NickfromWI
King of Splices
I've been to many a conference (arborist or otherwise) where I've been quite disappointed in the classes.
The one I'm going to is in San Diego
The one I'm going to is in San Diego
Risk Report
- Thread starter treelooker
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NickfromWI
King of Splices
It's at the Rancho Bernardo Inn
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
Those bastardos!
sotc
Dormant hero!!
But the class, in February at Fisherman's wharf? The academy? Thats what I am going to, I hear great things about it
NickfromWI
King of Splices
Yepper! See you there! (I had it in my calendar as "San Fran" so had no clue when you referred to it by the proper name)
treesandsurf
Treehouser
Not to bust your bubble Willy but I went to the Academy in 2010 and wasn't impressed at all. Speakers spent more time hyping up ASCA and telling us what we couldn't do if we got our RCA than giving us much valuable information/knowledge. There was one or two decent (again decent) classes, but the majority was over-hyped and overpriced. The attitude was that we (non-ASCA RCA folks) were lucky to be in the presence of such amazing people?? I didn't buy it, that's for sure.
Also, I prepared the follow up report after the academy and was given a failing score (by 1% off!) and the determining factor was that I didn't provide recommendations for remediation given the particular case I was assigned. The funny thing was that I kept debating when preparing the report to provide recommendations but the scenario not only didn't call for recommendations, but during the entire Academy one of the points DRILLED into our heads was never to give anything that wasn't specifically called for in the scope of work. Anyway, I don't have much respect for the ASCA world given my experience and will likely never follow up with the RCA certification. I'm hoping to retake the BCMA shortly, as it seems like a more practical and worthwhile credential. I do hope your experience is different than mine, especially given the cost!
jp
Also, I prepared the follow up report after the academy and was given a failing score (by 1% off!) and the determining factor was that I didn't provide recommendations for remediation given the particular case I was assigned. The funny thing was that I kept debating when preparing the report to provide recommendations but the scenario not only didn't call for recommendations, but during the entire Academy one of the points DRILLED into our heads was never to give anything that wasn't specifically called for in the scope of work. Anyway, I don't have much respect for the ASCA world given my experience and will likely never follow up with the RCA certification. I'm hoping to retake the BCMA shortly, as it seems like a more practical and worthwhile credential. I do hope your experience is different than mine, especially given the cost!
jp
treelooker
Treehouser
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #32
Nick, it wasn't all the hammer; the 24" was measured by probing. For those trees i reeeeally wish i had bought that tomograph i rented last winter.
i doubt i'll rejoin the org; i felt forced to make a choice between being an arborist or being a consultant, and arborist won out, god help me. Their elitist attitude is kinda noxious. But everyone's different; hope it works out for you guys. the incoming asca prez is more of a regular guy than some in the past; that may help the org keep some humility about it.
i looked at the program in san diego; some sounded very interesting and some hohum and some o no not again!. but i'll be in china then so cant go anyway; maybe next year when they are back east...
Jon thanks for sharing that anecdote; funny from here given the quantity of bytes spent on debating whether recommendations should always be expected(me in the minority saying nay). I got a lot out of the academy; back in 1996 a lot of that stuff was new to me. went back in 2006 to see how it evolved and was disappointed in the ethics portion (hired gun 201) and the report writing (if you can't say it in a sentence, use 2 paragraphs), but that was judging with 16 years of experience and attitude, good and bad I guess.
i doubt i'll rejoin the org; i felt forced to make a choice between being an arborist or being a consultant, and arborist won out, god help me. Their elitist attitude is kinda noxious. But everyone's different; hope it works out for you guys. the incoming asca prez is more of a regular guy than some in the past; that may help the org keep some humility about it.
i looked at the program in san diego; some sounded very interesting and some hohum and some o no not again!. but i'll be in china then so cant go anyway; maybe next year when they are back east...
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
What are you doing in China?
sotc
Dormant hero!!
I can't afford to go to both and heard many folks at the first time conference meal say the academy was good so that raised my hopes after so much disappointment with the pre-conference and a few of the classes that sounded great on paper. My reports need more depth, thats what I am hoping to gain at the academy. I would be frustrated too, Jon, I here that all the time too, "define the project"
treesandsurf
Treehouser
Willy I have the two books for academy if you want them pm your address may save some $.
sotc
Dormant hero!!
Cool, thanks Jon
treelooker
Treehouser
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #37
Willie, pm me your email if you want re depth. Attached fwiw. You'll ge ta lot out of it if russ carlson, david hucker and dennis yniguez still play a part there; topnotch. 
do you have a recorder on your phone? when i went i met a few guys i regularly work with still and that is a big plus; the network; the matrix of high druids.
o and hey if you want to go to boise id i'll be doing a session on report writing jan 21, along with restoration pruning and um diagnosis/mgt.View attachment AN ReportWriting_2010_08.pdf of high-risk trees by the detective.
mb i'm gonna do my first tcc in hong knog and then present at their annual conference. http://www.ias.hk/ so i figgered what the hey i am so close, so i figgered on seeing some tree sights in china proper too. the sw part mostly for a couple weeks, including shanghai too; got visions of ponytails dancing in my head.
neville fay and frank rinn are huge influences; sharp guys both, and they GET the tree, as few do. so i'm really honored to be on with them; better get back to my ppts.
do you have a recorder on your phone? when i went i met a few guys i regularly work with still and that is a big plus; the network; the matrix of high druids.o and hey if you want to go to boise id i'll be doing a session on report writing jan 21, along with restoration pruning and um diagnosis/mgt.View attachment AN ReportWriting_2010_08.pdf of high-risk trees by the detective.
mb i'm gonna do my first tcc in hong knog and then present at their annual conference. http://www.ias.hk/ so i figgered what the hey i am so close, so i figgered on seeing some tree sights in china proper too. the sw part mostly for a couple weeks, including shanghai too; got visions of ponytails dancing in my head.
neville fay and frank rinn are huge influences; sharp guys both, and they GET the tree, as few do. so i'm really honored to be on with them; better get back to my ppts.
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
I've been to HK twice. It woulda be a lot more fun if I'd had a lot more money!
NickfromWI
King of Splices
I'm gonna hafta start a RCA thread...stay tuned!
treesandsurf
Treehouser
Ditto what Guy said re those presenters, if you have a chance to go to a class with Dennis Yniguez he's the man, also was a climber (still is?) in the north bay area and gave an awesome class on trees and law (he's a lawyer).
Frank Rinn is another one that I wouldn't miss, he was just out here a month ago demonstrating some of his new pull-test technology and his tomograph/resistographs on some very large old trees in one of our main parks. There's a lot of new information coming out that will hopefully reflect in the latest standards and risk assessment certification... especially in regards to pruning and risk assessment.... I guess we'll see...
jp
Frank Rinn is another one that I wouldn't miss, he was just out here a month ago demonstrating some of his new pull-test technology and his tomograph/resistographs on some very large old trees in one of our main parks. There's a lot of new information coming out that will hopefully reflect in the latest standards and risk assessment certification... especially in regards to pruning and risk assessment.... I guess we'll see...
jp
sotc
Dormant hero!!
Boise isn't bad, Darin and I have been trying to get together for awhile now, that could work!
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