“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” In my 25-plus years of volunteer advocacy work, I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard that line. It may be cliché, but it’s a descriptive reminder that active industry voices matter, especially for those of us in a small and commonly misunderstood field.

So, what does it mean? If you aren’t keeping up with and speaking up for issues impacting you and your industry, someone else, likely someone with less knowledge and experience, will make policy without your voice. That’s usually not a good thing.

Luckily, TCIA has doubled down to raise our industry voice in the last couple of years by adding a Public Policy Committee, bringing back Legislative Day on the Hill and, most recently, hiring George Strout as TCIA’s new manager of grassroots and political advocacy. This is in addition to the efforts of TCIA’s lobbying firm, Ulman Public Policy.

Reading all this may make you think TCIA has it covered and we don’t need to worry about the issues. Not so fast. Trade organizations like TCIA only provide the foundation for advocacy. What matters most to legislators and rule-makers is hearing from constituents who are doing the work and learning how they are impacted by existing or proposed policy.

So, how can you get involved?
Make plans now to join us at our next Legislative Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C., in September 2026.

The 2025 Legislative Day on the Hill
This year was our largest Legislative Day on the Hill yet, with more than 40 active and corporate TCIA members in attendance. On September 15, we learned about the current issues facing our industry, and the next day we headed to The Hill to discuss these issues with key Legislators.

The main topics of focus were:

• The need for a tree care-specific OSHA standard for tree care work.
• The importance of reducing wildfire risks.
• Protecting America’s trees from invasive species.
• Strengthening workforce stability and public safety through targeted immigration reforms.

If you think this sounds like an event only seasoned C-SPAN watchers should attend, you’d be wrong. We had a range of members take part, from people who had never been to Washington to those who have been involved in advocacy since high school.

First-time attendee Timothy Walsh, vice president of safety and training with Townsend Tree (no relation to the author), was in my group and did a phenomenal job not only communicating the issues, but also putting a story behind the reason we need legislative change. “Being there, meeting with policymakers and advocating for the future of our industry was a reminder that our voice truly matters,” says Walsh. “Every conversation was another step toward strengthening our profession and supporting the people who climb, cut clear and care for trees every day.”

Advocacy doesn’t end in Washington. Local action is just as important, if not more so. Pay attention to the issues trending in your state. Testify at state legislative hearings and rule-making sessions. Attend town halls put on by your local legislators. Speak up at city council meetings.

Invite your senator or representative to visit your operation. Offer to be a resource for expert opinions. The more our policy makers hear from us and the stronger our relationships are, the more likely they are to listen when we bring them issues backed by our own experience and stories.

If you aren’t quite ready to get involved, another impactful step you can take is to become a member of TCIA and maintain your membership annually. The number of people represented matters to policy makers. Additionally, a portion of your dues go directly to support the advocacy work TCIA does to keep us at the table and off the menu.

Megan Townsend is co-founder and chief operating officer of Altitude Arborist LLC, a five-year TCIA member company based in Broomfield, Colorado. She also is a member of TCIA’s Board of Directors.

To learn more about advocacy and how you can be involved, visit: advocacy.tcia.org.