Florida Landscapes eBrief

Member News

Let me first express that it is an honor to represent our membership as president of the Florida Chapter. It is a position that is incredibly humbling to me based on those that have served as past presidents as well as those that are currently spending countless hours volunteering their time for the benefit of your Chapter. While there are several initiatives we as a group want to achieve over the next year (I promise not to describe them all in this issue), one of the most important is to re-engage the membership in order to better understand your priorities. There will be several communication tools that will help us achieve that goal, some from a technological aspect as well as utilizing your local Section Chairs to more effectively reach out directly to the members. To kick things off, in January we will be visiting our youngest members, the students at FIU and UF to discuss those issues facing young professionals.

Our new 2014 leadership was installed at the end of November, representing five new Section Chairs, several Officers and Members at Large, as well as a new Trustee. We are all extremely thankful for those that served the Chapter over the last few years and those that continue to serve as volunteers. We also welcome our newly elected leadership that will bring new ideas and a fresh outlook on how we continue to move our profession forward. We also have established a new Executive Director for the Chapter, Corey Mathews – corey@flasla.org. Over the last few months Corey and his team have been able to audit and improve several of our internal functions that will make the Chapter more efficient and less costly to manage. We look forward to working with Corey on the continual improvement of the Chapter functions and policies and to offering the best service to the membership. In addition, we will be looking to Corey to help in the development of a new Strategic Plan. With a planning meeting with ASLA National scheduled for the spring and input from membership, we will be able to put together a guiding document for the Chapter that expresses the most up to date policies that will push Landscape Architecture to the forefront of the design industry.

In the coming issues of this monthly newsletter you will see more detailed discussion on the updates to the Strategic Plan. We will also solicit your input on how we can improve not only that document but address issues facing LA's across the state and bring ultimate value to your membership. We also plan to highlight individual Sections and design award winners in each issue, praising the efforts and achievements of local LA's and recognized projects. State legislative committees have begun and it won't be long before the legislature is in session. We will keep you up to date on all things related to government affairs and the impact on LA's. Lastly, we will keep you updated on the efforts of your volunteer members and the valuable work they are doing, including the planning of our 2014 Annual State Conference and Expo being held in Key Largo at Ocean Reef Club. A call for papers has just been released for educational sessions. I encourage you to please review the information from our Conference Chair, Deena Bell – conference13chair@flasla.org – and submit a class for next July.

I am looking forward to an exciting year, one that with your help could change the way people in our state look at our profession, and I'm not talking about how we see ourselves. I am a true believer in spreading the news of our profession outside our own office spaces, whether it is to related design professions, government officials or the public at large. We are members of a great profession that is as diverse as our individual careers and expertise. We just need to stop telling ourselves how great we are, and start letting everyone else know. I'm hoping, with your help, that we can achieve a small part of that goal this next year.

Happy Holidays to all and I look forward to serving you in 2014.

All the best,
Jeff Brophy, PLA, ASLA
FLASLA President

Trustee Report

Welcome to the first installment of the Trustee Report for my tenure. Thank you, Dana, for the wonderful introduction. Dana will continue to stay involved on the national level so do feel free to take up her initiation to discuss issues! I am excited to be serving you as your Trustee for the next few years and honored to be following the likes of Dana Worthington, Jeff Caster and many others who have served the Florida Chapter. This monthly reporting is now a tradition with the Florida Trustee. As I understand it, this report is about 'ASLA Membership’, telling you just a few notes from our national organization over the last month. If you ever have a question about anything in my reports or would like to share your opinions with me regarding these issues, please contact me at Trustee@FLASLA.org

Governance and Administration
The annual installation of officers was held on November 18, the final day of the 2013 meeting. Newly installed officers are: President Mark A. Focht, FASLA; President-Elect K. Richard "Dick" Zweifel, FASLA (who is also the outgoing Education VP); (Florida’s very own) Education VP Kay Williams, FASLA; Government Affairs VP Thomas R. Doolittle, ASLA; and Communications VP Pamela J. Linn, ASLA. Officers continuing their service are: Membership VP Shawn T. Kelly, FASLA; Finance VP David L. Lycke, FASLA; and Professional Practice VP Annette P. Wilkus, FASLA, and Immediate Past President Thomas R. Tavella, FASLA.

The Board of Trustees, among other things, approved the new mission and vision statements;

Mission statement:

Landscape architects lead the stewardship, planning, and design of our built and natural environments.

The Society’s mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship.

ASLA vision statement:

Leading the design and stewardship of land and communities.

The Council of Fellows inducted 33 new members at an investiture ceremony during the conference in Boston. Florida is honored to have Chris Flagg as our newest elected Fellow.

There were four Honorary ASLA Members bestowed at the conference, one of which was one of our own, Senator Bill Nelson. A big thanks goes out to Dana Worthington for her work in making this possible.

Government Affairs
ASLA is inviting landscape architecture firms to submit their qualifications to serve as lead consultant for the green street demonstration project surrounding ASLA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown neighborhood. The deadline is Jan. 15, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. EST. The project involves the design and installation of an interconnected series of vegetated systems and proven technologies to manage stormwater runoff and beautify the public right-of-way. ASLA intends this project to be a world-class model and education tool for developers, designers, city officials, and the public. For more information, and to submit your firm’s qualifications click here.

