Highlights of Great Plains Society
* 1980 National Office changes constitution and bylaws
* 1981 Ozark Section votes to remain in tact and form a 4-state Society
* 1981 Nebraska changes name from Central Great Plains Chapter to Nebraska Society of American Foresters
* 1982 Kansas votes to join with Nebraska
* 1982 Nebraska votes to join with Kansas to form the Great Plains Society (GPS)
* 1983 First meeting of Great Plains Society on March 4
* 1984 Bylaws of Great Plains Society approved by members
* 1987 Walter Bagley elected Fellow
* 1987 David Hintz elected Fellow
* 1988 William B. Clark elected Fellow
* 1989 David Van Haverbeke elected Fellow
* 1989 Members approved changes in the bylaws to do away with the Kansas and Nebraska Chapters
* 1991 First year Great Plains Society officers were elected by all members of the Society rather than by each chapter
* 1991 Rocktown Natural Area at Wilson Lake in Kansas approved
* 1993 The title of president changed to chairman and president-elect changed to chair-elect
* 1993 First year the annual meeting was organized by the chair-elect
* 1995 First year GPS planted a memorial tree at annual meeting
* 1996 Oak tree planted at Geographical Center of the U.S.
* 1996 John Strickler elected Fellow
* 1997 First Walk in the Woods in Nebraska
* 1998 First Walk in the Woods in Kansas
* 1998 Les Pinkerton elected Fellow
* 2000 First Habitat for Humanity tree planting in Kansas and Nebraska
* 2001 Rex Naanes elected Fellow
* 2001 Larry Biles elected Fellow (prior to becoming member of GPSAF)
* 2003 Rachel Allison elected Fellow
* 2003 First year Membership Pins were presented
* 2003 First working field day in place of a field tour
* 2004 Twenty Year History booklet was printed.
* 2004 A $300 scholarship will be allocated each year for members where employer does not cover travel expenses to attend annual meeting (not to exceed $100 per member).
* 2005 Bylaws changed to extend terms of chair and chair-elect to 2 years and the Secretary / Treasurer may be elected or appointed.
* 2008 Wayne Geyer elected Fellow
* 2009 Charles Barden elected Fellow
* 2009 Thousand cankers on black walnut first discussed
* 2010 First multi-state meeting with Missouri in Springfield
* 2011 Donated $200 to Richard Lodes Scholarship Fund
* 2013 Bob Atchison elected Fellow
* 2013 First Annual Meeting that was a formal training session
* 2013 Approved purchase of gpsaf.org domain name
* 2014 Thirty Year History put on GPSAF web site
* 2014 Les Pinkerton received certificate for 50 years of SAF Membership
* 2016 Steve Rasmussen received Presidential Field Forester Award
* 2017 Dave Bruton elected Fellow
* 2017 John Strickler honored with plaque and SAF ring for 60 years of SAF membership.
* 2018 Steve Rasmussen elected Fellow
* 2018 Ryan Armbrust was elected to serve as HSD Chairman for 2019
* 2019 A motion was passed that GPSAF will pay $500 for travel and registration expenses for either the chair or chair-elect to attend the national SAF meeting or HSD.
* 2020 Kim Slezak will serve a 3-year term on the national Certification Review Board
* 2020 Annual meeting was held online via Zoom Virtual for the first time because of COVID-19.
* 2021 Gene Kodama SAF President attended the annual meeting.
* 2021 Ryan Armbrust will serve a 3-year term on the national Forest Policy Committee.
* 2021 Habitat for Humanity tree allowance will be increased to $100 per tree.
* 2022 SAF HDS listed the Great Plains Biochar Initiative as one of the State Society Success Stories (Dave Bruton, Heather (Nobert) Kingery and Larry Biles.
* 2023 Kim Slezak will serve a 3-year term on the national Certification Review Board.
* 2023 Keith Lynch scanned previous minutes and other GPSAF information and transferred to a flash drive.
* 2023 GPSAF Bylaws were revised to follow SAF requirements. The Bylaws will be voted on 2024 after committee makes changes.
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