For those unable to attend, our speakers were among the best we could have possibly have had (present company excluded, of course!) The news on the spread of Emerald Ash Borer and its impact in Kentucky and the Plant Pathology Updates are important in helping us be better arborists and help our clients with better tree care. Dr. Bonnie Appleton’s research work added a tremendous bonus to how we will be able to plant trees and increase their survival rates. If you attended the tour at Bernheim, you got to see one of our favorite TREE FUND Research Recipients in true form, mudding in bur oak and sycamore trees that had severe root problems that were at least somewhat corrected with this new process, plus you also got to see Dave Leonard use his newest tool, which removes media from roots in minutes without excess damage to the roots. It isn’t hard to see why Dave received one of the first “TRUE PROFESSIONALS” Awards from ISA this year!

Our greatest bonus, however, was the benefit of having the ISA Executive Director, Jim Skiera, come down from Champaign, IL. To present a program Wednesday afternoon on how we are worldwide with professional tree care, flying us literally around the globe to see what others are doing in arboriculture – I think everyone there was interested in getting the rules from the Dutch contingency on how to play soccer with leaf blowers in the mud!

Also, to those who weren’t able to attend, I would like to say thank you for allowing me to be your President. I look forward to the next two years of being active in this position, and also working with our Board members, Executive Director Dino Kent, and Terry Stamper as Presidentelect.