Join Our Cause

1. Enterprise Executive Member ($2,000 donation) – Defined as sponsors, large companies ($5M gross revenue+). Benefits: Newsletter recipient, GFASTI digital logo package, GFASTI Mission Handout, 25 GFASTI vinyl stickers, premium feature on GFASTI website, premium recognition at GFASTI events, opportunity to attend lobbying events, state delegation mentions and involvement, retractable stand with these members
2. Enterprise Member ($1,000 donation) – Defined as companies with $1M – $5M gross revenue or industry influencer. Benefits: Newsletter recipient, GFASTI digital logo package, GFASTI Mission Handout, 10 GFASTI vinyl stickers, featured on GFASTI website, recognition at GFASTI events.
3. Small Business Member ($500 donation) – Defined as companies up to $1M in gross revenue. Benefits include: Newsletter recipient, GFASTI digital logo package, GFASTI Mission Handout, 5 GFASTI vinyl stickers.
4. Supporting Member ($200 donation) – Defined as: small company owners. Benefits include: Newsletter recipient, GFASTI digital logo package, GFASTI Mission Handout, 2 GFASTI vinyl stickers.
5. Individual Member ($50 donation) – Defined as: industry workers, non-company owner, singular employee in a related business, or homeowner. Benefits include: Newsletter recipient, GFASTI digital logo package, GFASTI Mission Handout.
6. Member (FREE) – Defined as: municipal employees, municipal foresters, 501(c)(3), green industry related organizations, municipal arborists, state employees, or homeowner. Benefits include: Newsletter recipient.

The Expectations of Membership

1. The prospective member affirms support for licensure within Georgia’s tree care industry for the purpose of benefitting the industry stakeholders in the realm of safety and consumer protections. The affirmation shall specify that the type of licensure supported is a mandatory State-enforced licensure requiring legislation in order to be enacted.
2. The prospective member must fill out an application for membership, including payment of dues, which provides information relevant to their role achieving the goals of the group.

1. 40% of time and resources will be allocated to efforts to educate, inform, and convince legislators to enact a statewide law requiring a license to practice arboriculture in the state of GA. These activities will commence immediately and remain ongoing until such time a bill acceptable to the GFASTI membership is passed. These efforts will consist of the meetings between key members and lawmakers, as well as related communication with legislators’ staff, legal experts, and staff of similar groups, in an effort to write the proposed bill in a way that protects consumers, improves safety, and controls costs in a way that is acceptable to all parties. To that end, the efforts will be conducted in legislators’ offices, online, and possibly in other neutral locations.
2. 25% of time and resources will be allocated to educating the public about the industry, specifically the benefits of licensing. These efforts will commence gradually as the framework of proposed legislation emerges. At first the efforts will be restricted to explaining the challenges within the industry from the viewpoint of consumers, but later the dissemination of information will include legislative changes and the ways consumers may avail themselves of the benefits. These efforts will be primarily conducted online through the creation of a website and using other digital means to propagate information. However, in an effort to reach the widest cross-section of consumers, members may meet with consumer protection groups, consumer directory groups, and other similar groups to increase awareness through other organizations.
3. 25% of time and resources will be allocated to the recruitment of members, collection of dues, and marshalling of resources. This includes explaining to potential members the benefits to the industry and the general public if the goals of the organization were to be achieved. These efforts will commence immediately and be ongoing. They will include phone calls between members and potential members; email and online marketing efforts, and potential meetings between members and other organizations.
4. 10% of time and resources will be allocated to general administrative and maintenance duties as is typical.