That's the spirit, guys!
There's been so many of you who've called me and all have a similar line in common - you want to go down there, but you want to know where and how much available tree work is there, and where to go to get it, and who's cutting you a check and when.
That seems to be the over-riding apprehension on the part of everyone who WANTS to go down there, but hasn't. You need a point man down there that can point you to the jobs. This guy would be able to determine if a 2 man, 4 man or 6-man team would be needed. If you are a single arborist climber, the Point Man would find you a team.
Many of you have asked about getting a contract with FEMA. We all know that's sorta not a really great idea. What I see we need is a Point Man who has a FEMA contract and can be hiring you.
Think about it. The government is offering HUGE contracts to firms that say they can get things cleaned up. The firm gets the huge contract, then the work begins. Huge Firm hires contractors that hire subcontractors. You need to be in that chain. We need a contractor to step forward and express his need for our talent. If he can hire Canadian and Kiwi and Aussie and Brit and American Tree Care, and he can lay out his terms for us to see, we could work with that.
Our Arborists want to know that they'll have work directed their way the day they arrive, and not have to go knocking door to door. Guaranteed work, a point person down there, continued logistics up here, you having a great working Winter vacation this year.
That's what I'm putting out there for we Arborists. Of the over 10,000 visits to this thread in just over a month, there must be a couple lurkers who are dialled into those primary level contracts. I say, if you are hiring, or looking to assemble a rotating lineup of tree guys for the next 6 months or more, I say step into the circle and make yourself be known. All I ask is that you understand, you are putting men's livelihoods on the board. Step up ONLY if you have something serious to offer. We are Tree Care Professionals, and if you have a professional setup, and funding, we can work together. Treat the men right, you have a continuous flow of arborists wanting to help. Screw any of us around, word will get back here fast and you will have lost credibility, your certain source of arborists and our central support.
There. It's been put out there as a want and a need. Let the universe work it's magic.
