ASLA Oregon

April 25, 2013 Edit

in Advocacy

Make a Connection with ASLA

 via ASLA Nationals

By joining the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), you will benefit from a wide range of educational opportunities and countless resources and tools to heighten your success and connect you with your peers.

As Your Career Connection, ASLA unites you with more than 15,000 members nationwide; membership provides local and national networking and professional development opportunities. The connections you make can help your career move forward. You also gain access to the latest news and trends in the industry—including the award-winning Landscape Architecture Magazine each month and access to affordable continuing education.

Watch the video below, to see why joining ASLA is the most important career investment you can make!

ASLA: Your Career Connection (Vimeo Link)

April 21, 2013 Edit

in Advocacy

COCC Student Garden Design Charrette

via Robin Gyorgyfalvy, ASLA Oregon Chapter Public Awareness Advocate 

Central Oregon Urban Agriculture Workshop - COCC Student Garden Design Charrette

People living in Bend, Oregon love a challenge and growing food locally is the ultimate challenge in a high desert environment. Landscape architects from the High Desert Section of Oregon's American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) have taken a leadership role in the movement that has created a wave of new community gardens with the purpose of strengthening and enriching Central Oregon's budding local sustainable food movement. On Saturday, April 6, 2013, the Central Oregon Food Policy Council led by Karen Swirsky, hosted its very first Urban Agriculture Workshop at Central Oregon Community College: Breaking Ground and Growing Green in the City. Along with gardening and urban farming tables, an ASLA table provided flyers and information on landscape architecture. One of the afternoon sessions was a design charrette for the COCC Student Garden led by ASLA members Robin Gyorgyfalvy, David Olsen, Jay Battleson, and Debbie Goodwin. Other ASLA members participating included Chelsea Schneider and Katrina Langenderfer on the Workshop Committee and Jim Figurski as an invited speaker. In addition to being one of the many featured events for the ASLA 2013 Year of Public Service, both the Central Oregon Food Policy Council and the High Desert Section of Oregon ASLA are Lead Partners for the Bend 2030 New Vision Accelerator Projects. These are projects and priorities selected by the community in 2012 to accelerate steps toward making the community vision become a reality for Bend in the year 2030. This is the third in what has become a series of community garden design charrettes led by landscape architects designing your environment beginning on 08.07.11. The importance of community gardens is expressed through creating social capital, developing local partnerships, learning new skills, and improving nutrition and self-reliance. Landscape architects demonstrate and facilitate collaborative community designs from a private garden scale to a larger public and regional scale with a focus on circulation, site conditions, constraints and opportunities, and creative land use systems.

Find out what's happening in Bend

Visit ASLA's Year of Public Service Feature of this Event!

Contact Robin Gyorgyfalvy for More Information

March 17, 2013 Edit

in Advocacy

ASLA Year of Public Service

via Phil Stamper
Public Relations & Communications Coordinator
American Society of Landscape Architects

It’s time to bring all your good work to light. As you may know, the ASLA public awareness campaign has made 2013 the Year of Public Service. The goal is to highlight the wide-reaching public service activities performed by landscape architects and landscape architecture students in an attempt to advocate for a deeper commitment by all to community service. Learn more about the initiative on the YPS2013 web site.

ASLA invites all current members to submit 2013 projects. Selected projects will be highlighted in the campaign’s website and outreach materials. Descriptions, quotes, and multimedia content may be used – with proper credit – on the YPS2013 website, blog and The Understory Facebook page.

You can start your own project or reach out to your local ASLA Chapter and join an existing project. For a project you’ve already started or participated in, simply go to the YPS2013 web site and click “Submit Project.” A pre-populated email will pop up, requesting information. Projects initiated in previous years are fine to submit, as long as some major aspect of the project occurs in 2013.

Your ASLA Chapter may be able to provide access to other projects, too. ASLA and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program have boosted their ongoing collaborative partnership to celebrate the Year of Public Service. Under this partnership, ASLA’s local chapters can volunteer in their communities to help NPS RTCA, providing technical assistance for such outdoor resources as trails, bike paths, and other recreational facilities. Review those identified for 2013 here.

We hope to have a wealth of projects led by students, members and our chapters on the blog and website by the end of YPS2013. Spread the word to anyone else who may be interested.

Contact Phil Stamper at pstamper@asla.org with any questions related to the Year of Public Service. Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #YPS2013.

