March 1, 2022 @ 12:00 pm – March 31, 2022 @ 4:00 pm
Palindrome Dates 22022 & 22222: Looking Forward, Not Backwards, to Our Days in Arboriculture!
Virtual Option
The 2022 WAA/WIDNR VIRTUAL Annual Conference will be available for viewing on the Pheedloop Platform March 1-31, 2022. This will be a professionally recorded conference and will offer an improved experience over last year’s virtual offering. This is a repeat performance of our In-Person Conference from February 20-22, 2022. [In-Person Conference Brochure]
Watch the sessions at your own pace! The platform will be available for a full four weeks. This seminar will include around 30 hours of virtual learning and engagement with approximately 30 CEUs available through online quizzes. You must pass the quiz with an 80% (16 of 20 correct for a one-hour session) to attain CEUs. Results will be given upon completion of each quiz, as the quiz may be taken as often as necessary to pass. WAA will submit the passing results to ISA for you to receive your CEUs.
Each person must provide their own email address and Certification number (even if one person is registering multiple people) if they want CEUs. Participants will receive an email invite to the Pheedloop Platform the day before the event starts. Login details will be included.
To learn more about Pheedloop before the conference, go to https://pheedloop.com/more/virtual-attendee-training for “training, tips and tricks to get the most out of your virtual event experience.”
Registration Information
- Registration available online until March 25th (yes you can register after it starts, and no, there are no price increases). The virtual conference ends March 31st though, no matter when you register. REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
- Registration Fees: WAA Member $260, Non-Member $275, Full-Time Students $0
- Want to attend both Annual Conference versions (in-person and virtual) to earn the maximum number of CEUs possible and still network with everyone?? Purchase the ALL ACCESS PASS to attend the in-person conference AND have access to the virtual event which allows you to view all sessions! Please go to the 2022 WAA/WIDNR IN-PERSON Annual Conference event to purchase your ALL ACCESS PASS.
- Participants will receive a Pheedloop welcome invite to the email address provided on your registration form on March 1st, or within one day of registration if you register after the start of the conference.
- Students who wish to attend both the in-person and virtual sessions must register separately for each event.
Available On-Demand Videos (must take linked CEU quiz to earn CEUs and CTSP credits)
Workshops
Protecting Trees Around Construction – Gordon Mann
Tree protection is an interesting process. Trees can usually tolerate more root pruning and encroachment than the dripline. Only needing a tape measure to decide where to protect trees during construction, reduces the need for arborists. How can we make successful tree preservation decisions? Growing trees where people live takes trees out of their natural environment and space. We will discuss the kinds of decisions and designs we can utilize to make trees more successful growing in human spaces.
Should I Put a Tree Here? Soil and Site Evaluation for Tree Planting – Michelle Catania, Allyson Salisbury
& Tree Planting and Tricky Sites Panel Discussion – Anna Healy, Matt Koepnick, Mike Rushmer
In this workshop, participants will become familiar with key soil and site characteristics relevant to tree planting, practice using their knowledge of soil and site characteristics to evaluate potential problems for planting sites presented as a set of case studies, and learn how to creatively handle problems with planting sites. How to creatively handle problems with planting sites which includes 3 short presentations from local municipal professionals about challenging planting sites and projects, followed by Q & A.
General Sessions
Planning for the Next Three Letter Urban Tree Canopy Changer: Lessons Learned with DED, EAB, ETC. – Rich Hauer
All aboard the WAA train ride back to what we have learned this past century with some important urban tree canopy game changers. Our first stop is a lesson in biology and an interdisciplinary economic journey using lessons learned from DED and EAB. See how science has led to reliable predictors with a planned stop at preventing tree loss and the currency of canopy. The future journey continues to see how we can get derailed by ETC.
National Models to Grow an Inclusive Workforce – Tiffany Mrotek
American Forests’ Tree Equity: Career Pathways Initiative supports the recruitment and retention of socioeconomically disadvantaged populations into urban and community forestry jobs. In partnership with industry leaders, American Forests created standard national guidance for Arboriculture Pre-apprenticeship programs, as well as a direct-placement model to fill entry-level tree care positions. Join this session to learn more about national efforts to grow a more inclusive urban forestry field.
Grow Your Workforce/Talent Pipeline Through Apprenticeship – August Hoppe & Olivia Conklin
Panel presentation on Apprenticeship with focus on Youth Apprenticeship, Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship and how they can be a successful training model for companies and municipalities.
Growing Healthy Trees in the Built Environment: A Review of Expert Remediation Techniques & Engineering Solutions – Michelle Catania
The built environment is engineered to support infrastructure. Undisturbed, healthy soils are uncommon in this environment. Overcoming the difficulties of growing healthy trees in compacted, urban soils is a challenge without appropriate site preparation. This talk will aim at providing science-based recommendations to ensure healthy urban trees persist.
