May 2020 Newsletter
ASLA UTAH MAY 2020 NEWSLETTER
UPCOMING EVENTS
Victor Stanley: Virtual LA CES™ Webinars
Utilizing Site Furnishings to Enhance Open Spaces.
Credits: 1.0 PDH – HSW, Thursdays, 12:00PM MST
REGISTER HERE
ASLA Utah Emerging Professionals Virtual Employment Panel Friday, June 6th, 12:00pm Zoom Registration email Kyle Funk at kyle@loftsixfour.com
ASLA Utah Conference on Landscape Architecture,
Friday, 11th of September
Gateway Mall, SLC
REGISTER HERE!
Leadership Express
Lauren Smith, Chapter President
Dear ASLA Utah Members,
I hope everyone has been able to get outside safely and enjoy some of the nice weather we’re experiencing. I know that I personally have been enjoying my small garden space even more this year with current social distancing and needing to limit my social interactions. As a reminder, ASLA is here for you during these times. Take a look at the National COVID-19 Resources Page which is being updated as more resources are available and please reach out to us if there’s anything we can do to assist during these unpredictable times.
First, I’d like to thanks everyone who filled out the 2021-2022 Federal & State Legislative Priorities Survey! ASLA Utah had a 29.7% response rate, which was an increase by 6 times from last year. We had a goal to triple our responses this year and you all knocked it out of the park! We really appreciate you taking the time to help National set the legislative priorities for the coming year.
In terms of ASLA Utah, we are putting out a call for volunteers to join a new Task Force Committee. The focus of this committee will be to work on a special Educational Campaign for our profession. ASLA Utah would like to come up with a state specific presentation and handout materials that can be shared with a wide variety of individuals (allied professionals, clients, students, etc.) to showcase the vast expertise our profession touches as well as the importance of landscape architects on all projects that have exterior improvements. If this is something you think you might be interested or have questions, please contact me at laurenksmith.asla@gmail.com.
Stay safe, stay healthy,
Lauren
Make a difference in your professional world -
Nominate someone or yourself for ASLA Utah Executive Committee!
OPEN POSITIONS: Treasurer, Secretary, VP of Membership, VP of Visibility, President Elect
**Nomination Deadline: FRIDAY, May 29th by 5 p.m.**
Please email nominee’s name to:
President Elect, Seth Bockholt at seth@bockholtla.com
CPC Spring Conference
Seth Bockholt, President Elect
One of the exciting benefits of serving with the chapter leadership is the opportunity to attend various events. Before becoming the incoming President I had never heard of the Spring CPC in DC but was pleasantly surprised when I was told in February I would have the opportunity to attend this event in April. I have not been to DC since the Mall was updated was stoked to see it. However, this year’s Spring Chapter Presidents Council was held virtually. Lauren Smith, Jenny Sonntag and I logged in to participate April 23rd, 24th and the 25th. Over the three days there was six webinars, and three workshops. While I was disappointed, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to go to DC, and meet all the other Chapter Presidents in person I was relieved I could keep up with my workload from home while I listened to all the Webinars. I tried my best to have an open mind as we approached this virtual meeting but have to admit I was skeptical.
It was not the same as an in-person meeting, but I was really surprised at how well it worked and how fun it was. I had not been on a zoom meeting with such a large group, and it was nice to see everybody there. While the break-out sessions were fun my favorite were the ‘Virtual Happy Hour’ at the end of the day Thursday and Friday. Thursday’s happy hour asked people to wear a wig, mask or glasses, and Fridays was ‘Fun Shirts’. These were hilarious. I had to turn my mic and camera off because my three kids had too much fun commenting on everyone’s attire.
On a more serious note we heard from the Government Affairs Team about all the great work being done at National. Sounds like they have their hands full advocating on the Living Shorelines Act, TREES Act, Green Roofs for Public School Act, Great American Outdoors Act, New National Environmental Policy Act Rules, and STEM Designation. That is a lot of Acts. There is also cause to celebrate. The Community Assistance Partnership is celebrating 20 years in 2020 woop woop! And coming up in 2022 it will be the bicentennial of Frederick Law Olmsted ASLA. The National Association for Olmsted Parks are planning to coordinate a celebration called Olmsted 200 Celebration this year. You can find out more about that Here.
The Webinar on Virtual Member engagement was very interesting. Colorado’s President Elect David Sprunt showed an inspiring example of how the Colorado/Wyoming Chapter with over 400 members spread across two States has been able to encourage more participation. Not just lunch and learns but more geographic diversity on the Excomm using Zoom for board meetings. They even did their awards Jury online in March. In fact, this webinar moved our own Executive Committee to adopt Zoom with an eye to duplicating Colorado/Wyoming’s results and connect our chapter members from the University in Northern to our too often but understandably absent friends in St. George.
Continuing the online trend LA CES is moving courses online. Sam Thorley our VP of Professional Development has been busy registering our Chapter with LA CES to be able to facilitate more CEU’s at our chapter events and hook up those future Zoom meetings with CEU’s too.
Other highlights included ASLA National President Wendy Miller’s Update. Students now can join ASLA without a financial commitment. National hopes to essentially double the number of Students members from 1500 to around 3000. They are also developing programs specific to students including mentoring to pave the path for growth. They are also clarifying how chapters can waiver dues in cases of hardship. Hardship shall include unemployment. An individual is eligible for a due’s waiver because of unemployment for a total of two years in their lifetime. A member may buy back this benefit by paying past dues. 2. Waivers are granted in six-month increments and renewable. 3. Process: Written request to national HQ detailing circumstances for waiver plus written support from chapter president.
Thanks to CPC Chair Jessica McWIlliams ASLA and Mellissa Gobrecht, Manager Chapter Relations for putting on such a well-executed online conference. I know it was a success because I didn’t get any work done while I listened. It was too much fun to participate!
The Utah Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects is pleased to issue a formal call for entries for the 2020 ASLA Utah Professional Awards Program!
Participation in the awards program helps to broaden professional boundaries, increase public awareness of the role of landscape architects, raise the standards of the discipline, and bring recognition to organizations and individuals who demonstrate superior skill in the practice or study of landscape architecture.
It is important for us all to take time to reflect and step back at all of the great work we have accomplished in the past and celebrate together those successes, whether small or great. Consider yourself eligible.
**Awards will be presented at Lunch during the ASLA Utah Conference on Friday, 11th of September as the Gateway Mall in downtown Salt Lake.
All submissions are due Friday, June 19, 2020 at 5PM. We look forward to seeing your entries submitted!
Thank you to our Newsletter Sponsors for their continued support!
Special Thanks to ASLA Utah Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
BioGrass | Rain Bird | Victor Stanley
Gold Sponsors
Live Earth Products
Silver Sponsors
Amcor/Belgard | Ameristar | Anova | Chanshare Farms
Hunter/FX Luminaire | Landscape Forms | LuckyDog Recreation | Utelite
Bronze Sponsors
AMIAD | CES&R | Confluence Products | Contech | Delta Stone | Forms + Surfaces | GPH Irrigation Garrett & Company | Graber Manufacturing | Hess Pumice | Hydrotech | Inman Interwest | IRONSMITH Maglin | Miller Companies | MUSCO Lighting | Omega II Fence System | PlaySpace Designs Sonntag Recreation | Starker Parson | TORO | Vortex Aquatic Structures Intl