S UTHERN ISSUE
S O U T H E R N C H A P T E R O F T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L S O C I E T Y O F A R B O R I C U LT U R E
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Southern Chapter VIPs pictured above: Former President Beau Brodbeck, President Matt Searels, President-Elect Hallie Dozier, and Former President Tom Wolf.
Message to the Membership Matt Searels, Southern Chapter President Each year the Tour des Trees offers a new set of challenges ... and from the per-ride briefing before taking flight out of Chattanooga, I knew that I was about to experience the ride of my life with some of the biggest climbs and the coldest temperatures. But, ready or not, I was going to throw my leg over the top tube to see if my legs could carry me farther, faster, and higher than they ever have before. The stage was set: Reno past Lake Tahoe into Northern California, all packaged in a perfect itinerary with an elevation totaling 29,419’. Did you know that the elevation of Mt. Everest is 29,032’? In the cycling world, we have this challenge called “Everesting” where you simply pick any hill in the world and ride repeats until you hit the elevation of Mt. Everest. We also call the people who complete this challenge crazy … and they’re my heroes. It was definitely a little crazy as we would be exceeding the elevation PAGE 2
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • FALL 2023
of Everest during the five day course by more than 400 miles. We were met with the most demanding course but discovered how to have the most fun we have ever had on bicycles in the process. The beauty of every vista far exceeded the challenge of climbing to each summit. Our Southern Chapter team consisted of Tom Wolf, Beau Brodbeck, Hallie Dozier, and me. Thank you for supporting our riders as we rode to raise funds to shape the future of trees, the arboriculture profession, and literally our world. For more than 75 years, the Southern Chapter has provided community support to our members through service and events like this one. The Southern Chapter is part of a community that supports, not only our members, but an industry that enhances the beauty, safety, and livability of our communities through science-based tree care. We are making a difference and we didn’t even have to climb the real Mt. Everest to make it happen!
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Southern Chapter Report by Skip Kincaid, Southern Chapter Executive Director
Just as we knew it would, our weather has finally cooled a bit and made our time outdoors a bit more tolerable. We all love the work we do, but a few days (or weeks) of moderate temperatures is surely welcome. I find myself wiping my brow a bit less and looking up at a crisp sky and fall colors a bit more! On days when the computer has me in a stranglehold and I’m not lucky enough to be outside, I’m constantly updating our event list and updating our calendar to include courses offered by the many educational organizations within the Southern Chapter. It seems that the number of events and courses that are available makes a big jump this time each year. There’s also a solid trend upward in the number of courses offered by the Chapter year round. Check out the calendar of upcoming events to see the two full TRAQ Courses and five TRAQ Virtual Renewal Courses. The full classes are 2023 offerings, and watch for many more in the coming weeks for the 2024 calendar year. We will very likely hold a TRAQ course right after our upcoming annual conference. The Chapter held six full TRAQ courses in 2023 and six TRAQ renewal courses. Next to the ISA Certified Arborist credential, TRAQ holds a solid second place in the number of credential holders. Speaking of credentials, have you seen the latest information about the updated ISA Tree Climber credential? Test materials and procedures have been updated which should be a welcome announcement for many climbers who have waited for these
changes. Check out the article from Arborist News HERE. New climbing techniques and equipment are now part of the mix. Our Chapter will be offering several opportunities to review material for the written exam and the climbing exam at the 2024 TCC. I’ve mentioned the annual conference and tree climbing twice now, so I guess its time to officially announce the dates and location for 2024. Little Rock, Arkansas, will be home base for the 82nd Annual Conference and Trade Show which will run March 24-26. The 41st Annual Tree Climbing Championship will take place March 22-24. We have a super cool site selected for the comp with some old and historic trees on a site next door to the conference hotel and the convention center. Details and registration information will be available soon. Check out our website for conference updates AND TCC updates. If you know a company that would be interested in exhibiting or sponsoring some of the Chapter or TCC events, please share this link and thank them for helping our organization. Lastly, I wanted to let you all know that your Board of Directors will be gathering in Charlotte soon for one of our biannual live meetings and a strategy session to discuss ways that we can become even better at delivering the services that you want. Remember that we have the least expensive Chapter membership in the ISA system (just $30/yr) yet we offer some of the most intensive programming that you will find. Share that info with an arborist you know and ask them to join!
