November marks the official transition for Executive Committee (EXCOM) members. Returning to the EXCOM in new roles are Jonathan Haigh (President Elect), Patricia Castellano (M@L Education & Research), Jim Couillard (M@L Advocacy) and Jon Champlin (Broward). I would also like to welcome new members Scott Mosolf (Secretary), Adam McCollister (M@L Emerging Professionals), Nicole Plunkett (Palm Beach), Jackie Owens (Gainesville) and Dean Hill (Orlando) to the committee.

 

Welcome to the 12th piece of my Trustee Report series, where I share a few notes and items from our national organization from the last month or so, and also remind people who may have lapsed in their membership to rejoin and that payment options are available. Please feel free to contact me at Trustee@FLASLA.org if you have any questions or concerns about ASLA issues.

 

Original article by ROBIN POGREBINNOV; annotated and edited for space by David Driapsa, ASLA The New York Times November 9, 2014

 

Last month, all members with 10 or more continuous years of full membership received a broadcast email from ASLA indicating they are eligible for fellowship in the Society. The Florida Chapter Fellows Committee wants to know if you believe you are electable to the ASLA Council of Fellows, or if you want to suggest to the Committee another member you think is electable. Any eligible member whom the Committee believes can be elected, can be nominated by the Florida Chapter ASLA Executive Committee.

 

The following topics have been identified by the GAC as legislative items that influence the practice of landscape architecture in Florida or are topics that may be of interest. The schedule for the 2015 session is also posted below. If you have questions or would like to get involved in assisting the Chapter with advocacy, licensure issues and other legislative concerns, please contact Jonathan Haigh, Member-at-Large for Advocacy and Licensure at: memberatlargeAL@flalsa.org

 

As the result of a need identified in their 2008 Downtown Greenville Master Plan, the downtown streets need to be re-designed to better accommodate new development, transit, pedestrians, bicyclists, parking and landscape. Through this Downtown Streetscape Design Master Plan, Greenville is turning nondescript and vehicular dominant roads into successful streets that accommodate all users, create a strong sense of place, foster economic development and improve quality of life. The scope of the project was to provide a streetscape master plan and schematic level planning, design and engineering services for nearly 10 miles of downtown streets.

 

Kwanari Ecolodge is located on the eastern (Atlantic Ocean) side of Commonwealth of Dominica and four miles south of the only native territory in the Caribbean – Kalinago (also known as Carib). Today, the Kalinago people are the poorest community in Dominica, with many young men and women leaving for studies/work and never returning. Numerous studies have shown that the future of the Kalinago people will be endangered if this exodus continues. It is with this in mind that Kwanari Ecolodge is being developed so as to create jobs and support the Kalinago. The territory's current leader, Chief Garnet Joseph, has been an active member of the analysis and planning team for Kwanari Ecolodge, which was under construction and scheduled to open in December 2013. Many Kalinago have been employed as contractors and the domino-effect in the local economy is currently being documented. Ecotourists at the lodge will also visit the nearby Cultural Village where Kalinago community members have revived artisanry, dances and even some of the mother tongue through songs and theater.

 

St. Augustine, originally laid out in 1565 with narrow streets and small lots, now boasts four million visitors to this community of 13,000 residents. On the eve of the 450th Commemoration in 2015, the landscape architect has been leading a team of planners, engineers, city staff and hundreds of stakeholders in addressing the continual struggle of circulation, parking and access in the historic downtown.

 

The city of Gainesville's City Beautification Board will hold its Annual Urban Forestry Workshop on Dec. 10, 2014 from 3 p.m. to 6:30 pm at Ironwood Golf Course in Gainesville. FLASLA has teamed with the city to provide members with 3.5 hours of Continuing Education Credit for Landscape Architects (Provider: 2709, Course: Pending). Please contact Laurie Hall at memberatlargepm@flasla.org for more information, or to RSVP, contact Ella Bernhardt-Brooks at brooksel@cityofgainesville.org.