CTPA regrets to announce that, due to the shutdown of the federal government, it must make a change in its speaker line-up for this Thursday’s (January 17th) Annual Meeting. Doctor Kevin Smith is an employee of the US Forest Service. During a government shutdown, government workers are forbidden from performing job duties that are considered as a normal part of their work, except when those duties are considered to be essential. While the shutdown goes on, Kevin is simply not allowed to participate in our meeting.
This is a sad and regrettable state of affairs. Fortunately, CTPA is a part of a large and strong network of caring professionals. Melissa LeVangie of Shelter Tree, who is well-known to many CTPA members, has agreed to step in to help Kevin and the Association out. Melissa’s talk will be on “Climbing Gear Inspections: Beyond the Basics”. The presentation will include a good review of the ANSI Z-133 on equipment inspections, and then will take the discussion beyond the standard, talking about the sorts of failures that can occur from excessive wear and tear, what are the things one needs to be looking for with specific pieces of equipment and how tree workers should work together as a team, so that there is group confidence in the equipment and the project.
Melissa’s CTPA presentation will be based on a presentation she gave this past week at the Massachusetts Tree Wardens Association meeting. CTPA is very grateful to Melissa for stepping up. It is no small thing to be willing to give a talk to such as large group on very short notice. The Association also takes this as an example of the quality of people who are a part of arboriculture and tree care.
CTPA will work to ensure that there will be no ceu’s lost. In fact, there may be credits gained, as Melissa’s talk was previously approved for CTSP credits.
