January 2006

The hottest topics in ASLAville these days are the post-hurricane recovery process for the gulf coast region and ASLA’s green roof project. Other hot topics include security design, LEED/sustainable site standards and the proposed Mentoring program (ACE).

HURRICANE RELIEF
The gulf coast recovery project is a joint effort of several professional organizations, including ASLA, APA, AIA and NSPE. The group has developed a “collaborative” to assist the Gulf Coast region in preparing plans for rebuilding. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Hon. ASLA, is spearheading this effort. ASLA members are also involved in a mapping project for environmentally sensitive areas in the region. Frederick Steiner, FASLA, is leading the team of landscape architects for the mapping project. WRT has been awarded a contract to prepare a framework plan to guide the detailed planning for the reconstruction of New Orleans.

To further assist in the effort, ASLA is looking for members who have experience in disaster relief and large-scale planning who are willing to help with visioning and other community outreach efforts. Originally scheduled to begin in early December, FEMA has asked that the volunteers be prepared to begin in January. Together, the organizations will be sending teams of volunteers to assist in visioning and initial planning efforts.

Government Affairs and Public Relations staffs have been working with the Louisiana Chapter leadership on disaster response activities, including ASLA participation in activities/initiatives led by other organizations. ASLA is also assisting the chapter with outreach to elected officials and media. As a follow up, ASLA participated in the National Building Museum ’s "Building in the Aftermath" session. The discussion focused on the current state of affairs in New Orleans and the rebuilding effort. ASLA was a cosponsor of the event and an ASLA member served as a panelist.

GREEN ROOF UPDATE:
Forrester Construction is scheduled to move onto the site and begin work on December 19. Key factors in the decision to select Forrester were their experience with green roofs and soil-over-structure projects, willingness/experience working with donated products, enthusiasm for the project and its public relations potential, and glowing references.

Bids for the project were significantly higher than estimated. As a result, the Board of Trustees approved a financing approach that includes targets for product donations and fundraising, as well as targets for reducing project costs. A building equity loan will be used as an interim measure to fund ASLA’s investment in the project. Pledges of cash contributions for the green roof recently eclipsed the $45,000 mark. Donations are tax deductible and may be made over three years, payable by December 31, 2008. A fund raising campaign is underway, targeting firm principals. LAND Online had a story on contributing and highlighted the recognition benefits. For information on contributing, contact Public Relations and Resource Development Director Ann Looper.

Contractors and suppliers who are providing reduced cost goods or services include: Chapel Valley Landscape Company, landscape installation services; Green Roof Plants, consulting and extensive plantings; American Hydrotech, green roof assembly; Green Roof Products/St. Louis Metalworks, edging and drains; Ohio Gratings, aluminum grating; Forest World Group, Ipe wood for the decking; Outdoor Illuminations, lighting design, fixture donations and installation; MVVA, a portion of its fee to the project and assisting with the efforts to secure product donations and sponsorships. MVVA will also design the recognition plaques.

