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Moving Forward
By Bob Tate, ISA President-Elect
I guess the new guy gets to say something to justify why you voted for him, so here's my piece:
You've all heard how far ISA has come since our near brush with financial death a few years ago. While I wouldn't have wanted it to happen, happen it did, and we've made the best of it.
Even though it would be easy to assign the blame to various individuals, elected officers, and board members on whose watch it happened, doing so will not accomplish anything positive and I'll never do it. Nobody wanted it to happen. Simply speaking, no individual or group of individuals deserves the blame. Looking back now, the brush with disaster—and our subsequent turnaround—made us a much stronger organization. It could have gone the other way: We could have been out of business!
As executive director of the Western Chapter before, during, and after ISA's troubles and as a member of the organization for some 30-odd years, I've witnessed a complete change in my mindset regarding my relationship with ISA's home office during the past couple of years. I've repeatedly heard the word "customer" used when referring to members. A positive, almost cheerful attitude has come about. An obvious willingness to admit to a mistake and ask for input to improve is readily apparent. We all make mistakes, but what counts is how we deal with them. ISA staff is sincerely committed to doing good work.
ISA is moving forward in great bounds, but as Paul Harter has said, "Let's not forget one of the most important words of our organization's title: 'arboriculture.'" Arboriculture is what ISA is all about. It is why we were founded. We must never forget our core values, and we should never forget why we joined ISA and its chapters.
Another word in our title is "international." Are we an international organization? We say we are. But when only approximately 7 percent of our membership lies outside of North America, one has to wonder. I believe we need to make every reasonable attempt to become an international organization while not forgetting the needs of the majority of our members. However, if we as an organization cannot live up to our name, including the word "international," we should consider changing our name. Fortunately, we have an International Development Committee to help us give it our best shot at becoming truly international.
I mentioned just one committee, but we have nearly 20 others that continue to do important work for ISA. We have some great people on these committees. Ask how you can serve.
Our mission statement says it all. Our elected and appointed members should know it well because it drives the organization. Because it's so short and so important, I'll repeat it: "Through research, technology, and education promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees." Only 22 words—but how powerful they are. President Mike Neal repeated them during his speech in Montréal this year. I've threatened to make everyone on the board of directors stand up and recite the mission statement at the beginning of each board meeting!
As an incoming officer, I feel that we must never lose sight of our mission (and our mission statement). When we do, our organization is compromised.
While we all should strive for perfection, we'll never attain it—but that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying. In looking at ISA, I can see it has come so far over the past few years, yet we still have far to go. New challenges will continue to arise and tax our abilities; I believe our officers, board, and staff, working together, are up to the task.
What do I want to accomplish over the next four years? I want us never to forget who our members are. I want to hear what they say. I want to continue to look at them as customers who want service over price. I want ISA officers and board members to forge strong policies to keep the organization on the cutting edge. I want to listen to our excellent ISA staff and offer guidance to them as well. I want not to let complacency settle in. It will doom the organization.
Wow! That's more speechwriting than I've done in years. Seriously, as an officer of ISA, I pledge my commitment to you and to the profession.
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International Society of Arboriculture
