I‘ve worked for some of Nashville‘s tree companies over the years. I‘ve never been involved with a clientele cut from the same cloth as the patrons of Quality Tree Surgery. I‘m almost always greeted with a smile. I hear friendly voices on the phone even at such odd hours as seven in the morning when I‘m calling to let you know that I‘m on the way to make an unscrupulous amount of noise outside your windows with my chipper and my crew‘s chainsaws. It makes all the difference in the world to my crew when they are treated with respect. Let‘s face it, tree climbers aren‘t usually thought of as the most intelligent group of people on the planet. We‘re used to getting dirty for a living and being treated like ditch diggers when we come into contact with the general public. There‘s absolutely nothing ―general‖ about you people. I‘m not just saying this to stay within your good graces. I truly mean it. Some of you have gotten to know me quite well. Some of you even actually read my articles in our quarterly. So, this time, I take great pleasure in taking the time to sit and write a short note to all of you. Ruel Jones told me once: ―This is a people business Jason. The trees aren‘t ever going to pick up the phone and call us.‖ Thank you for caring about your trees. More importantly, thank you for caring about us. No act of kindness goes unnoticed. No kind word is left unheard. You are all the finest people a man could hope to work with. May this new year be the best one you‘ve ever experienced.

-One of your ―Tree Men‖■