City Trees

6 CityTREES Participants at last October's ISA Leadership Workshop were told that membership in professional associations or any membership-driven orga- nization as we have known it no longer exists. As a member of three different organizations and now SMA President, I must admit that this state- ment jolted me a bit. Let's look at how the old mem- bership model is changing and how it affects SMA. The millennials are now a dominant force in our society and marketplace. As a result, their preferences and behav- iors are driving everything. They do not join organizations that don't directly have an effect on their life or career. Younger folks want to spend their money on things that have a positive effect on their lives and a low cost-to-val- ue relationship. And honestly, that's not a bad thing. According to Sarah Sladek, the ISA Workshop leader, associations have been focusing on selling products and services instead of how membership adds value to their members' lives. For example, SMA has a great magazine, an exciting conference, unique exchange pro- grams, and a model accreditation program. All these programs and services are valuable to our members and are an integral part of why folks continue to pay dues. However, they are not what makes them join. People join because they feel a sense of kinship and because SMA can help them solve their problems. One of the unique features of SMA is our niche. We are a small and specialized group with very specific training. In many cases, we are working on an island with very little support or esprit de corps. Our jobs are difficult, require many different skills, and are often underappre- ciated. Membership in SMA gives you access to people just like yourself who are experiencing the same chal- lenges that you are. In many cases, someone has already solved the very problem that is keeping you up at night. All you have to do is ask and they will gladly assist you. How do you connect with one another? Volunteer for a committee, attend our conference, sign up to be a State Liaison, attend MFI, or post a message on our forum or Facebook page. Get involved and partici- pate in the sharing of knowledge and expertise with a community of trusted individuals. I believe you'll find that it's well worth the cost of membership. One of the things I like best about starting a new year is getting ready for another MFI. Participants are beginning their online study, virtually meeting their fellow classmates and instructors, and preparing for their week in the classroom. The MFI training cadre is tweaking the curriculum, deciding who will teach what topics, and doing all the necessary prep work for our week together in February. It will be excit- ing and exhausting all at the same time, and we will all grow together on our leadership journeys. The US Forest Service and Southern University have helped us bring scholarship opportunities to diverse applicants for the past two years, and it has certainly helped us widen our reach to minority future leaders. Now the challenge is how to continue to reach this audi- ence and to give them the financial support to attend MFI in the coming years. Cities, non-profits, and private companies all recognize the importance of this effort and are all striving to create a more diverse workforce in urban and community forestry. With the lessons we have learned these past two years, we should be able to work together to continue the progress we have made. As President Green points out, it's not easy being an urban forester, and one valuable benefit of being an SMA member is the connection it gives you to urban foresters around the world. At MFI, it is fun to watch participants from around the world share their challenges and learn how to make opportuni- ties from them. A huge shout out to ISA, who pro- vides a scholarship each year for an international arborist to join us at MFI, which always brings a perspective that we might have missed otherwise. If you weren't able to join us in Cleveland this year, you missed awards SMA presented to Dr. Yadong Qi at Southern University and to Beattra Wilson at the USFS for their roles in helping SMA take a bold step in promoting diversity. These two visionary women brought their ideas to SMA, where they were integrat- ed with our leadership program to create Diversity in MFI. The principles taught at MFI came to life when this happened and an already great program got better. Can't wait to see what happens this year! President's Message Darren Green Executive Director's Message Jerri J. LaHaie

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