What have the AA done for us?

[Mick Dempsey]

Bored so stumbled across this thread from 16 years ago.

 

Have a skim through.

 

Does anyone think the AA have become less or more influential since the days of this thread?

 

[Matthew Norman]

I feel that the AA has become more influential if you look at the worldwide interest in the organisation. Many people abroad think highly of the UK arboriculture and forestry industry and the Arb. Assoc., Royal Forestry Society and Institute of Chartered Foresters often have members from other parts of the world.

 

The AA's 'Wednesday Webinar' series was regularly attended by people from all over the world and included talks from industry professionals in Europe,  USA, Central America and more.

 

To get the most out of the organisation, as a member or not, you have  to put something into it. It's easy for people to sit there and complain about the AA not representing tree workers, or not having influence, or not promoting the industry etc. I find that to get the most out of on organisation you have to actively be part of it. Do something proactive. Get involved. 

 

Personally I find the AA helpful, influential and very informative. I have learned a lot from their webinars, and being a member has opened up access to career paths that may have otherwise been out of reach. I have also had chats with the guys and girls that run the organisation and found them to be friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about trees and the industry.

 

Of course, how people value the AA will change from person to person. What I get from it will be different to what another persons gets. Some will not get anything at all and view it as an old boy's club full of stuffy old men in checked shirts.  

 

If I were to criticise it I would say that their direct communication could be better and they take so long to implement change or get things moving. There are plenty of ideas but seemingly little action. 

 

So, overall, yes - I think the AA is more influential now than it has been previously. It's horses for courses, though, and others may think differently.

 

 

[manco]

All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the AA ever done for us?

[Will C]

The aa fixed my truck last year

[sime42]

The AA fixed my drinking problem.