More speakers at conferences

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
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Retired in Minneapolis
Everyone has gone to a trade show or conference where there is a speaker from the A-List. Could be Harvey McKay or Ed Gilman. They are gifted speakers AND they have actual field experience along with hands-on knowledge. There are also some real yawners on the A-list...no names but I will say that I've listened to some sports people that have no clue...

There are lots of places for people to try their skills as a presenter. Anyone who has ever met with a client to sell a tree job has had to do an impromptu speech and maybe a debate too. As time goes by some of these people develop the skills and value as a speaker to get paid for sharing their knowledge and skills. Time goes by and it becomes a part time career.

Are there people out there that deserve a shot at the limelight? I talk with friends that plan chapter conferences and they are all interested in having speakers. Some chapters don't have the budget to hire an A-lister AND pay for all of the travel expenses too.

If there are people who you know, or yourself, that would be candidates for doing a presentation, you can drop me a note off-line or post their name here.
 
You can jot me down too. I am always looking to shoot off my mouth! I've done bunches of workshops, but never with the ISA.Come to think of it, I've never gotten paid either. You know, I might not be the best candidate. You better take me off that list. No..wait, go ahead. Thanks.
 
This post came out of a conversation with Tim Walsh about the people who have presented at the [late] Student Society of Arborculture conferences. Take a look at a list:

Tim Ard
Dr. John Ball
Dr. Rex Bastian
Don Blair
Dr. Robert Blanchette
Mark Chisholm
Dr. Kim Coder
Dr. Peter Donzelli
Tom Dunlap
Dr. Ed Gilman
Mark Hartley
Bailey Hudson
Jeff Jepson
William kruidenier
Alan Jones
Les LaBranche
Mike Lawson
Melissa LeVangie
Sharon Lilly
Stanley Longstaff
Dr. Don Marx
Dr. Claus Mattheck
Liam McKeown
Dr. Dan Neeley
Sam Noonan
Dwayne Neustaeter
Dealga O'Callaghan
Doreen Orist
Ken Palmer
Robert Phillips
Alan Reeves
Dr. Alex Shigo
Dr. Tom Smiley
Rip Tompkins
Klaus Vollbrecht
Mike Wendt
Scheduled at the next event:

John Hendricksen
de Gouret Litchfield
Peter Jenkins
Cynthia Mills
Peter Gerstenberger
Bob Rouse

All of these folks had a start sometime. The students have had an opportunity to see some very fine people over the years.

Keep volunteering, I'm taking notes!
 
Just got a call from a garden club about speaking in 2007. They wanted one hour inside on pruning. I told them I like to get people outside where the trees are, and would be glad to give them 1 hour inside and 1 hour outside.

Then I told them that I typically get an honorarium of $250 to cover expenses, handouts, preparation, travel, time off work, etc. She said she'd think about it and get back to me. 5 minutes later I got the go-ahead.

Practice at presenting can be done for your local schools, neighborhood groups, POA's HOA's, city planning boards etc. Then you can work your way up in confidence and comfort and go for bigger gigs like the SSA and ISA.

Without university affiliations, you're at a disadvantage, which can be made up for by finding a topic you're passionate about and studying it enough to become an expert. I see TCI Expo and ISA conferences bringing speakers in from the field; a very healthy trend.
 
Be alot more fun if it was on cable and you could you curse words and point fingers at the audience . The shows are getting boring . I end up at the bar wondering if I'm getting loaded or Dynamic loaded , and what forces the beer is doing to my system .
 
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Oh...thanks for piping up Glen!

Glen is another friend who came up to MN for the STSC. He set the room on fire!

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Funny how Glen can do that! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif PS> How's them Flyers Glen?
 
Had the pleasure of listening to Graeme McMahon at the ETCC two years ago. He presented at the venue of the climbing comp in a marquee set up for trade and the evening social, by the end the place was packed.

The footage was great, and the presentation was well recieved.

A must for any student gig.
 
hey guys,
for something a bit different, have any of you come across the Euc guy from Australia? He uses explosives to blow big branches in Aussie and has apparently has a electric winch settup for ascending and decending! was at a NZAA conference here in NZ a few years ago, apparently the footage was incredible! Wouldnt like to go back up if it didnt go off!!:-0 Anyways just thought id share something different :)
Treekiwi
 
[ QUOTE ]
for something a bit different, have any of you come across the Euc guy from Australia? He uses explosives to blow big branches in Aussie and has apparently has a electric winch settup for ascending and decending!

[/ QUOTE ]

Isn't that Graeme?
 
Well , Tom , after doing some demos and such . watching my friends do some demos and talks , it gets kind of frustrating.
Roach , this year for example did a talk on the Pros and Cons of "new " techniques", ( great job Roach)there is always a group of people who have the "better way". Well is it ? , than call their card.
Put up or shut up ! There is nothing worse than some 250 + fat lazy no it all who can't climb steps telling everyone in an ear shot that, that isn't the way you do it . It is what it is and it get's done because that is the way it has to be done. Sugarcoating a dangerous tree removal is more dangerous than telling someone how it really is done. Interactive rigging shows would make things little more interesting , and you just might have to get some heat in the room to get the truth. There is always a little fire in the room , I just bring the gas. I don’t kiss a** !
 
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