Isa Membership Problems Enough is Enough

Mike Haskell

Mike Haskell

Location
Central Jersey
As a 3rd generation tree expert. My family started back in 1952, and myself starting at knee high in 1981! I have been a ISA certified arborist since 2009. I just found out my Arborist Cert. was deactivated last April. Without any letter or email!!! Reason Due to lack of payment which was sent in. With over 30 CEU's and a great history. I even provided proof showing payment. They reply it has to go to a appeal board in March 2018! OR PAY THEM ANOTHER $295 AND RETAKE TEST. Even with my proof! They stated i would have to wait months for board to review. SMH enough is enough. I can't help but to feel like they are all about the money!!! If you figure all the money I paid to get all CEU’s. All GONE! Money to get to ISA Shows and classes! GONE!
The funny thing is they got my $135 professional memebership fee and $25 chapter fee. But never got my re-cert. fee. Now I have to wait 4 months for board to review or retake test. Smh
Membership and being apart of something has officially gone out the window!
Has anybody else experience this or similar? Lets talk!
 
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GregManning said:
I think this will be an interesting discussion.
Personally, I would like to see it stay on topic (not derailed ! ).
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I agree! This is a serious issue. I tried not to go to level! However I worked my whole life to get to this point. I am not even going to hide behind a user name! Needs to stop! And I hope it ends the thoughtless decisions their staff and management makes for these situations!
 
[QUOTE="I can't help but to feel like they are all about the money!!! Lets talk![/QUOTE]

I am not an arborist; I just like trees and tree people !

I'm sorry, but I agree with the comment.

To date, I have volunteered for at least 70 TCC's.
I have also volunteered for an ISA video on "How to Conduct a TCC", etc, etc.

In 2013, after participating in 3 ITCC's, a NAmTCC & numerous chapter TCC's, I was informed by ISA that I needed to be an ISA member to volunteer !

AFTER spending several Thousands of $ (per event) on travel, food, hotels; ISA wanted me to send them $30 to become a member !

If I were already a member (any family member), my wife, daughter, grandmother, etc.; could volunteer !
Basically, they just wanted my $ !

I went on-line and found that Kentucky had a Senior ISA membership for $5 ! ! !
That made me "safe" & "acceptable" per the ISA.

It satisfied the ISA requirement, & I was accepted at the 2014 ISA ITCC in Milwaukee, WI.

I will continue to volunteer for Chapter TCC's, Jambo, & other TCC events !
 
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GregManning said:
[QUOTE="I can't help but to feel like they are all about the money!!! Lets talk!
Click to expand...

I am not an arborist; I just like trees and tree people !

I'm sorry, but I agree with the comment.

To date, I have volunteered for at least 70 TCC's.
I have also volunteered for an ISA video on "How to Conduct a TCC", etc, etc.

In 2013, after participating in 3 ITCC's, a NAmTCC & numerous chapter TCC's, I was informed by ISA that I needed to be an ISA member to volunteer !

AFTER spending several Thousands of $ (per event) on travel, food, hotels; ISA wanted me to send them $30 to become a member !

If I were already a member (any family member), my wife, daughter, grandmother, etc.; could volunteer !
Basically, they just wanted my $ !

I went on-line and found that Kentucky had a Senior ISA membership for $5 ! ! !
That made me "safe" & "acceptable" per the ISA.

It satisfied the ISA requirement, & I was accepted at the 2014 ISA ITCC in Milwaukee, WI.

I will continue to volunteer for Chapter TCC's, Jambo, & other TCC events ![/QUOTE]
Thank you for your reply!
You would think they would’ve tried to contact me after they deposited my money for the 2017 renewals. Stating hey you missed your certification payment would you like to pay now. But nothing or something! We have them on a recorded line saying we sent you emails in regards to you missing your certified arborist renewal. That was Lie I did not got one email !
 
kiteflyingeek said:
I've considered joining the organization but considering this is not the first story like this, I'm not even going to try.

--andrew
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It’s upsetting. I still believe in the cause. But I am hoping to this gets resolved in the next 48 hours. The representative on phone said she passed my concerns on up to the next level. 6 hours later still no repspone other than they received my $295 payment to take exam again.
 
Look at your bank records. I assume you didn’t send them cash? If the payment cleared it’s fully on them. Did you get any confirmation email?
Regardless I think they should have sent out a second notice, extension option or give you some wiggle room.
I have had my issues with the isa. Years ago I had enough work experience to take the test. The issue was that I worked for a owner operator who died from a work accident. So I called to see if I can send professional references. I had three other certified arborist, clients, and his wife willing to write, call, or what ever was needed to legitimize my work experience. No dice, they wouldn’t accept it, had to be direct from the employer. This made my jaw hit the floor, and left a very bad taste in my mouth. So long story short two of the other LONG STANDING certified arborist I had direct employment from I used for my work history (then 5+ years experience). I called and asked to see if the ISA ever verified. Nope...

