January 1, 2002

Dear Members,

Each member of PLSC is prominent. Each member is a key to the success of our society and our profession. When we lose one, we all hurt. Diane Kelly will be missed.

The Fall Technical Session, once again, provided an excellent surveyor’s gathering and learning opportunity. 230 attended seminars by such speakers as Walter Robillard, Wendy Lathrop, and Gaby Nuenzert.

Those who attended saw a first in surveying academics cooperation: Lynn Patten, Head of Westwood Surveying, and Dr. Herb Stoughton, Head of Metro State Surveying, signed an articulation agreement allowing full transfer of credits from the Westwood Associates Degree into Metro’s Four-Year Survey Mapping Degree.

At the Annual Membership Meeting, the current PLSC Legislative Committee issues were presented: Proposed Appointment of County Surveyors legislation, and proposed academic requirements for licensure.

Last year, the county surveyor appointment “Referendum C” was defeated by the voters. However, people did not understand the question as presented on the ballot: Many people told me that they had voted “no” when they meant to vote “yes”, because of the way the question was worded (voting “yes” defeated the measure). Also, the measure was instigated by the Jefferson County Commissioners, and there was no marketing to the people to explain the issue, who were preoccupied with the gun and growth control measures appearing on the same ballot. The several newspaper editorials that did comment on the issue did so in a favorable manner. Finally, the Legislature showed vast support during their debate, thus a second attempt is warranted.

The other issue is academic requirements for licensure. Despite a number of significant incentives for PLS applicants to pursue academic education, only a tiny fraction do so. Thus, the Legislative Committee has drafted a proposal that would elevate the status of surveying academics and apprenticeship to parallel those of engineering. The rationale for and against the proposal is intended to be presented on our Website at PLSC.net by the time of this issue’s printing.

Every member of PLSC is encouraged to understand, debate, and voice an opinion on the issues. When we lose one member, we all hurt.

Sincerely yours

Warren D. Ward, PLS