You are Invited!
SFSRA Winter Luncheon and Business Meeting
Thursday, December 11, 2025 from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant
Dekalb-Peachtree Airport
3829 Clairmont Road
Atlanta, GA
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RSVP requested by Friday, December 5
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The Southern Forest Service Retirees Association will hold our annual Winter Luncheon and Business Meeting for all members and guests on Thursday, December 11, starting at 11:30 AM. ​​​
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Cost is $40/person to be paid at the luncheon by cash or check only. Please RSVP by Friday, December 5, if you plan to attend by contacting Gretta Boley at 318-623-1911 or msgretta23@gmail.com. Please note that we must guarantee payment for our RSVP count, so your RSVP is a commitment to cover these costs even if you are unable to attend.
On the menu is the OFFICERS LUNCH BUFFET:
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Garden salad with ranch and Italian dressings
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Dinner rolls with whipped butter
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Roasted new potatoes (dairy-free)
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Herb and lemon grilled chicken breast
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Pesto pasta primavera (dairy-free)
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Chef's choice dessert
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Dairy-free dessert for guests with dietary request
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We hope to see many of you at this get-together, which will include annual elections, announcements, and an entertaining program. Please join us and help spread the word. We'd love to see you there!
Rangers & Supervisors Roll Call – Region 8
The National Museum of Forest Service History as asked for assistance in completing the Ranger and Supervisors Roll Call for Region 8.
Your help is needed to complete the “Ranger Roll Call” project initiated by the National Museum of Forest Service History. The goal of this project is to compile a comprehensive historical listing of all District Rangers, Forest Supervisors, and Station Directors. Many units have done a great job populating this information, but for much of the South there is a lack of documentation. To help you help with this project, we’ve loaded the current Ranger Roll Call lists on our website at https://www.southernforestretirees.org/ . Please give a look at lists for units you are familiar with and see if you can fill in any blanks or offer corrections. Contact Jeff Owenby, our National Museum Southern Director with any information you may have.
The Museum is pleased to share the ranger lists that have been created for these six national forest units: NFs in Alabama, NFs in North Carolina (partial list), George Washington, Ocala, Osceola, Ouachita (missing Mena-Oden and Caddo-Womble RDs), and Ozark-St. Francis. We have also created both ranger and supervisor lists for the El Yunque.
Before reviewing the records, we hope you enjoy the historic ranger photos, provided by Ariel E. Lugo and the Museum on the cover and in the report. The Museum welcomes your review of the records in this report for any additions or corrections, and would appreciate your assistance with developing:
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Supervisor lists for the NFs in Alabama, NFs in Florida, George Washington and Jefferson, Ouachita, and Ozark-St. Francis.
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Ranger lists for the Apalachicola (FL), and Jefferson,
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Both ranger and supervisor lists for the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Cherokee, Daniel Boone, Francis Marion and Sumpter, NFs in Mississippi, NFs in North Carolina (have partial list), and the NFs and NGs in Texas.
Please contact: Jeff Owenby, Director, Southern Region, jajowenby@gmail.com, or call (828) 388-0401.
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Click on the link below for the Rangers & Supervisors Roll Call – Region 8 2nd Interim Report & Challenge
SFSRA Board Adopts Honorary Lifetime Membership Process
October 23, 2025
At the October 22 Board meeting, all seven Board members present voted in favor of adopting proposed protocols for recognizing with honorary lifetime membership those who have given exceptional service in support of the Association. Candidates for this honor must be supported by a sponsoring Board member and meet the following criteria: 1) served exceptionally in multiple positions on the Board or as Committee Chair, 2) demonstrated dedication and personal sacrifice over an extended period of time in support of the Association, 3) represented the Association with honor and integrity in all matters, and 4) is not currently serving on the Board or as a Committee Chair.
Awarding this honor will require approval by at least 6 of 8 Board members. Those so honored will receive free lifetime membership and be listed on the inside cover of the newsletter. Four current lifetime members, recognized through a previous process, are grandfathered into this status and are listed on the inside cover of this issue. Members may nominate another member for this honor through a sponsoring Board member.​
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​Adoption of these protocols followed an email request for feedback from members, which resulted in response from five members, all in favor of adoption. These protocols have been added to the Association Constitution, which is available on the Association website at https://www.southernforestretirees.org/. ​​​​​
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Renew Your Membership Now!
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If you want to pay ahead, dues for future years are $25; dues previously paid for future years at the old rate will be honored.
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You may renew your membership online or through the Post Office. To renew online, fill out the member registration form on our website (button below) and submit dues payment by credit card through PayPal.
To renew through the Post Office, fill out the member registration form on the back page of the newsletter and mail it and a check payable to SFSRA to
Dick Rightmyer
405 Christopher Dr
Gainesville, GA 30501-2220.
2028 National USFS Retirees Reunion
Reunited and Relaxed in Wisconsin – Stay tuned for more info!
We also “passed the torch” to the Eastern Region for the next Reunion, to be held in Madison, WI. Specific dates will be announced in the coming months in the near future
Go to that webpage now to view the superb 7½ minute video about the 2028 Reunion (many thanks to Bill Disbrow!)
(Click on the logo to go to the web page)
SFSRA Fall Picnic Held on Chattahoochee National Forest
Thirty-five Forest Service retirees, spouses, and friends shared a potluck picnic at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area on the Chattahoochee National Forest on October 7, 2025. The weather was gray, but the Fall colors were beginning to show, so the environment was beautiful. Food was tasty, diverse, and plentiful as you might expect, with pulled pork and chicken drumsticks smoked by Tim Mersmann. Dick Rightmyer, Jim Wentworth, and Becky Vaughters shared with the group their knowledge of the history of the area, and all enjoyed a round robin of introductions and sweet reminiscences of their careers or connections with the Forest Service. Food, fun, and fellowship was shared by all!
Lashoto, Tom Darden, Scott Johnson, Stephanie Johnson, Jim Wentworth, Cindy Wentworth, Wes Nettleton, Lucy Nettleton, Vanessa Hampton, Gretta Boley, Jane Cudabac, Sonny Cudabac, Joey McKenzie, Karen McKenzie, Eric Schmeckpeper, Bruce Baldwin, Weeta Baldwin, Les Burril, Jeff Owenby, Larry Luckett, Tony Rider, Deborah Cohen, Larry Holsomback, Becky Vaughters, Debbie Holsomback. Not in photo: Mike Hampton, Judy Norton, Rachel Schneider, Vickie Satterfield.
History and Culture of the Southern Region-
The Forest History Society has several historical documents and literature about the Forest and Range lands of the southern region. Check these out
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NOTICE
Due to hacks, scams, phishing, illegal violations and crimes, we have taken all email links off this site. If you need to get in contact with us, click on the Contact Us link and someone will get back to you. We are sorry for this inconvenience, but we want to protect the privacy and security of our officers and board members. The "hard copy" Annual Membership Directory was sent to all paid members and it will provide contact information as well.