At our third quarter educational program, we'll feature projects that show that community growth and preserving and planting trees can and should work together. We'll put the spotlight on exciting new projects that communities have undertaken or are planning to implement that take into the urban forest into consideration as a vital element of a healthy environment. Steve Sanchez, Principal at HGOR landscape architecture and planning firm, will explore the efforts to expand our native plant selections and how they are being designed into commercial developments. This will include the "knowledge community" of Rowen in Gwinnett, Westside Park, Grant Park and the new Trees Atlanta Treehouse, among others. Learn more about HGOR and their legacy of work at https://www.hgor.com.

We'll hear from Edward Morrow and Kathryn Kolb with their talk, "Living with Trees: Promoting Eco-Literacy and Embracing Atlanta's Urban Forest." Living with Trees (LWT) is a neighborhood, tree Walk-and-Learn program created by the Atlanta nonprofit Eco-Addendum. Master Naturalist Kathryn Kolb and ISA Certified Arborist ® Edward Morrow partner in providing this engaging programming in neighborhoods throughout metro Atlanta. LWT offers an engaging, accessible presentation for all residents on how to recognize trees that may be at risk of falling before they create damage, sharing lots of fascinating tree facts and showing the surprising character of the trees and urban forest found right in our backyards. This program made possible by The Atlanta Tree Conservation Commission and Georgia Forestry Commission's Trees Across Georgia program includes in-person as well as virtual learning events to help property-owners and all neighborhood residents better understand how to live healthily with the trees in their communities. Edward is known as "The Tree Doctor," and is an ISA-certified arborist and tree risk educator, as well as an author. Read more about Edward at https://edwardthearborist.com and about Kathyn Kolb and Eco-Addendum at https://www.ecoaddendum.org/.

City of Marietta Arborist Rich Deckman will present on the streetscape project that was implemented over the last 10 years that has helped transform the historic downtown area of Marietta into an active destination for visitors to the area. He'll discuss how the project was initiated, the phased approach to the implementation, means, methods and experimentation, and the current status of the work.

Cobb County Arborist Bragg Vaughn will discuss the growth of the Cobb county tree ordinance, the challenges of defending it from those that wish to change it to benefit particular interests; adapting it to incorporate new technologies and practices; and updating it so that it better addresses specific types of development that may not have been common in Cobb when the ordinance was first adopted, such as mixed-use development, high density student housing, tear/down rebuilds, and EV charging stations.

See full agenda by clicking on the link below.

Registration: $55, general admission
$40, Georgia Tree Council members

Lunch included.
CEUs: 3 ISA Arborist, 3 Municipal Specialist, .5 BCMA Science, 1 BCMA Practice, .5 BCMA Management
3 SAF Registered Forester CFEs, category 1
Landscape Architects and others will receive a certificate documenting 3 continuing education hours.

Register by clicking on the "Register Now" button at the top right or by clicking on the link below.

This popular annual educational event, hosted this year by Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, is for tree keepers on any type of campus setting - colleges and universities, corporate campuses, botanical gardens, etc. Attendees include directors and staff of landscaping departments, as well as grounds crews, administrators, sustainability leaders, arborists, and others who care for campus trees. We'll talk about tree issues common to campuses such as safety and risk, soil compaction, campus growth and trees, and many other topics and shine a spotlight on campuses in the southeast Georgia region and their tree planting and preservation projects. Don't work for a campus? That's okay - everyone is invited to attend.

Lunch and refreshments are included.
4.5 ISA Arborist CEUs will be available.
4.5 Forester CFEs will be available.
Landscape architects and others will receive a professional development certificate of attendance for their CEU records.

Registration: $75, general admission
$60, Georgia Tree Council members

Register using the "Register Now" button at the upper right of the page or by click on the link below.

See full agenda by clicking below.

Join us for a "Members Only" social in Macon on October 17th! We will start with a tour of Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park with several guides from different groups. As an Urban & Community Forestry Council, we thought it would only be fitting to visit one of Georgia’s prehistoric urban settlements! CEUs will be applied for. https://www.nps.gov/ocmu/index.htm

This will be followed by a social gathering at Fall Line Brewery, where GTC will provide light food & drink. https://falllinebrewingco.com/

This event is free, but open only to GTC members with an active membership. To register, you must be an active member; if you are not yet a member and would like to attend, we welcome you to sign up for a membership.

Timeline:

1:30-3:30 p.m.: Tour of Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park,1207 Emery Highway, Macon, GA 31217

4:00 p.m.: Social at Fall Line Brewery, 567 Plum Street, Macon, GA 31201

Final details will be shared with those who register, closer to the event date. If you plan to drink alcohol at the Brewery, please secure safe transportation for yourself after the event.

REGISTRATION: Click on the "Register Now" button above to register for the Members Event on October 17 or on the Registration link below.

LODGING: For those who would like lodging, we've secured a block of rooms for the evening of October 17 at the Hilton Garden Inn - Macon/Mercer University, 1220 Stadium Drive, Macon, GA 31204. Click on the additional link below to make a hotel room reservation.

We're thrilled to be presenting the Annual Georgia Tree Conference this year at the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Our conference title this year is "Supporting Urban Forest Resiliency in a Changing World." Attendees will enjoy general and breakout sessions with fantastic speakers and urban forestry experts to help you gain the knowledge you need to care for your urban forest.

This event also features our Excellence in Urban Forestry Awards Luncheon, a tour of Jekyll Island's trees, and an evening reception with food, drink, and a silent auction benefitting the Georgia Tree Council's work.

See full agenda by clicking on the link below.

Registration:
Early-bird ticket, Georgia Tree Council Member (by Oct. 6): $205
Early-bird ticket, Non-member (by Oct. 6): $235
Regular ticket, Georgia Tree Council Member (after Oct. 6): $235
Regular ticket, Non-member (after Oct. 6): $260

TO REGISTER TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE, CLICK ON THE GREEN "REGISTER NOW" BUTTON AT THE TOP RIGHT OR ON THE LINK BELOW.

LODGING IS SEPARATE. A BLOCK ROOMS AT THE DISCOUNTED CONFERENCE RATE OF $159 HAS BEEN SET UP FOR ATTENDEES for the 2 contracted nights of 11.5 and 11.6.24.
Click on this link (or the link below) to make your hotel room reservation: https://be.synxis.com/?adult=1&arrive=2024-11-05&chain=11910&child=0¤cy=USD&depart=2024-11-07&group=11052024TREE&hotel=73&level=hotel&locale=en-US&rooms=1

Guests that would like to arrive or depart outside of those dates call Peggy Donkel, Group Rooms Coordinator, directly at 912-635-5191, x1091 for their sleeping room reservation.

A TOTAL OF 12 ISA ARBORIST CEUS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
11 FORESTER CFES.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND OTHERS WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE FOR THEIR CEU RECORDS.

A LIMITED NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS are available to tree boards and 501 (c) 3 nonprofits that cover tuition for this conference. We allow two individuals per organization to apply. Click on the link below to download an application.

New this year: Attendees with an active GTC membership may join Outreach Coordinator Mel Sparrow, a RYT-200 yoga instructor, for a half-hour yoga session each morning to start your day! Bring your own yoga mat / towel.