MEMBERSHIP:
110 Current Paid Members (41 Plus)

Includes: 5 Membership Renewal Past Due
18 New members, 7 Dropped
26 Complimentary Memberships (agency personnel, etc.)
Chapter finances increased, with an ending balance of $4886.86, up over six hundred dollars from the start of the year (see Treasurers Report for details).

ACTIVITIES:
The chapter is making plans to host the 2007 Western Regional Conference at Seeley Lake, Montana June 29-July 1.

The chapter sold about 175 copies of member Libby Langston's Lookout Cookbook. This accounted for the increase in chapter finances. Once again, fifty percent of the year's profits were donated to the national treasury.

Member Samsara Chapman coordinated the Helena NF/Montana Discovery Foundation's second annual "Lookout Day" at Strawberry Lookout near Helena in June.

The chapter assisted in the assessment of the feasibility of restoration of the 53' L-4 tower at Mineral Peak (Lolo NF, MT). Member Libby Langston led preliminary restoration tasks after the decision was made to proceed with the project.

Restoration began on Double Arrow Lookout (Lolo NF, MT), and Mount Henry (Kootenai NF, MT). Safety upgrade work was initiated on Green Mountain (Nez Perce NF, ID) and Weitas Butte (Clearwater NF, ID).

Components were finally obtained to be able to complete the restoration of the lightning protection system at Square Mountain Lookout (NezPerce NF, ID). These were graciously salvaged from the ground cabin at Peck Mountain (Payette NF) by Southern Idaho FFLA member Richard Holm.

Assistance and support was offered for USFS RAC proposals for restoration of Meadow Peak (Kootenai NF, MT) and Austin Ridge (Clearwater NF, ID); unfortunately, neither was successful.

Unused lookouts continue to come under scrutiny in the USFS facility reduction initiative. Fortunately, this program has moved slowly, and no lookouts have yet been disposed of, although some have been identified.

The cabin rental program continues to be very popular, but lack of workforce time and funding to manage existing rentals, let alone to add other facilities to the program, is increasingly becoming an issue.

Restoration activities are expected to continue at several sites in 2005.

Gary Weber
FFLA-North Idaho/Montana Chapter Director