April 1, 2001

Dear Members,

PLSC is busy. The first meeting of the year with our current Board of Directors was at the Auraria Campus in conjunction with the Central Chapter PLSC annual seminar. By summer, we will have met in Greeley with the Northern Chapter on April 27 and in Durango with the Southwest Chapter on June 8, which will be a "Four Corners" conference with Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Multi-tasking helps to keep up: PLSC Director/ACSM-Colorado President/MSCD Advisory Committee Chair JB Guyton recently exchanged ideas with me while riding the chairlifts of Winter Park.

Being in PLSC doesn’t mean having time. It means making time: We were faced with several vacancies due to Dennis Mouland’s moving out of State, Bill McComber’s stepping aside from numerous activities along with Rich Baur from the MSCD Advisory Committee. These members worked hard for PLSC and set fine examples for the next group of Directors like Mark Corbridge, Tom Adams, Bryan Clark and others, all making time for the Profession.

Education continues to be a national discussion, while Colorado has no academic requirement for licensing. The State Board increased the apprenticeship requirements from six to ten years, while some states require twelve years. The fastest way to a license is through formal education, by as much as four years less than apprenticeship. The NCEES has started testing for academic knowledge. Plus, Degree programs include general education which develop communication, work ethic, and other skills so beneficial to our society which we are charged with bringing order to.

PLSC has worked hard to advance education, from seminars and distance learning to associate and four-year degrees. We see an increase in the number of surveyors participating in classes and seminars. But, the number of two and four-year graduates is not increasing. Thus, the PLSC Legislative Committee is addressing the issue and will report on whether academic requirements should be, and could be introduced into legislation in the foreseeable future. Over the years, Side Shots has posted a full debate regarding minimum educational requirements for our profession. It is inevitable that PLSC face the question, and we are ready to go to work. I propose the motto "If it is best for the public, then it is best for me".

Sincerely,

Warren D. Ward, PLS