While some people uninformed about modern forestry practices may think loggers try to cut down all the forests, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The goal of the GLTPA is to “enhance multiple-use forests for future generations” — in other words, “we want to make sure we never run out of trees,” as Henry Schienebeck, the organization’s longtime executive director, is fond of saying.

The association is a collective of timber industry businesspeople; its membership “includes loggers, truckers, mills, equipment manufacturers, landowners and other forestry professionals,” the GLTPA says.

This year’s April convention at the casino in Harris carries the theme “Working Together for Safety.”

Aligning with this theme are three hour-long presentations.

Rick Desellier, safety training specialist and loss control representative for Michigan Association of Timbermen Self-Insurers' Fund (MATSIF) speaks to high school students during a field trip to a live logging site in October 2023. Desellier is scheduled to give a presentation on jobsite and chainsaw safety at the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association's Spring Celebration at the Island Resort and Casino on April 1. (Daily Press file photo by R. R. Branstrom)

Jared Johnson from U.P. First Aid and Safety Supply will deliver a speech called “Improvised First Aid Tips and Tricks: Tips to Provide Care in Less than Ideal Conditions with Less than Ideal Resources” beginning at 10 a.m.

Following award presentations and a lunch hour, Brian LeBouef from the Michigan Association of Timbermen Self-Insurers’ Fund (MATSIF) will talk about “Controlling Workers Compensation Cost.”

The final presentation of the day is “Jobsite and Chainsaw Safety for Logging and Trucking” from Rick Desselier of MATSIF.

The Hamilton Roddis Foundation is the main sponsor of the GLTPA 2026 Spring Celebration, as they have been previously.

The event technically will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 1. Vendor registration and setup begins at 7:30 a.m.

Executive Director Henry Schienebeck speaks at a Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association Spring Celebration at the casino in Harris in 2024. The event returns in a couple weeks. (File photo by R. R. Branstrom)

The first major event of the day, following introductions, will be the keynote speaker, Ron Wausau, forest manager with Menominee Tribal Enterprises, a prolific supplier of sustainable, high-quality lumber.

Plenty of vendors will fill the convention space, offering both professionals and unaffiliated interested persons the opportunity to network and learn about what others in the timber industry are working on and the challenges they face.

Following the presentations, drawings will be held to give away door prizes donated by sponsors and exhibitors. Two of the big prizes are guns. Winners must be present at drawing time to receive the prizes.

Additional sponsors of the GLTPA Spring Celebration are University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Natural Resources Station, Forest Industry Safety and Training Alliance (FISTA), Forest Insurance Center, Fabick Cat, Vermeer Wisconsin, Ponsse, Halron Lubricants, Great Lakes Trailers, Packaging Corporation of America, Roland Machinery, McCoy Construction and Forestry, Truck Country, Compeer Financial and more.

People may attend the convention by calling 715-304-2871. Exhibitors may still register by calling the same number. Walk-in tickets will be available at the door the day of the event for an increased price.

The Island Resort and Casino will again host the Great Lakes Logging and Timber Professionals Association's Spring Celebration next month. This shot of attendees milling near vendor booths is from the same event in 2024. (Daily Press file photo by R. R. Branstrom)