LAND Online has started a series of articles on how to contribute funding and materials for the project and will update the list of contributors each issue.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
President Carmichael addressed the Board of Directors of the AIA at its December meeting. In his remarks, Carmichael stressed areas in which the two professions and the two organizations could work more closely. He also discussed the ASLA headquarters green roof project and initiatives on sustainable design. Oklahoma Trustee Brian Dougherty, broadcast his weekly garden program on WKY-FM (OK) from the annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, October 8. The show was three hours in length and Brian had many attendees as guests. PR staff is working on a story on ASLA’s alliance with EPA GreenScapes for the EPA Web site. A multimedia page has been created featuring podcasts (audio interviews) with speakers of the annual meeting . Photos from the meeting and the awards video and student PowerPoint presentations are also featured. Thanks to the public relations advisory committee, the new career discovery brochure is being translated into Spanish. Public relations is coordinating with the National Building Museum on a yearlong lecture series addressing rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. The kickoff event featured a panel discussion moderated by Architectural Record editor Robert Ivy, FAIA. Suzanne Turner, FASLA, professor emerita of Louisiana State University represented ASLA on the panel. Public relations staff has been updating media outlets in Louisiana and Mississippi on the landscape architecture issues surrounding the recovery and rebuilding efforts. The National Landscape Architecture Month website has been updated for planning for April 2006. ASLA is asking each chapter to plan one event during April to reach out to the public in their communities to help them “Discover Landscape Architecture,” which will be the theme. The site now includes links to find local affiliates of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, ACE Mentor Program, YMCA, YWCA and FFA. Other links and resources will be added soon. ASLA is supporting the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forest Program through the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition. Staff recently met with the board of directors of Scenic America concerning potential areas for collaboration. EVP Somerville was interviewed by Celebrated Living, American Airline’s magazine for first class and business class travelers. The story will focus on consumer interest in and increased spending on landscape. Several ASLA members were interviewed by Lowe's Home Improvement newsletter for a story on successful firm newsletters. Susan Jacobson, FASLA, is writing an article for a 2006 issue of the SchoolFacilites.com newsletter on common problems facing school facilities staff, landscape architecture solutions, and the importance of having a landscape architect work on school projects. Three members are being interviewed by Sunset Books for inclusion in a new book entitled Patios, Rooftops and Gazebos . The book will feature landscape architect profiles and residential project photos from California. ASLA staff is working on syndicated news story entitled “Plan Now for Your Spring Planting: Hire a Landscape Architect to Add Value to Your Home”.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Staff attended a Complete Streets Coalition meeting to discuss national campaign goals and review Sacramento’s guide on best practices: http://www.sactaqc.org/Resources/Agreements/CompleteStreets.pdf. The main goal is to “Create materials, tools and connections that contribute to the adoption and implementation of effective complete streets policies and programs in 5 strategically located states and 25 local jurisdictions by the end of 2008. This will pave the way for a campaign to include complete streets in federal policy.” ASLA is joining the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) and groups from across the country to sponsor a series of regional workshops. The workshops are designed to help a wide array of partners better understand SAFETEA-LU, to leverage opportunities it provides to improve transportation planning and public involvement, and continue to expand transportation options beyond traditional roads and highways. The first workshop will be held in Charlotte , North Carolina on January 19-20, 2006 and will serve the following states: Alabama, DC, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia… more to come. Staff participated in the steering committee meeting on October 28 of the Surface Transportation Policy Project’s effort to develop a set of regional workshops for the implementation of SAFETEA-LU. ASLA will be allocated several slots in each workshop for participation by landscape architects. Staff attended a meeting of the Sustainable Development Network, hosted by ULI. In addition to ASLA, real estate, planning, and design groups attended. At this stage, it appears that the focus of the network will be sharing of information between the groups and working to come to a common definition (and examples) of sustainable development.

LEED/GREEN BUILDING
ASLA participated in and exhibited at USGBC’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Atlanta. ASLA collaborated with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to present “Achieving Sustainable Sites” as a panel discussion . Four ASLA members were presenters and panelists. Another ASLA member moderated the discussion of the newly established Member Circle for Site Designers and Planners. ASLA was very well received by USGBC members and conference attendees. ASLA’s booth in the Expo hall was well visited, disposing of 500 issues of Landscape Architecture during the three-day event.

SECURITY DESIGN
ASLA staff participated in the October 24-25 U.S. General Services Administration charette on perimeter security. ASLA members also participated in the session, which focused on refining case studies and other content for a GSA guide on site security. ASLA is participating in The Infrastructure Security Partnership’s (TISP) Fourth Annual Congress on Infrastructure in the Built Environment in St. Augustine, FL. ASLA is a member of the TISP steering committee.

MISCELLANEOUS
The ASLA Class of Fellows continued its commitment to its recently adopted scholarship program by raising over $60,000 in pledges for the Council of Fellows Scholarship. The scholarship program is aimed at underprivileged and minority students pursuing studies in landscape architecture. • ASLA has become a national sponsor of the ACE Mentor Program, which introduces high school students to the design and construction professions. The ACE Mentor Program has dozens of chapters across the country that mentor high school students to encourage them to enter the design and construction industry, providing a number of generous scholarships each year. More than 80 percent of ACE participants are minority students and approximately 50 percent are women. • ASLA released the LATIS FORUM on Therapeutic Garden Design in November. It is available free to members and accessible online via a link through the Professional Practice Headquarters section. Other LATIS reports are available in electronic format as PDF documents free to members. Non-members may purchase LATIS reports online. • ASLA reports that the McGraw-Hill Construction Outlook economic forecast for 2006 calls for continued slow but steady growth and low inflation. The outlook for the construction industry is strong, with an expected decrease in housing construction offset by strong growth in other market sectors. • A new round of membership reinstatement telemarketing is underway; targeting former members whose membership has lapsed within the past five years. As a result, 319 former members have reinstated allowing membership to grow at a rapid pace. As of mid-November, ASLA is 16,500 members strong. That is an increase of 500 members since September. • ASLA Staff attended the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Fall Forum in Chicago . The meeting focused on the Gulf Coast recovery and fallout from the Supreme Court ruling affecting eminent domain for economic development purposes, Kelo v. New London .