March 2013

Florida Chapter ASLA Trustee Report March 2013

GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA.gov) National Design Director for Landscape Architecture, Christian Gabriel, ASLA, met with ASLA EVP Nancy Somerville and Federal Government Affairs Director Roxanne Blackwell to discuss GSA’s use of Landscape Architects and the increased focus on site and landscape design. Gabriel’s position was created last year as a result of ASLA advocacy for the establishment of a Landscape Architect position within the office of the GSA Chief Architect.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Sign up today! Many state governments are making important decisions on how to use available federal and state transportation funds. The recently passed federal surface transportation law, MAP-2I, gives states more authority on how to use federal funds, particularly for active transportation projects like bicycle and pedestrian paths and trails. It is critical that Landscape Architects weigh in with governors and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to urge them to fully fund active transportation projects. The Partnership for Active Transportation is sending a letter to each state’s governor with the signatures of supporting local organizations in their respective states. Please make sure that the Florida Chapter of ASLA is well represented on our state’s letter.

Senators Baucus (MT) and Burr (NC) have introduced S. 338: The Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act of 2013 that aims to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at no additional cost to taxpayers. The LWCF, which became law in 1965, uses fees from oil and gas leaking in federal waters to help purchase and protect lands across the country. The LWCF is designed to receive $900 million each year from federal royalties paid on offshore oil and gas leases. The funding is already accounted for, costing taxpayers nothing, but the program has routinely been severely underfunded. ASLA will begin advocacy efforts to help gain additional congressional support for the legislation.

PUBLISHING AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

There is still time to help a student or two! ASLA is offering members a FREE internship posting ($300 value) on JobLink during the months of March and April.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Registration for the PPN Online Learning series, to take place March 4-14, continues to increase. All 10 of the presentations received approval through LA CES to offer professional development hours. Five of the presentations will offer 1.5 PDH and the remaining five will offer 1.0 PDH. Attendance is free, with limited space, and PDH credits are available to ASLA members only. REMEMBER, LA CES courses are not yet approved for Florida CECs but may be of use if you are licensed in other states!

By Dana Worthington, Trustee