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NFH Action Blog

A Critical Time
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on our new
NFH Action blog!

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a letter to congress!

Call For Nominations:
2010 NFH Annual Awards

Click here
to download nomination forms

Mission Statement

"National Forest Homeowners is a member-directed organization representing cabin-owner recreation residence permittees on our national forests. NFH provides leadership, member information and assistance, and advocacy for continuation of all recreation residence cabins.  It is dedicated to educating its members and others in sound science stewardship of our national forests."

Note: All of our downloadable files are currently being converted where necessary to a pdf format. You can download a copy of the FREE Adobe pdf reader here.

 

NFH FALL FORUM IN BOISE, IDAHO

The NFH Fall Educational Forum will be held in Boise, ID this year on September 18, 2010 at the Grove Hotel, 245 S. Capitol Blvd.

A cordial invitation is given to all cabin owners, their families and friends to attend this important meeting.  You will have the opportunity to hear from National Forest Homeowners experts and Forest Service staff about current topics that affect us all.

Forum topics include:

• A discussion panel presenting the latest information on the Cabin Fee Act (HR4888) and its legislative progress in Congress at this time.

• A discussion panel on Appraisals, Second Appraisals and Appeals, with time for your questions.

• Time for your questions of the panel members.

• A planned presentation by staff of the National Interagency Fire Center which coordinates the firefighting operations of the Department of Interior, Forest Service, National Weather Service and state/local/tribal/volunteer firefighting efforts.

• An end of meeting Question and Answer Session where your questions can be answered by the experts.

Registration starts at noon, but pre-registration is encouraged. 
The cost is $15 per person which helps defray our cost to hold the forum.  Download a convenient registration form here or on the
NFH meetings page.

The location of the Grove Hotel is:
245 S. Capitol Blvd.
Boise, ID 83702
1-800-716-6199
grovehotelboise.com

We hope you, your family and friends can join us on
Saturday September 18, 2010,
for this important and informative forum.

A CRITICAL TIME:

CABIN OWNER CONGRESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS NEEDED NOW

The next six weeks, including August and early September, 2010, will be a critical time for the Cabin Fee Act (CFA), which has been so strongly supported by cabin owners everywhere as a solution to the excessively high fees resulting from the Cabin Users Fee Fairness Act (CUFFA).  Congress will be “in recess” for District and State work periods and most Members of Congress will be home for constituent meetings.  Cabin owners will likely have more than one opportunity in August and September to ask their Senators and Representatives to support our cause.  If cabin owners cannot meet personally with their Senators and Representatives in their State or District offices or at local events, they should try to meet with their staff or phone, e-mail or write to their local offices.

Following the recess, Congress will reconvene in Washington, D.C., on September 14th with only sixteen legislative days before the targeted adjournment date of October 8th so the Members can return home to campaign for the November elections.  Although there will likely be a “lame duck” session as long as two or three weeks following the elections, the agenda for that session will be very crowded and the outlook uncertain.  This all means that we do not have much time to achieve our legislative goals this year.  This is why August and September are so important.  We simply do not have much time left to let Congress know how much cabin owners have at stake and how determined we are to achieve our goals:  First, to enact the Cabin Fee Act.  Second, if that cannot be done this year, to extend the moratorium on cabin fee increases for 2011.
The CFA (H.R. 4888 in the U.S. House of Representatives ) has been well received in Congress and moved at a rapid pace since its introduction in early March, with a successful April 22nd Hearing by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests and then, full Natural Resources Committee approval on July 22nd.  Now Congress and cabin owners are awaiting a report on the budget impact of the CFA from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) – a prerequisite for final passage. The necessary letter requesting this CBO analysis was co-signed by Representatives Doc Hastings (R-WA), Jim Costa (D-CA) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR), all of whom should be thanked for that effort.  (NOTE:  Members of Congress can be told that cabin owners are confident that the CFA can be modified if necessary to accommodate any changes required by the CBO.)
 In the meantime, key Senators are being asked to introduce and pass a Senate CFA .  If enactment cannot be accomplished in the limited time left for this Congress, then cabin owners will need an extension of the moratorium on cabin fee increases Congress passed last year.
So, following are the main points to be stressed by cabin owners to their Senators and Representatives:

