Barking Up the Right Tree

Best's Review recently featured an article about the ArborMAX insurance program in their May 2013 publication. Check it out below!

Workers’ Compensation Underwriting Guideline Change

Effective immediately, the minimum premium for Workers’ Compensation has been increased from $15,000 to $25,000. This change is for New Business only. To view our complete Underwriting Guidelines, click here.

Happy Arbor Day!

Today, April 26th, is National Arbor Day!

It has been over 135 years since J. Sterlin Morton founded Arbor Day. His simple idea of setting aside a special day for tree planting is now more important than ever. Discover ideas on how to celebrate Arbor Day in your community.

Chipper Operator Specialist Program

At the 2012 TCIA Winter Management Conference, TCIA announced plans to educate approximately 3,000 chipper operators across the U.S. from September 2012 through August 2013. TCIA’s new Chipper Operations Specialist workshop uses a nationally recognized curriculum to train tree care employees in hazards as well as accepted practices for brush chipper operation and other loosely associated tasks. The training program, built for crew members who often do not receive formal training opportunities, seeks to increase employee involment with overall safety compliance and self-policing. 

More information, including upcoming workshops, can be found on the TCIA website by clicking here.

For more information on Brush Chipper safety, visit the Mobark website, by clicking here.

Legislative Day on the Hill: Laws Effecting the Arboriculture Industry – July 21-23

TCIA is inviting all of its members to gather in Washington, D.C. July 21-23, for the 2013 Legislative Conference and Day on the Hill. TCIA, in conjunction with other green industry partners like PLANET, seeks to influence the law and regulations that come out of Congress. Many of vital concern to commercial and utility arboriculture don’t generate headlines and, therefore, progress can be made. This summer they will be looking at how Congress resolves the issue of temporary work visits and illegal workers; union organizing of small businesses; restrictions on water use in the landscape; ergonomics for repetitive motion injuries; and levels of federal spending on invasive insects and urban forestry. More information can be found on this event by clicking here.

2013 Arborist Industry Events

Upcoming Arborist Industry Events

Click on the Conference name for more info

• ProGreen Expo: January 15-18 – Denver, CO
• Indiana Arborist Association Annual Conference: January 22-24 – Indianapolis, IN
• Up By Roots: Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment: January 25 – Phoenix, AZ
• Wisconsin Arborist Association Annual Conference & Trade Show: January 27-29 – Green Bay, WI
• New England Grows (Trade Show): February 6-8 – Boston, MA
• Midwestern Chapter ISA Conference and Trade Show: February 6-8 – St. Louis, MO [MW-ISA: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota]
• Ohio Tree Care Conference: February 10-12 – Dayton, OH
• TCIA Winter Management Conference 2013: February 10-14 – St. Kitts, Leeward Islands
• ArborCon – Michigan’s Winter Conference: February 19-20 – Lansing, MI
• Ecological Landscaping Association Conference & ECO Marketplace: February 27-28 – Springfield, MA
• Joint ISA Southern Chapter & UAA Conference:  March 23-26 – Memphis, TN [Southern Chapter ISA: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands]
• Western Chapter ISA Conference and Trade Show: May 7-10 – Indian Wells, CA [WCISA: Arizona, California, Hawaii, & Nevada]
• Trees Florida Conference and Trade Show: June 9-11 – Fort Lauderdale, FL
• ISA Annual International Conference and Trade Show: August 3-7 – Toronto, ON
• Texas Tree Conference and Trade Show: October 2-5 – Waco, TX
• Pacific Northwest ISA Conference: TBA (Fall 2013) – Surrey, British Columbia [PNW-ISA: Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, & Washington]
• Illinois Arborist Association Conference and Trade Show: October 22-23 – Tinley Park, IL

Free or Low Cost Tree Care Industry Webinars

TCIA Webinars (TCIA Membership required)

• “TCIA Accreditation”: (Free) – January 10^th – Click here to register
• “Effectively Documenting Storm Work for Insurance Adjusters”: January 15^th – Click here to register
• “Safety: What Happened in 2012?”: January 17^th – Click here to register
• “2013 Google & SEO Changes To Build Your Business”: January 23^rd – Click here to register
• “Understanding What Storm Work is Covered by Insurance”: February 20^th – Click here to register
• “How to Use Social Media to Build a More Profitable Business”: February 28^th – Click here to register
• “OSHA Compliance Made Simple”: (Free) – March 14^th – Click here to register