Download PDF Flyer for More Information

February 11, 2013 Edit

in Advocacy

Sponsorship Opportunity

via Kim Dorris, CDFA

Dear Community Member:

Each month 270,000 people eat meals from emergency food boxes, an astonishing 92,000 of those are children. That’s enough to fill the Rose Garden over 13 times.

It is the Society for Design Administration’s pleasure to work with Axium to put on canstruction® Portland, 2013, a unique charity event to raise awareness and donations for Oregon Food Bank (OFB). canstruction is an international design / build competition in which teams of architects and engineers compete to build giant structures made entirely out of full cans of food.

Portland’s canstruction goal for 2013 is to raise 270,000 meals; enough to provide an entire months’ worth of meals to those seeking assistance through OFB. We are asking for your assistance as a sponsor to help the fight against hunger. Being a sponsor is easy; just choose the amount of positive exposure you would like your company to receive on the Sponsorship Packet (link below) which includes the Menu of Giving sponsorship sheet.

Your support of this worthy cause will make a direct impact on the fight against hunger. We hope that you can contribute to this important, and creative, fundraising event. No amount is too small; for just $10 you can feed a family of four for an entire week.

Kim Dorris CDFA
SDA Portland Chapter President

Sponsorship Packet

February 4, 2013 Edit

in Advocacy

2013 Year of Public Service

Organizations love acronyms, and the ASLA is no different. The American Society of Landscape Architects has announced that 2013 is the Year of Public Service (otherwise known as YPS2013). As the national website states, this dedication is "to highlight the wide-reaching public service activities readily performed by landscape architects and to advocate for a higher commitment by all to community service projects".  

The ASLA is inviting people to submit their service projects for review and possible inclusion in the YPS2013 campaign outreach. If you don't have a project to submit, you can volunteer through your local chapter. The ASLA and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program have created ways that landscape architects can volunteer their technical expertise to help build trails, bike paths, and other community amenities. 

If you have a project you would like to submit for review or would like to learn more, check out the following links;

Submit your project for review

YPS2013 Details

January 20, 2013 Edit

in Advocacy

ASLA and YOU

ASLA Oregon LANDbytes JANUARY 2013 Feature:

ASLA and YOU
By Rebecca Wahlstrom

I recently sent an email out to the ASLA Oregon executive committee titled “Why Join ASLA?” to solicit their reasons for being involved with this organization. I asked them why, in these days of tight budgets and careful spending, would people want to spend a sizable amount for dues every year without knowing exactly what they were getting for their dollars. Granted, dues are often paid by people’s workplace or part of their business expense, but if one works in a multi-disciplinary environment, the value of this expense is not always appreciated. Can the membership benefits outweigh the financial aspect? I hope that in reading the following responses, it will be clear that not only is this expense appropriate, but that involvement is crucial to the health and growth of our profession. Threaded throughout the responses you will hear a strong sense of individual responsibility and giving back to the community. Read on and see why the ASLA should be a part of your professional life.

“By becoming a member, the organization offers discounts for all of the ASLA sponsored events held throughout the year. This is a great way to recoup the membership fees while continuing your education, networking and participating in ASLA events.” - Kurt Lango, ASLA, President

“I have relied on ASLA throughout my career; to establish a professional network, access resources for professional development and to engage in active dialogue with affiliate disciplines as my practice has evolved. I volunteer because I believe that as a relevant community we can support more, challenge more and explore more as design professionals than we can as individuals.” - Melinda Graham, President Elect

“Just like plants and wildlife, our individual practices exist as part of larger regional systems, and keeping up with ASLA Portland, Oregon, and National is a great way to engage that network.” - Amy Cooney, ASLA, VP Chapter Services

"Membership in ASLA Oregon is an effective way for me to connect with other like-minded professionals - both locally and nationally - to network, learn, and serve our community." - James Hencke, ASLA, Past-President

“As a recent grad in a new city, ASLA membership has been an essential step in establishing a network of mentors and professional contacts. The added benefit is that I’ve also been able to get familiar with my new community in a fun and social way.” - Claudia Sims, ASLA, Secretary

“Associating with design professionals who contribute to the well-being and livability of communities is the best way to market yourself as a landscape architect.” - Robin Lee Gyorgyfalvy, FASLA, High Desert Section Chair + Chapter Public Awareness Advocate

“It is prudent and wise to have an organization that advocates and upholds the quality of our education and the execution of our profession. So, as the ASLA advocates for our profession, I join those who advocate for the ASLA.” - Justin Lanphear, ASLA, Willamette Valley Section Co-Chair