ALL Senators and Representatives should be contacted if possible, with the following Members key because of:
(1) Their positions on committees/subcommittees that have vital jurisdiction over the CFA and/or the prospects for a moratorium;  and/or
(2) A large number of cabin owners in their State or their Congressional District.
Senators and Representatives who have clearly indicated their support for cabin owners are noted  in the following list and should be thanked, while urged to continue that support through final enactment of the CFA into law.  The 27 bipartisan cosponsors of the House CFA (H.R. 4888) should be especially thanked.  Also to be especially thanked are the cosponsors of the Senate Resolution in 2009 that established the moratorium on cabin fee increases for 2010. The list also includes the Senate and House Democratic leaders , Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who could determine whether the CFA receives floor votes in the respective chambers.
For convenient reference, Senators and Representatives are grouped alphabetically by state.
Abbreviations are:
SA – Senate Appropriations Committee
SIA – Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee
ENR – Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
PFL – Senate ENR Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee
HA – House Appropriations Committee
HIA – House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee
NR – House Natural Resources Committee
NPFPL – House NR Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
“Ranking” identifies the top Republican on a committee or subcommittee.

CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO YOUR STATE OFFICIALS

C2 Coalition Reps Appear Before Congress

Natural Resource Committee Approves
HR 4888!

This morning, Thursday, July 22nd, the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources approved H.R.4888 by unanimous consent.  The committee approved bill included revisions to the original bill introduced by Cong. Doc Hastings (R-WA) last March.  The National Forest Homeowners and the Cabin Coalition 2 strongly support the revised bill.  This action sets the stage for a final floor vote on the bill, pending a positive report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) regarding its budget impact.  A positive budget report from the CBO is essential for all legislation.  A CBO report is expected within a few weeks.  In the meantime, cabin owners are now turning their attention to passing companion legislation in the Senate. 
Download the bill here.

Geoff Anderson, President
Pete Bailey, Director
Aubrey King, Washington DC Representative

Cabin Coalition 2:  Progress Update, June 16, 2010

Cabin Coalition 2:  Progress Update, June 16, 2010

Following the many requests you received for grassroots support, that we made this past winter and spring, we felt giving everyone a break was okay.  Getting legislative change during this very challenging time requires a long term commitment from us all.  This modest break in the action however, did not mean that the Cabin Coalition 2 has been resting on their laurels.

Since the Natural Resources committee hearing in late April, we have gained many new bill sponsors.  You can follow the bill at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4888. We now have a total of 24 co-sponsors, in addition to our champion Rep. Doc Hastings.  The Cabin Fee Act (CFA) is a truly bi-partisan bill as 11 Democrats and 13 Republicans have signed on.  Recent grassroots efforts in California have been very successful, with the addition of Reps. Woolsey, Eshoo, Farr, Lofgren, McNerney, Speier and Thompson (all Democrats).  Special thanks to all of those folks in the Bay Area that have been engaged!

C2 is working with Minority Staff for Natural Resources, and their legal counsel, developing a letter to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) requesting a preliminary evaluation (or scoring) of the revenue impact of the CFA.  We seek a neutral scoring that implies no revenue loss to the Treasury from the legislation.  We have explained that the FS projections fail to include several market realities, i.e., the decline in the real estate market, the potential loss of cabins (and fee revenue) due to inability to sell given high fees, the 30% lower valuations in second appraisals and the cost savings of eliminating the appraisal process and its inherent headaches.  Several documents have been developed and attached supporting our positions.  A CBO response may take another few weeks.  A July report is expected or hoped for.