Honor someone who stands out in our industry Check out the Southern Chapter’s online awards page for an impressive list of honorees, award criteria descriptions, and nomination form. Award of Merit | Award of Achievement | Honorary Life Membership Award for Excellence in Arboriculture Education President’s Award | John G. Martin Award Award of Arboricultural Research | Award for Excellence in Arboriculture
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Anthropogenic landscape and other cool phrases I just learned by Chris Diffley, Southern Chapter Vice President
I recently had an opportunity to participate in a project for a UNCC graduate student. Phillip Strickland is currently working on his Master’s thesis which is related to Charlotte’s canopy and how the people here perceive and interact with our urban forest. I was one of several participants interviewed by Phillip about my experiences with tree-related conservation, management, and recreational activity. I then took 10 photos around the city related to trees and the urban canopy with consideration given to what I would like to see changed, what about our canopy is healthy/unhealthy, and some interesting/relevant examples of how we utilize the urban canopy. The photos were then added to an ArcGIS Story Map, which will eventually be made public. Being asked my opinions on trees is a quick way to fill an hour even if there isn’t a purpose, but the questions were engaging and insightful, and helped me consider the canopy in ways I hadn’t before. The second part of the project made me realize I spend way too much time taking pictures of terrible trees or horrifying tree-related interactions with the environment as part of my work, and it was refreshing to search out my favorite trees in the city. Afterwards, I asked Phillip a few questions related to the project for this article. Can you give a description of your thesis, so I don’t poorly portray all the hard work you’ve done? My thesis pertains to Charlotteans’ perceptions and lived experiences with the city’s iconic urban tree canopy. It is an effort to amplify and illustrate peoples’ beliefs, ideas, and concerns, be it climate change, rapid urban development, policymaking, etc. The project includes interviews of the people who are most intimately familiar with trees: people who make trees their livelihoods and, in turn, form a culture of their own. But what made this study truly unique was the photovoice element, where I asked my participants to take photographs around their communities to visually elaborate on these experiences. I wanted to see what they were seeing and give them a chance to show what they might not otherwise be able to sufficiently describe with words alone.
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You came to this from an anthropological focus, not the typical network of tree people I’m surrounded with. Has this impacted your relationship with trees/nature? Rule of thumb: If something is relevant to the human condition, then it is relevant to anthropology. Archaeology, linguistics, culture, biology ... it’s all anthropological. When I was an undergraduate, one of my professors, an archaeologist by training, said, “Culture is the it word of anthropology.” And I am inclined to agree. We are the perpetual students of culture, something so ephemeral and complex, embodied and developed by individuals with their own agendas, philosophies, and skillsets. So, why arboriculture? As an applied anthropologist, I have to use careful and deliberate discretion with regards to theory and practice, and much of this depends on a willingness to collaborate and learn from people in other areas of expertise. Growing up in eastern North Carolina, I always had a profound reverence for the environment, as well as for the people who worked to understand and preserve it. I now live in a metropolitan area which is a largely anthropogenic landscape, one resulting from the influence of humans on nature. And, while I still think our environment is something that should be protected, this project has forced me to reconsider what we really mean by this human/nature dichotomy. When we see trees in the city, is it truly reasonable to assume that it is a “natural” feature, or is its existence just as contrived as the stop sign next to it? It is my view that both the tree and the stop sign are man-made symbols of a sort, though their functions and utilities differ. This project forced me to look at trees critically and acknowledge that some may even be invasive, dangerous, or hazardous; all that’s verdant is not equally valuable. Ultimately, in an era of increasing ecological anxiety, I feel that arborists’ voices have been woefully muffled in the discourse. This is an injustice, as I wholeheartedly believe that they will be among our most invaluable intellectuals in all local endeavors to create more climate-resilient communities.
