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History of ISA: 1990s
Arborist Certification
In 1992, ISA launched an unprecedented program of Arborist
Certification on an international scale. The goal was to raise the level of
professionalism in arboriculture by educating the providers of tree care
services. The program tested and certified an individual’s knowledge in the
field of arboriculture and attested to a generally accepted level of knowledge.
| The ISA Arborist Certification program has been successful on several levels.
Tree care providers gained a better understanding of tree biology and the
effects of various maintenance practices, and the result has been a noticeable
improvement in tree care practices in North America. Certification has also
added to the professionalism within the tree care industry. The program was
also successful for ISA as a whole. Membership in Canada and the United States
increased dramatically from the program’s inception in 1992. Demand for, and
sales of books, tapes, and other educational materials increased to the point
where ISA was producing four major nonserial books per year. The
recertification requirement to accumulate 30 continuing education units (CEUs)
in a three-year period increased attendance at meetings, seminars, and
workshops as chapters worked to fulfill the local “need” for education.
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Some of ISA's many educational products. |
In 1998, Arborist Certification was also offered through the United
Kingdom/Ireland Chapter. In addition, more than 40 arborists representing other
countries became ISA Certified Arborists. By 1999, the number of Certified
Arborists exceeded 10,500, and more than 250 exams were offered annually
through ISA chapters.
A reflection of the Society’s growth can be seen in growth of the membership,
which topped 5,000 by the end of 1989; 6,000 by 1992; 7,000 by 1994; 8,000 by
1995; 9,000 by 1996, 10,000 by 1997; and 11,000 by 1998. Much of this growth
reflects the development and implementation of the ISA arborist certification
program.
Education and Training
ISA's headquarters in Savoy, Illinois, 1992-1998. |
In 1992, the Journal of Arboriculture became bimonthly and there was a rebirth
of Arborist News (note the change in spelling)—a greatly expanded and improved
bimonthly magazine. The Society removed the addendum pages from the Journal,
thus enhancing its value as a refereed scientific publication. Arborist News
added several new popular features including CEU articles, which offered
credits for recertification. In 1996, Dr. Neely retired after 25 years as
editor and Dr. Robert Miller of Wisconsin was appointed. |
With the increased focus on publication development through the
1990s, ISA established “families” of publications targeted to meet the needs of
its professional affiliations. While many publications serve multidisciplinary
needs, the ISA arboricultural families included commercial, utility, municipal,
and research/education. The Society also produced a variety of youth education
and public relations materials available in book, brochure, or press release
formats. A number of the publications have CEU workbooks and tests available
for use by Certified Arborists.
By the mid 1990s, ISA became an outstanding resource for the latest
arboricultural information. The Society was constantly producing new
educational materials to keep members current with the latest professional
practices. By 1998, ISA had established itself as the publishing house for
scientific and applied information on the care and management of urban trees,
with more than 90 selections of books, brochures, videos, audiocassettes,
public relations and public education materials. In 1998, sales of ISA books,
videos, and public information materials exceeded US$700,000, compared to sales
of less than $50,000 annually in 1989.
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ISA's current headquarters in Champaign, Illinois. |
In the late 1990s, with certification for tree workers in
development, ISA began to focus more on training tree care personnel and
produced a series of 14 training videos and workbooks covering climbing
techniques, equipment, and chain saw use and safety.
ISA Staff, 1999. |
In 1992, due to continued rapid growth, ISA’s headquarters moved from Urbana to
the nearby community of Savoy, Illinois. At that time, it was thought that ISA
would take years to outgrow this facility. But with the added growth following
the implementation of the certification program and an expanded staff of
eighteen, the Executive Committee in 1998 found the need to move to a
15,000-square-foot facility in Champaign, Illinois.
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Internationalization
In addition to the exponential growth in membership and educational
programs, the 1990s will be remembered for the internationalization of ISA. ISA
experienced continued chapter expansion, with twelve chapters forming outside
North America. Eight chapters were added in Europe, as well as one each in
Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. The Society, in 1998, held its
annual conference outside the North American continent for the first time. More
than 1,200 delegates from 36 countries attended this conference in Birmingham,
England.
A European office was opened in London in 1997. The Board of
Directors determined it was critical to establish an office in Europe to better
meet and serve the needs of the growing European membership. Within eighteen
months of opening this new office, membership had grown from just over 600 to
more than 1,000 European members.
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Lifelong friendships develop as ISA conferences - friendships with roots in
common interests and common goals. |
ISA on the Internet
In 1995, the Executive Committee approved contracting with the
University of Illinois to establish an ISA home page on the Internet. The site
was established in 1995 with a focus on Plant Heath Care information, a “chat
page” for tree workers, and general information on ISA and its various
programs. There were over 1,000 visitors to the page in the early months, and
use grew to over 140,000 visits per month in 1999. The page has been
continually expanded to include information on the Research Trust, annual
conference, International Tree Climbing Championship, publications, and much
more. ISA’s home page can be found at www.isa-arbor.com.
Past Presidents - 1998. Back row (L. to R.) Ken Ottman, Richard Harris, Frank
Santamour, John Moran, Don Ham, Dick Abbot. Front row (L. to R.) Bill
Kruidenier (Executive Director), Larry Hall, Jim Kielbaso, Sharon Lilly, Key
Meyer. |
ISA began as a tree care conference in 1924 and has continued to
grow from those roots through the decades. What started as educational
presentations at the Bartlett Estate has come full circle with the 1999 75th
Anniversary Conference at the same site. The questions were asked at the first
conference led to research that changed the way we practice arboriculture.
Through the years, the original concept of research-based tree care has
expanded, and the more questions we answered, the more questions we uncovered.
The profession became more diverse and ISA broadened its scope to meet the
varying needs. It united the various facets — the workers, the researchers, the
suppliers, and the consultants — in a common mission of caring for trees in the
best way we know how.
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The “Shade Tree Conference” is more than an educational seminar. It
brings people together from all over the world, to share new ideas, techniques,
equipment, and problems in need of solutions. It fosters a synergy, combining
the energy of the workers in the trees with the knowledge of the scientists in
the laboratories. It is a celebration of people who share the same interests
and a reunion of those who solved yesterday’s problems. The ISA conference has
built lasting friendships and lifelong memories.
ISA has a rich history that includes a metamorphosis from its fledgling
beginnings to the grand organization that it is today. Throughout it all, one
thing has remained the same: the dedication of the professionals who create,
organize, and administer the many programs from which we all benefit. As ISA
enters the next millennium, the officers, Board of Directors, committee chairs,
staff, and many volunteers share a common vision for the future of the
organization: to foster research and education for the care and preservation of
trees.
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A long-time ISA conference tradition - Bob McConnell and his pipes at opening
ceremonies. |
As the saying goes,
“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.”
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