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July, 2006
Trustee Report - April, May, June 2006
Public relations has consistently been at the top of the priority list with both members and the Board of Trustees. As a result, ASLA has beefed up staff over the last several years to assure that ASLA and the profession are on the lips of everyone. The profession has gained in stature and demands for professional services have been consistently on the rise. Some of ASLA’s biggest and most visible efforts are noted below.
By now, we all have heard of the significant press and good words on the ASLA green roof project. The press has been national in scope. Magazines, newspapers, television and radio have all featured the project in their coverage. The coverage has placed the profession in the lead on green roof expertise. What you may not know about the green roof are the following: • it is wheelchair accessible; • green roof tours participants have included many legislators, including Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, who is developing legislation concerning green buildings. ASLA offered to assist him in the effort; •it was the talk of the recently held Green Roofs for Healthy Cities conference; •contributions for the ASLA Green Roof are over $250,000…you can contribute by following the green roof link on the ASLA website www.asla.org; • green roof dedication drew over 1,000 viewers to the roof webcam; •the media preview featuring a tour of the green roof was held on April 25 to eleven media outlets, garnering lots of coverage.
These are critical opportunities on which we must capitalize to build successful long-term relationships. Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia expressed a strong interest in security design. He asked for pictures of both effective and ineffective security measures from across the country because he recognized how powerful they can be in helping his colleagues understand the problem. If you have worked on any projects which incorporate security design, or if you know of examples of same, please take a photo and send the good, bad and ugly examples of perimeter security to Scott Kovarovics (skovarovics@asla.org) or Sandy Kime (skime@dmai.com) so ASLA can build upon this opportunity. For the 2006 Lobby Day, the Government Affairs Committee contacted each of the chapter presidents to roll out the process for gaining more Lobby Day visits. Each year ASLA leaders meet with about 150 Representatives (and most Senators). In spite of the impressive counts, it means that ASLA does not meet with nearly three-quarters of Congressional Members. This is largely because, to reduce the volume of meeting requests, the majority of legislators meet only with constituents. To help the cause, many members wrote their Representative asking them to meet with the ASLA representatives in Washington . It is believed that about 20 additional legislators were met because of the letters. For 2007, we will ask members to repeat the activity.
Press coverage of ASLA members has also been up. Witness the following items: •Pool & Spa News,New York Home Magazine, Professional Builder Magazine, California LandscapingandAtlanta Home Improvement magazine have all interviewed ASLA members…some of these interviews will likely result in National coverage; •A DC-area production company is working on a series of shows for HGTV; •Elle Girl magazine will be interviewing several women ASLA members for an article on women in design; • President Carmichael and EVP Somerville will be interviewed by the Washington Times on trends in landscape architecture and how landscape architecture can increase residential value; • Public Works (a Hanley Wood Magazine) is featuring the2005 award winning project, 12,000 Factory Workers Meet Ecology in the Parking Lot and the 2006 award winning project of SW 12th Avenue Green Street Project in an upcoming issue on rain gardens.
Dennis Carmichael , FASLA and Dean Hill , ASLA, were interviewed for the book, Careers in Focus: Architecture & Building, which details careers in architecture (such as landscape architects) and features interviews with professionals working in the field. The audience for the book is high school students interested in learning more about careers in architecture and the building industry.
Radio tours held throughout Landscape Architecture Month (LAM), were another big hit this year. They accounted for approximately 3.1 million listeners throughout the country and have increased awareness of the profession. Topics included residential landscape architecture, ASLA’s green roof, careers in landscape architecture, and disaster preparedness. Ramiro Villalvazo, ASLA, represented the Society in radio interviews focusing on careers in landscape architecture. Stations included: Red River Radio Network ( Shreveport , LA ); CNN en Español Radio Network (international); KNUV-AM ( Phoenix , AZ ); and Clear Channel consortium (WRNQ-FM, WBPM-FM, WKIP-AM, WGHQ-AM, WPKF-FM, WRWD-FM & AM, WBWZ-FM, WFKP-FM, Upstate New York).
The 2006 Professional Awards program received 519 submissions. Thirty-two projects received awards. The Awards Program continues to gain press coverage in both public and in publications of related professions. This year, coverage included: ArchNewsNow, Residential Architect Online, D Home and the Portland Tribune and Sonoran Living Live , a TV show on the ABC affiliate in Phoenix . The residential Design Awards have been especially well received. Again this year, Garden Design magazine will publish a co-branded insert with Landscape Architecture magazine featuring the 2006 award winning projects. The insert will appear in the final 2006 issue of Garden Design, which will be published in time to debut at the ASLA annual meeting in October, and will be distributed to ASLA members, LAM subscribers, Garden Design subscribers, and on newsstands, for a combined circulation of nearly 260,000. The bonus insert will also be distributed at the NAHB, AIA and other trade shows in which ASLA participates in 2007…if that isn’t visibility, I don’t know what is!!!
Additionally, the ASLA Student Awards program set new records this year, in both quantity and number of programs participating. 421 entries were received—including entries from Israel and Iran —representing 66 schools. Only two accredited U.S. landscape architecture programs are not represented. Fifteen programs are participating for the first time ever!!!