What are some takeaways from your research? One thing I would like people discover is that there seems to be a collective folk-wisdom that emerges which pertains to trees, nature, and sustainability. Over the summer, I worked with TreesCharlotte, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep Charlotte a “City of Trees.” Now, what does this really mean? And to what extent does this resonate with the people who live here? We know that trees provide psychological and physiological health benefits, as well as promoting ecological health in general. We also know that Charlotte is developing at a rapid pace and shedding come of its urban tree canopy. Lastly, it is evident that there are marked disparities between the “Arc” (the geographic area of the city which is characterized by lower socioeconomic status) and the “Wedge” (characterized by more affluent communities), where the former’s tree canopy is comparatively sparse. A similar pattern emerges when we consider health outcomes and access to green space. Ethnic and racial disparities are present here as well. I suggest that when we consider what it means to live in a healthier, more equitable society, the role of trees is rarely acknowledged. You may see calls for access to “green space,” but rarely ever “trees,” specifically. My main point here is that, while trees may not be as important to Charlotteans as, say, more reliable public transportation or affordable housing, they are an integral piece to the puzzle of equity. And I would go so far as to suspect that, to the average Charlottean,
this correlation is both evident and embodied within a broader matrix of socioeconomic disparity, wherein trees are symbolically associated with affluence and well-being. What interactions really stood out during your interviews? In my interactions with informants, I received some valuable insight from individuals who come from varied backgrounds (cultural, occupational, religious, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, age demographic, disability status, etc.). I conducted semistructured interviews with each of them, covering 12 main topics/ questions. My personal favorite and the one that seemed to resonate with most of my informants was a question regarding their most profound memories associated with trees. Some of their memories, often reaching back into early childhood, were recollected with an air of nostalgia; they look off into the distance, up, and to the side as if the memory is somewhere “out there” in their image-world. It is as if they use their eyes to capture the essence of the memory so they can verbalize the time and place, how they felt, what they saw, and why it stuck with them. By doing this exercise, some of them eventually realized just how many of their fondest memories had “happy little trees” painted somewhere in there, and they saw just how much they had taken them for granted. Everyone, please wish Phillip luck when he defends this clearly awesome thesis in a few months!
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A buzzworthy Earth Day service event by Ashley Schulz and Joshua Granger, Mississippi State University Department of Forestry Across the nation and globe, pollinator populations have been in decline over the last few decades. Pollinator species, such as bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, are vital for successful reproduction of many woody and herbaceous plants that exist within the urban and natural environment. To help reduce this decline, pollinator conservation initiatives have called for habitat protection as one possible solution. With the installation of native plantings around buildings on campus, Mississippi State University has taken the catchphrase, “Where wildflowers are planted, bees will follow,” to heart. In celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd, Mississippi State University College of Forest Resources faculty, staff, and students came together to establish a pollinator garden on campus around Thompson Hall. Over 50 people attended the event and helped plant more than 200 potted wildflower perennials and a variety of annual flower seeds. Species included several varieties of butterfly weed, coneflowers, coreopsis, marigolds, hibiscus, and mints. A bee hotel was also established adjacent to the garden area to boost nesting sites for solitary bee species. While these plantings further beautification of the urban forests around campus, the primary intent of the garden space is to promote pollinator diversity and aid in educating students and campus visitors about pollinator conservation. In addition to being recognized the past 11 years as a Tree Campus Higher Education with Arbor Day, Mississippi State University became affiliated since 2021 with Bee Campus USA, an initiative of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Establishment of the pollinator gardens around Mississippi State University, including the gardens at Thompson Hall, the Wildlife and Fisheries Research and Educational Center, Clay Lyle Entomology building, and R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center, will collectively contribute a large area of habitat for pollinators, promote education about planting native trees, shrubs, and perennial herbaceous plants, and help make people who live, work, or play on campus more conscious of pollinators and their ecological importance, especially within the urban forest environment. As the summer has come to an end and a new semester has started, the students, staff, and faculty in the College of Forest Resources have all stopped to admire the beautiful display of colors that have sprung up in the pollinator garden. The combination of white, red, yellow, pink, blue, and purple flowers have welcomed in a variety of pollinator species, ranging from hummingbirds to solitary and social bee species and butterflies. The new garden has also benefited other wildlife, such as squirrels and songbirds, which frequent the woodland area around Thompson Hall. Seeing the immediate, positive impact that our college community created makes us proud to “bee” part of this colony.
