November 2012

President's Report

As your President, I will strive to represent the chapter to the best of my ability in any situation that arises. My personal mantra for the past five years on the executive committee has been “what is best for the chapter” and I feel it has guided me well in the decisions I have made, as well as helped to set several goals that I would like to achieve this year.

Firstly, I will strive to communicate with the membership in a clear, concise way and on a regular schedule, in an effort to inform members of what is happening on the state and national level, without overwhelming their inboxes.

Secondly, I would like to challenge each member to recruit one new member or ask a lapsed member to renew their membership! Our chapter is only as strong as our membership, and our chapter is your only advocate in Tallahassee fighting to maintain Landscape Architect’s ability to practice. Did you know that just a couple of years ago, Florida was the largest of the 48 chapters of ASLA with nearly 1,000 members? Today, our numbers have slipped to just 613 members as of September, and we are now the third-largest chapter. I realize that these are very trying times and that membership may not be the first priority. However, there is a monthly payment option that many people are unaware of and that can take the sting out of the dues payment.

Thirdly, within the state we have two universities with LA programs, Florida International University in Miami, and the University of Florida in Gainesville. Faculty at each school has expressed a concern that the enrollment for the coming year(s) is very low. I urge any member who has a child in elementary, middle, or high school (and even those who do not) to contact your local school and make a presentation on what Landscape Architects do and let students know that we have a viable profession that is in demand. Do not feel intimidated by the notion that you would have to come up with your own presentation. There are resources available, presentations “in the can” that you can use to make a presentation. We do ask that you let your chapter leaders know if/when you intend to make your presentation. Please contact Tom Bohn, our executive director, at tom.bohn@flasla.org for additional information.

An additional resource available to us is a program called ACE Mentor. This is an established network of construction industry professionals who go into high schools, take on individual students and teach them the design and construction trades using real-world examples. Typically held after school, there are opportunities for LAs to be part of a project team. Visit www.acementor.org to locate your local affiliate and become a mentor or sponsor of this great program!

I am very much looking forward to the challenges this year may bring. As we endeavor to improve FLASLA’s service to its members, please do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts on how we can do better.