CTPA (Connecticut Tree Protective Association)

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2023 CT TCC Men’s Master Challenge

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On Saturday, May 6th, after the Preliminary Events in the CT Tree Climbing Competition, the Master’s Challenge was held in order to determine the top Connecticut Tree Climber.  In order to participate in the CTCC Master’s Challenge, the climber must be a resident of Connecticut.  Competitors in the Challenge are selected in terms of order of finish, up until there are three competitors.  If a higher placed competitor chooses not to stay for the Challenge, the next highest finisher is moved up to fill the vacant space.

The three competitors in the 2023 Master’s Challenge were:

Tim Reynolds
Ryan Torcicollo
Jake Slade

In the Master’s Challenge, three work stations are placed in a large tree, and climbers move through the tree completing assigned tasks. The competitors are scored on the basis of skill as well as speed as they complete the tasks during the Master’s Challenge.  Each competitor has 20 minutes in which to complete his climb (2 women climbers competed in 2023 but were not from Connecticut).  The competitor’s climb is not considered as completed until all gear, including all ropes, have been removed from the tree.

The day was warm and sunny and the Master’s Challenge took place under favorable conditions.  All three competitors gave 200% to become the winner of the CT TCC.  In the end, Jake Slade was declared the winner by a slim margin with a score of 242.33, followed by Tim Reynolds with 238.00 and Rich Torcicollo at 200.oo.  It was a very successful and we are grateful to all the competitors and volunteers who spent the day at Fairfield Hills, CT.

Rich Torcicollo, Jake Slade and Tim Reynolds -Master’s Challenge competitors.

 

2023 CT TCC Climbers and Competitors.

Arbor Day 2023

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Arbor Day 2023!

The Connecticut Tree Protective Association was excited to celebrate Arbor Day with the winners of the Arbor Day poster contest “My Favorite Tree”.  All fifth graders from the State of Connecticut were invited to participate and there were 96 posters submitted.  The Arbor Day Committee had tough decisions to make to bring the winner posters to four.  The towns that won were Southington, Northford, Sterling and Wolcott.  The kids, their peers, teachers and family were invited to the Rocky Hill Home and Hospital to be a part of the tree planting and celebrate the winners of the poster contest.  The tree donated for the planting was a red maple and was generously given by Eversource Energy.

The morning started with Sean Redding, Secretary/Treasurer of CTPA, giving a brief history of Arbor Day and the history of CTPA.    The winners of the poster contest were asked to step forward and tell the crowd about their favorite tree and receive a goodie bag of items from CTPA.  After photos and well wishes, Bud Neal, Past President of CTPA, led the charge to plant the new tree.  Bud showed the attendees how to properly dig the hole and plant the tree as well as advising the importance of watering the tree.  The entire event took about an hour and a half.  The CTPA would like to thank the students, the teachers and all the families that came and especially and the volunteers that came from The Woodbury Post 155 American Legion and The Bethlehem Post 146 American Legion to help with the planting and took part in Arbor Day 2023.

            

2023 CT Climbing Competition

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Group Shot of Competitors and Volunteers

Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition – May 6, 2023

On May 6, 2023, the Connecticut Tree Protective Association will hold the 17th annual Connecticut Tree Climbing Championship.  This competition will take place at Fairfield Hills in Newtown.  The competition will run all day, from 8 in the morning until mid-afternoon.  The public is invited to attend at no charge.

The climbers will show their skills in 5 preliminary events, with the 3 top climbers invited to face off in a Master’s Challenge.

All of the competitors are drawn from the ranks of those involved in professional tree care.  Most are from Connecticut, although competitors are also from other New England states, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  As the competitors demonstrate their skill, insight, knowledge of technique and athletic ability through their tree climbing. they will also be showing an absolute commitment to safety and concern for the well-being of the tree.

The five preliminary events are the:

  • Ascent Event – A timed climb up a climbing line to a specified height (from 40’ to 80’).
  • Throwline Accuracy – A timed event in which the competitor sets 2 different lines in specified parts of the crown of a tree.
  • Belayed Speed Climb – A timed ‘free-climb’ (climber is belayed) 40’ to 60’ up a selected tree.
  • Work Climb – Five work stations are set within a given tree and competitors move through the tree completing assigned tasks.
  • Aerial Rescue – Climbers are timed as they ‘rescue’ a dummy set in a tree.

In the Master’s Challenge three work stations are placed in a large tree, and climbers move through the tree completing assigned tasks.  The climbers are both timed and scored, in that only those tasks completed within a specified time are counted and points are added or deducted based on the skill and commitment to safety demonstrated by the climber.