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • FALL 2023
Drip! Drip! Drip! by Hallie Dozier, President-Elect
Ah, Fall! Finally, after what seemed the longest, driest, and, without a doubt, hottest summer. Here in Louisiana and elsewhere in the South conditions are inching cooler, but generally staying dry. Fire risk warnings are posted from eastern Texas to eastern South Carolina. Heat and drought are both tree killers, to be certain. The number of visibly stressed trees, browning trees, and defoliating trees is growing across the region. But it is not necessarily true that they are all toast, so to speak, with cooler temperatures and a (hopeful) return to rainy conditions, many trees may be able to recharge, rest and recover. But what to do in the meantime? The advice I have been sharing with others since the precipitation slowed to a (relative) trickle and the heat rose above the century mark for weeks on end is this: water your trees, slowly and deeply, and add mulch. Wait until the spring and the return of reliable moisture to assess before committing to removal. What??? You can water trees? Well, yes, you can. It is unlike watering turf or bedding plants, but yes, you surely can apply water to trees in a way that can be quite effective in keeping them in the landscape. I doubt anyone can afford to water trees to the point that they are out-and-out thriving, but irrigation will be the one thing that keeps the tree from tipping over the edge completely. To help your trees in this drought, water them deeply (read soaker hoses) to six inches or so every two weeks without significant precipitation. If you like, you can evaluate the need and your efforts using a knife or long screwdriver that you push into the ground. If you find it difficult to penetrate the ground, add water and keep doing so (slow and steady wins the race here) until you can drive the probe in easily. In my landscape that usually takes 24-72 hours on drip, drip, drip. If I see water running off the surface of the soil, I know I either have the water volume on too high or I have saturated the area and it’s time to stop. In any case, it’s important to help conserve water and not waste it, especially if there are water-use restrictions in force in your area. Drip! Drip! Drip! Well, it’s cooling off now, so do I really need to add water? Yes. Yes, you do. The drought has been a months-long event, and while cooler temperatures are easier for the plants to tolerate than those 100+ degree days, they still are likely to be in severe water deficit status. Even if the tree has defoliated or is covered with dull or brown leaves, it is important to
add water to the soil to give the tree the opportunity to recharge. Just because the top of the tree seems inactive does not mean the roots are not busy doing their job and trying to recharge and recover. Drip! Drip! Drip! Be kind to your trees. You cannot control the weather, but you can add a drop of water here and there to help them make their way through to the other side. ----------------------------------I echo Matt Searels’ sentiments about the 2023 Tour des Trees (see page 2) and would like to share some additional thoughts. The 380+ mile trip from Reno, NV, to Half Moon Bay, CA, was thrilling, breathtaking, and challenging. All-in-all, this year’s Tour was a rolling (pun intended) success. At last count, the Tour riders have raised $296,990 for research, scholarships, and education programs across the country and the globe. Even better, there is still time to donate to the Southern Chapter Team at this site. To see wonderful images and read fun tales about the 2023 Tour des Trees, visit this FB page.
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • FALL 2023
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A healthy urban forest cleans water, reduces energy costs, and captures pollutants, which are all crucial in the face of climate change. Those concepts are simple enough to understand and quantify, but reducing embodied carbon, a topic receiving more and more attention, is a more complex opportunity that the urban forest is strategically positioned to address. Embodied carbon is a relatively new concept that quantifies the greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout the whole lifecycle of a building. It includes everything from reducing waste during construction to considering the recyclability of products at the end of a building’s use. Wood products are one of many methods that can reduce embodied carbon because of the way trees use and store carbon. Trees reduce carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas, by capturing atmospheric carbon (carbon sequestration) and storing it in woody tissues (carbon storage). As long as the wood remains intact, that carbon continues to be locked away, providing a climate benefit. A report released this month from the Rocky Mountain Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council creates a roadmap for reducing embodied carbon in the building industry. According to the report, while use of forest products can be a positive, “there are aspects of wood sourcing—such as forestry practices with poor climate outcomes, wider land-use impacts, and energy-intensive product manufacturing—that can lead wood to have high emission and ecological impacts.” And while Environmental Product Declarations exist for wood products, they do not currently account for all the carbon flows associated with wood harvesting, like emissions from soil degradation, slash decomposition, and leftover forest wood waste and residue incineration. This is where urban trees are well-suited to maximize climate benefits through locally salvaged wood products. In addition to all the specialized benefits provided to the urban ecosystem during a tree’s lifetime, urban trees also provide an opportunity for “climate responsible wood procurement.” They can be cut with minimal ecological disturbance, do not contribute to conversion of land from forest to another use, and while wood waste may be inevitable, utilizing wood from urban trees that fall or are removed as a part of management practices actually reduces waste streams by identifying usable wood instead of discarding the entire tree. Carbon captured by trees can be stored for the useful by Anne Randle, Alabama Director life of the product, while new urban trees are planted to repeat to the cycle. Supply chains for urban wood products can be cumbersome, as infrastructure to connect suppliers, manufacturers, and consumers is often not in place. However, companies like Cambium Carbon and organizations like the Urban Wood Network are working to bridge that gap, and more and more municipalities are adopting wood reuse plans as a part of urban forest management. While challenges certainly remain, it’s clear that reducing embodied carbon is an emerging focus for the sustainable building industry. Arborists should take advantage of this momentum and find ways for urban trees to meet that goal.
