In an effort to give back to our members, the Illinois Arborist Association is planning a good old fashioned, summer time, picnic to celebrate you and all your efforts to save the planet!  The picnic will be in partnership with our gracious hosts, the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The plan is celebrate you and your support for IAA over the years. The mission is to feed you free food and provide free drink and connect in a more social way. Alcohol will not be provided but can be brought. We just want to hang with you and meet your family and celebrate all our hard work together over the years.

We also want to honor the memory of our dear friend Norm Hall, who gave so much to our organization and the international arboricultural community. His leadership in the industry saved many lives and his legacy must continue. There will be an auction with tree items for tree geeks. A raffle will also be held with no tree items for non-tree geeks in attendance. The proceeds will help raise additional funds for Norm’s scholarship endowment in partnership with the Tree Fund. We are more than half way there folks. The Tree Fund will also be on site and participating.

All you have to do is show up! Get to know your Board members and the opportunities and challenges ahead. Or just show up and have a good old time with your arboricultural sisters and brothers. Bring your family too! Bags tournament, Bouncy houses for the kiddos, and other activities too!

Details to follow as the event approaches and ideas are further developed at the committee level. If you have ideas, reach out and participate. The Membership Committee needs you and your brain. Whether the picnic, training ideas, or whatever else you would like to see happen in Illinois. Get involved tree people!

After all, the tree community is the BEST community and good people make a great party!

RSVPs will be required so we know what we need to make this party a success. Don’t miss out!