The Ins and Outs of Online Tree Selector Tools – Allyson Salisbury
Online tree and plant selectors can be a valuable tool for identifying the right trees for a planting site, but with so many options it can be hard to know where to start. In this class, you’ll learn about different tree selector tools available online and how to use them.
The Multiple Dimensions of Tree Defense to Insects – Chad Rigsby
This presentation will provide a broad overview of woody plant-herbivorous insect interactions. We will discuss antibiosis- and antixenosis-type plant defenses, the difference between tolerance and resistance and why each is important, the role of abiotic stress in these interactions, insect counter-adaptations to the defenses of their host plants, and the role of insecticides in managing woody plants.
As the Climate Warms, Trees Feel the Heat – Beth Brantley
Changing climate, warmer temperatures, longer growing seasons, extreme weather, increases in precipitation… what does this mean for our trees? We will explore current conditions, pests and pathogens, tree responses and discuss opportunities for new tree species on our landscapes.
Storm Preparedness – Scott Altenhoff
This 1-hour presentation will explore how arborists and UF professionals can take proactive measures to protect the trees under their care from the ravages of extreme weather events and to expedite post-storm recovery efforts. Practical tips and BMPs for both commercial and municipal arborists will be discussed as we explore a variety of case studies from Eugene, OR. Attendees will leave the session with an enhanced understanding of what is required to increase storm resilience at both the individual tree and community levels.
Alternatives to Invasive Plants – Laura Jull
What can we do about invasive plants? It seems each day, a new plant is put on invasive plant lists. Wisconsin’s DNR has regulated some of these plants and has placed them on the NR-40 list of invasive species. We will briefly discuss the WI-DNR NR-40 list of invasive woody species and alternative native and non-native species to choose from that have the same, desirable qualities in the landscape, but without the invasiveness.
Trending Tree Insect Issues – Michael Hillstrom
2021 brought us a resurgence of gypsy moths, continued expansion of ash dieback and mortality from emerald ash borer, more white oak mortality and lots of media about ticks, cicadas and spotted lanternfly. We’ll dissect these topics and highlight the best management options.
Community Trees: Risk or Reward – Lee Mueller
Trees are often ignored and expected to care for themselves. However, research has established that regular care helps trees live longer, provides more benefits, and costs less to maintain. Join us for a discussion of tree costs and benefits, maintenance scenarios, and maximizing the net benefits provided by community trees.
Managing Urban Areas for Wildlife – Jamie Nack
Protecting and restoring wildlife habitat in our cities and suburbs is a vital component of wildlife conservation. Well-planned urban habitat can provide critical connectivity within the landscape for wildlife and important “stopover” sites for migratory birds. In return, urban wildlife provides important connections to nature for urbanites and improves human health and well-being. This presentation will focus on ways to provide habitat for urban wildlife as well as resources and tips for living with wildlife.
Introductory Track
Tree Planting and Establishment/Post Planting Care – Adam Alves, Zac Eckberg
Adam and Zac will discuss the BMP and real-world implications for putting trees in holes, and what care is needed to ensure success for the trees we plant.
Forestry Partnerships with Evolving GIS Tools – Tim Bull/Andrew Bartell
Municipal forestry is enhanced when we embrace evolving technologies. Web-based GIS tools are designed for immediate access to tree inventories and are critical to planning out daily, monthly, and annual forestry operations. Consultants and software designers have made multiple GIS options available in the urban forestry arena. These solutions are designed to be easy to access and headache-free. They can also be expensive.
What about municipalities that want to tackle this challenge on their own? There is something to be said for the satisfaction of confronting something new that we are not accustomed to, and succeeding. In this presentation, staff members from the City of Sheboygan will discuss how they approached building a forestry tool within the existing City GIS to meet their management needs. Multiple professionals from different City operations came together to build this tool from scratch. In doing so, employee relations were strengthened and an intimate knowledge of how GIS programs work was achieved.
Are you interested in tackling your own GIS forestry problems? Come join us as we share our experiences, hurdles, and eventual success to get the City of Sheboygan forestry department moving in the right direction!
Trees and Construction – Scott Altenhoff
This 1 1/2 hour presentation (including a Q & A session) will explore the many considerations involved with properly selecting and protecting trees before, during, and after construction/development projects occur. Practical tips and BMPs for both commercial and municipal arborists will be discussed as we explore a variety of case studies from Eugene, OR. Attendees will leave the session with an enhanced understanding of what it takes to ensure that trees on or near development sites (whether planted or retained) can survive and thrive.
Planning for Community Trees: Tools and Approaches – Lee Mueller
Many communities have adopted tree planting objectives or set urban tree canopy targets. Yet, urban tree canopy continues to decline. To understand why and develop local strategies that best meet community objectives, we need planning tools that help coordinate the activities of multiple agencies and partners towards the entire community’s vision. This discussion explores the differences between canopy assessments, management plans, ordinances, and master plans to help advance urban forestry and local goals.