Urban forests poised to meet sustainability goals in the building industry
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • FALL 2023
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ARBORMETRICS — COMPREHENSIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
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TREE C.P.R. Care. Preserve. Repurpose. Impoverished neighborhoods. Unavailable opportunities. Second chances. Providing resources. Tree C.P.R. is an urban forestry workforce development program hosted by The Works, Inc., in Memphis. This program, funded by the Tree Equity Workforce Network grant from American Forests, is designed to impact those facing barriers to traditional employment, have little-tono knowledge or experience in arboriculture, and who live in low income areas. Kayla Stuart, a UT Knoxville graduate student pursuing studies under Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe, handcrafted the curriculum to offer a multitude of meaningful career opportunities within the world of urban forestry. Tree C.P.R employs 12 participants full-time over an 8-week period. The 12-person cohort was handpicked from more than 60 applicants within the City of Memphis area including the Smokey City, Frayser, and Klondike areas. All participants have socioeconomic barriers to entering the workforce, and their careers and current jobs have been in various communities of the city. Classroom activities included special programs with me, Mike Born, Mike Larrivee, Jeff Carroll, and other industry professional individuals included on curriculum. The goal of this program is to create a first, second, and sometimes a third chance for individuals to break into new careers within the urban forestry realm. This opportunity is providing resources that benefit their individual communities, and to begin their journey to an ongoing education in urban forestry. The participants were additionally engaged in learning more about nutrition to create a healthier lifestyle, how to build a strong credit score, how to develop a realistic budget, operating heavy equipment, standard operating procedures (SOP) of a sawmill production, how to invest in their personal efforts for success, and extensive studies on tree identification. This program provided C.P.R. and OSHA10 certifications which will put the participating class a few steps forward. My favorite part of this eight-week journey was the team building exercises that involved daily walks and stretching to provide motivation and togetherness. This also gave us the opportunity to meet the people in the neighborhood. Outdoor activities included visits to Memphis Urban Wood;
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SUMMER FALL 20232023
Memphis Native Tree Works; National Hardwood Lumber Association; Classic American Hardwood; Mobile Grocer by The Works, Inc.; South Memphis Farmers Market; ElmWood Cemetery Arboretum; 38 Woodworks; forest bathing at Overton Park; The Greenline; Works Urban Farm; and a local compost facility. During some of these field visits the participants planted trees and cleared out unwanted, woody debris. From the very beginning, everyone was allowed to be themselves. This team of 12 felt their success as each individual learned something new and different from the challenging skills tests that were given throughout the program. Many of them would like to start their own businesses and/or start a career in the field of urban forestry. Tree C.P.R. is an original program designed to help individuals think forward, work through personal hurdles, and begin making an environmental impact in their communities. And, to be honest, I think it’s doing just that. Not only does this new team work well together, they also have gained a new energy to be the best they can be everyday, even more so than before. They want to learn more about the urban forestry community and want to be engaged with other people with the same interests. I am looking forward to seeing what exciting things they will accomplish and what changes they will make within our city to better the odds. There is a vacant lot next to where their classes take place and the participants were given the task to design an “event ready” community green space. This would also include a new art mural on the side of the building, removing any invasive species of trees and plants, and installing benches and a small picnic area where neighborhood residents can UNITE. I look forward to the success of the participants of the Tree C.P.R. program and our lifelong friendships. I anticipate continued positive progression created by Tree C.P.R. to care for our communities, preserve our communities, and repurpose our community resources. This article is a collaborative effort from Southern Chapter Tennessee Director, Wes Hopper, with the 12 participants and Kayla Stuart.
Southern Chapter losses Our friend Martha Carter Minix passed away on April 19, 2023. Please keep her parents, longtime Executive Director Dwayne Carter and Karen Carter, her sister Elizabeth, husband Kevin, and especially her daughter Clara in your thoughts. We’re sorry to learn of Carl Absher’s passing. He served as our board president in 2007 and was a great friend of the Southern Chapter. Carl passed away on September 23, 2023, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where his final days were spent surrounded by close family following a tough and heroic fight against cancer. Dwayne Carter shared this story about Ernie Mitchell who recently passed away. “Only the old timers of the Southern Chapter membership would remember Ernie Mitchell and they would have never have forgotten him. He was a mover and shaker. I was visiting him in Yadkinville one day and he said, ‘Come on with me, I am closing on a house here.’ I told him I couldn’t go into a lawyer’s office with him and he told me I was his lawyer so COME ON! Darndest horse trade for a house I’ve seen involving a lake house in South Carolina and an antique Pepsi cooler box (like the ones at a country store) that was the hinge pin of the transaction. It was sitting on the front porch of the lake house! I sat there and didn’t say a word ....”
