President ’ s Message
Dear Fellow Arborists ,
I am honored to follow a long line of outstanding past presidents of our proud organization . For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by and have had a deep love for trees . Growing up , I was fortunate to have a large backyard loaded with trees to climb — and climb I did — much to the dismay of my mother !
In 1982 , I was accepted to UMass in Amherst and at the same time joined the military to cover my tuition . After a year , I decided to take a break from college and went on to spend more than 21 years in the service . I am still currently on break from school !
Trees have always been a focal point in my life . I spent many years as a Deputy Tree Warden , before becoming the Tree Warden for the Town of Wrentham . Most of my time as Tree Warden is spent doing risk assessments called in by concerned residents . Unfortunately , between the drought , Gypsy moth caterpillars , and now the Emerald Ash borer , many of these concerns are valid .
Amidst all the turmoil of our times , I send out a message of hope and gratitude . Hope in the form of vaccines and gratitude for an industry deemed essential when many were not . Insect infestations , drought , and apocalyptic storms have led to an industry backlog lasting , in some cases , well into next summer . Our association has done an outstanding job adapting curriculum to provide nonstop learning opportunities while adhering to all proper safety protocol . Well done MAA management team , board of directors , and volunteers ! Some of these changes will likely remain as benefits post-COVID .
Hopefully , before the end of my term as president , we will once again meet as a group of like-minded individuals sharing our common passion for trees .
Stay safe . Stay well .
Ray Rose , MCA MAA President
mAA NEWS is a publication of the Massachusetts Arborists Association , Inc . mAA NEWS is published four times a year for the Massachusetts Arborists Association ( MAA ) and is distributed free of charge to members . The purpose of the newsletter is to disseminate information to promote general standards and ethics in commercial arboriculture , as well as to foster research and share knowledge with its members . The MAA is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to communications between its membership and the industry . The MAA believes the information in this publication to be accurate as of its publication date and is not responsible for inadvertent errors . The MAA and Massachusetts Certified Arborist ( MCA ) logos are trademarks of the Massachusetts Arborists Association , Inc . Qualified MAA members and certified members only are permitted to utilize the logos . Logos for MAA and MCA are available through the MAA office .
EDITORIAL : Readers are encouraged to submit articles , announcements , review of products , or letters . Please send to Newsletter Editor at mail or e-mail CMartin @ MassArbor . org .
ADVERTISING : For advertising rates and information , contact MAA at info @ MassArbor . org , or ( 508 ) 653-3320 . Ads may be submitted as high-resolution pdf files . Discounted advertising rates are available to MAA members .
DISCLAImER : The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the MAA .
MAA Board of Directors
President Ray Rose , MCA Town of Wrentham DPW Wrentham , MA
Vice President Neal Reilly , MCA The Reilly Tree & Landscape Co . Plainville , MA
secretary / treasurer Kevin Cleveland , MCA Tree Tech Foxboro , MA
Past President Trumbull Barrett , MCA Barrett Tree Service East Medford , MA
Mca rePresentatiVe Rachel Brinkman , MCA Arnold Arboretum Jamaica Plain , MA
directors Russell Holman , MCA , CTsp , BCMA Arborway Tree Care Boston , MA
Max Ford-Diamond , MCA Boston Parks & Recreation Boston , MA
Brandon Maltby , MCA Maltby & Co ., Inc . Stoughton , MA
executiVe director M . Virginia Wood
MeMBersHiP & certiFication ManaGer Carrie Martin
ManaGeMent teaM peggy Benjamin Kristen Dreyer Charissa sharkey
MassacHusetts arBorists association , inc . 67 West Street Medfield , MA 02052 ( 508 ) 653-3320 Info @ MassArbor . org MassArbor . org
2 MAA NEWS mARCH 2021