“I joined ASLA because I believe in supporting my community. Just like National Public Radio or Friends of Trees, it takes volunteers and supporting members to make such community resources sustainable. I trust that, at a national level, ASLA is lobbying for legislation that protects the environment and promotes projects that employ Landscape Architects. While at a state level, ASLA is working with OSLAB to protect minimum standards that regulate how Landscape Architects practice and who may not do this work without a license.” - Arica Duhrkoop-Galas, Willamette Valley Section Co-Chair

“Being a member of ASLA means being part of a community that is working together to positively impact and shape our neighborhoods, our world and profession.“ - Jesse Stemmler, ASLA, Mt. Hood Section Co-Chair

“I have always felt it was a responsibility, as a professional Landscape Architect to support ASLA as the public face of my chosen career. My father was a Landscape Architect so I grew up around the profession and have seen how ASLA has helped transform the understanding and respect of the profession of Landscape Architecture. Being an ASLA member has allowed me to remain connected to the larger profession through meetings, continuing education, and social events.” - Brian Bainnson, ASLA, Trustee


The ASLA is not only for professionals, but students as well. Don Rickman, ASLA Student President, University of Oregon Chapter, was asked why he takes time for the ASLA out of his busy student schedule. He responded: The reason why I became an ASLA member was to have access to a network of professions that could provide mentorship and feedback on my career path. I hope to be able to do the same for others in the future.

As the National ASLA website states; “For more than 100 years, the American Society of Landscape Architects has promoted the landscape architecture profession and advanced the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship. As the national professional association for landscape architects, ASLA has more than 15,000 members and 49 chapters, representing all 50 states, U.S. territories, and 68 countries around the world.

ASLA members enjoy many benefits and discounts with their annual dues. Two of the most important benefits, as identified by members, are ASLA's efforts to raise awareness of the profession, and legislative advocacy on issues that matter most to the profession, including licensure.”

To find out more about joining the ASLA in promoting landscape architecture, explore the following link;

Visit the ASLA Membership Page!

January 19, 2013 Edit

in Advocacy

Take the Bike/Pedestrian Survey

via Brian Bainnson, ASLA Trustee

You have a chance to help influence the selection of projects for the Transportation Enhancement/Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee grants. Take a moment to fill out the ODOT survey found at the link below.  Comments will be accepted through 5:00 p.m., January 31, 2013.

More Information and ODOT Survey

January 18, 2013 Edit

in Advocacy

Public Awareness Campaign

The Public Awareness Campaign is an ongoing effort of the ASLA to get landscape architecture into the public eye.  Robin Lee Gyorgyfalvy, FASLA is the Oregon Chapter Public Awareness Advocate.  To find out more, explore the links below. 

ASLA Public Awareness Campaign

Jan 2013 Public Awareness Report

January 16, 2013 Edit

in Advocacy

Landscape Architects!

via Robin Lee Gyorgyfalvy, FASLA and High Desert Section Chair + Chapter Public Awareness Advocate

National Landscape Architecture Month isn't until April, but as Robin Lee Gyorgyfalvy, FASLA shows us, every day is a good day to get the word out about Landscape Architecture.  Do you work at a multi-disciplinary company or agency?  Contact your human resources department and see if you can find a way to enlighten your coworkers (and clients) about multi-faceted landscape architects.  Check out the link to Robin's article and use it as an example when you are exploring options - hopefully it will give you some great ideas!    

Landscape Architects Example

November 8, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

BPS Meeting Notice

via AIA/APA/ASLA Urban Design Panel

The City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) is holding an open forum on Tuesday Nov 13 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm to discuss the "hot topic" of new apartment buildings within the city that include little or no off-street parking. The BPS has been hearing from a significant number of residents that they do not like on-street, overflow parking in front of their houses and question the four story, 45' height of buildings.  The Urban Design Panel (UDP) provided feedback to BPS supporting the existing policies on the grounds of their support for transit, neighborhood services, carbon reduction, housing diversity, etc. and suggested that now is the period of "assimilation/adjustment" as residents get used to what these policies really look like and how they perform.  BPS are asking that design community attend and add their voices to the conversation.

When:  Tuesday Nov 13 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Where: 1900 SW 4th Avenue, Room 2500A

BPS Meeting Notice

October 22, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

ASLA-High Desert Section Action Plan

ASLA Oregon Chapter – High Desert Section
2013 Action Plan Concepts
by Robin Lee Gyorgyfalvy, 2013 Chair

As Chair of the ASLA Oregon Chapter – High Desert Section, I would like to encourage increased engagement and connection between the local, state, and national levels of our organization in order to create more public awareness for landscape architects designing the environment. There are several opportunities already in place that I propose we work through in order to increase our visibility and clearly demonstrate how we can best serve our communities.