The Connecticut Tree Protective Association is an educational non-profit dedicated to advancing the care of trees in the state.    Currently, the Association has over 780 members, with approximately 580 of those members being licensed arborists.

To sign up as a Competitor please click here:  https://ctpa.org/ctcc-online-registration-form/

To sign up as a Sponsor please click here: https://ctpa.org/ctcc-online-sponsorship-form/

To sign up to be a Volunteer please click here:  https://ctpa.org/ct-tcc-volunteer-registration/

Further details regarding the competition are available through the CTPA office, at 203-484-2512, or by contacting Cathy Dvorsky, Executive Secretary, at cathy@ctpa.org.

Interested attendees are also invited to visit the CTPA website at https://ctpa.org.

CT Tree Conditions Workshop 2023

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The CTPA is holding a workshop on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at The CT Agricultural Experiment Station, Jones Auditorium.  This workshop will be from 8:00am to 2:00pm with a continental breakfast and lunch included.

Members – $75.00 (non-members may register at the member rate as long as the member is attending the workshop)

Non-Member – $95.00

This workshop will have three elements that will be discussed about CT tree conditions in 2023.  The first talk is about Weather, Climate and the Environmental Outlook of CT Trees by Dr. Keriö.  The second talk is Plant Pathology and Projections by Felicia Millett.  And the last talk will discuss entomology by Dr. Rutledge. After Lunch (provided), there will be a three-panel question and answer session with the speakers.

Space is limited so please register soon!

CREDITS:  3D – 4.0 CEU’s, Tree Wardens – 4.0 CEU’s, ISA – 4.0 CEU’s and Forest Practitioners – 1.5 CEU’s.

Invitation for CT Tree Conditions Workshop 2023

The Connecticut Arborist Newsletter Winter 2022-23 Edition

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The CTPA is excited to bring to you the electronic version of the newsletter.   It still has the same feel and look of the printed version so please take a look.

The Annual Meeting on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at the AquaTurf Club.  We have a great lineup of speakers, exhibitors and food.

Wishing you a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas.

The Connecticut Arborist Winter 2022-23

CTPA Slate of Officers for the Annual Meeting

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The CTPA Annual Meeting is Thursday, January 19, 2023.

The Business Meeting of the CTPA takes place at 8:30 am with the voting in of the following proposed slate of officers.

Michael Almstead – President, Emmett Shutts – Vice President, Sean Redding – Secretary/Treasurer

Directors: Bud Neal, Charlie Iselin, Allan Fenner, Pat Flynn, Claire Rutledge, Greg Foran, Kevin W. Wyatt, Carter Peck, Stacey Marcell and Casey Tresp.

 

We look forward to seeing everyone in person again!
To register for the Annual Meeting, please complete the form below.

CEUs are available for the following: CT Licensed Arborists  3D/4.25,  Forest Practitioner -1.5 CEU’s, ISA Arborist Certification- 3.75 CEU’s , and Advanced Certified Tree Warden – 4.25 CEU’s.

The day will begin at 8:00 am and end at 3:45 pm.  Come spend the day!

Registration:

  • Preregistration (before January 14th) Members: $90.00, Non-Members: $110.00
  • After January 14th and at the door the day of the event Members: $105.00 and Non-Members $125.00
  •  (click here to become a CTPA Member)

All payments are non-refundable.

If you prefer to register by mail and pay by check, please download the AM Attendee Flyer 2023


If you prefer to register by mail and pay by check, please download the AM Exhibitor Flyer 2023

CTPA 101st Annual Meeting – January 19, 2023

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The CTPA is pleased to announce the 101st Annual Meeting will be taking place in person at the AquaTurf Club on Thursday, January 19, 2023.
There is a fantastic lineup of speakers: Dr. Robert Marra, Dr. Richard Cowles and Dr. Susanna Keriö all from the CT Agricultural Experiment Station will talk first about Beech Leaf Disease both from the biology and management aspects. The second talk is by Daniel Herms, Ph.D. from the Davey Tree Experts Company. He will talk about climate change, urban forests and arboriculture. And the keynote speaker this annual meeting is Christopher Luley, Ph.D. and he will be speaking about decay fungi.

CEUs are available for the following: CT Licensed Arborists 3D/4.25, and Forest Practitioner – Pending, ISA Arborist Certification- 3.75 CEU’s, TCIA CTSP – Pending and Advanced Certified Tree Warden – Pending CEU’s.

The day will begin at 8:00 am and end at 3:45 pm.  Come spend the day!

Registration:

  • Preregistration (before January 14th) Members: $90.00, Non-Members: $110.00
  • After January 14th and at the door the day of the event Members: $105.00 and Non-Members $125.00
  •  (click here to become a CTPA Member)

All payments are non-refundable.

