232 Dozier and Machtmes: Arborists in Louisiana Questions regarding customer relations were more difficult for respondents to answer correctly. This finding may reflect customer relations and arborist reputation problems already noted by Ball (1994). This area deserves greater attention from researchers to identify the underlying causes of poor service provider/client relations. Unlike broader areas of business ethics and customer relations, good arboricultural practices—especially technical skills, on-the-job behavior, and promotion of sound tree care practices—develop from specialized knowledge and experi- ence. Respondents unfamiliar with industry standards and recommendations were less able to respond correctly to questions related to good arboricultural practices. Familiarity with (and adoption of) industry standards and recommenda- tions depends largely on the individual’s exposure to current, research-based information. This kind of information is most readily available through activities associated with membership in professional societies or frequent participation in educa- tional activities such as continuing education workshops. Almost all respondents (96%) indicated they “seek out new information on tree care,” but their responses to questions based on industry standards suggest that they do not employ currently recommended practices (e.g., advise against the use of amendments in the planting hole [Lilly 2001]). Moreover, the venues they use to gain specialized knowledge and become familiar with industry standards and recommendations were not clear from their responses. For example, with regard to participating in more than the minimum required number of continuing education workshops in order to gain new knowledge, over half of the respondents (52%) said they attend two or more continuing education seminars each year. Registration records for the Louisiana program suggest that number is closer to 7%, and fewer than 20 Louisianans attended ISA’s annual conference in any of the past three years (Marx 2004). Professional arboriculture societies serve as a primary source for trade and research-based information on arboriculture, and this information is readily available through memberships in these organizations. Respondents in this study seemed to over-report their membership activities. Two-thirds (238) indicated they were members of a professional society for arborists, but membership in the two largest professional arboricultural societies, ISA and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), is very low among licensed arborists in Louisiana. There are 62 ISA members in Louisiana (Duchinksy 2005), but only 32 of them hold both a state license and ISA certification (6%), a consider- ably smaller per capita number of working ISA members than in neighboring states of Texas or Arkansas, but a larger number than in other places (U.S. Census Bureau 2004; Duchinksy 2005; INSEE 2005; O’Regan 2005). Member- ship in TCIA is also quite low among Louisiana arborists. Only 12 individuals are members, and there are no TCIA ©2005 International Society of Arboriculture accredited companies in the state (French 2004). Member- ship in the Louisiana Arborist Association is also low; 44 licensed arborists currently are listed on their member Web page (LAA 2005). Low membership in professional arboriculture societies suggests limited access to current information about tree care, safety, and professionalism and may help explain why respondents in this study had low scores in terms of safety and technical knowledge. Members of ISA receive two educational publications (Journal of Arboriculture and Arborist News) that provide up-to-date information of topics related to tree care. Non-members may have access to these journals through colleagues, libraries, or on-line. ISA has 256 library memberships worldwide, 155 of which are in the United States (Butler 2005) and back issues (1999–2003) are available electronically online (TreeLink 2005). In Louisiana, three university libraries subscribe to Journal of Arboriculture. TCIA publishes the trade journal, Tree Care Industry, for qualified tree company owners and others interested in arboriculture, 274 of whom have requested it in Louisiana (French 2004). Most Tree Care Industry recipients in Louisiana are business owners (licensed, certified or not). This survey indicates that 69% of state licensed arborists own their own businesses; thus, it is possible that a good number of licensed in Louisiana receive this journal. Despite wide availability of these resources to arborists who do not participate in professional societies, this survey does not indicate that they take advantage of them. In principle, the first step in becoming a licensed arborist in Louisiana is a basic familiarity with current industry standards both for tree care and safety; LDAF recommends that license applicants use the Arborists’ Certification Study Guide to prepare for the state licensing exam, and the LSUAC training program offers an annual review course based on the Guide. Still, although examinees must be familiar with the Guide to receive a passing mark on the exam, survey respondents did not respond correctly to several questions taken directly from the Guide. Although they must know the material to succeed on the exam, they do not appear to retain much of the information they glean when they prepare to take the exam. This is not surprising, given they are required to attend only one educational seminar each year and they tend not to engage in activities that would expose them to new information (e.g., participa- tion in professional societies). Their lack of familiarity with basic industry standards (e.g., using personal protective equipment) poses a considerable challenge for program directors who must deliver appropriate content to the audience members who need it most (e.g., those who currently do not use personal protective equipment) and also satisfy educational needs of those who have progressed beyond the basics and who are looking for more profes- sional development.
September 2005
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