We have made a few clarifying recommendations to House Natural Resources that address the transition from CUFFA to the CFA and expanded the review and appeal section of the act.  These recommendations could be considered at mark-up.  A mark-up session for H.R.4888 (which is held by the full committee, rather than the sub-committee) has not been scheduled, but we are hoping for a July date.  The Natural Resources committee may wait for the CBO opinion before committing to a date.  So we are in a waiting pattern, with the CBO scoring and the mark-up session both in play.

We have also been active on the Senate side.  A draft companion bill has been developed.  Key Senators are being approached in hopes of finding a potential bill sponsor, while also further expanding our lobbying and educational efforts.  Please anticipate a request from C2 for you to call, email and write your Senators concerning this potential companion bill.  Once again, we will need grassroots support from all states and cabin owners everywhere.  Our success to date is clearly due to previous support.  More will be needed!

Our progress gives us hope of success, however, a moratorium for 2011 fees remains on the table.  We expect to more aggressively pursue this possibility early in the fall if any delays in the passage of H.R.4888 occur.   Our best bet is for the CFA to be attached to an appropriations bill or omnibus Lands’ bill in the lame duck session late in the fall.  So we will remain vigilant concerning the moratorium timing and need.

Remember The National Forest Homeowners website is a great source for information and Cabin Fee Act updates, too.  We are found at http://www.nationalforesthomeowners.org/.

Best Wishes as we enter the Cabin Season across the country!  Happy Re-Creating!

Pete Bailey, NFH Director and
C2 Legislative Contact Committee, chair

C2 Coalition Reps Appear Before Congress

C2 Reps Engage SubCommittee
& Forest Service

Cabin Coalition 2 representatives appeared before the subcommittee on National Parks,  Forests and Public Lands in the U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C. In a lively session, coalition and cabin owner witnesses, Geoff Anderson, Dick Almy, Pete Bailey and Maureen Barile squared off with Forest Service Deputy Chief Joel Holtrop.

The Forest Service was supportive of the Cabin Fee Act and did not attempt to defend the much maligned appraisal system. The Coalition 2 witnesses presented the arguments in support of the Cabin Fee Act, namely that it is affordable and also has the potential to meet revenue needs of the government. Each member of the subcommittee in attendance at the hearing asked probing questions and concluded on an optimistic note.

Subcommittee members indicated the major obstacle would be resolving the revenue neutrality issue and urged the parties to come back to the committee with their suggestions to achieve this goal.

The members of the panel, each of whom participated in the discussion, were: Chairman Grijalva (AZ), Rep. Hastings (WA), Rep. Costa (CA), Rep. Bishop (UT), Rep. McClintock (CA), Rep. Lummis (WY), Rep. Inslee (WA), Rep. DeFazio (OR), Rep. Kildee (MI), Rep. Napolitano (CA).

Coalition 2 will be submitting further written materials to the subcommittee and  will schedule meetings with the Forest Service in the immediate future to discuss the revenue implications of the Cabin Fee Act.

Geoff Anderson
NFH President

Download Testimony of C2 Reps:
Dick Almy (pdf)
Geoff Anderson (pdf)
Pete Bailey (pdf)
Maureen Barile (pdf)

Listen to audio of the hearing:

WRITE A LETTER TO CONGRESS TODAY!

The Cabin Act of 2010

will be held before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee April 22, 2010. The committee hearing will likely be held in the morning and will last approximately an hour, perhaps slightly longer.

Your efforts in your local district will be the difference in our success or not. Critical mass comes from your involvement. It is imperative for cabin owners to get involved now!

Listed below are two sample letters meant to help and guide you in writing your own letter, as well as some background information developed by our C2 partners and NFH about the history and need for the Cabin Act of 2010.

We need support to get the bill out of committee and also to encourage as many of our elected representatives as possible to not only vote for the bill as well as to sign on as a co-sponsor both in the House and the Senate.

