Dear Friend:

The Trees & Utilities National Conference focuses on the dual goal of growing and maintaining healthy community forests while providing safe, reliable utility service. This conference provides you with upto- date information on best practices in tree planting programs, vegetation management, technology, and regulation. Most importantly, it will guide you through proven methods to communicate with and educate your public on these topics. This conference is an excellent forum for utilities to learn from leaders from within their industry and without. Likewise, it is an outstanding opportunity for municipal foresters, community leaders, and non-profit representatives to learn how to effectively work on community tree issues with their local utility.

We are pleased to present the 2009 conference at the Fairmont Dallas in Dallas, Texas. This facility will allow for continued growth in attendees with room for nearly twice as many exhibitors. You are invited to submit a proposal to present at the 16th Annual Trees & Utilities National Conference. We are interested in presentations that include an audiovisual element, audience participation and other unique approaches. A variety of formats and time lengths ranging from 30–60 minutes are solicited. Please submit your proposal by August 22, 2008. Program selections will be made by September 30, 2008.

Best regards,

The Fairmont Dallas is now taking lodging reservations for the 2009 conference. Please call 214-720-5290 or 800-441- 1414 and ask for the Trees & Utilities National Conference group rate of $149 per night plus tax, single or double occupancy (Additional person in room, $20 per night plus tax). For more information about The Fairmont Dallas, visit www.fairmont.com/dallas.

The Arbor Day Foundation is beginning its program development for the 16th Annual Trees & Utilities National Conference. Presentation proposals are solicited for the topics listed below, but proposals on any topic related to "trees and utilities" will be considered.

Please submit your proposal by August 22, 2008 via mail, fax, or e-mail. Program selections will be made by September 30, 2008.

• Experiences with Tree Line USA—the challenges, the rewards
• Working with utilities—the community perspective
• Working with communities—the utility perspective
• Utility/community partnerships
• Improving customer service
• Cooperative projects with volunteers
• Innovative public relations approaches—responding to customer concerns
• Selling your utility arboriculture program to upper management/internal relationship building
• Conflict resolution—solving problems cooperatively
• Evaluating crew performance
• Federal and state legislation
• State, city, and county ordinances
• Implications of carbon sequestration
• Tree planting to conserve energy
• Engineering alternatives to line clearance
• Determining how much clearance is enough
• Innovative approaches to handling urban tree residue
• How new regulations will impact line clearance
• New technologies to address issues related to trees and utilities
• Implementing database tracking systems
• Trench and tunneling considerations
• Evaluating contractor bids for tree work
• Budgeting vegetation management
• Training and human resource issues in utility arboriculture
• Pros and cons of tree replacement programs
• Developing and retaining funds for tree planting and maintenance
• Line clearance and vegetation management—successes and failures
• Safety issues and electric reliability—a utility’s obligations
• Identification of hazard trees in the community
• Responding to tree disease issues
• Installing and maintaining underground lines near trees
• Natural disaster planning, response, and recovery issues
• Research updates

Submit Your Proposal Now

The The Fairmont Dallas is now taking lodging reservations for the 2009 conference. Please call 214-720-52910 or 800-441-1414 and ask for the Trees & Utilities National Conference group rate of $149 per night plus tax, single or double occupancy (Additional person in room, $20 per night plus tax). For more information, visit the The Fairmont Dallas’s website.