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The Persistence of Change .. and Opportunity
By Terry Flanagan, ISA Vice President
Here we go again—another change of executive director for ISA,
another search for the perfect candidate. It seems as though we
just finished the last search. It also seems that change has been
the only constant at ISA headquarters lately. Actually, it was a
little more than three years ago that we hired Paul Harter as
ISA's new executive director. As many of you may know, Paul
resigned at the end of December to accept a challenging position
in the manufacturing industry. Most people involved in the
leadership of ISA knew that Paul wouldn't necessarily be the
person to lead ISA for the long term, but he was, in my opinion,
just what we needed at the time. He has done a tremendous job of
rebuilding the financial and organizational structure of ISA and
positioning the Society to lead the effort in acquiring and
disseminating knowledge about arboriculture.
I recall Alex Shigo
once saying that if something ceases to change, it ceases to
exist. Not his exact words, to be sure, but that was the gist of
it, as I understood it. ISA certainly will not cease to exist.
Paul Harter has motivated and left behind a capable and energized
staff, which says a lot about his exceptional leadership. When a
leader leaves, morale often can suffer, and other employees might
take the opportunity to leave the organization. The directors and
staff at ISA headquarters say they are ready and able to run the
organization while a search for a new executive director is
undertaken. Jim Skiera, a longtime ISA director, has been named
interim executive director. It is a luxury to be able to trust
the abilities of staff to take the time necessary to hire the
right person. We are fortunate.
The persistence of change at ISA
is creating opportunities that wouldn't necessarily have been
available in the past. Change led us down different paths, some
of which have not worked out, but most of which have. New
certification programs are being rolled out, membership benefits
are expanding, the new Web site offers more information and
improved functionality, and more educational opportunities are
available, especially as our chapters grow stronger through
leadership workshops and as access to arboriculture knowledge
continues to grow through ISA's publishing efforts.
The search
for a new executive director is not easy, especially for an
organization such as ISA. Be assured that the Executive Committee
and the Search Committee are working hard to find the right
person for the job. ISA President Mike Neal asked President-Elect
Bob Tate to chair the Search Committee. Mike made sure that each
of the major sectors of our industry—utility, commercial,
municipal, and educational—is represented on the Search
Committee.
There undoubtedly will be people who won't be happy
with the course that is chosen. It may seem to some that their
input was ignored and that their efforts to speak up and offer
suggestions were not appreciated. Not true! You might be
surprised to discover how much impact even an offhand comment can
have on a discussion. Thoughtful comments are appreciated and
considered in the decision-making process. By the time you read
this article, the search will be well under way, but comments
will nonetheless be appreciated.
As ISA moves forward, we hope
you will stay connected and share your ideas about other
decisions, programs, and initiatives. Read Arborist News, check
ISA's Web site for updates and announcements, and get involved at
the chapter level. You do have an opportunity to voice your
concerns. Every member of the Executive Committee is willing to
hear from the membership. ISA staff members are available to take
your calls and e-mail messages. Feel free to let us know what
you're thinking. Of course, we prefer not to hear just
complaining—we like to hear suggestions and ideas as well.
Under
Paul Harter's leadership, we built a solid foundation, along with
the crew to get the job done. ISA will rely on its members and
volunteers to welcome and support the new executive director by
continuing the passion of involvement that has sustained the
Society for so many years.
There always will be change—at ISA, in
your own lives, and all around you. The wise person sees change
as an opportunity to improve. Rest assured that the leadership of
ISA is doing the same in its quest for a new executive director
to serve you and the arboriculture industry.
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International Society of Arboriculture