Click here to look up your elected House Representative:
Download Sample Letter (House) (doc)


Click here to look up your elected Senator:
Download Sample Letter (Senate) (doc)

Download Background Information:
A:) Public Benefits (pdf)
B:) Problem Overview (pdf)

NFH Election Results

NFH Elects New Officers
At Annual Convention

President:
Geoff Anderson

Treasurer:
Sharon Karr

Directors:
Brad Aspell
Barry Davis
George Cardinet
Ted Filer

Associate Member Director:
Brian Gordon

Nominating Committee:
Mary Lou Christensen
Sarah Dahl
Roy Glauthier
Barbara Bailey
Dick Burrows

Cabin Fee Act Introduced

NFH HAILS INTRODUCTION OF CABIN FEE ACT OF 2010

For release MARCH 22, 2010

National Forest Homeowners President Geoffrey Anderson today hailed the introduction of the bipartisan Cabin Fee Act of 2010, H.R. 4888 (download here), by Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA). Congressman Hastings was joined by Democrat Representative Jim Costa of California and ten other Members of Congress as original cosponsors of the bill. 

Anderson added, "This historic legislation will establish a new fair and reasonable structure for determining the annual permit fees paid by cabin owners throughout the country. In the past few years, sharply escalating fees have threatened too many with the loss of cabins that have been in their families for generations. The Cabin Fee Act of 2010 will preserve a program that for nearly a century has provided outdoor recreation for thousands of American families."

The Cabin Fee Act of 2010 will replace the Cabin Fee Fairness Act of 2000, which requires that permit fees for cabins on the national forests be determined by appraisals comparing them with fee simple private property. Such appraisals fail to consider fully and fairly the extraordinary limits and restrictions on the use of these cabins and recent appraisals have resulted in many annual fees increasing more than 500%.

H.R. 4888 will combine a simple, fair and predictable tiered fee structure with a new transfer fee that would be based on the actual value of a cabin as demonstrated by the price paid when the cabin permit changes hands.  The transfer fee will therefore accurately capture for the government the fair value provided by the cabin's location on a national forest. The result will a positive outcome for everyone concerned as the cabin owner will be able to continue enjoying this superb family recreation opportunity, the national forests will continue to benefit from the historic stewardship contribution of cabin owners, local communities near the national forests will continue to benefit from the purchases of cabin owners, local governments will benefit from the tax revenue and the U.S. taxpayer will receive a fair return for this use of their land.

NFH President Anderson stated, "On behalf of cabin owners everywhere, the NFH thanks Representatives Hastings and Costa and the other cosponsors for realizing the threat cabin owners face from excessive fee increases and for their vision in introducing this historic legislation.  We pledge our full support and look forward to working with him and others in Congress to get the Cabin Fee Act of 2010 passed into law."

Call To Convention 2010

NFH Convention Registration Form and Schedule

Download the 2010 Convention Registration form.
Take advantage of our early registration discount!

Download 2010 Convention Schedule

NFH Voting Notice

NFH Voting Notice:

MISSING MEMBER NUMBERS:
For those members just receiving your Newsletter and trying to vote, you are right. There were no member numbers printing on the mailing labels. As few of us actually know our numbers, we suggest the following solution for the rest of us:
Either go ahead and vote and we will use our records to verify you have a number, or wait a bit as we are sending out postcards to all of you with your numbers. Then, don't forget to vote!

Call To Convention 2010

Our Cabin Legacy: Securing The Future

This year has been a difficult one, as we have seen appraisals and resulting fees causing deep concern about the future of the cabin program. Tremendous effort has gone into enacting changes in legislation to help protect and preserve our cabin legacy.
It is more important than ever to become educated about the
process and the goals for the future recreation residence program.

So join us! April 15th – 18th in Reno, Nevada at the
Silver Legacy Hotel for our annual National
Convention.

Our theme this year is “Our Cabin Legacy: Securing the Future”.The recreation residence program has been in existence since 1915.There are over 14,000 cabins in 25 states across our country. This year will see continued efforts to change the legislation that regulates the setting of cabin fees. It is critical that we band together to represent the needs of cabin owners.

