Tuesday, 22 April 2025
Letter from the President - Kicking Off Q2
As we wrap up the first quarter and step into Q2, I wanted to take a moment to share key updates from across the FSC® network – both here in the U.S. and Internationally.
General Assembly Preparation
The General Assembly website is live at: ga.fsc.org, including a members portal designed to support members participation and engagement. You’ll find a detailed timeline of events, as well as listings for upcoming webinars and pre-Assembly meetings in the members’ portal. Registration officially opens in May, so I encourage you to explore the site and begin planning your participation.
Stewardship in Action – U.S. FSC meeting
We are excited to announce that our U.S. gathering will take place in St. Louis, Missouri during the week of September 8th. Building on the momentum from last year’s North American meeting, this event will offer a valuable for space for U.S. stakeholders to connect and collaborate along with preparing for the upcoming General Assembly.
Last year’s meeting in Nashville drove home how important these moments of connection are. I remember standing in a group, listening to a forest manager, a mill chain of custody holder, a retailer, and an environmental advocate find common ground on challenges related to supply of FSC certified materials. It reminded me how unique and powerful this network is when we make space to learn from each other. I hope you’ll join us and be part of these conversations again this year.
Operational Improvements at FSC International
With the recent addition of Marion Bariskell as Chief Operating Officer, FSC International is taking important steps toward becoming a more efficient, integrated, and collaborative organization. Marion is focused on modernizing legacy systems and ensuring that every element of our work add reals value to the FSC system. While this transformation will take time, it’s encouraging to see progress already underway.
FSC International Board Engagement
The International Board recently met in Brazil, where they spent significant time engaging on regional issues. Their commitment to understanding local perspectives remains a vital part of FSC’s global strategy.
There are many exciting opportunities ahead – and we need your voice, not only in the U.S., but throughout our international community. Your engagement is essential to advancing our shared mission.
As always, thank you for your continued support. I look forward to all we’ll achieve together as we work toward a more sustainable future in 2025 and beyond.
Best,
-Sarah