The ISA, a nonprofit organization for arborists, and the UAA, an affiliate organization of ISA that represents individuals with a commitment to the maintenance of trees and other vegetation, will be focusing on expanding in the coming year.

The International Society of Arboriculture and the Utility Arborist Association have announced a new affiliate agreement that will move the two organizations to a mutually beneficial administrative relationship.

As an affiliate organization, the UAA provides ISA with a network for serving the needs of utility arborists, those who provide arborist services in close proximity to electrical equipment or other utilities.

Over the course of their relationship, ISA has provided UAA with administrative support and services that helped UAA achieve success. This success has made it more efficient for UAA to manage their operations internally.

"ISA has been proud to help UAA grow as an independent organization and professional affiliate," says Jim Skiera, executive director of ISA. "However, ISA's own increase in programming and services now requires us to utilize more of our own resources to focus on expansion."

UAA has now begun the process of managing its administrative support without ISA, which in the past has had their staff serve as UAA's part-time executive director, full-time finance and operations manager, and part-time administrative support.

UAA and ISA will remain professional affiliates and will continue to support each other. UAA will maintain an official memorandum of understanding with ISA, and ISA will continue to provide certain benefits and services.

"UAA has grown to over 3,300 members and is now in a position to operate more autonomously like ISA chapters and other professional affiliates," adds Philip Charlton, UAA executive director. "We thank ISA for the many years of additional support, and we look forward to our ongoing relationship."

Membership and credentialing services for members of UAA and ISA will be unaffected. ISA will still manage certification for the Certified Arborist Utility Specialist• credential, and individuals will have the option to join ISA, UAA, or both through either organization. ISA will also continue to provide educational programming for utility arborists during the ISA Annual International Conference and Trade Show.

Please contact isa@isa-arbor.com with any questions regarding the long-term relationship of ISA and UAA.

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