With the National ASLA Public Awareness Campaign launching of 2013 as “The Year of Public Service,” we are poised at the state and national levels to bring attention to the benefits of hiring and working with landscape architects. Public service is an excellent way to showcase bold ideas with exceptional results while meeting demands of the changing world that surround and infiltrate our communities. Media attention orchestrated at a larger scale often creates better understanding of how landscape architects resolve ecological and social issues through design. An upcoming webinar (to be announced) is being planned by ASLA Public Relations and Communications to develop themes, events, and additional public awareness toolkits.

Here on the High Desert, we are involved as Lead Partners with the Bend 2030 Community Vision. The current phase is called Accelerate Bend which features selected projects proposed as Vision Accelerators, action items that can be achieved in the near future. Of specific interest are a couple of Vision Accelerator projects called “Sustainable Local Food Production” which includes gardens on vacant city-owned land, a Bend food co-operative, and community gardens and “Community ‘Third Places’ which refers to purposeful community spaces where people can gather and connect such as improved pedestrian amenities downtown, pop-up community gardens, and community piazzas or squares.

I would like our High Desert landscape architects and allied design professionals to collaborate and work together on these two Vision Accelerator projects during 2013 “The Year of Public Service.” We had previously orchestrated two design charrettes for community gardens on 08.07.11 (The Understory) and 04.26.12 (Olmsted’s Birthday) as part of the National ASLA Public Awareness Campaign. Both created quite a buzz locally and collectively on the national scale for landscape architects designing your environment as well as created new alliances throughout the community that had not previously existed. We have a plan and are poised for action this coming 2013. What will your section be doing?

October 21, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

Your Environment. Designed.

Do you ever wonder how to respond when people ask, "Just what do landscape architects do anyway"? 

The national ASLA Public Practice Advisory Committee (which our very own Robin Gyorgyfalvy chaired) has provided some resources for you to tackle some of these inquiries.  The five links below will direct you to beautifully crafted flyers that explore how landscape architects function in the public practice arenas of Transportation, Historic Preservation, Green Infrastructure, Healthy Communities, and Open Space Conservation. The flyers can be used in many ways; students who are deciding what area to focus on, landscape architects and allied design professionals who want to explore the idea of working in the public realm, and for increasing general public awareness.  Print some out and leave them around your studio or multi-disciplinary work environment; maybe people will start to start to say "I didn't know landscape architects could do that"!

ASLA Public Awareness Flyer - Transportation

ASLA Public Awareness Flyer - Historic Preservation

ASLA Public Awareness Flyer - Green Infrastructure

ASLA Public Awareness Flyer - Healthy Communities

ASLA Public Awareness Flyer - Open Space Conservation

October 17, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

MAP-21 and Landscape Architects

via Robin Gyorgyfalvy, ASLA Oregon Chapter Public Awareness Representative 

Dear Advocates,

Please join us this Thursday, October 18th @ 2:00pm EDT for a free ASLA Advocacy webinar: Staying Active on Active Transportation: Implementing MAP-21 for Landscape Architects.

The new surface transportation law, MAP-21, went into effect on October 1st. MAP-21 significantly changes the active transportation programs landscape architects access to plan and design recreational trails, streetscape improvements, bicycle and pedestrian paths, and other critical community improvement projects. This 1-hour webinar will discuss how the NEW Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes To School, and Recreational Trails programs will impact your design work and how you can get involved to ensure continued funding for these projects in your state.

A recent ASLA survey found that federal active transportation programs are critical tools for landscape architects in planning and designing projects for communities across the country. Register today to learn about all the recent changes to these programs and how your practices may be impacted.

This webinar has been registered with LA CES for 1.0 PDH (non-HSW). To receive credit, participants must successfully complete an online quiz after the webinar.

Thank you,

Roxanne Blackwell

Director, Federal Government Affairs

The American Society of Landscape Architects

October 16, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

ACE Mentor Program

Via Steven Tuttle, ACE Mentor Program

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for landscape architecture services is the fastest growing among all design professions. To help meet this need, the ACE Mentor Program supports the development of young aspiring professionals in the design and construction fields.

