MEAD'S TIMBER HARVESTING SIGNS

Mead Paper's Chillicothe, Ohio Woodlands Department posts custom-made timber harvesting signs on every logging operation involving company lands and on many company-controlled stumpage tracts. The signs demonstrate Mead's willingness to engage the public on forestry and harvesting issues.

For each harvesting operation, Mead produces a sign using its company print shop. The sign includes the name of the timber harvesting contractor, Mead's toll-free Public Information number, and pro-forestry and safety messages. The sign measures 17 inches by 22 inches and is mounted on quarter-inch plywood. Sign size is limited by the capability of Mead's in-house print shop.

The signs complement Mead's policy of contacting township trustees and county highway engineers before harvesting operations begin. The signs show the public that Mead foresters are willing to address questions and comments about their forestry activities. Mead foresters have noted several positive results from posting these signs. Logging contractors take more pride in how their job looks, viewing it as a good advertisement for future timber leads. Local residents who are concerned or upset by timbering activities and road maintenance issues are less frustrated when they know where to go for help.

The inexpensive three-color signs are printed on 110# index paper and laminated in Mead's company print shop at an estimated cost of $5.00 per sign. The lamination is the most expensive part of producing the sign. The signs are printed in quantity, leaving a blank space where the harvesting contractor information is displayed. Peel-off labels identifying the contractor are used to "fill in the blank." This system enables Mead to use the same template for all of the signs. The signs are displayed at the entrance road to the logging job and again at the landing. The plywood backing and the metal fence post for mounting the sign may be reused from tract to tract. The sign is disposable; it may be discarded once it becomes faded or soiled.

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