Call for Presentations!

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2019 Western Chapter ISA Annual Conference
Call for Presentations
SUMMISSIONS ARE CLOSED
Thank you for considering a presentation proposal for the 2019 WCISA Annual Conference. The conference will be held April 29 – May 2, 2019 at the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu, HI

Our conference theme, ‘We’re in this Boat Together‘, reminds us that, no matter where we live on planet Earth, we face similar issues. For this conference we will focus on the influx of devastating pests and diseases attacking our urban forests. With far more arborists working in our urban forests than government entomologists and plant pathologists, we should embrace this great opportunity to train our ranks to recognize and detect potential new pests and diseases that could become a problem in their areas. Trained arborists can participate in an early detection network, reporting new infestations to our local authorities while eradication is still possible. Additional important discussions will include invasive pests transported via infested nursery stock and the long-term damage caused to people, pets, and native coastal and riparian habitats, as these pests compete, establish, and disrupt the balance of our ecosystems.

Some of the issues we want to address:
  • Pests and diseases attacking urban forests in your State/area that could become a problem for other States.
  • Beyond the Western Chapter – problem pests and diseases in Florida, the Pacific Islands, and other areas
  • How to avoid introducing/spreading invasive species, pests, and diseases
  • Coping with devastating pests and diseases as a municipality
  • Public/private partnerships in combating pests and diseases
  • Impacts of invasive species on utility rights-of-way and Integrated Vegetation Management budgets
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: 
  • The preferred proposal format is our online form or by emailing the complete form to Delia Juncal (delia@epicentermgmt.us).
  • If necessary, proposals may be mailed to 31910 Country Club Drive, Porterville, CA 93257 Attention: Delia Juncal
  • If you have any questions, please contact: Program Chair, Dorothy Abeyta (dorothy.abeyta@davey.com) or Rose Epperson (repperson@wcisa.net)

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS CLOSES ON 9/30/18

Aloha Kakou! Greetings from beautiful Hawaii!

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Shortly after being elected to the WCISA Board in 2013, I discovered that whoever is president when our Annual Conference is held gets to plan and host his or her dream conference that year. With that, I started jotted down ideas for my dream conference. As time went on, I started thinking about how the land on our planet is like a boat among the oceans of the world. In Polynesian culture, the oceans connect us, not divide us. Hawaii is the most remote landform on Earth, but it’s also connected to Asia, Africa, North America, and the Pacific Islands as the crossroads of the Pacific. Hawaii has the most severe invasive species problem in the United States, many of which are pests and diseases that attack our urban forest. But we’re not alone in facing this problem. As our climate changes, pests, and diseases become more invasive, with ranges expanding as areas warm. We’re all in this boat together! And that boat is our Mother Earth.

Please join us in Hawaii and become part of an early detection alert system to protect our planet and our urban forests. Hope to see you soon!

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Carol Kwan, WCISA President