More Than a Municipal Object: Tree Advocates Talk for Trees – Jeanne Mueller, Kevin Westphal, Olivia Witthun
Funded by a grant from the Wisconsin DNR, Cedarburg Green launched a multi-faceted campaign focused on advocating for the city’s urban trees. Join us on a journey through 2020 (and 2021) to learn how a very small group of advocates educated decision makers, residents, and children, AND achieved its goal of a 2021 city budget which included $30K for tree planting, $50K for site prep, and more funding for forestry operations.
Wisconsin’s Champion Trees Program – Chris Tall
The Champion Tree program recognizes and celebrates the state’s largest trees. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources began documenting these trees in 1941, inspired by a national program managed by American Forests. This presentation will review the history of the program, current status of the program, goals and how to get involved in finding and nominating the largest trees in Wisconsin.
Business Track
Onboarding New Employees for Mutual Success – Lisa Humenik
Taking the time to welcome and onboard new employees in a thoughtful and comprehensive manner will contribute to both their success as a member of the team and to yours as a supervisor. We’ll explore the why, what, how, when, and who of an onboarding process that will set everyone up to have a positive impact on your organization.
Leading from the Middle – Lisa Humenik
Those who excel at leading from the middle recognize that it sometimes requires being out in front, other times it involves pushing from behind, and most often calls for coming alongside your team to lead by example and coach them toward success. We’ll look at what it takes to build trust and create favorable conditions where everyone is using their strengths, working as a team, and moving the organization forward.
We are ALL in Sales – Eric Petersen
Everyone within your organization plays a part in selling your services/products. Learn not only the dynamics of a sales call and how to properly close a sale in this session, but also how each team member can contribute to selling the right type of work for your company and how to expand your sales with the current customers you already have. This is a not-to-miss session for business owners, managers, sales people, PHC technicians, ground crews, or climbing arborists.
Urban Wood Utilization for Municipalities and Private Tree Service Providers: Historical, Present, and Future Opportunities – John Kemppainen, Paul Morrison, John Stephenson
This session will cover progress made on the urban wood utilization front in recent years, starting with a brief historical look at the past ten years, then we will share both current activities and future direction of the now nationwide Urban Wood Network. Our discussion will both provide guidance on how to produce usable logs and materials from removed trees and will seek input on how the Urban Wood Network can better serve arborist members.
Climbers’ Corner
What Can Go Wrong During Felling and Removals – Don Roppolo
There are many things that can quickly and drastically change our day in a bad way when felling and removing trees. Being aware of some of the common problems and understanding how to avoid them can be truly life changing.
Practical Arborist Solution Session: Rules and Regulations for Applying Pesticides in Wisconsin – Art Fonk
Review certification, licensing and the administrative record keeping requirements for commercially applying pesticides in the State of Wisconsin.
Practical Arborist Solution Session: Mark It Up – Alex Julius
You have a new helmet and you need to remember the day you put it into service. How do you mark it? And where do you mark it? Let’s talk about appropriate marking that doesn’t compromise the integrity of your equipment.
Practical Arborist Solution Session: Identifying Common Conks in Wisconsin – Daniel Lindner
Present about five species of conks commonly found in Wisconsin that are indicators of hazard trees.
Practical Arborist Solution Session: New Gear Show & Tell – Casey Selner
Showing new gear to the arborist industry.
Practical Arborist Solution Session: Tree Biology – Les Werner
Examination of branch attachment, roots vs. stem tissues, or wound response (CODIT).
Examining Fungal Decay in Trees: A Safety Consideration When Climbing – Daniel Lindner
An introduction to some of the external signs of decay in trees, with examples of common fungi that cause decay in Wisconsin. Although some fungi produce small or obscure fruiting bodies (or none at all), they can significantly weaken trees and create a hazard for climbers. In particular, brown-rot fungi can cause structural weakness even at very early stages of decay. Knowing the signs of decay in trees is important for assessing the likelihood that you are dealing with a hazard tree.
Fake Out – Alex Julius
Do you buy or use climbing equipment? With so much equipment on the market these days, it’s challenging to know what to buy and from where to buy it. And how can we be certain that what we ordered is what we think it is? How can we be responsible consumers? Learn how to interpret the nuances of climbing equipment and ensure that what you are buying is safe for use in tree care.
What’s on Your Harness? How Can it Enhance Your Climbing Experience? – Christian Feichtinger, Don Roppolo
We’ll discuss and demonstrate what’s normally on our harnesses that can be used to help make your climbing experiences safer, more efficient and gain confidence for both moving and stationary rope systems.
Tree Work Forces and Fun/ Demo Tree Rigging and Removal – Christian Feichtinger, Don Roppolo
Christian and Don with talk through different rigging scenarios as they rig the demonstration tree down. They will discuss the forces involved with each and the associated advantages and limitations of each technique/type of equipment.
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