ISA credits/Your thoughts

[coffeecraver]

The ISA requires 30 credits within 3 years
Excessive credits to my understanding cannot be carried over.
I will continue to go to classes and seminars,but the credits will not help me.

I have been a Horticulturist and Landscape Contractor for 25yrs.
However I just became a Certified Arborist in May of 2003.
As of tommarow Iwill have 36 credits.

I am a Gardener for the City and plant several trees a year. I do not plan on climbing,but would like to expand my knowledge in 3 catogories.
They are:
Appraisals, Tree Construction Protection, and Diagnosis.

I do not work in trees on a daily basis,so I lack alot of the hands on knowledge.Thats why I go to the seminars and own almost every book in the ISA catalog.It seems to be a waste of time to do the tests in those books,as the credits are no good to me,until 2006. The seminar credits are also no good.

I understand that the more knowledge I gain will help me obtain my goal.But sometimes I
Im at the point know that I am beginning to think that it is all a waste of time and money.My drive to learn is being hampered by the restriction on credits,not the expence.

The goal justifys the means for me .

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by coffeecraver
I do not plan on climbing,
Why not? You cannot know a tree until you are in one. Touch Trees!, as AS says. Trees are not terrestrial creatures.

would like to expand my knowledge in 3 catogories.
They are:
Appraisals, Tree Construction Protection, and Diagnosis.
Conside rjoining ASCA, or going to their academy & mtgs. Aslo there's an online appraisal course. do you have the trees&development book? best for const prot
seems to be a waste of time to do the tests in those books,as the credits are no good to me,until 2006. The seminar credits are also no good.
so the credits aren't needed but the info is. now that you can renew, jsut stop counting and enjoy the ride. Or keep counting if you wnat to join ASCA; you need 100's for that.
I'll be at 6 mtgs ths spring, plus getting 5 credits at the U, maybe enough for 3 yrs isa cert. but it's all still fun, evne if credit overkill.
isa plans to cert "master arborists" which will take more ceu's, someday.

goal justifys the means for me .

but the means are fun themselves. let the goal go; it after all is just the means to the end, which is learning. Now, how to apply...

 

[Toddppm]

Here's a good one coming up http://www.asca-consultants.org/join_rca_ca.html
Can knock out maybe 1 or 2 in your list.

Worth 30 credits too!

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Toddppm
Can knock out maybe 1 or 2 in your list.

The academy doesn't cover much diagnosis, preservation, or appraisal; at least it didn't in 96. It does cover legalities, ethics, report writing etc-- a great exp if u want 2 consult.

 

[coffeecraver]

Originally posted by Toddppm
Here's a good one coming up http://www.asca-consultants.org/join_rca_ca.html
Can knock out maybe 1 or 2 in your list.

Worth 30 credits too!

Sounds Great but looks like another Goal.
I don't think im ready for that yet.When I reach the other goals
I will go after that one.

 

[coffeecraver]

Re: Re: ISA credits/Your thoughts

I climbed trees as a kid. I grew up in upstate New York in the mountains. I never used a rope or spikes.

I have 10 years left with the City, then I will have 30 years,and can retire. I will be 55.

I do not want to risk my health and retirement plan by climbing trees at this stage of the game.

I am planning on doing Appraisals,Construction Protection,and
Diagnosis. If I become proficient at that, it should help me to pay my own Health Care.

I do not want to work for the City for 40 years and do what they want. I love trees and would rather do that.

 

[NickfromWI]

Re: Re: Re: ISA credits/Your thoughts

Originally posted by coffeecraver

I do not want to risk my health and retirement plan by climbing trees at this stage of the game.

I assume that your concern for your health keeps you from riding in a car, as well.

Climbing can be very safe...if done right. I'm sure there are people here that can help you "learn the ropes."

love
nick

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Re: Re: Re: ISA credits/Your thoughts

Originally posted by coffeecraver
I am planning on doing Appraisals,
Take the online course and buy the Guide.
Construction Protection,
read Trees and Development, and look at case studies. in october go (if you can afford) to the Building WITH Trees conf in Nebraska
and Diagnosis.
Practice, practice, practice. Lean on Sinclair, setaside the Ortho.

If I become proficient at that, it should help me to pay my own Health Care.
Semiretiring as a consultant is many arb's dream, but few have the tools, luck, location etc. to pull it off. I don't know if I do; I keep pulling the saddle back on too often to find out.:Monkey:

Nick's right, and also you will learn diagnosis, appraisal and protection faster if you can get up into trees. You want to sell yourself as a consultant with limited experience--get more quicker by climbing; also cheaper than workshops and far less boring.
At 45 you are a young pup. Woof Woof!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Brian,

Would you consider taking a moment before you start ripping into people? This really sets up an unwelcome feeling here.

After re-reading Coffee's original post I don't see anything about a desire to compete with you in the self-employeed side of the balance sheet. It seems that he wants to know more about trees. Don't you? Like many CA's CC is wondering if there is any value in CEU packing. Right now, there isn't any need for getting more than 30 in three years. But, the knowledge is important.

I know many agency employees who don't have the desire, drive or skills to work as a self-employeed person. I also know a lot of self-emplyeed who don't have the desire, drive or skills to work within agencies. I include myself in that group. Does that make either group better or more productive? I don't think so, we each operate within a milieu where we have figured out a way to be at peace with ourselves as well as productive.

Consider re-reading your posts before you blast away.

Tom