ISA Cetified Arborist Agreement

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I don't know any "fly by nighters" that are CA's.

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I do. There's a guy here in Crunkville who does tree jobs for meth money. He's a CA.



SZ
 
In the beginning a few individuals recognized that without some pride in workmanship the trade of arborculture would languish without a code of ethics.

And so a code of ethics was written. Not by one but by many to perpetuate quality standards in the industry.

But in the beginning when the ethics were written a persons private life, convictions or beliefs wasn't part of it. Just true heart tree people.

http://www.cal-arb-association.com/creed.html
 
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Does anyone know if there are ANY cases where an isa C.A. has had their cert. revoked because of doing substandard work?

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Nope not once, the ISA needs it's members and money more then any said ethic code they write. Just cuase they ask doesn't mean they won't give it too you. It's worded that way to make the rightuos feel better about themself while others just hack away.

Only thing I seen is them take it to some that fasle adver in the phone book. More so cuase they want their money if your going to add it to your phone book add.
 
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I'm in favor of it. Hopefully it will eliminate the fly by nighters that are CA's. Who wants a criminal on their property?

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So you've never sped a little on the highway? Gotten a ticket?

Those are criminal acts, too, dude.

I possess a Class A license to carry a concealed handgun. If my record is good enough for the FBI, it should be good enough for anybody; but alas, even I couldn't answer NO to everything.
 
Are there other trade related organizations that ask for this kind of disclosure? TCIA or ASCA or whoever? I thought it was going to ask me if I've ever topped a tree or chucked a birds nest into the chipper. This agreement comes across as being a bit 'American', (sorry boys), whereas ISA is supposedly international. ISA isn't my employer, but even they couldn't ask me for a drug test if I wasn't required to carry a gun or look after the blind. Did any Dutch arborists sign off on this? Its legal to escape from prison there. I don't see much relevance in this document and hope its not serious or I will consider throwing my money at some other international organization.
 
I started climbing here in San Diego at 17 in 1978 and loved it. I was young and got into a lot of dumb trouble. I got cert. treeworker in 1992 and had to sign that or a similar paper. I did. Got my cert.arborist and signed again. All the while with little skirmishes. I don't care what they think, I signed, I am good. Right?
Jeff
 
Monitor my ethics for treecare, not my life. It's like they are starting there own religion. First, tell mr how to live at work (which I agree with), then tell me how to live my life outside of work. Next, tell me what I'm allowed to eat and drink and what I can and can't say.

ISA should be worried about work ethics only. Is my money and dedication any different then a guy who has no criminal backround? Hell no.

If I'm forced to sign a paper then I'll be forced to look for a different certification.
 
Tom brought-up Joe McCarthy. That's a pretty accurate comparison.

Jerry's post of the director's comfirmation e-mail, re-read a couple times, clearly points out the ramifications of not completing the questionaire.

My discussions of professional tree care to people and clients just got a few minutes longer. ISA-affiliations or the prospect of the organization itself just found it tougher to compete here on the Plateau, I guarantee it. 15 years of exclusivity in working two local city contract agreements without ISA certification, today I'm going to both city halls to re-inforce the agreements and spell-out carefully the reasons why.

ISA hasn't been a dominate presense in the Hill Country, now they'll never be even an accepted one.

Also in the interest of fairness, Executive Director Skiera's along with the board's names might well be queried to subscription data bases that will provide exhaustive background checks and made public - in the interest of "public safety" and the membership's "right to know".
 
Re criminal/quasi criminal -

I sat my CA exam at the University of West Virginia, on the way home to VA I was caught speeding, I was in a gold Ford Focus trying to race a Chevy pickup full of weirdos down a mountain side, after my speeding violation I visited Don Blair's place in Maryland and bought a pair a Bashlin alloys to cheer myself up, I also bought Shigo's 'A New Tree Biology' which is so unreadable its criminal.
 
You better voluntarily destroy then submit your certification remnants by certified mail - back to the issuing organization. Admit remorse and accept punitive restitutional measures. Please disclose, for the public's interest, any further violations of moral code up to and including any malice or foresight regarding lust, greed, or lighting a firecracker on the Forth of July in areas regulated to prohibit discharge in times of drought or Terror Alert Level Pink. Report any infractions to above Ethical guidelines for reward CEU points that may restore certain rights and priviledges deemed accetable by the governing body of ISA up to but not including permission to practice tree care in any shape, function or form until such a time deemed acceptable by the ISA.
 
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Executive Director Skiera's along with the board's names might well be queried to subscription data bases that will provide exhaustive background checks and made public - in the interest of "public safety" and the membership's "right to know".

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Throwing the ball back in their court? Why not, may get some interesting information.


who has access to a 'subscription data base' ?
 
At least the sky is not falling.

The form and text only asks for information. Does not say that everything and anything would be a problem for the applicant. The organization is voluntary and the whole process will be approached or avoided by the applicant.

If the ISA applied consequences for anything that was related to the form, I'd say that could seem unreasonable according to my opinion, but it would not be invasion.
 
First I've seen of this, it doesn't smell good. If I'm asked to fill this out for renewal I will refuse and suffer the consequences.

Certification used to be the easy part of being legitimate. The whole process of licensing and insurance seems to be designed to keep decent honest companies behind the eight ball while illegal companies that don't waste their time on such foolishness can run amuck with no fear of repercussion. CAs don't need to be hamstrung by more paperwork, we already know about CRZs and proper pruning and monoculture planting and the importance of water - we're the good guys. Why is our organization worried about whether we ever stole a car or shoplifted or smoked pot. Instead let's start fining sewer companies that dig an eight foot deep trench right NEXT to an old Oak tree.

Where is this going? Profiling? If you had a shady background will you be less likely to provide your guys with PPE?...more likely to top a tree or overcharge a little old lady? Not me. If need be I'm prepared to certify myself - Raven's Independent Arborist Certification - i bet I'll pass the test.
 
Eric, you have reflected my thoughts perfectly.

I have proctored exams for them and represented my Province on the Prairie Chapter Board.

I do NOT like the smell of this thing at ALL!

I could learn to live without 'em. Most of the jobs that require certification here go to the lowest bidder anyway. My problem is with the no-tallent, unlicensed, un-insured people. What does the ISA do with all the membership money anyways? Lets see 21000 members X $205/member= $4.3 million

For my $205.00 I get a crappy card, A quarterly magazine, and get to turn in fellow CA's, while Joe wack and hack gets to carry on. Nope I won't sign it in it's present form either!
 
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If the ISA applied consequences for anything that was related to the form, I'd say that could seem unreasonable according to my opinion, but it would not be invasion.

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Good point, but time will tell if they 'apply the consequences' as stated in the form.

To date, I have yet to learn of ANY C.A. who has been disqualified by the ISA for ANY reason. So who knows what may become of this.

But the fact remains, and I think this is why so many people are talking about it, is that the ISA is asking for information which can be perceived as invasive.

The argument that 'if you have nothing to hide why worry', is specious IMO.
 

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