Out on a limb by David Vandergriff, Southern Chapter CoR Increasing awareness of arboriculture as a career and educating the public about our passion for trees and professional tree care is something we should all be doing at every opportunity. ISA has produced a new short-length documentary that is a great tool to use and is now available on youtube. Please check out this documentary and share it with others when you have an opportunity. I think you will agree it is well done and a easy way for us to increase awareness that will benefit everyone and our profession.
Student Scholarships Scholarships for students attending 2-year and 4-year college or university. A scholarship is also available to assist with costs for a graduate student to attend ISA Southern conference. MAY 1 APPLICATION DEADLINE
www.isasouthern.org/scholarship SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • FALL 2023
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is heading to
Little Rock, Arkansas
March 24-26, 2024 Tree Climbing Championship Conference & Trade Show Saturday, March 23 Preliminary Competitions (All Day) Climbers Credential Workshop (All Day)
Sunday, March 24 Masters’ Challenge (Morning) ISA Certification Exams (Afternoon) Awards Ceremony (Late Afternoon)
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Sunday, March 24 Workshops (Morning) ISA Certification Exams (Afternoon) Opening General Session (Late Afternoon) President’s Welcome Reception (Evening)
Monday & Tuesday, March 25-26 Educational Sessions Trade Show Tree Academy
Competitor Registration & Volunteer Sign-ups will open in December.
Booth & Sponsorship sales open now. Registration opens in December.
isasouthern.org/tree-climbing-championship
isasouthern.org/conference
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • FALL 2023
Upcoming Events & CEU Opportunities in the Southern Chapter Region
Check out all the new CEU opportunities listed in the next few pages of this publication. This list is kept current on the Southern Chapter website as well. Save the site to your “favorites” as an easy access portal for events and registration information. If you know of opportunities we haven’t listed, please share! Email skincaid@isasouthern.org and we’ll get it posted. While many of the face-to-face workshops and conferences have been canceled, we have worked hard to partner with organizations to be sure you get a wide range of opportunities to stay sharp. This list contains upcoming events that we are aware of. All the courses and conferences listed provide opportunities to earn ISA CEUs that help you maintain your ISA certifications. ISA is also offering no cost quizzes for articles to give you more opportunities to earn CEUs.
Educational Events
Webinar Developers and Hosts TREE Fund Urban Forestry Today Forestry Webinars Urban Forest Connections USDA Forest Service Utility Arborist Association North Carolina Urban Forest Council Arborjet Webinars Professional Arborists Association of MS (PAAM) Alabama Extension Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements Webinars
Most events are approved for ISA CEUs. Check each registration site for details.
October 17, 2023 3:00pm-5:00pm Eastern APPLIED USE TO THE PLANT APPRAISAL GUIDE Webinar Instructor: Mark Duntemann This webinar will help answer many questions about tree appraisal. What is the true economic value of a tree? How do you quantify a tree’s ecological benefits to its host community? Attend this two-hour presentation get an in-depth look at how you can approach the tree appraisal process in city or town. Information available HERE. October 18, 2023 1:00pm - 2:00pm Eastern SPONGY MOTH: RECENT IMPACTS, SPREAD, AND MANAGEMENT OF A NON-NATIVE DEFOLIATOR This webinar offered by Clemson will provide information about spongy moth formerly known as gypsy moth. Information and registration is available HERE October 25-26, 2023 UAA TENNESSEE REGIONAL MEETING Sweetwater, TN The meeting will bring together a representative group of utility vegetation management & high performers with a variety of views & experiences to educate & be educated on experiences in the utility field. The meeting allows all levels to come together & learn hands on with the experts on the topics. Information and registration is available HERE
October 27, 2023 WOODS IN YOUR BACKYARD Florence, SC This one-day workshop will cover topics about managing woodland trees homes. Information and registration is available HERE November 1, 2023 8:00am - 3:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (online) CLASS IS FULL AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE November 2-3, 2023 Trees SC Annual Conference Folly Beach, SC Trees SC hosts their annual conference with a great line up of presentations. Topics include saving chestnut, history of Beaufort County’s trees, tree growth regulators, managing urban forests, DOT ROW management, ALB, tree ordinances, and tree selection. Information and registration is available HERE. November 9, 2023 9:00am-3:00pm Eastern CAROLINA CANOPY WORKSHOP: SOIL MANAGEMENT Greenville, NC Instructor: Dr. Barbara Fair and Mark Livingston The goal of this workshop by the NC Urban Forest Council is to inform arborists, landscape contractors, and planners about soil science and soil management techniques. Information available HERE.
