June/July 2019 Newsletter
ASLA UTAH June/July 2019 NEWSLETTER
UPCOMING EVENTS
Lunch and Learn hosted by Live Earth
August 14, 2019
ASLA Utah Chapter Office, 280 S 400 W #150, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Emerging Professionals Lunch hosted by Landscape Forms
August 27, 2019
ASLA Utah Chapter Office, 280 S 400 W #150, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Lunch and Learn hosted by Ameristar
September 4, 2019
ASLA Utah Chapter Office, 280 S 400 W #150, Salt
Lake City, UT 84101
Lunch and Learn hosted by Chanshare Farms
October 23, 2019
ASLA Utah Chapter Office, 280 S 400 W #150, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Leadership Express
Colin Olson, Chapter President
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to our June/July newsletter. We were so inspired by the “Get Outside” message at this year’s conference that we thought we might as well combine the two newsletters so half of the time you would normally spend pouring through them can be spent… getting outside! It also was just a necessity of circumstance.
Thanks to all of you who took the surveys we sent out. We sent out three annual conference surveys - one for those who attended the conference, one for those who didn’t, and one for our chapter sponsors. We received a lot of valuable responses. I think our membership as a whole will benefit from your feedback, which I am already trying to apply in planning out next year’s conference. Jenny Sonntag and I have been scouring potential venue locations for the 2020 Conference on Landscape Architecture. We will let you know as soon as we have a venue and date locked down so you can save the date.
We got a lot of great suggestions for future content for the conference. We would likely need a week long meeting to include all of them, but I’ve already been adapting my own thoughts to better incorporate your feedback. I’m really excited to plan out our speakers and activities and line up some interesting and valuable content. Stay tuned.
One topic of much debate, both among the executive committee and from member feedback, is the Awards Dinner. We have a lot of variables to consider in planning it out and people’s preferences vary greatly. We’ve deliberated between two main options: a special dinner/banquet the night before or presenting the awards during lunch at the conference. Both options have some pretty clear cut pros and cons. I’ve discussed these with members, award recipients and the rest of the executive committee and we’re excited to make a change to the format. Moving forward, the Awards Banquet will be separated from the Annual Meeting as its own highlighted event in the fall. We are still working out some formatting details. We want the banquet to be a draw for all of the membership, not only for those who have submitted for awards. Please reach out to any members of the board if you have thoughts on how to optimize this event for everybody.
A few quick items from ASLA National:
ASLA needs your help. We seek to promote the important role landscape architects play in building community resilience to climate change. Please take a few minutes to tell us about a project that exemplifies the recommendations found in Smart Policies for a Changing Climate, the report and recommendations of the ASLA Blue Ribbon Panel on Climate Change and Resilience. We will compile and distribute select case studies we receive and showcase them as part of the Smart Policies for a Changing Climate exhibition. Please tell us about the project location, size, budget, features, and any regulations that guided the project’s development. ASLA’s goal is to show that effective, resilient landscape planning and design projects are already helping communities prepare and adapt to a changing climate. Submit your case study today.
ASLA and CLARB jointly hosted the second quarter licensure web summit (video/presentation) featuring a 2019 legislative update on trends displayed in the roughly 300 legislative bills being tracked by both organizations.
Recently, Federal Government Affairs Manager Daniel Hart attended a House Committee on Natural Resources mark up of eight bills, including ASLA-endorsed H.R. 3915, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act. This legislation was passed favorably out of the committee and now awaits floor consideration.
The Living Shorelines Act was recently reintroduced and your help is needed to encourage Congress to support the bill. This legislation would authorize up to $50 million per year to help states, towns, and nonprofits implement climate-resilient living shoreline projects that use nature-based solutions. This version of the bill also includes provisions to allow more equitable access to these grants for low- and middle-income communities. Take action today!
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
Stay cool over the summer!
Colin Olson
Trustee Report
Tina Gillman, Trustee
In May, I traveled to Washington D.C. with President-elect Lauren Smith and VP of Membership JoEllen Grandy for Advocacy Day and Mid-year leadership meetings. This was my first official national meeting as chapter trustee. We started out with an evening Trustee’s dinner and training where I quickly learned the seriousness of the role of trustee. After Advocacy Day, the Board of Trustees (BOT) met for two days. Along with other new trustees, I was sworn in. Then, business commenced. A few highlights:
Framework Communications Project. ASLA is leading a joint project for the president’s council consisting of ASLA, CLARB, LAF, CELA, and LAAB for identifying effective strategies for communicating the scope and value of the landscape architecture profession. I am intrigued by this project and excited about the possibilities this has for the profession as a whole and for our individual work.
Budget and Finance. Budget and finance are serious discussions in BOT meetings. National staff are working to stay on top of changing trends in the advertising and non-profit worlds. The budget and finances are led by a capable team of Michael O’Brien, CFO and SuLin Kotowicz, VP of Finance. The budget and finance report also include reports from the Audit Committee and Finance & Investments Committee.
Strategic Objectives and Programs. Have you seen an ASLA survey in your email? ASLA annually surveys members on how well it is accomplishing objectives and evaluating its programs. These include defending licensure, promoting the profession, supporting chapters, education, Landscape Architecture Magazine, the annual conference and more! If you do see a survey, please answer it. The information you provide is important.
