June 13, 2011 Edit
in Advocacy, ASLA, CLARB, Transportation
May 2011 Trustees Report
Some of the highlights from our National Office the past month are as follows:
Governance and Administration
EVP Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, attended the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s (LAF) Executive Committee and Board Meeting last week. Agenda items include LAF’s scholarship programs; a new case study investigation program; Landscape Performance Series outreach events; 2010 draft financial statements; and development training.
At the Mid Year Meeting the Trustees voted to keep the requirements the same for Full Membership. The Trustees also requested the Staff Contact CLARB and begin the process for developing a Title for Licensed Landscape Architects that would be universal. The Staff will report back at the Annual Meeting in San Diego at the end of October. The Trustees also voted to update the International Membership citeria to allow them to be elected to Fellow using the same guidelines as Full members.
Government Affairs
Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Steven LaTourette (R-OH) recently introduced the bipartisan Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011. Federal Government Affairs Manager Roxanne Blackwell successfully had language included in the bill that would call on the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to work with the American Society of Landscape Architects for research, technical guidance, and implementation assistance of the policy. ASLA advocates will ask their legislators to support the Complete Streets legislation during the upcoming ASLA Advocacy Day.
Acting Assistant Administrator Nancy Stoner of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water will address ASLA leadership on May 18. Stoner will discuss EPA’s proposed rulemaking that would encourage the use of green infrastructure to help manage our nation’s stormwater runoff and other EPA green infrastructure programs.
ASLA sent letters to congressional transportation leaders outlining ASLA’s transportation priorities. The letter calls for the inclusion of a robust Transportation Enhancements (TE) program, an enhanced Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, the Recreational Trails program, and a national Complete Streets policy in the reauthorization of the surface transportation law. Earlier this week the ASLA Advocacy Network was activated to urge Congress to pass a fair transportation bill that invests in critical bike and pedestrian infrastructure, trails and safe complete streets. We followed up with visits to all the Senators and many representatives during our Lobby Day on May 19th before the Mid Year Meeting. I visited Senators Wyden and Merkley along with Representative Schrader’s offices and had good discussions with their key staff.
Publishing and Resource Development
EXPO and Annual Meeting sponsorship contracts now total 74 percent of the annual budget goal. Advertising contracts for Landscape Architecture Magazine (LAM) now total 77 percent of the annual budget goal.
Professional Practice
On May 5, the Urban Forestry Quarterly Roundtable met at Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., in Gainesville, Virginia. The theme was managing natural areas in urban/urbanizing areas to address multiple objectives.
Public Relations and Communications
Recent ASLA coverage has appeared in the Washington Post(which was syndicated to many other papers around the country), Philadelphia Inquirer, Ridgewood News, San Luis Obispo Tribune, Indianapolis Star, Charleston Gazette, Hospitality Design, Anchorage Daily News, San Diego Union Tribune, Indiana News Center, and others. Stories are in development at the Wall Street Journal, Washington City Paper, Travel + Leisure magazine, Inhabitat, About.com, Women on Green, and Playground Magazine.
Dave
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