HOUSE OF SOCIETY DELEGATES

The House of Society Delegates (HSD) is the organizational body within SAF comprised of a delegate and alternate delegate from each state society, the chair of the national Student Executive Committee, and the chair and chair-elect of HSD.

Goals of HSD

A means to work in partnership with the Board of Directors and national office staff on professional affairs, and to forward forest policy issues for national office consideration.
A channel of communication between state societies, Student Executive Committee, SAF Board of Directors, and national office staff.
A forum for exchange and discussion of ideas and information to improve SAF and the forestry profession.

Purpose of HSD

Review and recommend priorities for the policies and programs of SAF, including new or proposed programs, and discuss the long-range goals of the Society.
Recommend proposals for making SAF more effective in carrying out its responsibilities to its members, the profession, and society.
Facilitate the exchange of information among local units.

HSD Success Stories & Issues and Actions

Each year, delegates have an opportunity to share success stories and bring issues and actions to the attention of HSD, national SAF leadership, and staff at the House of Society Delegates annual meeting held just prior to the national convention. 

State Society Success Stories Guidance
HSD serves as a forum for the exchange and discussion of ideas and information to improve SAF and the forestry profession at all levels. Chapters, divisions, state societies, members, and students achieve a multitude of successes each year through collaboration with diverse partners, engaging events and activities, innovative ideas for outreach and technology, and more. HSD serves as a forum to celebrate these accomplishments in the form of Success Stories. HSD requests that State Societies submit Success Stories so they can be shared with delegates and the SAF membership. 

Guidance, Submission and Presentation
To best meet the goal of communicating these stories effectively within SAF, delegates are asked to share their stories in such a way that other societies could emulate the successes and learn from the shortcomings. These stories include a title, description, and photos, and fall within one of the following themes: 

Young Professional Engagement 
Outreach/Social Media
Leadership & Operations
Recognition/Awards
Technology & Innovation
Student Engagement/Education
Other

All success stories are included in the HSD book that delegates receive prior to the annual meeting. Further, these successes are shared with a wider audience, and therefore documenting your stories with photographs (or even a video) is highly encouraged so they can be used in publications, on websites, and/or on various social media platforms.

The deadline to submit your success story is July 24, 2024. Please use this link to the google form to submit. A hard copy form can be downloaded here if preferred. 
 
Issues and Actions
HSD also provides an opportunity to discuss issues, challenges, and action items important to state societies and our membership. HSD requests that state societies submit any key SAF Issues and Actions by July 24, 2024, using this link so an effective meeting agenda can be built. To best meet the goal of collaboration and discussion, delegates are asked to clearly define the SAF issue, provide background on the issue, describe why it is important to HSD members, and suggest actions to best address it. The submitting state society is then asked to briefly present their issue at the HSD meeting. A hard copy form can be downloaded here if preferred.