SMA/UCFS Members present at the Annual Member Meeting being held on November 19th at 5:00pm in Chicago, IL will be asked to vote on the Amendment below.
The vote is needed in order to clarify the Society of Municipal Arborists (d.b.a. the Urban and Community Forestry Society) Articles of Incorporation, which is filed in the State of Ohio. A clerical update is needed in order to clarify the tax-exempt status of SMA/UCFS. In the current Articles of Incorporation, the organization is listed as a 501(c)3. However, the organization is actually filed as a 501(c)6 with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This is filing error from the early days of the Society, which needs to be addressed now. The Amendment proposed will clarify this tax-exempt status and will be filed with the State of Ohio.
SMA’s bylaws and articles are silent on the issue of amendments to the articles, so Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1702.38 controls the process for amendment to SMA’s Articles of Incorporation, which statute provides in subsection (C)(2): “The voting members present in person, by use of authorized communications equipment, by mail, or, if permitted, by proxy at a meeting held for that purpose, may adopt an amendment by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members present if a quorum is present or, if the articles or the regulations provide or permit, by the affirmative vote of a greater or lesser proportion or number of the voting members, and by the affirmative vote of the voting members of any particular class that is required by the articles or the regulations.”
Please review the information provided below.
Click below to review the current Articles of Incorporation for the Society of Municipal Arborists (d.b.a. The Urban and Community Forestry Society).
Click the button below to review the proposed Amendment to SMA/UCFS’s Articles of Incorporation.
This Amendment will be voted on by the members present at the Annual Meeting being held November 19, 2024 at 5:00pm central time.
Monday, November 16 from 1:00-4:00pm
To join us, add the tour with your registration!
Before conference sessions begin, join fellow urban and community forestry professionals for a guided tour of St. Louis that explores the city’s urban forest through the lens of history, resilience, equity, and community investment. From iconic parks to neighborhoods experiencing both environmental challenges and revitalization, you’ll discover how planning decisions, natural disaster recovery, and community partnerships are shaping a healthier, more equitable future.
Our journey begins at Brickline Greenway near Energizer Park, where an ambitious green infrastructure vision is reconnecting neighborhoods and expanding access to greenspace. From there, we’ll travel through the iconic Forest Park to explore the legacy of one of America’s great urban parks and the stewardship practices that continue to make it a model for urban forestry and public space.
As we travel through St. Louis neighborhoods, we’ll view the city’s history through its trees. We will see firsthand how communities are restoring and reimagining their urban forests through community-driven initiatives that are reversing damage from recent devastating tornado and the legacy of historic redlining and its influence on tree canopy distribution.
Along the way, we’ll stop at O’Fallon Park to explore ongoing restoration and neighborhood revitalization efforts before concluding at Kiener Plaza Park, where thoughtful landscape design and thriving urban greenspace showcase the power of trees to create welcoming, resilient downtown environments.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see examples of these critical urban forestry practices:
More than a sightseeing tour, this is an opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, exchange ideas, and connect with colleagues who share a passion for building stronger urban forests. Come see St. Louis through a new lens and leave inspired with innovative ideas and practical insights.
Special Guests:
We’ll be joined on the tour by guest speakers from the City of St. Louis Forestry, Great Rivers Greenway, and Forest ReLeaf who will share insider perspectives on organizational collaboration.
