President's Award
of Appreciation
Outgoing SMA President Keith Cline presented a
President's Award of Appreciation to someone who
has been of particular help to him: USDA Forest
Service Urban and Community Forestry Program
Manager Beattra Wilson. President Cline said,
"Beattra has offered me wise counsel and an ever-
ready ear as a colleague for over 15 years. She is
an endless source of experience and wisdom to
me. Most recently, she has been a crucial partner
in the creation of Diversity in MFI, continuing her
career-long commitment to growing leaders and to
promoting equity and diversity in our profession. I
truly appreciate all her help during my time in office,
throughout my career, and in advancing the mission,
vision, and values of the SMA. Thank you, Beattra!"
Life Membership
Life Membership in the SMA is given to those veteran members who
have generously devoted their wisdom, time, and sometimes 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
pay it forward as a reflex. This year's winner, John McNeil, is a person
who has done all of these things and more as a widely respected pro-
fessional and community leader. He has decades of experience as a
municipal arborist, consultant, speaker, author, and educator. His Town
of Oakville was the first SMA-accredited program in Canada, and he has
been an international leader in the application of i-Tree tools. John has
served on many SMA committees, as a member of the SMA Board, and
as SMA Past President. Congrats to John on his Life Membership award.
Honorary Membership
Honorary Membership is bestowed upon someone who is not a
member of SMA, but who has, through their service to our profes-
sion or our organization, earned our gratitude. In appreciation for his
dedicated service to our profession, and in recognition for his tireless
pursuit of environmental justice and canopy equity in his community
of Baltimore, Maryland, the SMA conferred honorary membership
upon Baltimore City Arborist and Chief of Urban Forestry Erik Dihle.
John McNeil was conferred SMA
Life Membership for his decades of
experience and service as a municipal
arborist, consultant, speaker, author,
and educator. An international leader in
the application of i-Tree tools, John has
served on many SMA committees, as a
member of the SMA Board, and as SMA
Past President. Photo by Michelle Sutton
SMA President Keith Cline honored Beattra Wilson with a
President's Award of Appreciation. Photo courtesy Beattra Wilson
www.urban-forestry.com 19