In these times of stressful appraisals and fees, it is important to learn how to work with the National Forest Service to reach consensus on our issues.We also continue to have concerns about water, fire and the
health and management of our National Forests. The convention will have an array of general sessions and workshops covering all of these topics. Our convention will open with our annual business meeting and the election results from our vote-by-mail election.

Along with serious informational and educational sessions and workshops, we will be entertained at the Saturday luncheon by the well-known Reno entertainer Layne McAvay. He is a Mark Twain
impersonator who gives a historical presentation on the Reno area and its gold and silver legacy in a presentation titled “The Ghost of MarkTwain”.

Join us on Friday evening for our optional event – A dessert bar and tour of the renowned National Automobile Museum, a real gem!
Presenting at our workshops will be NFH board members, our Washington liaison, top senior management from the Forest Service, experts in several fields, members of Coalition 2, Forest Service staff and cabin owners who have made a difference. We look forward to seeing you in April!

Please download the registration information form and take advantage of our early registration discount!

Cabin Fee Act Introduced

Representative Hastings Introduces "Cabin Fee Act" in Congress

Greetings All,
Yesterday at 10:00 am in Yakima, Washington in the presence of over 25 cabins owners, Congressman Doc Hastings (R-WA) held a press conference and announced that he will introduce new cabin fee legislation, called the ‘Cabin Fee Act of 2010′ (CFA), in the House of Representatives next week. This legislation is designed to replace the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 (CUFFA).  The Press Release announcing this introduction is available here.
(The audio of the press conference are posted at this location.) Note: This file is large (22 mgs) and not suited for dial-up connections.

Please distribute this Press Release to all cabin owners on your distribution lists.  We have been asked to encourage sharing this document with your local newspapers.  Cong. Hastings welcomes broad distribution of this Press Release.  Please Help.  Also, share this immediately with your Representative and Senator to keep them informed.

Next week, following formal introduction in the House and the assignment of a bill number, cabin owners everywhere will be asked to contact their Representative (again) encouraging them to join Cong. Hastings in co-sponsoring this legislation.  It is especially important that we get both Democratic and Republican Representatives to make this a bipartisan bill.  This is an important time.  Your state and tract level efforts and follow through will be critical to our ultimate success.  Also, this may not be the last time we request your support in contacting your Representatives and Senators.  Please do your part.

I’ll be contacting everyone again next week once the bill is formally introduced.  Again, to all, Thank You for every effort made.  We share the burden and the results.

Pete Bailey
C2 Legislative Contact Committee Chair

NEW CONCEPT: AREA FORUMS

A NEW CONCEPT: THE AREA FORUM

By Dick Burrows
Vice President National Forest Homeowners and Forum Planner

Following the success in presenting two well received educational Forums per year, NFH is planning an experiment with a new kind of forum geared for a smaller audience.  The first will be held in Bemidji Minnesota on July 29th from 1:00 - 5:30 p. m and will be called an Area Forum.

The Area Forum can be custom planned for locations where smaller numbers of cabin owners can be brought together.  The purpose of an Area Forum is to reach out to locations that are farther to the east than is economical to present a Forum which includes a meeting of the NFH board.
 
A Forum needs to be located in an area where 50 or more cabin owners are able to attend in order to cover most of the expense of putting it on.  However, for many locations along the northern tier of states and to the east, often groups of only 25-35 or so cabin owners can get together within a reasonable driving range.  The area forum seems to be a good solution for such locations. 

Bemidji MN was selected as the site of the first area forum at the invitation of John Murray, a former NFH board director and Membership Committee chair.  John, a hard working NFH member, is willing to take on the task of organizing the Area Forum and believes we can attract 25-50 or more cabin owners to the meeting.  Subjects of interest planned for the Bemidji area forum include the latest Cabin Fee Act information as well as a legislative update.  A speaker from the Forest Service will be invited to speak on a subject of interest.  