The ACE Mentor Program is a nonprofit after school program, whose mission is to engage, excite, and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in Architecture, Construction, and Engineering. Oregon ASLA is proud to partner with ACE to promote the profession of Landscape Architecture and equip students with a career-informing experience.

From January to May, Juniors and Seniors from local high schools meet twice a month to learn about and practice their skills in Architecture; Interior Design; Landscape Architecture; Construction Management; Civil, Structural, and MEP Engineering.

Each year there is a renewed need for representation from the landscape architecture community and the opportunity to get involved this year is coming up. This is a great way to promote our profession, earn PDH credits, network with other professionals and connect with the future of our industry.

Come to the ACE Mentor Mixer and learn more about this year’s ACE Mentor Program and see if it’s right for you!

What:
ACE Mentor Program Mixer Event

Where:
Kell’s Irish Restaurant and Pub
112 Southwest 2nd Avenue Portland, OR 97204

When:
November 8
5 -7 p.m.

If you have any questions please contact Steven Tuttle at steven@mayerreed.com; 971.255.4558

August 19, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

ASLA RTP Program

via Kevin O’Hara, Manager, Government Affairs
American Society of Landscape Architects

Dear Chapter Leaders,

Thanks to your leadership, 32 ASLA chapters answered the call and signed on to a letter to state governors in support of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). In total, about 800 local organizations signed onto this effort.

The ASLA chapters signing the letter: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, CCASLA, San Diego, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho/Montana, Indiana, Iowa, Prairie Gateway, Louisiana, Maryland, Boston, Michigan, St. Louis, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, New York Upstate, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The RTP sign-on letter is the first step in our continued chapter level advocacy surrounding the implementation of the new federal surface transportation law, MAP-21. We encourage you and your fellow chapter members to respond to an upcoming ASLA Advocacy alert that will allow individuals to echo the call of your chapter and ask governors to support the Recreational Trails Program. In the coming months, you can expect to see additional advocacy tools, including template letters to your state DOTs/governors, additional advocacy alerts, and webinars to help advocates learn about provisions in MAP-21 important to landscape architects and how to effectively advocate on their behalf.

Thank you for your rapid response to last week’s call for organizational support and thank you in advance for your continued advocacy efforts, as chapters and as individuals, in support of the active transportation programs that allow landscape architects to help communities become healthier, more economically vibrant places.

More about the letter, and the RTP program.

Sincerely,


Kevin O’Hara
Manager, Government Affairs
American Society of Landscape Architects
636 Eye St NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.216.2370

www.asla.org/advocacy

April 4, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

ASLA Report to Our Members

via Nancy C. Somerville, Hon. ASLA
Executive Vice President and CEO
American Society of Landscape Architects

American Society of Landscape Architects
Annual 2011: A Report to Our Members

As we dive into what promises to be another very busy year for ASLA, I wanted to take a moment to review our accomplishments in 2011. Despite a very challenging economy that has affected us all, ASLA members and their Society made real progress in raising awareness of the profession and ensuring that the profession’s voice was heard.

On August 17, 1,000 volunteers hit the streets, the parks, and the sidewalks in their communities to share examples of landscape architecture projects and to explain the benefits your work brings to people’s lives. More than 250 events, half of which involved direct, one-on-one discussions, happened almost simultaneously. Collectively, these events generated more than 80 news stories in all media, reaching an estimated 15 million people.

So who says one person can’t make a difference? There are less than 30,000 people employed in the landscape architecture field in a nation of more than 312 million. Yet we were heard, big time. And we’ve only just begun.

Working hand-in-hand with our chapters and their dedicated public-awareness volunteers, we will continue that engagement with activities at the grassroots level supported by resources created by the national office. And this April chapters across the nation will once again celebrate National Landscape Architecture Month, introducing the profession to the public through a series of standalone events while also coordinating a common public outreach on April 26, Frederick Law Olmsted’s birthday.

On the PR and communications side, much of our energy—and creativity—continues to be focused on web communications, because of the ability of the web to reach the largest audience. In 2011, the site attracted 644,000 unique visitors and more than 5 million pageviews, continuing healthy year-to-year growth.

To complement the public awareness materials, we have developed special areas on the site to serve as resources for policy makers, educators, students, and members of the other design and construction industries.

As part of the 08.17.11 events, we launched www.asla.org/design, a basic introduction to the profession as a destination for the curious public. So far, it has received more than 55,000 pageviews.

Designing Our Future: Sustainable Landscapes features 30 case studies and eight animations that detail sustainable landscape design. These resources have attracted more than 370,000 pageviews thus far, and the animations have been viewed an additional 85,000 times.

