Press Release

Joint press release from the Arboricultural Association and
International Society of Arboriculture (UK and Ireland Chapter)

4th August 2003 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AA and ISA (UK&I) members vote for merger talks

Members of the Arboricultural Association and ISA (UK and Ireland Chapter) were recently asked to vote in a postal ballot on the following question: 'Do you support the principle of the Arboricultural Association and ISA (UK and Ireland Chapter) becoming one new organisation to provide a unified democratic voice for British and Irish arboriculture?' The results of the ballot for both organisations are as follows:

Arboricultural Association members voting - Yes: 85.2%; No: 13.4%; Undecided: 1.2%; Invalid vote 0.1%. [Percentage of total membership voting: 47.5%]

International Society of Arboriculture (UK&I) members voting - Yes: 80.0%; No: 20.0%. [Percentage of total membership voting: 50.3%]

In view of the positive mandate given by both memberships, talks on a possible merger will now begin between a discussion group comprising representatives of both organisations. It has been agreed that these talks will begin soon after the Arboricultural Association's conference, held on 15-17 September 2003. This event and the intervening period will give an opportunity for more discussion of the subject between members of both organisations. This will enable the discussion group to consider the views of their respective memberships in more detail before the talks begin.

The Discussion Group comprises Bruce Hatton, Jonathan Hazell, Jim Quaife and Nick Eden (for the Arboricultural Association) and Alan Reeves, Ian McDermott, Glen Gorner and Chris Cooper-Abbs (for the ISA, UK&I). Dr Mark Johnston of Myerscough College has agreed to act as an independent chairperson and facilitator for the talks.

Both the AA and ISA (UK&I) wish to stress that these talks are exploratory and have no predetermined outcome. However, should the discussions prove fruitful, it is hoped that a set of proposals for a possible merger can be formulated by the discussion group, with a view to putting these to the memberships. Any change in the structure of either organisation will need member approval through the normal democratic process at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.

The text of this press release can be viewed on the website of the Arboricultural Association at: www.trees.org.uk and the website of the International Society of Arboriculture (UK&I) at: www.isa-uki.org