Join us in May for the ISA Southern Chapter tree climbing academy series. This hands-on tree climbing academy will be led by North American Training Solutions, an expert in the field of arboriculture practices. The course is designed to educate participants about legislation and safety requirements as they pertain to working in trees, as well as provide individual training in climbing techniques. Participants are required to bring personal protection equipment and their regular climbing gear. Participants will learn: • Safety, teamwork and communication • Overhead belay/tie-in location selection and establishment • Tree climbing gear and tools • Lines, knots, hitches and splicing • Work positioning and fall protection • Work oriented tree climbing Space is limited, so register now. Registration begins at 7:30 am; lunch included. Location: Kanis Park, Rodney Parham and I-630, Little Rock.

The half-day workshop will provide guidance and training on specifications for tree selection and planting, identifying pests and properly pruning trees. Workshop participants will be able to ensure their newly planted trees will survive and care for mature trees. Trees not only increase property values, they contribute to the community as a whole clean water, air and wildlife habitat, as well as reduce storm water run-off. Registration, open until May 16, is $15 for AUFC members and $30 for non-members. The public is invited and professionals involved in tree programs can receive continuing education credits.

Keynote Speaker: Chad Pregracke, Founder and President - Living Lands and Waters. To learn more about Chad and his work, visit his website at: www.livinglandsandwaters.org Sessions - The Role of Recycling in Growing the Economy; Return on Investment; State Level Policy & Procedures; Problem Solving Across the Supply Chain; Hot Topics: Recycling Solutions for Problematic Waste Streams; New Uses for Old Tires; Zero Waste; National Sustainability Programs and Water and Arkansas Speakers - Jerry Powell - Resource Recyclng, Inc; Will Sagar - SERDC; Gail Tavill - ConAgra Foods; R. andrew Lake - Armstrong World, Inc; Teresa Marks - AR Dept. of Environmental Quality; Gerry Fishbeck - SC Rec. Market Devel. Advisory Council; Peter Su - Asst. Sec. Commerce & Trade/ Dir. VA Dept of Business Assistance; Chaz Miller - Director, NSWMA; Michael Blumenthal - Rubber Manufacturers Assn; Roger Davis - Davis Rubber Co; Mark Belche - Rubber Pavement Assn; Erik Perrin - General Dynamics; Jim Twiggs - McKee Foods; Steve Alexander - Exec Dir, Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers; Bill Leonidas - ReCommunity, Inc; Michelle Mauthe-Harvey, Enviro Defense Fund; Walter Delp - National Resource Conservation Service; Elaine Falcone - Waste Management and Todd Fugitt - AR Natural Resources Commission