To establish landscape architects in the forefront of discussions of key issues affecting the profession, we have developed detailed resource centers around topics such as transportation, green infrastructure, and livable communities, as well as corresponding resources for residential projects.

And we continue to leverage The Dirt blog to keep our voice in the mix. The blog is widely read and syndicated, consistently ranks among the top 10 on environmental subjects, and has received some 1.3 million pageviews since relaunch in 2009

These outreach efforts provide a solid foundation to support our equally significant progress on the advocacy front, in spite of the challenging political environment in Washington.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is in the midst of a critical national rulemaking on stormwater. The process started with an EPA-commissioned National Research Council study on the effectiveness of the Agency’s current stormwater program. NRC’s conclusion: Big pipes and grey infrastructure are not going to solve the problem, but green infrastructure and low-impact development can.

To support its rulemaking, EPA asked ASLA to help document the use and effectiveness of green infrastructure approaches. We turned to you, and set an ambitious goal of 300 projects. You responded with 479 case studies, covering 43 states, D.C, and Canada. We provided all that data to EPA, and those case studies are now catalogued and available on the ASLA website. These projects are a compelling demonstration of the value of green infrastructure—and the critical role of landscape architects.

Another priority focus this year has been transportation. With the surface transportation bill coming up for renewal, we are advocating for inclusion of a federal Complete Streets policy in the legislation, along with supporting essential existing programs that support transportation alternatives, enhance community livability, and provide jobs for landscape architects.

Many of these programs came under a barrage of attacks in 2011, especially the transportation enhancements program. An example: On October 17, ASLA’s government affairs staff learned of a serious threat: Senator John McCain was preparing to offer an amendment to a fiscal year 2012 spending bill to gut the transportation enhancements program.

Since McCain did not include bicycle and trail projects on his hit list, many of our usual coalition partners opted not to challenge the proposal. So ASLA took the lead. We prepared a letter in opposition, got 12 other organizations to sign on, and put the letter into the hands of each senator’s chief of staff, legislative director, and transportation legislative assistant. And we sent out a red alert to all of you through our Advocacy Network. You responded. We had the best performance from the Advocacy Network to date, with 655 activists sending 1,338 messages to their senators over the two days preceding the vote.

It worked. The roll-call vote on October 19 was 59 to 39 to table the amendment, essentially killing it.

Your grassroots-level advocacy, combined with our D.C.-based outreach efforts, not only reversed the threat, but also raised ASLA’s profile on Capitol Hill. ASLA was cited by the influential Democratic Policy Committee as an opponent of the amendment, and multiple senate staffers cited ASLA’s opposition and outreach as a major contributing factor to votes against the amendment.

Threats are continuing, and vigilance and quick action are still required. I commend you all for your support of ASLA and your direct involvement in issues of importance to the profession and to the country. It would be easy in such very difficult and stubborn financial times to lose faith and withdraw. That’s not our style, and the relative health of ASLA and the profession is testimony to that, as are such success stories as I’ve just shared.

There’s a lot more I could tell you about, like the changes I hope you’ve been noticing in our fantastic Landscape Architecture Magazine, the second-largest Annual Meeting and largest Expo in ASLA history, and the progress of our Sustainable Sites Initiative partnership. I urge you to stay engaged and help us help you, as you all did so effectively in 2011. Thank you all.

Nancy C. Somerville

March 30, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

March 2012 Newswire

March 29, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

Happy Birthday, FLO!

ASLA Oregon LANDbytes MARCH 2012 Feature:

Happy Birthday, FLO!
By Rebecca Wahlstrom

What are you doing on April 26? Join the coast to coast party, celebrating the 190th birthday of Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted with all your fellow ASLA members! April 26 is a day to remember and celebrate the man who first brought to the forefront many of the ideas that we practice today in Landscape Architecture. So gather some friends, blow out some birthday candles for Mr. Olmsted, and make a wish for the continuation of great designs that stand the test of time. 

Check out more fun ways to celebrate Landscape Architecture month at www.aslaoregon.org/updates/articles/national-landscape-architecture-month.

Visit ASLA Oregon's NLAM Webpage!

March 29, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

National Landscape Architecture Month!

