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• 2025 Electrical Hazards Awareness Training with John Ball

  • Start
    Friday, January 17, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • End
    Wednesday, December 31, 2025
  •  
    11:59 PM
  • Location
    ZOOM Webinar

  Register

  ONGOING PRESENTATION FOR 2025
  Electrical Hazard Awareness education in three 1-hour sessions. 

  All arborists must be trained to recognize and avoid electrical hazards. This on-demand webinar covers a wide range of safety-related topics essential for arborists working near energized overhead power lines, presented by the tree care industry’s leading safety expert – Dr. John Ball.

  Critical topics addressed in this webinar include:

  How electricity works

  Basic terminology

  Current standards & regulations

  Electrical hardware identification

  Hazard assessment

  Estimating nominal voltage 

  Line clearance pruning practices to reduce exposure

  Recent incidents involving tree workers & electrical conductors

  Emergency response to electrical contact incidents involving workers who are aloft

  Completion of the course satisfies one major OSHA requirement for arborists working 10 feet or closer to energized conductors.  Additional employer-verified proof of aerial rescue training and CPR/First Aid are required to fully meet OSHA’s electrical hazards awareness certification standards.

  MAA will issue a Certificate of Attendance to participants who watch the full 3-hour course and complete the follow up quiz.  Your certificate of attendance will come from the MAA office.

  CEUS:  MCA Safety Credit (2)

  GROUP VIEWING & ADMINISTRATION:  If you would like to complete the series with your team, please contact MAA for further instructions.  Discounted rates are available. Please contact the MAA for a special rate for large groups of 10 or more.

  Speaker:
  

  
  

  John Ball, Ph.D.

  John Ball is currently a Professor of Forestry at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD and serves as a campus arborist for the University and as the Forest Health Specialist for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. He received the Malo Teaching Excellence Award in 2018 for his dedication to student learning. One of his primary research interests is tree worker safety. Dr. Ball obtained his Ph.D. and M.S. in Forestry from Michigan State University and a B.S. in Forestry from Michigan Technological University.  Dr.  Ball is also on the Safety Committee for the Tree Care Industry Association. 

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• MAA News - 2025

  • Start
    Wednesday, January 29, 2025
  • End
    Wednesday, December 31, 2025

  Register

  MAA NEWS is the official publication of the Massachusetts Arborists Association. MAA NEWS is published quarterly and is distributed to members of MAA. Editorial content includes timely information and research that benefits all members of the arboriculture industry. Advertising in the MAA NEWS ensures exposure to the top decision makers in our professional network of members. AD RATES ARE ANNUAL AND INCLUDE 4 ISSUES* Acceptable file formats:  EPS: Images embedded & fonts converted to outline TIF: 300 dpi JPG: Max quality, 300 dpi PDF: Press optimized high resolution images with fonts embedded

  
  

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• MCA Exam - October 2025

  • Start
    Thursday, October 09, 2025
  •  
    12:30 PM
  • End
    Friday, October 10, 2025
  •  
    12:30 PM
  • Location
    67 West Street, Medfield MA 02052
  • Spaces left
    1

  Register

  
  

  

  MCA Exam October 2025

  This exam will be held in multiple sessions. 

  Candidates should choose ONE exam time at the sign up form in their confirmation email.

  Thursday October 9 @ 12:30 PM or
  Friday October 10 @ 8:30 AM

  The last day to cancel an exam registration and receive a refund will be Friday September 26.
  

  Cancellations received after September 26 are not guaranteed a refund. 

  REQUIREMENTS:
  

  • Candidates should be able to demonstrate at least 2 years of field experience OR have earned a degree in arboriculture, horticulture or related area of study. 
  • Candidates should be employed, or intending to be employed, in arboriculture or an industry-related profession.
  • Candidates must be 18 years of age.

  REQUIRED MATERIALS:
  

  • MCA Online Study Guide (version 3.0).
  • Best Management Practice Manuals (from which 50% of the exam is derived) - these are sold by TCIA or ISA.

  
  

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• October 2025 MAA Meeting: From Risk to Resilience - Building a Safety-First Culture

  • When
    Wednesday, October 15, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    The Natick Elks Lodge, 95 Speen Street Natick MA
  • Spaces left
    115

  Register

  

  NEW DAY OF THE WEEK AND NEW LOCATION IN NATICK!
  Same great food from our favorite catering team - and steak tips are back!

  As professionals in an inherently dangerous industry, effective risk management is not just a priority - it is a necessity. This session will demonstrate how a strong safety culture not only reduces incidents but also improves productivity and supports employee retention. Learn how to identify hazards, apply effective mitigation strategies, and implement leading indicators to monitor progress. Walk away with practical approaches for embedding safety into your tree care company’s daily practices and long-term success.

  CEUS:  approved for 2 MCA or MCLP Safety Credits, ISA credit pending

  NEW MEETING LOCATION!

  This month, we’re moving dinner meetings from The German Club in Walpole to The Elks Lodge in Natick.

  Why the change? To keep fees low, ensure plenty of meeting space, and continue offering great programs with a delicious meal. Our usual guys, E&E Casual Caterers, will be joining us to cook up their amazing homemade food (yes, steak tips are back!).

  What’s new:

  Day of the week: Wednesday
  Location: Elks Lodge, 95 Speen Street, Natick, MA
  Capacity: 200 members & guests

  Same great education, networking, and buffet dinner all in a better spot.

  Change is good!

  DOORS OPEN AT 4:00 PM

  PRESENTATION 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

  DINNER 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  SPEAKER:  

  Kyle Donaldson, CTSP
  Safety & Training Team Lead
  Harrison McPhee, Inc. Millis, MA  

  
  

  About our Speaker

  In addition to his role as Safety & Training Team Lead at Harrison McPhee, Inc., Kyle is a well-traveled arborist and instructor, who spends part of his time training other arborists and utility engineers in rescue techniques, emergency response, technical rigging, chainsaw use, and all aspects of safety in the industrial athlete sector. He is a graduate of the Paul Smith College in New York where he earned a BS in Urban Tree Management. He is a New England Tree Climbing Champion, Certified Safety Training Professional, Certified Plant Health Care Specialist, and a North American Training Solutions Master Trainer. 

  Thank you:

  
  

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