ASLA has released the recipients of the 2006 ASLA honors. These are the most prestigious awards given to members (and non-members) who have served the profession exceptionally well during their careers. The medals and recipients are: •ASLA Medal: Cameron Man, FASLA, •ASLA Design Medal: Steve Martino, FASLA, •Firm Award: Olin Partnership, •Jot D. Carpenter Teaching Medal: Donald L. Collins, FASLA, •LaGasse Medal: Hugh C. Miller, FAIA, Honorary ASLA, •Olmsted Medal: Mayor Richard M. Daley, Honorary ASLA and, •Community Service Award: Randal Scott Romie, ASLA
On the licensure front, the 50 by 2010 campaign is getting ever closer to its goal. Recently, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch (D) signed legislation that created a new practice act, making 48 states with some form of regulation for Landscape Architects-the practice act approved by Colorado ’s legislature in May was vetoed by the governor – a nastygram to him is definitely in order. With New Hampshire , and the upgrade West Virginia earlier this year , there are now practice acts in 40 states. The Vermont Chapter hosted the 2006 ASLA Licensure Summit in early June. Fifty landscape architects representing 42 states and the District of Columbia attended. The agenda featured mandatory continuing education, negotiation techniques and making the case for licensure for the public good. PA was represented by Carl Kelemen. Delaware was represented by Carol Krawczyk.
Professional Practice Networks (PPNs) have been getting new life and support from ASLA as well as a newly active group of leaders. Some of the more recent activities that will benefit members and the profession include: • a series of articles have appeared in LAND Online to highlight projects and achievements of PPN members. The first of the series focused on the Campus Planning and Design; •the Therapeutic Garden Design PPN has posted its latest newsletter to the Network’s website; •the Residential Landscape Architecture and Design-Build PPNs were recently featured in the ongoing series “Reports from the Field”; • four students will assist three of ASLA’s PPNs in the coming year. The students will be Web Journal Editors for the Urban Planning and Design PPN and Reclamation and Restoration PPNs. Two more will be working with the Sustainable Design and Development PPN. The students will begin their year of work with the PPNs in the fall of 2006. There is a PPN for every interest and practice specialty…you can join one for free…check them out!
n other ASLA news, JobLink now allows job and resume posters to format text using bold, italics, underlines, bullets, numbers and hyperlinks. Jobs may now be posted for 30, 60, or 90 days and are searchable by a number of criteria to help job seekers organize the listings. Also, non-member job posters will receive a one-year membership in ASLA, hoping to replicate the success of the awards programs in capturing new members…so pass the word to your non-member colleagues. • ASLA conducted its biennial national salary survey in June. The purpose of the survey is to collect, analyze, and disseminate salary data on the profession for information and research purposes. Private, public and academic sectors will all be covered by the survey, and the results will include analysis by major metropolitan areas, states, regions, years of experience, number of employees, job titles and gross revenue of the employing firm or organization. •ASLA’s Board of Trustees elected three new vice presidents whose terms begin at the end of 2006 annual meeting: Susan M. Hatchell, FASLA, VP Membership, Todd R. Wichman, ASLA, VP Information and Professional Practice, Gary D. Scott, ASLA, VP Finance. •ASLA’s Professional Practice Institute subcommittee on landscape architecture specifications will be reviewing and commenting on ARCOM Masterspec one old and two new sections. The topics for review are: Section 015639, Temporary Tree and Plant Protection, Section 329600, Transplanting (new) and Section 075563, Vegetated Protected Membrane Roofing (new). •Through an agreement between ASLA and American Forests , ASLA members can purchase CITYgreen software at a discounted rate via link from the business tools section of the Professional Practice Headquarters page of the ASLA website. CITYgreen software is a GIS application for land-use planning and policymaking. It is an extension of ESRI’s ArcGIS. EVP Nancy Somerville met with new AIA EVP Christine McEntee. Action items include an exchange of information on education trends, diversity issues and demographics in the professions, as well as continued communications on government affairs and other issues….and, hopefully, a new sense of cooperation and professional recognition. •ASLA participated in a meeting on health and the built environment hosted by the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO). The meeting brought together representatives from number of public health organizations, ASLA, APA, the Conference of Mayors, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Governors Association, to begin a dialogue and partnership on community design. Participating organizations will begin by exchanging information on current initiatives and programs. •ASLA has been asked to participate in the Advisory Council to the Building Security Council (BSC). The group, representing public and private sector building owners, professional/trade organizations, financial, insurance and other building security related organizations will provide guidance to the BSC. • A couple of membership milestones have been reached. Total membership has been holding above 16,500 since early this year. Also, for the first time ever, associate membership exceeds 1,500. This is associate member milestone is largely due to the Emerging Professionals Committee’s focus on encouraging and easing the transition from student to associate member—a time when, historically, many student members drop off the radar. • Voting for ASLA president-elect concluded in early June. Perry Howard , FASLA will be the president-elect as of October 2006 and will be the President at the 2008 Annual meeting in Philadelphia . Our congratulations to Perry. We look forward to working with him to promote the profession. • And, finally, Early bird online registration for the Minneapolis Annual Meeting continues. Register online at www.asla.org before August 28, 2006, and save $100.
