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Re: ICF/RICS

Subject: Re: ICF/RICS
From: Scott Cullen
Date: Mar 09 2005 11:26:35 
Jeremy, I see two issues in your reply.
1st is the issue of ISA "servicing" the UK profession. And that has at
least two facets. a) It is quite clear in this ongoing discussion that the
UK industry (let's hold profession aside for the moment) is not itself
unified, being segmented into AA and ISA as well as the unaffilated. b)
Speaking to ISA board and executive committee members I think they would say
any Chapter has to define its own destiny and can rely on the substance of
the larger organization to cary out certain programs together with other
chapters, but it has to make itself.
2nd is the issue of charthered or professional status. If that is an
industry need in the UK, then either the industry needs to align with or
relocate a current charter or create a new one. It hardly seems realistic
that ISA should have done this for a UK industry that has not developed the
will to do it for itself.
Do some quick numbers. How many arboriculturists currently in AA and
UKI-ISA? What % of that realistically aspire to or have the quals to
achieve chartered status, irrespective of were the charter resides?
It may well be that the number is so small that the charter must reside w/in
ICF, RICS, IOB or some other home. That is not the same as it being an
effective arb charter or the same thing as advancing the industry as a
whole.
True enough here in the US we do not have "charters" as in UK. But we have
professions including law, medicine, engineering, accountancy, etc. each
with their degrees, designations, registrations and licenses. Only a few
states license arbs anf they have nothing like the same status as the true
professions. And that IMO is because it is a trade license with nothing
like the education and exam requirements of the others. But if arbs are
ever to get that sort of staus two things seem true: the "professional"
group will be a small elite and they will only have a public face if the
larger industry group has found itself and created public awareness.
The arb industry in the US has made enormous strides in the last 20 years
based on the efforts of ISA and TCIA (formerly NAA). Members made those
organization they did not make the members. 


SC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeremy Barrell" <Jeremy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.co.uk> 
To: "UK Tree Care" <uktc@xxxxxx.tree-care.info>
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 4:20 AM
Subject: RE: ICF/RICS


Hi Scott



It is an interesting question why an international organisation with
17,000 members has not seemed to effectively service the needs of
members of the Arboricultural Profession in the UK.  But the fact
remains that it has not and I do not see it as a viable option in this
specific area although I try to keep an open mind.



I am sure there are many reasons but foremost in my mind seems to be the
tradition and hierarchy that permeates UK life.  Chartered status is a
widely recognised and trusted mechanism for setting a comparable
standard of professional achievement across the whole range of
professions that exist.  None of the arboricultural organisations have
this and it seems unlikely they ever will.  So although their various
designations may be well recognised within Arboriculture, this will not
extend across to other professions and that is the key.  For me to
function as an effective consultant in the UK, my status needs to be
properly recognised by the other professions I deal with, not by my
fellow arboriculturists.



Irrespective of all these very complex and difficult arguments, the fact
remains for me that no organisation I currently belong to is properly
servicing my professional needs.  Rightly or wrongly, I have identified
size and chartered status as key elements in making progress.  Whilst
there may be no simple solution to what is right, it is becoming
increasingly clear what is wrong.  What arboriculturists have in the UK
is not working so it is time to try something else.  I have anxieties
about RICS but they are nothing like as grave as my concerns about doing
nothing.



Jeremy

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Barrell Tree Consultancy

Pullman Way Business Park

Ringwood

Hants BH24 1EX



Tel: 01425 475666

Fax: 01425 476491

Email: jeremy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.co.uk

Website: www.barrelltreecare.co.uk



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