In past Forums, Forest Service staff have spoken on such interesting subjects as cabin lot appraisals, appraisal appeals; fire; and insect and disease issues in the forests.   There is always a question and answer time where cabin owners can have their individual questions addressed.  We hope to follow the program format of the Forum for the Area Forum as nearly as possible. 

If you are a cabin owner within driving range of Bemidji, please consider attending this valuable and informative session.  Further information on the Bemidji Area Forum will be placed on the NFH website (nationalforesthomeowners.org) as the time grows closer and the program is further developed.
- - Dick Burrows

New Appraisal Ordered for Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F.

Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F. Orders New Appraisal For Recreation Residence Fees

WENATCHEE—Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest officials have determined 2009 and 2010 recreation residence lot fees on the Wenatchee portion of the national forest will be withdrawn and recalculated using a land appraisal in effect prior to 1999.
The decision applies only to recreation residence lots on the Wenatchee portion of the national forest, which was combined with the Okanogan N.F. in 2000. The officials made the decision after completing a review of fees that were based upon the 1999 appraisal, which 84 recreation residence permit holders appealed.

In September 2009, Forest Supervisor Rebecca Heath requested the regional appraiser's help in a review of the 1999 appraisal used for all Wenatchee N.F. recreation residence lots. The regional appraiser determined the 1999 appraisal lacked sufficient information to provide meaningful responses to some concerns raised in the appeals.
"Agency appeal regulations are intended to ensure appellants receive a fair and deliberate review of decisions," Heath said. " Aclose look at the appraisal revealed supporting documentation was lacking so withdrawing the 2009 and 2010 recreation residence billings is the correct course of action at this time. I appreciate that permittees examined the appraisal and brought deficiencies to our attention through the appeals process."

All 653 recreation residence lots on the Wenatchee portion of the national forest will now pay annual fees based on the appraisal in effect prior to the 1999 appraisal, adjusted for inflation.

Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F. officials will soon contact permittees on the Wenatchee portion of the national forest regarding billing adjustments that will result from the decision. The decision does not affect the Okanogan portion of the national forest where a separate appraisal was prepared and permit holders did not file appeals.

Appraisals are intended to reflect the market value of the privileges enjoyed by each permit holder’s use and occupancy of land within national forests. Cabins and other structures belong to permit holders and are not considered in appraisals. Year-round occupancy or use as a primary residence is prohibited.

Forest Service regulations require recreation residence lots be appraised every 10 years. Contract appraisers will complete appraisals this year for recreation residence lots on the Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F. that will determine 2012 fees.

2009 Economic Survey News & Download

2009 Economic Survey Summary
Results Released!

The 2009 Economic Impact Survey preliminary survey results were presented to influential legislators and staffers in March. It was very well received. Feedback from the Forest Service and other Washington experts was also solicited and incorporated.

The final report was delivered to Congress and the Forest Service in May. We are extremely encouraged by the response rate and survey findings.

The final report and additional results are now available for download here.

More detailed analyses/breakdowns may be possible through
special request at NFH.

C2 Fee Model Package Unveiled

Cabin owner representatives in the NFH and C2 have developed an alternative approach to CUFFA that is a better, more equitable way to determine fees for recreation residences and has wide support among cabin owners.

This alternative will preserve a cherished source of family recreation enjoyed by multiple generations, will eliminate the serious friction between cabin owners and the Forest Service over the appraisal approach mandated by CUFFA and will accomplish these goals without imposing an additional burden on the Federal budget. 

The authorizing committees in Congress will, of course, require some time to consider this alternative approach.  In the meantime, thousands of cabin owners are facing bills for excessive fees under CUFFA that will be due by the end of 2009. 

To protect those cabin owners and allow Congress time to consider this promising new alternative, a moratorium in the payment of fee increases for twelve months is essential in the appropriate fiscal year 2010 appropriations legislation.

Click Here for the Alternative Fee Model Proposal from the C2 Coalition