point." Page 5 Region The Southeastern Utah Americorps Team Has Accomplished Much in a Short Time A mericorps is the new volunteered for the Adopt-A-Native- and social data for inclusion into national service initiative Elder Program to collect food. southeastern Utah's Overall Eco¬ signed into law by President One team member conducted a nomic Development Plan. The team Clinton. Through Americorps, public tree inventory in Moab and has also been instrumental in people of all ages and backgrounds entered this information into a arranging and participating in address the nation's education, computer data base for future several community beautification public safety, human, and environ¬ reference for the city. This member projects. mental needs through service to also wrote two grants—a $35,000 These are just a few of the local communities. Environmental Protection Agency accomplishments made so far by the In southeastern Utah, the rural grant proposal to protect the re¬ southeastern Utah Americorps team. development component of sources and maintain water quality In reviewing comments from team Americorps is a six-person team that of a nearby lake, and a Small Busi¬ members concerning their participa¬ helps rural communities identify ness Administration grant for $5,000 tion in the Americorps program, needs and resources available for to establish a tree planting program there is no doubt about their com¬ economic, human, and environmen¬ in another community. mitment and enthusiasm for their tal well-being. This program is a Another member is conducting work. The leaders of involved joint effort with the Forest Service an inventory of 22 sites for inclusion communities have also expressed and Natural Resources Conservation in the Trail of the Ancients. Each site high regards for this motivated and is being surveyed for geologic, dedicated team. Service that is directed by Castleland RC&D. historic, scenic, aesthetic, and cultural quality for potential recre¬ by Eldon Miller The Americorps team identi¬ fied six areas of need in southeastern ational use. Americorps Team Member Another team member was Information and Education Utah: assigned to compile a comprehen¬ sive set of demographic, economic. •Information and education (especially preparing media releases to help tell the public about economic benefits of natural resource-based industries in the area). •Value-added industry analysis. •Data collection/compilation (socio-economic and demo¬ graphic). •Business creation, expansion, and retention. •Community leadership and capacity building (generally focused on human resources). Since last November, the southeastern Utah Americorps team has made many accomplishments. The team wrote a $4,000 grant to establish an emergency food bank, raised $20,000 for the food bank, and Americorps was established by President Clinton to serve local communities in the areas of education, public safety, human, and environmental needs. The southeastern Utah Americorps team (from left to right): Nancy Steele, Sam Sellers, Eldon Miller, Andrea Dyar, Freoha Eastman, Henry Silentman, and Anna Prawl. Page 6 Forest T he Forest Service has histori¬ cally gotten more complaints about its stinking outhouses in recreation areas than any other problem. The Toilet Finally, after years of plugging noses and trying not to breath while in an outhouse, relief is on the way! The agency is installing Sweet Trauma Smelling Toilets (SST's) where any new toilet is needed, and revamping existing toilets to vent them similar to SST's. Now, you may ask what the Has Ended! big deal is over a new type of toilet, but in the field of outhouse science, this is a major breakthrough. The SST's really do not smell! You cannot only breath, but actually light a match inside one without fear. The secret to the SST's is in the venting system. The old-fashioned outhouses vented through the top or sides of the building, sucking the odors up from the storage vault past any poor soul occupying the privy. The Forest Service's answer to this was to use excessively sweet smell¬ ing cleaning supplies and heavy duty room deodorizers. The combi¬ nation of these strong smells often left occupants disorientated and more likely to run to a large friendly bush the next time nature called. The SST has a big black stack that originates underground near the top of the vault and goes up the outside of the outhouse. The black stack heats up in the sunlight causing the air inside to heat up. The warm air rises, creating a vacuum which draws the air out of the vault. Air drawn into the outhouse goes down the commode into the vault and up the stack. The result is the sweet smell of successful engi¬ neering! Now that the nasal nightmare outhouse is on its way out, we can all enjoy the fresh air and great outdoors that much more. Then again, maybe there is something we can do about the view in there... submitted by Cheri Howell Public Affairs Specialist Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Page 7 Forest A Drive Through the Past and The Long Pin the Present on the Ponderosa Conservation Pine Scenic Byway Tour Continues Its "Today, we're taking you much more meaningful and infor¬ on a 130-mile journey mative," said a couple from Massa¬ Tradition of into the Rocky chusetts. A couple from Boise commented that "the tape was great, Mountains. We'll Excellence in very easy to use and understand. It encounter tales of miners was convenient to pick up and and murderers, learn return." Environmental Visitors learn about the about mountain lions and bowman fire of 1989 as well as Education mountain folks, and see interesting stories of historic Idaho F firsthand the majestic City and the famous Idaho Batholith. They see and hear the effects of Idaho forests and rivers forest practices and management, as or many years, the New that have thrilled forest well as the story of the dam project Meadows RD on the Payette visitors from around the that brought Harry Morrison and NF has sponsored the Long Morris Knudsen together to form Pin Conservation Tour for area sixth world. So, if you haven't Morrison Knudsen, an economically grade students. The program started already, start your engine, important Idaho-based engineering in 1970 by then New Meadows buckle up, and let's go." company. Visitors also see the District Ranger Joe Frazier and majestic Sawtooth Mountains, one of Resource Assistant John Madden. T the Rockies' youngest mountain The Tour has successfully continued ranges, and learn about some of the each year since. The District has kept his is the beginning of what geological events that took place to the Tour updated by discussing some of have called "the best form the range. current resource concerns, such as known expenditure of public If traveling from Boise to endangered chinook salmon. funds." This marvel has received Stanley, the tapes, and cassette A key to the success of the Tour rave reviews from local folks and players, if needed, are offered free of has been partnership teaching visitors alike. It's a tape tour of the charge at any of the Boise NF offices. efforts. The students interact with Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway, or If traveling from Stanley to Boise, "teachers" from the Forest Service, Highway 21, offered by the Boise NF the tapes and cassette players are Bureau of Land Management, Idaho and the Sawtooth National Recre¬ offered at the Sawtooth National Department of Fish and Game, ation Area. The tour was developed Recreation Area headquarters and Idaho Department of Lands, South¬ through a partnership with Boise the Stanley RD. ern Idaho Timber Protective Associa¬ State University in 1992 and has Visitors have commented that tion, Natural Resources Conserva¬ been a very successful education tool they would like to see other areas tion Service and Boise Cascade for visitors and managers. provide similar tape tours. They Corporation. Visitors are given a comment enjoy their drive through the past Resource topic stations are set card when they check out the tape. and the present while learning of up and the students are separated Of the 400 comment cards sent back local and historical happenings. If into class-size groups and then to the Boise NF, most people praise you'd like to know more about the rotated during the daylong Tour. the tape and the efforts of those who tape tour or how it was created, Resource learning stations have produced it. The tour has received please contact Vicki Lawson at (208) interactive and attention-capturing comments such as: "Thanks so much 364-4156. displays. For example, the students for the use of this tape. It made our look at tree slabs and learn how to sightseeing trip on Highway 21 so by Mama Daley Boise National Forest Pages