July 19, 2006
- The Virginia Chapter held a state licensure summit on July 20. Staff attended along with chapter leaders and two state legislators, including Delegate Glenn Oder, ASLA, and Senator John Watkins, a nurseryman by trade. The group discussed strategy for proposing legislation to upgrade the state licensing law to a practice act.
- For the first time ever, Engineering News Record (ENR) has published its annual “Top 500 Design Firms” issue with a category for landscape architecture firms. EDAW, VOA, Belt Collins, and Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin are all listed in the top 500 with landscape architecture as a main focus of practice.
- The ASLA green roof continues to draw media attention. Architectural Record is featuring coverage of the ASLA green roof project. Planet Vox filmed the green roof for a Natural Resources Defense Council video project featuring green solutions to major environmental challenges.
- Public Relations worked with Kiplinger’s Personal Finance on a feature story and slide show highlighting the work of several members and linking to Firm Finder. The story and slide recently ran on Yahoo! Finance and AOL.
- Lots of members are making the news: Rob Tilson, FASLA, and Dean Hill, ASLA, were interviewed for an article on hardscapes for Home Improvement, a new national magazine. Tilson and Richard Arentz, ASLA, were interviewed for an article on pool design for The Washington Post. EDSA and Belt Collins will be submitting projects to Landscape Today, a Southeast Asia publication. The New York Times is interviewing Adrian Smith, ASLA, David Kamp, ASLA, Ed Hollander, ASLA, and Leonard Ditomaso, ASLA, for a cover story in the Real Estate section on landscapes and their impact on home values. Water Gardens magazine is interviewing John Cusick, ASLA, David Driapsa, ASLA, Rob Tilson, FASLA, and Michael Vergason, FASLA, for an article on water features.
- Landscape Design magazine ( Dalian, China) will feature three ASLA 2006 Professional Awards winners in their next issue: the University of California, Berkeley: Units 1&2 Dormitories Urban Landscape (The Bowtie) by GLS (Gary L. Strang) Landscape/Architecture, Small is Beautiful, by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc., and The Elizabeth & Nona Evans Restorative Garden by Dirtworks, PC.
- Watch your mail. The annual meeting registration brochurewas recently printed and mailed to 25,000 members, LAM subscribers, former members, and prospects. It is nearly 20 pages smaller than last year’s brochure, saving significantly on production and postage costs, and is again printed on sustainable paper with soy inks.
- The work to complete the ASLA Fellows Database project continues. University of Maryland Landscape Architecture program students are working onsite at ASLA headquarters this summer with staff and project coordinator Jack Sullivan, FASLA, to finish the database entries through 2005 using information and documents from the ASLA Fellows archives files.
July 5, 2006
- ASLA hosted a meeting of the advisory panel and grant recipients of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) green roof demonstration project on July 27. The ASLA green roof is the first of the projects receiving grants from the CBF to be completed.
- The Vermont Chapter has submitted a second “sunrise” application for licensure. The chapter submitted a similar document in 2003; however, the state recommended against regulation of landscape architecture at that time. The chapter revised the application to focus even more strongly on public health, safety and welfare. A decision is expected in November.
- The Michigan Chapter’s upgrade legislation has been introduced, with legislative activity expected later this year. The chapter is in negotiation with the engineers on some of the language, but it appears – at least this week – that progress is being made toward an agreement.
- Staff joined the Washington Chapter for a strategy meeting on June 30 to review plans for upgrade legislation in 2007.
- The Bradford Williams Award recipients have been chosen by a committee led by Lynn Miller, FASLA. The winners are Randy Hester, FASLA, and Susan Hines for outstanding writing published in 2005. A special award will be given to Grady Clay, Honorary ASLA, for his continuing inspiration to the magazine and the profession .
- Southeast Asia Building magazine featured a story on the ASLA green roof. The Baltimore Sun interviewed Dennis Carmichael , FASLA. Carmichael also wrote the foreword for Singapore’s 2006 landscape resource book, Landscape Today. Kiplinger.com featured projects by Root Design Company and Richard Arentz, ASLA, on its website, in addition to interview excerpts with Jeffrey Carbo, FASLA.
- As of July 1, non-members who post ads on JobLink receive a one year membership in ASLA, that includes a subscription to Landscape Architecture magazine and ASLA Chapter dues.
- The August issue of LAND Expresshas been delivered to the printer and includes extensive coverage of the 2006 ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO and IFLA 43 rd World Congress. The issue also includes news of the election of Perry Howard, FASLA, as the 2007 president-elect, and the passage of New Hampshire’s practice act.
- The July 10 issue of LAND Online included articles on the Potomac Chapter’s appearance before the Washington, DC, zoning board to discuss land use issues pertaining to the new Washington Nationals stadium, the latest ethics column, and a profile on American Hydrotech, which provided the green roof assembly for the ASLA green roof.
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