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Educational Events (continued) November 14, 2023 3:00pm-4:00pm Eastern CHAMPION BIG TREES IN URBAN FORESTS WEBINAR Instructor: Eric Wiseman Champion big trees growing in urban forests are a source of wonderment and community pride. Documenting these trees is a passion shared by people from many walks of life – both hobbyists and professionals. Discovering that a tree has reached exceptionally large size for its species often affords the tree special attention and care from arborists and conservationists. Information available HERE. November 15, 2023 1:00pm - 2:00pm EASTERN OAK WILT BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT This webinar offered by Clemson will provide information about oak wilt biology and management. Information and registration is available HERE November 15-17, 2023 TRAQ - FULL COURSE NEARLY FULL Fairhope, AL Please read the “ISA TRAQ Application Guide” to be very clear about the full course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for the either course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached. Register early!! Additional information can be found on the Southern Chapter website. Register for TRAQ FULL Course - Fairhope AL HERE November 29, 2023 9:00am-1:00pm Eastern ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST, UTILITY SPECIALIST, AND MUNICIPAL SPECIALIST EXAM Columbia, SC ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist Exams are scheduled for November 29, 2023. Applicants for the exam must register by November 7, 2023 at the ISA website. Registering for an exam includes creating or logging in to your ISA account HERE and then clicking to find the test date and location. December 6-7, 2023 CERTIFIED ARBORIST PREP COURSE AND REVIEW Greensboro, NC Participants of this two-day workshop will receive professional instruction that improves their technical competency as an arborist in the tree care industry. As sponsors of this prepratory course, the NC Urban Forest Council, NC Cooperative Extension, and the Southern Chapter seek to accomplish the following objectives: 1. Create incentives for nascent arborists to continue their professional development. 2. Provide the public with a means to identify tree care professionals who have demonstrated trusted competency in tree care practices, through a professionally developed education program and exam. Information and registration is available HERE.
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • FALL 2023
December 8, 2023 9:00am-1:00pm Eastern ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST, UTILITY SPECIALIST, AND MUNICIPAL SPECIALIST EXAM Greensboro, NC ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist Exams are scheduled for December 8, 2023. Applicants for the exam must register by November 20, 2023 at the ISA website. Registering for an exam includes creating or logging in to your ISA account HERE and then clicking to find the test date and location. December 13-15, 2023 TRAQ - FULL COURSE NEARLY FULL Raleigh, NC Please read the “ISA TRAQ Application Guide” to be very clear about the full course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for the either course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached. Register early!! Additional information can be found on the Southern Chapter website. Register for TRAQ FULL Course - Raleigh NC HERE December 19, 2023 3:00pm-4:00pm Eastern HOW TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN WOMEN AND UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN ARBORICULTURE WEBINAR Instructor: Erin Demers and Naomi Zurcher Are you searching for strategies to expand your tree care workforce among women and other under-represented groups? Speakers will discuss current demographics of the arborist workforce; challenges women and other under-represented groups confront when advancing their arborist careers; and strategies employers can use to attract and keep employees on their team. Information available HERE. January 24, 2024 SC GREEN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE Columbia, SC This one-day workshop will cover topics about managing woodland trees homes. Information and registration is available HERE January 26, 2024 12:30pm-4:30pm Central ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST, UTILITY SPECIALIST, AND MUNICIPAL SPECIALIST EXAM Raymond, MS ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist Exams are scheduled for January 26, 2024. Applicants for the exam must register by January 5, 2024, at the ISA website. Registering for an exam includes creating or logging in to your ISA account HERE and then clicking to find the test date and location. February 2, 2024 9:00am-Noon Eastern ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST, UTILITY SPECIALIST, AND MUNICIPAL SPECIALIST EXAM REGISTRATION AVAILABLE SOON
Columbia, SC ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist Exams are scheduled for February 2, 2024. Applicants for the exam must register by January 5, 2024, at the ISA website. Registering for an exam includes creating or logging in to your ISA account HERE and then clicking to find the test date and location.
