Keith sent me his letter to post up here. They have 4 or 5 arbs on staff that have all signed the letter and will be sending it out today. Please make changes as you see fit and send in a copy. If anyone knows how to do an online petition please do so.
I.S.A. mailing address
Petition to Amend
the New Certificant Ethics Representations and Agreements
May 11, 2009
Dear ISA:
The undersigned Certified Arborists are shocked and offended by the new Ethics Representations and Agreements. These Representations and Agreements are not only a gross violation of our right to privacy; they are arrogant and offensive. We also firmly believe that they are bad for the tree care industry and should be deleted or thoroughly amended as soon as possible.
The questions in the Ethics Representations and Agreements are extremely broad and far exceed the scope of a professional organization trying to keep disreputable people out of its ranks. For example, Question 4 states: "I have not been found in violation of any law, regulation or policy by a government..." "Any law" includes innumerable petty violations: traffic violations, parking tickets, jaywalking and indeed skateboarding on school property in Central Point, Oregon. Is this relevant to our professional behavior? "Any law" also includes laws which have since been rescinded or overturned, such as a sodomy law in Texas which lead to the conviction of two men in Houston in 1998. The Supreme Court overturned the decision in 2003, but both men would have to disclose this information to the ISA to renew certification. Perhaps the ISA now fancies itself the court of higher instance.
Secondly, the question is not limited in time, even though most people agree that debts to society can be paid. Under Question 4, for instance, an arborist would have to admit to the ISA a conviction for possessing marijuana that may have happened many years ago. Is our behavior as 18 year-olds, however questionable, any business of the ISA? Here again, the ISA is placing itself above the criminal justice system by saying a debt to society cannot be paid and forgotten.
Nor is Question 4 limited in space. It implies such a simplistic view of government as just and moral that we have to wonder if anyone on the ISA Ethics Committee has ever read a newspaper. The unlimited term "a government" implies every government worldwide, past and present, however unethical or evil it may have been. Obviously, the pure among us would not want to associate with Roxana Saberi, the journalist who was recently convicted of spying in Iran. Nelson Mandela would have to explain his prison time to the ISA before he could renew certification. As would Vaclac Havel and, of course, Martin Luther King. We certainly wouldn't want to tarnish our organization by admitting these disreputable people who have been found in violation a law by a government.
Lastly, we are greatly offended that the ISA has not only overstepped its bounds by asking us questions
that have nothing to do with our professional behavior, but it makes the information a matter of public record as well. Kathy Client will now be able to call the ISA to learn about the pending domestic violence charges that were filed against Joe Arborist as part of nasty divorce proceedings. Offended, Kathy will turn to Toppin' Tom who is fortunate enough to keep his private life private. Clearly the ISA's new ethics policy has protected Kathy and her trees.
We are proud to be Certified Arborists and proud of the work done by the ISA in improving the quality of tree work worldwide. We fully expect the that the ISA will address our concerns in a sincere and timely manner and will keep us informed in such matters. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