Earlier this month, Congresswoman Donna Edwards (MD) and Senator Tom Udall (NM) re-introduced the Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act (H.R. 3449, S.1677), which would help local communities utilize green infrastructure projects to address stormwater management and other water issues. During the annual meeting general session, EVP Somerville announced ASLA’s efforts in having the bill introduced and urged members to visit the ASLA Commons to send a message to their legislator about the bill. Environment and Energy News featured a story on the bill’s introduction and cited ASLA as a supporter of the measure.

Emily O'Mahoney, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP BD&C
Trustee, FLASLA

Florida ASLA Retains New CEO/Executive Vice President

The Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (FLASLA) has announced the newly installed CEO/Executive Vice President, Corey G. Mathews, CAE. Seasoned by years of association leadership and experience in the Executive Office of the Governor, Corey provides a profound perspective on association communication and strategy.

As a chief association executive for more than a decade, he has crafted numerous successful membership and legislative campaigns that have produced steady membership growth and commitment. Through efficient organization and superb member relations, Corey helps associations develop and achieve their strategic vision.

"Corey is a dynamic and forward-thinking strategist," said FLASLA president Jeff Brophy. "We are confident that with his experience and leadership, we will formulate a comprehensive vision that every landscape architect in Florida will buy into." Corey holds a Master's degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, a professional designation as a Certified Association Executive (CAE), and is a graduate of the Tallahassee Society of Association Executives' Program for Association Leadership. Corey also volunteers with numerous community organizations, including his local Free Mason lodge.

As the new CEO of FLASLA, Corey is working with the Board of Directors to recreate the organization as a highly responsive and effective provider to its members. Through this member-oriented philosophy, the association will grow its membership, benefits, products, and influence in areas such as legislative and regulatory advocacy.

"I am both humbled and honored that the Board and membership of FLASLA has entrusted me with leading their association," said Corey. "I will continue to promote and protect the interests of landscape architects."

2014 Real Florida Landscapes Design Competition

Inspiring sustainable landscape design can transform our urban spaces. Show the world what you can do with Florida native plants.

FEB. 21, 2014 SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Competition for landscape architects, designers and students. Open to professionals and students enrolled in related degree programs.

Designs must specify all Florida native plants.
Landscape area approximately 60 x 85 feet in size.

JUDGES:
Jeff Caster, ASLA, Florida Dept. of Transportation
George Fogg, ASLA, Ibis
Stephen Pategas, ASLA, Hortus Oasis
Scott Redmon, ASLA, Redmon Design
Craig Reynolds, ASLA, Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Committee Chair: Craig Huegel, Environmental Consultant and Hawthorn Hill Native Wildflowers.

Winning designs featured at THE NATIVE PLANT SHOW and in the next edition of the Native Plant & Service Directory.

All entrants receive complimentary entry to THE NATIVE PLANT SHOW.

MORE DETAILS, download guidelines and apply.

2013 National HALS Challenge Prizes Awarded

The 2013 national HALS Challenge, "Documenting the Cultural Landscapes of Women," drew 30 entries nationwide as part of the Historic American Landscapes Survey, which collects data on significant American landscapes for future generations. The National Park Service administers the program. This marks the fourth year of the competition and the highest number of HALS Short Form Historical Reports entered in the competition! Two entries also included measured drawings, which are not required in the competition.

First place winner Laurie Matthews entered the Cultural Landscape Report that she completed for the Lord & Schryver Conservancy in 2012. She documented the history and present condition of the gardens at Gaiety Hollow, the designers’ home at 545 Mission Street SE in Salem, Oregon. The site served as Lord and Schryver’s test garden, showroom and retreat from 1932 to 1984

Lord and Schryver was the first professional, woman-owned landscape architecture practice in the Pacific Northwest. The Lord and Schryver landscape design firm was founded in 1929 by Salem-born Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver. Schryver’s specialty was design and construction, Lord’s was plant composition. Lord had worked in Ellen Shipman’s New York office in the early 1920s. Their work transitioned away from the formal, symmetrical garden style of Gertrude Jekyll and Ellen Shipman and evolved into a Northwest regional style often characterized as "informal formality" of creative compositions of subtle, but distinct plant palettes.

The awards were announced last month at the American Society of Landscape Architects conference in Boston. All entries will be archived in the Library of Congress, making them available to the public. The Library of Congress has acquired about 50,000 documents through HALS and companion HABS and HAER efforts to record historic works of American landscape, architecture and engineering.

Matthews was awarded the $500 cash prize for her first place entry.

Second prize went to a University of Arizona project on the Arizona Inn in Tucson, submitted by Gina Chorover, Jennifer Levstik, and Helen Erickson with University of Arizona Student Researchers Jae Anderson, Crystal Cheek, and Ryan Sasso.

Third prize went to a study of Gypsy Camp for Girls, in Siloam Springs, Arkansas by Benjamin Stinnett and Kimball Erdman.

The theme of the 2014 HALS Challenge is "Documenting Landscapes of the New Deal". Entries should be submitted as standard short format histories and no later than July 31, 2014 (c/o Paul Dolinsky, Chief of HALS, 202-354-2116, Paul_Dolinsky@nps.gov). The HALS Challenge is sponsored by the National Park Service Division of Heritage Documentation. Cash prizes will again be awarded to the top three submissions. Winning entries will be announced at the 2014 at the ASLA Annual Meeting and Expo in Denver. Good luck and thank you for helping to preserve American landscapes!

Submitted by David Driapsa, ASLA
Chair, FLASLA HALS Committee