November 2005

November 30, 2005

• Michael Van Valkenburgh, FASLA, met with staff last week to discuss promotion and fundraising for the green roof project. MVVA is contributing $5,000 of its fee to the project and Van Valkenburgh and his staff are assisting with the efforts to secure product donations and other sponsorships. MVVA will also design the recognition plaques that will be placed on the building exterior and at the top of the access stairwell.
  
  
• At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ASLA is working to identify members who can volunteer to help FEMA and the Louisiana Recovery Authority to facilitate dozens of community visioning and planning sessions across more than 20 parishes. The Louisiana Chapter is spearheading the effort to identify and recruit local landscape architects. These sessions represent the first step in a long-term effort to develop rebuilding plans that are grounded first and foremost on the vision of the people who live and work in these communities.
  
  
• 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 impacting eminent domain for economic development purposes, Kelo v. New London.
  
  
• 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, 2006and will serve the following states: Alabama, DC, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia… more to come.
  
  
• Contributions for the green roof have risen to $40,347.99. Contributions may be made over three years, payable by December 31, 2008. LAND Online is featuring a series of articles on how to contribute funding and materials for the project with a list of contributors to be updated each issue.
  
  
• Ohio Gratings will donate the aluminum grating, which is a significant design element for the green roof. Outdoor Illuminations will assist in lighting design, fixture donations, and installation.
  
  
• PR staff is working on a story on ASLA’s alliance with EPA GreenScapes for the EPA Web site.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• The Dirt has reached yet another milestone and now has over 700 “Dirt Alert” subscribers.
  
  
• A new round of membership reinstatement telemarketingis underway, targeting former members whose membership has lapsed within the past five years. To date, 319 former members have reinstated.