I feel that they need some competition to feel a little uncomfortable, and step up their game. Ceu’s are too easy, test has been dumbed down, and public out reach is dwendling. I am about to be able to take my BCMA, other than a pat on the back I don’t see the point. Around here people still are clueless on who the ISA is and some of the ones that are more hip just know to ask “are you a licensed arborist?” They have no idea what the hell a qualified tree risk assessor is, and even less for a BCMA Arborist.
 
evo said:
Look at your bank records. I assume you didn’t send them cash? If the payment cleared it’s fully on them. Did you get any confirmation email?
Regardless I think they should have sent out a second notice, extension option or give you some wiggle room.
I have had my issues with the isa. Years ago I had enough work experience to take the test. The issue was that I worked for a owner operator who died from a work accident. So I called to see if I can send professional references. I had three other certified arborist, clients, and his wife willing to write, call, or what ever was needed to legitimize my work experience. No dice, they wouldn’t accept it, had to be direct from the employer. This made my jaw hit the floor, and left a very bad taste in my mouth. So long story short two of the other LONG STANDING certified arborist I had direct employment from I used for my work history (then 5+ years experience). I called and asked to see if the ISA ever verified. Nope...

I feel that they need some competition to feel a little uncomfortable, and step up their game. Ceu’s are too easy, test has been dumbed down, and public out reach is dwendling. I am about to be able to take my BCMA, other than a pat on the back I don’t see the point. Around here people still are clueless on who the ISA is and some of the ones that are more hip just know to ask “are you a licensed arborist?” They have no idea what the hell a qualified tree risk assessor is, and even less for a BCMA Arborist.
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I would be curious to see a list of the salary's that are paid to the ISA employees. I am sure its public info. I find organizations like this start off with a good ideas and great support. Then as the money starts to flow....they pad their pockets and the services start to dwindle. Might not be the case with ISA. But I would be curious to see what the payout is.
 
Yeah round and around it goes...makes me think of the arguement about our industry needing to become more like plumbers and electricians where you have to be licensed to work with trees. I dont see this happening anytime soon though. Thoughts? Can O Proverbial Worms?

My market is growing and pretty competitive, 12 BCMAs within 50 mile radius according to the ISA Find an Arborist feature, so having credentials can help here.
 
JD3000 said:
Yeah round and around it goes...makes me think of the arguement about our industry needing to become more like plumbers and electricians where you have to be licensed to work with trees. I dont see this happening anytime soon though. Thoughts? Can O Proverbial Worms?

My market is growing and pretty competitive, 12 BCMAs within 50 mile radius according to the ISA Find an Arborist feature, so having credentials can help here.
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I haven't thought too hard about the licensing thing.....so I am sure their will be two sides of this argument. But on first thought I think a licensing would be good for our trade. Maybe allow us to raise our prices even more.
Honestly. People can sniff out bull shit. I am a certified arborist but honestly.....it doesn't get me a ton of work. What gets me work is returning the phone call, showing up on time for the consult, and then just listening to my clients issues. Reading and studying about trees, visiting arboretums on my vacations, taking online soil and insect classes. This all gets me more work and knowledge than my ISA certification does. Plus, most of the stuff we do is cutting trees down.
 
Right but I fell a handful of trees a year at best so most of my work is of the bugs n crud n disorders variety so staying up on it takes a lot. However, the test to apply pesticides and fert isnt terribly difficult here and maintaining that licence is even easier. Lots of hacks out there doing this kind of work as well. Getting the bar off the floor would help tremendously.
 
JD3000 said:
.....However, the test to apply pesticides and fert isnt terribly difficult here and maintaining that licence is even easier. Lots of hacks out there doing this kind of work as well.....
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Not to mention the hacks who don't even know an applicator license is required. Or those who screw up big time. Ohio Department of Ag isn't real tough where they need to be. I don't want them headhunting to put people out of business, but would be nice to see a little stronger enforcement of their laws. I bring that up because these are the same difficulties with arborist licensing. Who is going to enforce the laws? That also leads to my biggest 'issue' with ISA, is they don't protect their brand strong enough. Which leads me back to the OP - what are they going to do if you continue to call yourself a CA on your marketing materials? Are they saying you are NOT certified while it is in contention?
 
Organizations make mistakes and frontline people can get hung up on process and procedures that in specific cases make little to no sense. In my experience the only person who can effectively elevate to the next level is myself.
I'll say, " I understand you are not authorized to do any more than you've offered. So, let me talk to the person that is. If they're unavailable let me talk to their manager or whomever is available that has the authority to make the decision."

ISA has many faults but it won't change if we just walk away. As members we need to keep pressing them for improvement.
 
treehumper said:
Organizations make mistakes and frontline people can get hung up on process and procedures that in specific cases make little to no sense. In my experience the only person who can effectively elevate to the next level is myself.
I'll say, " I understand you are not authorized to do any more than you've offered. So, let me talk to the person that is. If they're unavailable let me talk to their manager or whomever is available that has the authority to make the decision."

ISA has many faults but it won't change if we just walk away. As members we need to keep pressing them for improvement.
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Well lets see if the discussion makers call me today. Its hard to believe. We have recorded line at our office. They stated they even emailed me the termination notice! BUT they don't have that on file???
 
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