Dear Members,

We hope that you and your companies and families are doing well. The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented time in recent history. MAA's goal throughout the pandemic has been to ensure that arborists are able to continue to do their essential tree work while also keeping their employees safe and healthy. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!

MAA is moving forward with planning our Winter Seminar scheduled for January. We hope to provide an exciting line up of speakers. We will keep you updated on the progress of that event.

Thank you,

Lindsay Thompson

Executive Director

Being a Maryland Arborist Member provides a number of benefits to you and your business. A few benefits to highlight are discounted events, educational resources and up-to-date news and information.

Altec | Chesapeake Employer's Insurance Company

Georgetown Insurance | Moran Insurance

Security Equipment Company | Vermeer Mid Atlantic

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first spotted lanternfly hatch of 2020. The hatch occured in the upper northeast corner of Cecil County. Businesses that require movement of any regulated item within or from the quarantine zone must have a permit . A Maryland permit can be obtained by taking a free online training course here . Read the full press release here .

Paycheck Protection Program

The Small Business Administration released the PPP loan forgiveness application and detailed instructions for the application to help small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. These loans have proved to be a key resource for tree care companies and are attractive because a large portion is forgiveable if spent on payroll costs. View the application and instructions here. Learn more about the PPP here.

Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Hurricane Season

Now is the time to prepare your yard, gardens, and lanscapes for bad weather. This hurricane season will be "above average" with an increase in the normal number of tropical storms or hurricanes.

Begin by inspecting your trees for dead branches, prune any plants close to the house or may fall on the roof. Keep waterways clear to restrict floods. Lastly, ensure gutters are clear of leaves, branches, or other debris so that water moves away from the house.

Read the full article here.

University of Maryland IPM Reports

The University of Maryland shared a weekly TPM and IPM report for arborists, landscape managers, and nursery managers. View recent reports here.

May 29th - View Here

May 15th - View Here

May 1st - View Here

May 22nd - View Here

May 8th - View Here

April 24th - View Here

Scholarships

MAC-ISA is offering two $1,250 scholarships in memory of Dr. Frank Santamour. These scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate students studying arboriculture/urban forestry or a related field who have a genuine interest in a career in arboriculture. The 2020 scholarship application is dye by September 11th and can be found here.

A: Hazard Identification

B: Electrical Hardware Recognition

C: Plant ID

D: First Aid/CPR

E: None of these above

According to the newest ANSI Z-133-2017 what type of head protection shall be worn when working in proximity to electrical conductors? (See Section 3.3)

A: Class L

B: Class A

C: Class C

D: Class E

E: None of the above

Arborist Certification Course

The certification course is an opportunity to prepare for the certification exam or the Maryland Licensed Tree Expert exam. The course will be July 14 through 16th in Richmond, VA. Eric Wiseman, PhD and Greg Dahle, PhD will be teaching the course. Register now before it is too late, here.

TRAQ Course (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification)

The next TRAQ course will be August 4th through the 6th in Charlottesville, VA. After a two-day education course, you will have a 1/2 day assessment that will be taught by Bruce Fraedrich, PhD. Register here.

TRAQ Renewal Classes

TRAQ credential holders are eligible to take this class up to 18 months prior to their expiration date. This one-day course taught, conssits of five fours of instruction followed by the exam. You can register here for the August 7th class in Charlottesville, VA. Or register here for the October 23rd class in Baltimore, MD.

MAC-ISA Annual Meeting Going Virtual

The in-person meeting in Solomons, MD will be postponed until October 2021. For 2020, the meeting will be virtual on October 5th and 6th. Through the virutal meeting, information will be shared, CEUs will be available, prizes will be presented, and much more. Stay tuned for more information!

Day of Arboriculture

The 2020 Day of Arboriculture will take place on November 14th at the U.S. National Arboretym. The one day event will offer 8 ISA and MD LTE CEUs. More details will be posted soon.