ISA-RMC

08/14/2026

🌱 Meet the Speaker: James Cassidy 🌱

Get ready to talk SOIL at the 2026 Wyoming Tree Academy!

We're excited to welcome James Cassidy, Instructor of Soil Science at Oregon State University, to Cheyenne this September. James has been teaching soil science at OSU for more than 20 years and has earned a reputation for making a subject that can seem complicated both understandable and genuinely exciting.

His path to soil science isn't exactly traditional either. With more than 40 years of experience in the music industry, James brings plenty of energy and personality to the classroom. He's also the founder and faculty advisor of the OSU Organic Growers Club, a student farm program that has involved more than 30,000 students and grows over 50 different fruit and vegetable crops.

And at this year's Tree Academy, you'll have two opportunities to learn from him!

🌎 It's ALL About SOIL!

What exactly is soil, and why does understanding it matter so much to the trees and landscapes we manage?

James will dive into how soils form, how they store water and nutrients, what nutrients actually are, and how you can use publicly available soil data to better understand the ground beneath your feet. His goal is simple: give you the soil fundamentals that everyone on planet Earth should know!

🥾 Plant Health Care Workshop: Getting Your Hands in the Soil

James will also take soil science out of the classroom and into the field during our optional preconference Plant Health Care Workshop.

Attendees will examine real soils across different landscape conditions, dig samples, compare irrigated and non-irrigated sites, look at compaction and soil amendments, explore soil profiles, learn basic soil evaluation and sampling techniques, and even use free mobile soil-mapping tools that you can take back to your own work.

If you work with trees, you work with soil. These sessions will help you understand what's happening below ground and why it matters above it. 🌳

📅 PHC Workshop: September 16
📅 Wyoming Tree Academy: September 17–18, 2026
📍 Cheyenne, Wyoming
Register here: https://isarmc.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=391

Come ready to learn. You might never look at dirt the same way again!

08/11/2026

Rocky Mountain Chapter ISA is representing at the ISA Annual International Conference in Detroit, Michigan this week!

We’re excited to have several of our chapter members (Mary Tiernan, Patrick O'Meara, Chandra Brown, Mike Nezworski, Anne Beard, and Korey Lofy) gathered in Detroit this week to learn, connect, and share knowledge!!

We love seeing our members from across the region come together and represent the Rocky Mountain Chapter!!💚💚

08/04/2026

The 2026 Wyoming Tree Academy's registration is live and ready for you to sign up here: https://isarmc.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=391 !!!

In the meantime, learn more about 2026 speaker Dr. Paul Ries from Wyoming State Forestry Division!

🌲 Meet the Speaker: Dr. Paul Ries 🌲

We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Paul Ries to the 2026 Wyoming Tree Academy!

With more than 35 years of experience in urban forestry, arboriculture, natural resources, and wildland fire management, Paul has served as an educator, practitioner, consultant, and leader throughout the profession. He currently teaches urban forestry, green infrastructure, and arboriculture at Oregon State University and is a Past President of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

This year, Paul will share two sessions centered on one of the most valuable skills any tree professional can develop: communication.

📷 Beyond Point and Shoot: Using Photography to Communicate Trees
Learn how to take your photos beyond simple snapshots. Paul will share practical techniques for creating compelling images that educate the public, promote urban forestry, and tell the story of the work we do every day.

🎤 How to Talk Trees (and How Not To)
Knowing trees is only half the job. Communicating that knowledge effectively is what creates lasting impact. In this session, Paul will cover presentation skills, marketing and communication strategies, how to avoid "death by PowerPoint," and introduce his Communication Triangle—a practical framework for crafting key messages and reaching the audiences that matter most.

Whether you're speaking to a city council, educating homeowners, presenting at a conference, or simply advocating for trees in your community, you'll walk away with practical tools you can start using immediately.

📅 September 17–18, 2026
📍 Cheyenne, Wyoming

Join us for two sessions that will help you become not only a better tree professional, but a better advocate for trees.

-RMC

08/03/2026

TREE Fund's 2026 Fall Grant Application Cycle is now open!! With total grant dollars accumulating to $120,000, there are six research grant programs accepting applications!

The fall cycle applications are accepted between August 1st and October 1st and Letters of Intent are due by September 1st!

For more information visit: https://treefund.org/archives/23837

08/03/2026

GAME ON! ISA is pleased to announce that, following official verification by the ISA Rules Committee, Viktor von Magnus of the ISA Germany Chapter has established a new Head-to-Head Ascent World Record with a time of 8.32 seconds at the 2026 European Tree Climbing Championship. https://tinyurl.com/ypk84wf2

08/03/2026

Exciting news from TREE Fund: TREE Fund and ArbNet have combined forces to launch a new directory! The intention of this directory is to connect botanic and arboreta gardens to tree researchers - creating an availability of space to conduct research projects!

Learn more about the new directory here: https://treefund.org/archives/23768

07/31/2026

Registration is live for our annual RMC conference, and we could not be more excited about it!!

The conference will be October 1 - October 2nd at the Double Tree Denver-Westminster. The theme for this year's conference is "Cultivating the Future".

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Registration and more info: https://isarmc.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=399

07/30/2026

We are excited to host a Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualification (TPAQ) course coming to you August 31-September 2nd at the Carla Madison Rec Center!!

The event is an introductory training that will cover the theory and application of current tree and plant appraisal through instructor-led discussion and scenarios.

For more information, eligibility requirements, and registration click here: https://isarmc.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=417&ts=1784921697

07/28/2026

Check out ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter member, Patrick M. O'Meara, on Denver 9 News last week doing a great job discussing some important topics: trees, watering, and drought!

Patrick O'Meara with the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colora...

07/22/2026

Don't forget to sign up for Saluting Branches this year!! We are looking forward to a fulfilling day of service on Wednesday, September 16th!

Through Saluting Branches' website, https://www.salutingbranches.org/ , you will find a map to locate the closest event to you for registration. You'll also find incredible stats like: 100 locations, 5,000 volunteers, and $5,000,000 in donated services!!

The photo included is from the Evergreen Cemetery Saluting Branches event in Colorado Springs!