The Annual THATS Auction – An Opportunity to Support and Promote Safety in the Logging Industry
In early January, I spent a day resetting my budget spreadsheet back to $0. If you own a business or manage a household budget, you know what I mean. I’m planning for the revenue I expect to generate in 2025 while accounting for the expenses I need to cover. My plan always includes a line item to document my contributions to organizations I believe in and support. One of those groups is the Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety (THATS) Foundation. FRA members are familiar with the THATS Foundation and have supported its mission through generous donations or in leadership roles serving on the Board of Directors.
The THATS Foundation was established in 1991 with the mission “to promote, support, and serve as a catalyst for safe and professional work practices and conditions in timber harvesting and transportation. THATS is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization that is administered by FRA. The Foundation receives funding through individual and corporate donations (CLICK HERE for a donation form) and by auctioning donated items every spring during the FRA Annual Meeting. The revenue collected is used for grants for projects that promote logging and transportation safety. One of the Foundation’s recent projects is the Six Rules of Logging Safety Kit. These kits encourage workforce safety by increasing safety awareness, promoting safe work environments, and reducing accidents and injuries.
This year’s auction will take place at the FRA Annual Meeting at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach, FL, from May 5-7. Information regarding the auction will be shared through emails to our members, including details about how to donate and register to bid before the auction. Auction donations can be company-related items, handmade gifts, or retail merchandise items. It is an excellent way for our members to become aware of your company firsthand. Please CLICK HERE to donate items for the auction.
Our esteemed auctioneer for the event will once again be Richard Schwab, whose humor and enthusiasm are unmatched—and his “cheap jokes” come at no extra charge! Richard is dedicated to the work of the Foundation, and every year offers a premier fishing trip in the beautiful “Gulf of America!” Who wouldn’t want to be the recipient of an outdoor fishing extravaganza with Richard Schwab?
THATS Chair Steve Barnett of BITCO Insurance Companies has been a leader in logging and trucking safety for many years. He believes that promoting safety in an industry ranked among North America’s most dangerous is an ongoing effort. In his own words, “The THATS Foundation needs your help! Only through your continued support can the Foundation continue working for the benefit of a safer forest products industry.”
Our industry relies on loggers and the essential work they do to meet the needs of American families. Consider adding a line item for the Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation to your budget. By doing so, you will be endorsing an organization devoted to a cause we all believe in!
