City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/701610
16 City Trees What Is the Exchange Program? SMA offers an exchange program for municipal arborists locat- ed around the world. The purpose is to create a way for munici- pal arborists to exchange urban forestry expertise, management ideas and technology through "in-person" contact and on-site experience. What better way to find out how other forestry prac- titioners operate than to spend time with each other? We have much to learn from other programs in our own countries and around the world, and we each have much to offer. The program not only facilitates the transfer of knowledge but also fosters an international community of municipal arborists. What Is Required? Participants will spend at least one full work week visiting and working with the host city's forestry department or arborist. Each participant will be required to write an article for the SMA journal City Trees about what he or she learned and experi- enced for the interest of the SMA membership. What is Provided? SMA and contributing sponsors will fund airfare and basic expenses, as sponsorship allows, for professional exchanges in the spring or summer of 2017. An exchange should be two-way, meaning that paired participants take turns hosting each other. However, one-way exchanges, where a selected participant visits a willing host city, may be approved by SMA on a case by case basis. Who Can Apply? A candidate must be a member of SMA. One can apply imme- diately upon joining. A candidate must be employed within the urban forestry profession, preferably as a municipal arborist, for at least two years. Knowledge of a second language is helpful but not essential, although the application must be submitted in English. For a two-way exchange, a chosen participant (or the host municipality) must be able to provide lodging for the visiting participant (private homes are encouraged). The willing- ness to host a visiting municipal arborist increases the chance of being selected. It's Time to Apply … To the SMA Arborist Exchange Program 2017! How Will Selections Be Made? Two-way exchange pairings will be made by our selection com- mittee on a "best match" basis. The number of participants will depend on available funding. Selected participants should be from cities of similar size and climate and speak a shared lan- guage. Ideally, each forestry program will have or do something that the other can learn from—e.g., a unique or exemplary pro- gram, site condition, or problem. The selection committee will consider if an applicant wishes to have an exchange with some- one from a preferred city, country, or region. Municipal arbor- ists who propose an exchange with a Sister City International Program are especially encouraged to apply. One-way exchange selections will be based on the applicant's programmatic needs and the potential for a viable learning experience. What Is the Deadline? All applications must be received by October 28, 2016. Awardees will be notified by December 1, 2016. The time frame for the exchanges will be determined by the participants, with assistance from SMA program coordinators. How Do I Apply? Join SMA (if you aren't already a member) and complete both the membership and exchange applications online at www. urban-forestry.com. Questions can be sent by email to Arborist Exchange Committee Chair Doug Still, dstill@ providenceri.gov. Many thanks to all who make the annual con- ference silent auction, which supports the SMA Arborist Exchange, a success!