The Georgia Forestry Association updated area landowners on changing legislation Tuesday.

The annual area meeting for the forestry members at the Ravine Grille at Kinderlou Forest brought in representatives and landowners from across the region.

Wesley Langdale, President of the Langdale Company, kicked the evening off by introducing Alva Hopkins, Director of Communications for the GFA.

Hopkins, who organizes the landowners meeting across the state for GFA, introduced Michael Westbrook from the Westerville Company.

Westbrook, a forester that manages 56,000 acres across Georgia, South Carolina and West Virginia for Westerville, spoke about the benefits of the GFA Young Professional Organization.

The organization was established in 2005, and currently has 55 members comprised of foresters, Realtors, wood-buyers and other professionals in the forestry industry, he said.

To ensure forestry’s continued success young professionals must take a more active role in GFA, to help develop future leaders and the state’s natural resources, Westbrook said.

After Westbrook, Joe Hopkins, President of the Toledo Manufacturing Company in Folkston, spoke about his involvement in the 2008 Forest Land Protection Act.

The legislation will provide Georgia landowners with a property tax break if passed in November.

Hopkins said the reason the legislation will be voted on in November is because of enthusiasm by informed and involved Georgia residents.

In any activity one undertakes they must tackle it with enthusiasm and everything they’ve got, Hopkins said.

“After all everything all goes back into the box,” Hopkins said.

Being the only animal on the planet that understands the finality of death gives humans the knowledge and responsibility that one must act now on an opportunity and not wait for another moment to come by, he said.

“Like most of you my life revolves round the three F’s,” Hopkins said. “Faith, Family and Forestry.”

These things drove Hopkins to Atlanta and a meeting with Gov. Sonny Perdue to discuss, what he felt, was an exorbitant increase in property taxes in the state of Georgia.