If you prefer to register by mail and pay by check, please download the AM Attendee Flyer 2023


If you prefer to register by mail and pay by check, please download the AM Exhibitor Flyer 2023

Looking for Award Nominations!

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Chuck and Darryl Newman of Planters’ Choice Receive the Arborist Citation as it is Presented to their Nursery.

 

The Connecticut Tree Protective Association regularly honors individuals who have made significant contributions to arboriculture and to the care and protection of Connecticut’s trees. These awards are given annually and presented at the Annual Meeting. The CTPA Board of Directors is requesting nominees for awards for the upcoming Annual Meeting join January 19, 2023 and encourages you to nominate someone whom you feel deserves special recognition.

Award Categories:

  • Award of Merit– This award is presented to a CTPA member who has shown exemplary professionalism and dedication and made outstanding contributions to the care and protection of Connecticut’s trees.
  • Arborist Citation– This award is presented to a non-member who has shown exemplary dedication to the care and protection of Connecticut’s trees.

If you know of someone that is deserving of either of these awards, please print out the nomination form and email to cathy@ctpa.org.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, December 2, 2022.

2022 Electrical Hazards Awareness Program Workshop

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The Connecticut Tree Protective Association presents an Electrical Hazards Awareness Program Workshop
Thursday, November 3, 2022
at the Eversource – Berlin Campus
107 Selden Street, Berlin, CT
Cost – CTPA Membership $85.00, Non-Members $100.00.   Price includes lunch.

CEU’s will be available for State of CT 3D (Arborist License)/6.25 CEU’s, 6 (Rights-of-Way)/ 6.25 CEU’s, ISA/5.5 CEU’s, TCIA CTSP/ 7.0 CEU’s and Forest Practitioner / 2.0 CEU’s.

(Please note: This workshop is no longer associated with the TCIA EHAP course. If you need to be certified by TCIA, please take their course online at the TCIA website.)

This workshop will focus on the hazards all tree care workers face when they work around energized electrical conductors. This awareness is an essential part of basic tree care safety. It is recommended that all people who work in tree care take an EHAP course. This one-day workshop will be led by Emmett Shutts, Cheshire, CT. Emmett is a licensed CT arborist and Supervisor of Arborist Skills Trainer with The Davey Tree Expert Company. A tabletop live wire demonstration will be given by Doug Pistawka with Eversource.
During the seminar Doug and Emmett will share information about the electrical distribution system and the hazards associated with working near electrical conductors. Safety standards and best
practices for working near electrical conductors will be discussed.
Line Clearance Qualification for employees can only be certified by the employer however this educational seminar can be part of the training. Mr. Shutts will discuss how employers can implement this training and document certification. CTPA will not be providing this additional training or testing.
CTPA encourages all companies engaged in tree care to have an EHAP program in place for all of their employees.

Cost for this workshop is $85 members and $100 non-members. This price includes lunch, and full day of instruction. Ensure your reservation by Oct. 24th.

OR

If you are requiring certification from TCIA, you will need to take the EHAP course online. This course put on by CTPA, is designed to give education on Electrical Hazards but is not associated with the TCIA certification process.

Please go to the CTPA website – www.ctpa.org to register for the workshop.
Checks are accepted and can be mailed to: CTPA, PO Box 1946, Wallingford, CT 06492
If you have questions, please call Cathy at 203 484-2512
The CTPA would like to thank Eversource for the generous use of their facility and for their support of this program.

The CT Tree Protective Association Makes it to 100!

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One hundred years ago today – on August 16th, 1922 – 32 individuals gathered at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison in order to initiate the Connecticut Tree Protective Association.  These individuals, under the leadership of Cornelius A. Millane and Francis A. Bartlett and with the strong support of Walter O. Filley and W. F. Britton of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, took the steps necessary to build a strong foundation for a tree care educational association that remains solid in numbers and accomplishments to this day.

It is intriguing to look back and think about how aware those early arborists were likely to have been as to where their efforts would lead.  It is also powerful to be a part of CTPA and to connect to all of the tradition, effort, progress and vision that continue to be a defining feature of the organization.

100 years – it is quite an accomplishment.  If anyone is interested in exploring this history, the CTPA Timeline has been posted.  Today is a good day to climb a tree or to give one a hug.  Or, just to take a close look at a tree – its crown, its roots, its bark, leaves and trunk – and appreciate how amazing these wonders of nature are.  After all, it was what CTPA members have been doing for a whole century now.

Happy CTPA Centennial!

 

Contact CTPA

MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 1946,
Wallingford CT 06492

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
60 Church Street (Rte 68), Suite 3A,
Wallingford , CT 06492

PHONE: 203-484-2512
EMAIL: info@ctpa.org

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