ASLA Oregon LANDbytes MARCH 2012 Feature:

Get Ready! National Landscape Architecture Month is Coming!
By Rebecca Wahlstrom

April has been set aside by the ASLA as a month when activities happen nationwide to celebrate and promote the profession of landscape architecture. The focus of this month’s activities is “Public Health and Active Living 2012”, showing how we are addressing the major problems of obesity and chronic health problems due to lack of exercise by designing healthy community structures. This topic is a great fit for our active state – what a perfect chance to show people how we promote healthy lifestyles. Are there playgrounds or trail systems where you can show people how landscape architecture has been part of its creation? How about plaza’s where farmers markets happen or places where people wait to catch the MAX or bus? Can you get out there and let people know who designed that space? Now is the time to celebrate all you have done and promote the future of landscape architecture.

You might be asking, “what can I do?” Glad you asked! ASLA has put forward a whole webpage of ideas for activities along with detailed instructions and tips (and has a picture of Portland’s Mt. Tabor Middle School rain garden design). The below is just a sampling of what the website provides on the ‘Career Discovery Activities’ page. http://www.aslaoregon.org/updates/articles/national-landscape-architecture-month.  Boy Scout troops can learn about plants and earn a badge during your time with them; Connect with middle and high-school students and design a rain garden or reading garden; Are you a native plant expert? Visit your local high school and show them how essential native plants are to our landscape.

One doesn’t need to be hampered by this list – create your own activity that will appeal to you and the audience you wish to reach. Back on 8.17.11, the first roll-out of the Understory, the Bend folks led a design charrette, people in Springfield did a workplace information blast to enlighten their co-workers on what their department had accomplished, and Portland canvassed downtown parks. http://www.aslaoregon.org/blog/2011/9/14/dues-increase-effective-january-2012 What will Oregon do this time to celebrate landscape architecture? I believe our fit and active state is primed and ready to show off all that we have done to promote physical activity and public health to the general public and to the nation. Be creative – have fun – and be sure to let people know about landscape architecture in April!

Visit ASLA Oregon's NLAM Webpage!

March 17, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

April is National Landscape Architecture Month!

National Landscape Architecture Month 2012 (NLAM) Quick Links:

NLAM HOMEPAGE 

NLAM PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN 

NLAM POSTERS FOR DOWNLOAD

CAREER DISCOVERY ACTIVITIES

NLAM 2011 RECAP

FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED & THE CAMPAIGN FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

APRIL 2012 National, State and Local Activities:

04.04.12 COMMUNITY TREES FIELD CLASS

04.20.12 ASLA OREGON NORTH PARK BLOCK DESIGN CHARRETTE

04.20.12 ASLA OREGON EMERGING PROFESSIONALS SOCIAL

04.21.12 ASLA OREGON ENLIGHTENED LANDSCAPE[S] SYMPOSIUM

04.26.12 AND YOU

04.26.12 THE UNDERSTORY

04.26.12 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON A&AA CAREER SYMPOSIUM

January 10, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

ASLA Legislative Victories, Potential Future Successes

via LAND e-news from ASLA

In 2011, ASLA successfully worked with federal legislators and other policymakers on a number of issues that benefit landscape architects and their small businesses. As the first session of the 112th Congress concluded, ASLA celebrated a number of legislative victories and set the stage for future policy successes on behalf of the landscape architecture profession.

Economic Recovery for Landscape Architects
One of the most important legislative victories for ASLA came on November 19, 2011, when President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 674, legislation to repeal the law that required a 3 percent withholding on all payments from federal, state, and local government. With the repeal of this law, businesses, including landscape architecture firms, will not be forced to forfeit 3 percent of all payments received from federal, state, and local governments for services rendered under government contracts. As a member of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition, ASLA worked diligently to repeal this law that would have been onerous for many landscape architecture firms, including restricting the much-needed cash flow of these firms.

In 2011, ASLA also urged the Small Business Administration (SBA) not to increase the cap for gross annual revenues for consideration as a small landscape architecture business for federal government contracting purposes from $7 million to $19 million. With 80 percent of all landscape architecture firms having less than $1 million in gross annual revenue, raising the dollar amount to $19 million for consideration as a small business could severely disadvantage nearly all landscape architecture firms in the country. Currently, SBA is reviewing ASLA’s recommendation not to increase the dollar amount and will respond in the near future.

Transportation Planning and Design
Federal transportation policy was an important priority for ASLA in 2011. ASLA Government Affairs worked diligently to protect and preserve transportation programs critical to landscape architects, including the Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails programs, while also advocating for a new federal Complete Streets policy.

