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Over the past few years, the most disturbing news in the accounting profession has been the numerous financial scandals at top corporations. I'm sure Arthur Andersen and Enron would like to have different images right about now. However, one positive result of all the attention on the bean-counters of the world is the focus on ensuring that companies are financially sound. Consequently, many people have been asking, "How are the companies doing that I personally care about?"

It is no different with ISA. As ISA members or as staff, it is important to review our financial strength, with the main goal of being able to achieve ISA's mission. The passion of members and staff for ISA's mission has been evident since I came on board in 2000. Passion makes it enjoyable to work here, though it does not cover the bills.

So, in terms everyone can understand, how is ISA doing financially? The bottom line is that we are financially sound. ISA has had a positive return over the past three years and expects the same this year. We were able to stop living paycheck to paycheck and put away some money for a rainy day. We want to be sure that ISA will be around for another 80 years and therefore will continue to invest in programs that benefit you, the members.

Here's where a lot of accounting lingo could be thrown around. I could include charts and graphs, statistics, financial statements, and more. That's the point at which most people's eyes glaze over, so I'll skip that. The primary concerns that I hear from members at meetings and conferences are these: How do I know ISA's financial health will continue? Who's watching over ISA's money? What processes are in place to make sure that we don't read bad things about ISA in the newspaper?

Over the past four years, ISA has focused on business structure and financial policies and procedures. The past 12 years have shown amazing growth for ISA and arboriculture, but processes in place in the 1980s and 1990s did not reflect or support what ISA had become. As a result, in 2000, a CPA was hired and a new Finance Committee was formed. The goal of these actions was simple: to keep ISA financially viable so that it can contribute to the continued growth of the arboriculture profession. The role of the Finance Committee has been to ensure financial integrity and allow for the business of ISA to be run appropriately, legally, and smoothly.

Some of the most important steps taken to protect ISA's long-term stability include the following:

• Staff brought structure to internal financial processes, policies, and procedures by writing down what was being done and creating new processes for what needed to be done.
• ISA's Board of Directors approved a funds management and investment policy, allowing for money to be set aside each year to provide a strong financial foundation.
• A Finance Committee was formed to review financial policies and procedures, monthly financial statements, and the annual audit in detail. This committee includes three arborists from ISA's Board of Directors and two CPAs who work in arboriculture-related private companies. The CPAs look objectively at the numbers yet still have an understanding of tree care organizations.
• Quarterly reports are sent to the Board of Directors to convey financial and operational information. These reports allow us to measure organizational stability throughout the year.
• We hired an accounting firm that specializes in nonprofit businesses and delivers accurate, audited financial statements in a timely manner. The firm's representative reports directly to the Finance Committee, thereby creating a system of checks and balances against internal ISA interests.
• An annual planning and budgeting session is convened every May that includes ISA committee chairs, the Executive Committee, and ISA staff directors responsible for programming. The focus of the session is to present budgets for programs and review them so that they specifically fit within ISA's strategic plan and are fiscally responsible.

Some who read about these improvements may wonder, "Weren't these things done before?" To various degrees some were, but some are new. The important thing is that these steps are in place now and have a focus on the future. Be assured that the basics are under control and that your Society is being managed well. And with this strong foundation, the only reason you should see ISA in the news is to promote trees and tree care.