We Are Still In. ASLA is a signatory to the We Are Still In declaration in support of continuing commitment to the Paris Climate Accords. In the 2018 survey, climate change was identified as the #1 issue for ASLA members in legislative priorities and #3 on “issues that impact your practice and economy.”
Emerging Professionals // LARE Prep
Kyle Funk, Emerging Professionals Chair
Looking for a LARE Study Group?
Text "LARE" and your name to Kyle Funk at 435.535.5083 to join the Section 1 group message.
Study groups for all other sections are forming.
Email Kyle Funk at kyle@loftsixfour.com for more information.
Executive Committee Member Spotlight
JoEllen Grandy, VP of Membership and Membership Services
Utah ASLA is lucky to have an incredible Executive Board Committee. Each comes with unique backgrounds and passions for Landscape Architecture and this month we have to opportunity to "Get to Know": David Anderson, VP of Professional Development and Nathan Jamarillo, VP of Visibility and Public Affairs.
Take a moment and get to know your Executive Committee Members.
David Anderson
VP of Professional Development
How did you come to find Landscape Architecture as your chosen profession?
David: I was in my junior year of college – in a pre-med program. My classmate told me about landscape architecture and I was amazed that something so cool actually existed, and that I had never heard of it. I quickly decided to change direction and pursue landscape architecture by completing an MLA. I have a bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture from BYU and an MLA from Utah State. For nearly 20 years, I worked as a professional employee for USU where I was involved in the development of the USU Botanical Center in Kaysville. I have also been involved in a number of Extension Landscape Architecture projects. I joined the LAEP faculty in 2012. I am an Associate Professor of Professional Practice on the LAEP faculty at USU. I mainly teach LAEP 1030, Introduction to Landscape Architecture, LAEP 2039, Foundations of Sustainable Systems, and LAEP 3120, Land Planning for Residential Development. In particular, LAEP 1030 is an area of focus. We have been able to significantly increase the number of students who take this class, nearing 1,000 per semester.
Nate Jamarillo
VP of Visibility and Public Affairs
Nathan: I was made aware of landscape architecture as a profession because a friend told me about the Landscape Architecture program. Bachelors in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning from Utah State University. Interned at Utah Botanical Center, North Logan City, Voda Planning and Design and Loftsixfour. Worked Full time with Loftsixfour since graduation working in Rooftop Amenity Design, Campus Planning and Design, City Performing Arts Center Design and Urban Streetscape.
What project have you been involved in that you take great accomplishment in and why?
David: The USU Botanical Center (USUBC) was little more than a concept when we started working on it. The opportunity to see a project grow from an idea to reality was amazing. The purpose of the project is to promote the wise use of natural resources here in the Intermountain West. It’s a really important undertaking, especially for our children and grandchildren. I’m very glad we were able to secure funding and complete major parts of the USUBC, laying the groundwork for long-term development. There are many projects that inspire me – from high design to natural systems. One in particular that comes to mind is, in 2017, while on a trip to Spain and Portugal with LAEP students, Professor Licon and I came across a tiny mosque in the old city of Toledo. Next to the mosque, which was built in the year 999 AD, is a small, orderly, and peaceful garden centered around a small fountain. The views from the garden were spectacular. The reverence and simplicity of the garden were powerful.
Nathan: Hub Of Opportunity - The first of its kind in housing for children with disabilities, type of design that I like with a Streetscape, Plaza and Rooftop Component all in one project. It also won a UDU Honor Award for the design. I visited The Highline two years ago and has been a great source of inspiration and a perfect example of designing something that people love and use which is my goal with Landscape Architecture.
What do you feel are the greatest challenges you encounter practicing in your area of emphasis?
David: We are working hard to introduce landscape architecture to interested students. There are many opportunities and directions students can take. Helping them understand what landscape architecture is and discover they have interest and ability in it is a really cool opportunity. Raising awareness and understanding about landscape architecture with the public at-large is another major challenge. ASLA can continue to be vocal and active in sharing accurate information about this amazing discipline.
Nathan: Understanding of Intensive Rooftop Design and the value it brings. The value of Landscape architecture in general, how to quantify that to justify the design.
What are your top three goals that you would like to accomplish while serving on the ExCom Board?
David:
Increase opportunity to introduce landscape architecture to more high school students
Assist in developing effective education programs to allow members to earn professional development hours
Assist in securing presenters for professional development events
Coordinate the professional mentor program with the USU student ASLA chapter
Nathan:
Give Back to a Profession that has given me so much
Create as much visibility for the profession as possible
Make Utah ASLA fun with the activities and events, something that young people actually want to be involved in and attend
Call for Committee Volunteers
ASLA National
Step Right Up: Opportunities for ASLA Committee Service
The Call for 2019-2020 Committee Volunteers ASLA National is open through July 12, 2019 11:59 PT. The details of the volunteer process and the link to indicate your interest in committee service are included here. Please promote this to your membership. This is a great way for members to get involved and participate in shaping the future of ASLA!
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