City Trees

January/February 2013

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!

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that we value. He has over 20 years of experience in research, planning, and management of urban forests. He is a popular author with four books and dozens of technical articles published and a gifted speaker at many conferences and events around the world. He is one of the leading consultants in our profession, after serving as a member of the faculty at both Michigan State University and the University of Washington. He has served on the boards of many professional organizations including the American Society of Consulting Arborists, California Releaf, and the ISA. We are delighted that he was able to share his expertise with us as a conference speaker in Sacramento, and we hereby present the SMA Award of Merit to the Vice-President of HortScience Inc., Dr. Jim Clark. LIFE MEMBERSHIP Life membership in the SMA is given to those veteran members who have generously devoted their wisdom, time, and toil (or blood, sweat, and tears) to the SMA and its mission. Life members are the people who serve in whatever role is needed, who take on the tough assignments, and who don't quit no matter how tough the sledding gets. Nominees for this award are the folks who have given their support and experience to our organization over a period of years or decades. HortScience Vice President Dr. Jim Clark (left) received the SMA Award of Merit. Photo by Steve Cothrel This year's winner is a man who has done all of these things and more as a widely respected professional and community leader, and as a past SMA Board Member, Vice-President, and President. He has also played an instrumental role in SMA by leading many committees, hosting a conference, and sharing his wisdom through presentations and articles. He is one of the creators of the Arborist Exchange Program, Bob Benjamin (right) received a SMA and most recently, the coordinator of our new EAB Position Paper. Congratulations to President's Award of Appreciation from outgoing president John McNeil. Photo by our 2012 Life Membership honoree from Chattanooga Tennessee, Gene Hyde. Steve Cothrel PRESIDENT'S AWARD OF APPRECIATION John McNeil: "Serving as the President of SMA is an honor made possible only through the help and support of many people. Our executive director, our editor, our webmaster, our board, and our committees all do tremendous work to keep the SMA strong. As president I'd like to thank and recognize Bob Benjamin. Bob is a past president of SMA as well as our representative to the ISA. He has served on or chaired numerous committees for SMA. He has been on the front lines of the battle against the Asian longhorn beetle with the USDA. He also served the City of Chicago for many years, and he was recently honored by the Arbor Day Foundation, who recognized him with the Lawrence Enersen Award for his career achievements. In the past year, he has been of great help to me, so I am extending to him this President's Award of Appreciation." Sacramento Urban Forestry Manager Joe APPRECIATION OF CONFERENCE HOST Putting together a conference of this scope is a complex and time consuming job. In every host city, there is one person who volunteers to take the bull by the horns and coordinate the conference team's work. That person is both brave and indispensable. And this year, that person, to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude, is Sacramento's own Joe Benassini. Bravo, Joe! Benassini received the SMA Award of Appreciation to the Conference Host for his efforts coordinating this year's experience. Photo by Steve Cothrel RECOGNITION OF OUTGOING PRESIDENT From incoming president Nick Kuhn: "Being the president of the SMA is a lot like herding cats, but this herd of cats must keep moving forward, and the devotion of our president is critical to our ongoing growth and success. We are a diverse international organization that is involved in a great deal of important work. Taking on the job of president is an undertaking that can be exhausting at times but also exhilarating and deeply rewarding. On behalf of all of our members, we recognize and thank our president from Oakville, Ontario for everything he's done this year: John McNeil. Thank you, John." 30 Incoming SMA President Nick Kuhn recognized the service of outgoing SMA President John McNeil during the banquet night awards ceremony. Photo by Steve Cothrel City Trees

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