“What is the true value of membership?” It’s a fair question.

If you ask me, the value of belonging to TCIA shows itself most clearly in the moments that matter – the moments when our industry’s future or a member company’s survival hangs in the balance. For 87 years, TCIA has been there, helping tree care businesses operate more safely and more profitably.

Think about safety
No one likes to consider it, but tragedies do occur in our industry. When a member company experiences the unthinkable – a fatality – TCIA is there. Our team steps in with resources, guidance and, above all, compassion, helping companies take care of their people and begin the long road toward healing.

Think about advocacy
When OSHA sought to regulate tree care under forestry standards – standards that didn’t fit our work and would have burdened companies with costly, unnecessary compliance requirements – TCIA was there. We stood up for you. We explained the unique nature of tree care, and we kept regulators from misclassifying our industry.

Think about growth
Hundreds of small-business owners wanted to scale their companies, provide good jobs and build lasting legacies. But they didn’t know where to start. TCIA was there. Through Accreditation, peer learning, training and a culture of professionalism, we gave them the tools to take that next step with confidence.

And think about today
Today, the challenges may look different, but the themes are the same. Workforce shortages. Insurance costs. Regulatory overreach. Competition. The Six Domains of TCIA – Safety, Workforce Development, Sales & Marketing, Training, Business Strategy and Advocacy & Regulatory Compliance – are built precisely to meet these challenges. Our purpose hasn’t changed – helping you succeed, no matter what stands in your way.

When the goal is to do what is best for the entire industry, there is a simple truth that every member has different issues and challenges that are their number-one priority. Navigating competing priorities is the job of an association, and for 87 years we’ve advanced tree care businesses not by tearing down others or harassing those with whom we disagree, but by living up to what our founders wanted our Association to be – a beacon for professionalism in tree care.

That’s the value of membership. That’s the power of standing together. And that’s why, just as TCIA has always been there for your predecessors, we will continue to be there for you – and for the next generation of leaders in our industry.

David White, certified association executive (CAE), is president and CEO of the Tree Care Industry Association.