New Inspector Engagement in 2017
In 2017, ATFS will launch pilot programs with 3-5 states to help us learn more about what approaches are most successful to increase the number of inspections done each year. Our goal is to have all active inspectors that are trained to the current standards complete at least two inspections per year. Of course, we know that many of you do way more than this, which is greatly appreciated; however, many inspectors are trained and never complete a single inspection.
Many of you have recommended mentoring for new inspectors by more experienced inspectors and several state programs are pursuing this concept. Another idea is to incorporate a field experience into inspector trainings where an actual Tree Farm is inspected. Finally, we know that many of you actively engage with college and university forestry students and clubs. We will be concentrating our efforts in 2017 on learning more about how we can effectively apply these strategies to make a positive difference in the utilization of ATFS inspectors. If you have any ideas or thoughts about this topic, please contact Vicki Leigh at vleigh@forestfoundation.org.
The 2017 Required and Priority inspections are great opportunities to perform inspections. Both samples have been released, so contact your state committee about receiving an assignment.
