Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Fox State Forest

The Eastern summer conference kicked off on Friday July 12 at the New Hampshire museum of History in Concord. At the museum Keith presented certificates for 13 lookouts that were put on the NHLR to the Dept of Natural Resources director from the state DNR Bud Nelson received the certificates for the state. For each certificate that was presented any person or tower operator that had any claim of fame about that tower was asked to come up and say a few words about that tower. The presentation was very nice and was an excellent spot to have it at the museum. The museum had erected a NH fire tower from the third floor up to the fourth floor with the cab going through the roof that visitors could go up and look out to the buildings of state capitol Concord to the west and the hills and interstate 93 to the east. It was a nice Friday afternoon.

After dedication the members of the FFLA went out to a local restaurant in Hillsborough then went back to the campground and met up with the rest of the group and spent the rest of the night talking about fire towers and just reminisce.

On Saturday everyone met at Fox State forest for a short business meeting and also set up displays for the public to see while at the state forest.

The board meeting started at 9:50 am, Directors present where Chris Haartz (NH), Mark Haughwout (VT-EDC), Henry Isenberg (SNE), Bob Spear (NJ), Keith Argow (VA-Chairman), Steve Cummings (PA) and secretary.

The first order of business was any corrections and approval of board minutes from Jan 02 Bob Spear made the motion Mark Haughwout seconded it All were in favor

The second reading of the article of purpose was read by Keith that was drafted in Jan in Virginia Beach. Chris Haartz asked about just putting the old purpose that was drafted in 1990 back in the by laws. All were in favor

OLD BUSINESS

Henry asked about the web page 1-Regroup info in to dept w/ links, 2-Do a face-lift. Bill Cobb was present at the conference and he is looking 4 help from directors with articles and related stories on fire lookouts. Send the articles to Bill and he will try to get it on the web.

Steve asked about rentals, Bill advised that he have a link to an area about rentals

STATE REPORTS

VT
Local logger is cutting down some trees that are going to the mill to be cut in to 10x2x8 for some towers that need wood for landings and steps. Some of the towers that are looking for wood are Bald Mt and possibly Sterling tower in NY.

NJ
The state has 21 towers that are manned if needed. At the present time no fire activity. The state is looking to convert3 lookouts with in the state in to a western style lookout. The 3 lookouts would be cell phone towers with the lookout being at the 100' elevation w/ a catwalk around the outside. The state membership goes through the treasure in Idaho.

PA
The adopt a tower program has been very successful and The Silver creek tower had a volunteer as a tower operator and will be put on the NHLR shortly.

ME
Keith and Shirley gave a brief informal report EMA will take over to maintain the 3 towers in southern ME Hope,Ossipee, and Agamenticus. The state loves it one problem is Mt Hope is on private land so at the present time the state is working on that problem. Cook lookout has been moved and reassembled on private land. The 3 towers Mt Hope, Mt Ossipee and Mt Agamenticus have computers in the towers that are now being used to help locate and pin point a smoke.

NH
The state has 14 ½ towers in operation. The ½ tower is that goes up when needed.

SNE
The state of MA has all towers in operation, The State is trying to rebuild towers and cabs were needed. Their goal is to do 3 a year.

Bill Cobb asked about the towers that were on ebay. Henry advised that an individual bought them and is reerected the towers in MI and are now being used in that state.

South East
Keith gave a brief report of the southeast
KY At the present has 14 members
VA/WVA has no directors
NATL Been working w/ the Fire Wise Community and dealing w/ wild land urban interface

CCS - Working along and making progress

Southern Cal - Been busy with the Los Angles NF Forest fire association works in w/ San Bernardino Natl. Forest Association.

Steve advised that a tower from PA was taken down and reerected in MD. The person who put it up is looking in to replacing the bolts and wants to do them to right spects for the tower. Bob Spear advised that he have engineering reports from the Catskill towers. Keith asked if Bob could give them to Bill Cobb so they could be put on the web.

NEW BUSINESS

Keith Goodrich made a motion to make Bill Spach as ME director considering that Bill is up in that state hiking and camping and looking for towers. Keith would as Bill about the proposal to become the ME director.

Steve asked about the 501c3 and the renew of the charter of incorporation of the FFLA. Steve mentioned about up dating the incorporation book and possibly getting past minutes from Smoke to up date the book.

Some of the members had gotten a letter from Bob Spear about finding a head quarters for the FFLA office. Steve had spoken to the Forest Fire Museum about the FFLA. The members asked that the FFLA make up a proposal on what the FLA is looking for space for file space for an office. Have the FFLA write up a proposal and have the mambers of the museum checked it for approval.

Iris Beard said she would help Steve with the proposal.

Harris Mt- Steve has spoken to a few people about taking it down and getting it to PA. The members of the museum could not take it down and transport it to PA. They have mentioned about the FFLA could help out

There was a discussion among the directors at the conference. It was decided to ask Bill Spach to check out the tower and give his opinion of the tower and about taking it down.

Iris Beard asked about what the association felt about having radio equipment in the tower w the operator. There was a discussion among the directors about this subject radio equip in towers with operators and effects of RF on the operator.

Henry advised that he have membership cards for any one who wants them. If no one wants them he will be sending them to Gary. Henry also mentioned that he is looking for every director to send him pictures of fire towers every 2 months with a brief description of the tower, .how to get there, and any thing else that the director can come up about that tower. He is going to call it towers around the world

There was nothing else the eastern summer board meting adjourned at 12:45

After the brief business meeting a small group headed over to Craney tower. The tower is no longer being used by the state and at the present is being refurbished by a group to save Craney Hill tower. The next stop was Pritcherd Mt, the tower is still manned and was up when we arrived. The operator pointed out few spots of interest and spoke a little about the tower. The tower operator came down with us do to the fact it was quitting time and came back to Fox State Forest for a barbecue chicken fundraiser for Craney Hill tower. In the evening Chief of Forest Protection Robert Nelson gave few remarks about this weekend. Then Marty Podskoch(NY FFLA Director) gave a slide presentation of fire towers in the Adirondacks The evening ended with Clarence Fitch the last watchmen on Craney Hill tower Clarence did a slide presentation on Craney Hill and other facts while he was a tower operator.

See the Photos Page

On Sunday some of us went are own directions looking at fire towers. Some stayed at Fox State Forest to clean up and break down some of the displays. Every one meets at the campground that was still around and went out for dinner. On Monday everyone said his or her goodbye and head home.