July 25, 2007

• Interest in the ASLA green roof continues to be strong. After a recent local television interview promoting the green roof, the US Environmental Protection Agency contacted headquarters and scheduled a presentation and tour. Other local and federal government agencies have visited ASLA in the past to gain firsthand knowledge about the benefits and design of the green roof.
  
  
• ASLA has been working closely with Congressman Zach Space (D-OH) on the Small Community Visioning Pilot Initiative (SCVPI). The Congressman was interested in offering the SCVPI as an amendment to the Farm Bill. ASLA government affairs staff and many ASLA members worked to provide talking points and responses to Committee questions and concerns about the measure. However, some Members of the House Committee on Agriculture still strongly objected to the addition of SCVPI to the bill and requested that the amendment not be offered. Federal Government Affairs Manager Roxanne Blackwell will continue to work with Congressman Space to explore other strategies on behalf of SCVPI.
  
  
• Government Affairs Director Julia Lent and Government Affairs Coordinator Dan Lijana will be attending the National Conference of State Legislatures Annual Meeting from August 5-9 in Boston, MA. ASLA will host an exhibit at the conference to educate state legislators about landscape architecture and licensure. ASLA will also attend education sessions focusing on state strategies on climate change and other infrastructure issues relevant to the profession.
  
  
• ASLA attended a hearing of the House Committee on Small Business, where members of Congress examined the role of local governments and small businesses in implementing environmentally conscious infrastructure and technologies. The hearing also focused on the Energy Efficiency Block Grant program, which would establish a partnership between the federal government and cities to encourage small businesses to take proactive measures to build green commercial, residential, and public buildings, and to promote responsible energy practices.
  
  
• ASLA is working with the Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (ASBE) to have a charrette with Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard and other interested parties on the Green the Capitol Initiative, a project in which ASLA was a major contributor. ASLA is also working with ASBE to determine if alliance member organizations would pool resources to produce industry-sponsored research and data on the cost benefits of certain energy efficient and sustainable building practices. ASBE consists of representatives from several building and sustainability organizations, including the American Institute of Architects, the American Planning Association, the National Home Builders Association, and the United States Green Buildings Council.
  
  
• ASLA recently attended the High Performance Building & Energy Efficiency (HPB-EE) Roundtable. The group discussed establishing a Congressional Building Caucus. The creation of a caucus ensures that green building initiatives remain a priority in Congress and provides representatives a forum to actively pursue green building legislation.
  
  
• A record number of media representatives will participate in ASLA’s annual meeting this year. Green Builder and Sunset magazines agreed to participate in the Media Roundtables.
  
  
• A blast email focusing on the residential aspect of the Annual Meeting and EXPO was sent in mid-July. The most popular click-through topic was the awards section of the article.
  
  
• Web Strategist Drew Saunders has begun work with an educational specialist to design and build an educational mini-site on the green roof for K-12 students.
  
  
• The annual meeting registration is moving at a fast pace with over 2,500 registered. Ticket sales for tours, field sessions, workshops, and social events are also available, so be sure to check the annual meeting Web site for updates on availability. Advanced registration runs through August 27. Hotel reservations at the headquarters hotel, the Hilton San Francisco, and additional ASLA room blocks can also be made online. Due to the high registration numbers, rooms are booking fast!
  
  
• President elect Howard, FASLA, the ASLA Meetings Department staff, and Marketing Manager Crowe visited Philadelphia this week for an Annual Meeting 2008 site visit and planning meeting with the host chapter committee.
  
  
• Layout and production of the Green Roof LATIS will begin soon.
  
  
• The Water Conservation PPNis conducting a survey of its members to get a better sense of member interests and priorities. Results will be reported via newsletter and a LAND Online article.
  
  
• The Sustainable Sites Initiative Product Development Committee (PDC) met in Seattle to review the initial draft reports of the four technical subcommittees—hydrology, materials, soils, and vegetation. The PDC organizations represented were: ASLA, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, U.S. Botanic Garden, U.S. Green Building Council, ASCE’s Environment and Water Resources Institute, National Association of County and City Health Officials, EPA’s GreenScapes Program, National Recreation and Parks Association, and the Nature Conservancy’s Global Invasive Species Initiative.