Educational Events (continued) February 7, 2024 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (on-line) Co-hosted event with ISA Southern, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, and Midwestern Chapters This is a virtual renewal option and is only available for those that already have the TRAQ credential. The course fee includes all fees for the course and exams. After you attend the course, ISA will send you information about completing the exam process. Please read the “ISA TRAQ Application Guide” to be very clear about the course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for the course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached. Register early!! Additional information about deadlines/refunds/cancellations can be found on the Southern Chapter website. If class has filled, you can send us an email and ask to be placed on a waiting list or check for other available dates. Click HERE to register for February 7 Renewal Course (Closes January 7 or when capacity is reached)
March 24-26, 2024 ISA Southern Chapter 82nd Annual Conference & Trade Show Statehouse Convention Center | Little Rock, Arkansas www.isasouthern.org/conference May 1, 2024 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (on-line) See information above. Click HERE to Register for May 1 Renewal Course (Closes April 1 or when capacity is reached) August 7, 2024 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (on-line) See information above. Click HERE to Register for August 7 Renewal Course (Closes July 7 or when capacity is reached) November 6, 2024 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (on-line) See information above. Click HERE to register for November 6, 2024 Renewal Course (Closes October 6, 2024 or when capacity is reached)
March 23-24, 2024 ISA Southern Chapter Tree Climbing Championship Little Rock, Arkansas More details will be available November 2023.
OUR STORY IS SAFETY More than 50 years ago, we published This We Believe, a safety declaration that focused on the well-being of our people, families, and communities. It established safety as a value in our culture, not a mere priority or slogan, and defined safety as a moral obligation that is everyone’s responsibility.
“Safety is a VALUE. If someone classifies it as a priority, I believe they may be in the wrong line of work.”
This we still believe. Learn about Davey’s commitment to safety by scanning the code.
Joshua Pressley, Account Manager
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2023-2024 Southern Chapter Officers President: Matt Searels, CNUC President Elect / Treasurer: Hallie Dozier, LSU AgCenter Vice President: Chris Diffley, Arborscapes Chapter CoR Rep: David Vandergriff, Griff Arbor|Hort Tree Climbing Championship: Scott Winningham TREE Fund Liaison: (open) Past President: Jeffrey Morgan, GA Transmission Corporation Media Director and Editor: Sarah Mitchell Conference Planner: Connie Hilson Executive Director: Skip Kincaid
Have you been waiting for an invitation? Here it is: Please join the Southern Chapter online. Facebook Enjoy daily posts of things to make you think and things to make you laugh. Threads
The Great Unknown. Let’s see what happens here.
LinkedIn Find news, articles, and educational information. This is where green-industry professionals gather. Instagram Just the jokes, please. Community Please share, like, and subscribe to our many social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and now Threads.
Encouragement Share the word about our scholarship program (application here). Here’s a chance to assist the next generation of green-industry professionals.
Connection Submit a Member Spotlight form about yourself or interview a colleague for a chance to be highlighted in our quarterly newsletter. Please reach out to newsletter@isasouthern.org for the form request and submittal. Learning Look for educational opportunities on the Southern Chapter website. If you know of opportunities not listed, email us and we’ll post it.
Sharing What’s happening in your part of the Southern Chapter? Send in an article for our quarterly newsletter. PAGE 18
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • FALL 2023
2023-2024 State Directors Alabama: Anne Randle Green Business Certification, Inc. Arkansas: Brian Pope ACRT Louisiana: Brian Watkins BREC Mississippi: Steve Dicke Shady Arbor PLLC North Carolina: Leslie Moorman Town of Cary Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands: Christian W. Torres Santana Coccoloba AgroEnvironnemental Consulting and Coccoloba Nursery South Carolina: Dena Whitesides South Carolina Forestry Commission Tennessee: Wes Hopper Urban Forestry Consulting At-Large: Chris Diffley Arborscapes Tree and Landscape Southern Chapter ISA Website: www.isasouthern.org Phone: (888) 339-8733 Email: isasouthern@isasouthern.org Skip Kincaid, Exec. Director 1609 Missouri Avenue St Louis, MO 63104
To contact your State Director, a member of the Executive Board, or Skip Kincaid at the Southern Chapter office, please email isasouthern@isasouthern.org.
Vintage Plant Drawings Explore the Unseen Beauty of Complex Tree Root Systems
Pinus sylvestris
Plants are usually known for their beautiful flowers, leaves, and branches, but there is a whole other side to them that we rarely see. Netherlands-based Wageningen University & Research possesses an archive of 1,180 drawings that depict the intricate patterns and routes of root systems. These elaborate studies were made over a period of 40 years, focusing on the flora of Europe with particular emphasis on Austria. Click here to see more.
ISA
S UTHERN Website: www.isasouthern.org Phone: (888) 339-8733
Email: isasouthern@isasouthern.org