In 2011, ASLA staved off several attacks to the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program when U.S. Senators Tom Coburn (OK), John McCain (AZ), and Rand Paul (KY) each offered an amendment to various transportation bills to eliminate or gut the highly successful TE program. During consideration of each of these amendments, ASLA and its grassroots activists urged their senators to reject these amendments and pointed out the myriad of benefits provided by the TE program, including the economic benefits to communities and critical jobs for landscape architects. As a result of these advocacy efforts, the Senate rejected these amendments and left the TE program intact for now.

After years of consistent advocacy efforts by ASLA Government Affairs and the ASLA grass roots, another important legislative victory came on December 14, 2011, when the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously adopted an amendment authored by Senators Mark Begich (AK) and John Thune (SD) to establish a federal Complete Streets policy. Specifically, the Begich/Thune amendment would call on the Secretary of Transportation to “establish standards to ensure that the design of federal surface transportation projects provides for the safe and adequate accommodation, in all phases of project planning, development, and operation, of users of the transportation network, including motorized and nonmotorized users.” Under the amendment, states with their own Complete Streets policies would get a waiver from the federal policy. The Begich/Thune amendment was adopted as part of S. 1950, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act, which is the Senate Commerce Committee’s portion of the reauthorization of the surface transportation law that addresses freight and safety issues. This is the first time that a federal Complete Streets policy has been included in a major piece of federal legislation.

While these are important successes for the landscape architecture profession, ASLA will continue its efforts in 2012 to ensure that the final reauthorization of the surface transportation law includes a federal Complete Streets policy and robust TE, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails programs.

Promoting Green Infrastructure
In the 112th Congress, ASLA Government Affairs continued its work to promote the use of green infrastructure to address a number of national issues, including managing water. In 2011, ASLA submitted 479 case studies on landscape architecture projects that successfully and sustainably manage stormwater to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As EPA prepares to unveil a proposed rule to strengthen the national stormwater program, these projects will demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of using green infrastructure to help manage our nation’s stormwater. To further highlight green infrastructure and landscape architecture design techniques, on May 26, 2011, ASLA hosted more than 60 congressional, administration, and affiliated organization staff for the ASLA congressional briefing, tour, and reception on our award-winning green roof.

ASLA also worked with Congresswoman Donna Edwards (MD) and Senator Tom Udall (NM) to reintroduce the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (H.R. 2030, S. 1115) ( http://www.asla.org/FederalGovernmentAffairs.aspx?id=25688), which would provide assistance to communities that want to employ green infrastructure projects to address their water quality and quantity needs. ASLA is working to gain cosponsors for the measures and move them through the legislative process.

read the full story at LAND e-news

January 10, 2012 Edit

in Advocacy

ASLA Awards: Strategies for Success

via LAND e-news from ASLA

An open letter from José Almiñana, FASLA, ASLA Professional Awards Jury Chair

The ASLA 2012 awards call for entries is currently accepting submissions for professionals and students. As a jury member and chair, I’ve seen thousands of entries and would like to offer these strategies for success:

Commit to a great submission.
A winning submission takes time. If it is put together quickly at the last minute, it probably will not win. Submissions take twice as long as anticipated; for that reason, do not delay, and allow more time than you think it will take. The more time invested is clearly seen by the jurors and sets your project apart.

Design your presentation.
Treat the submittal like the design of any project. It needs to be clear, concise, and beautiful, yet simple and easy for the jury to digest. Do the drawings and the photographs communicate your concepts and ideas? How do the colors work with the photographs? How do you start the story and how do you end it? The presentation design needs to be as thoughtful as the project. The jury sees many submittals; make sure the jury understands why your submission is worthy of consideration.

Tell your story clearly.
What are the important ideas? Why should this project win? You need to tell the jury clearly through diagrams, narrative, and photographs. Idea and concept drawings are extremely helpful. A concise project description is appreciated. Explain how the goals of the project are resolved through the design. Provide the jury with adequate diagrams to explain your design concept. Locus plans or an overall site aerial view photograph help the jury understand your design concepts immediately.

Hire a professional photographer.
Your work is worthy of great photography. It makes a difference and pays back. Take the time to research and find a good photographer. It is better to have a few great photographs than several insignificant photos. Do not settle for mediocre photographs due to time, money, or ease. Edit the shots, decide which tell the best story, and invest in keeping good images of the work you have spent so much energy to create. If you cannot afford a photographer, make sure your pictures are the highest digital quality.

Get a crit before you submit.
Have a professional peer who is not familiar with the project critique your submittal. Listen carefully to the comments. Is the story clear? Did he or she understand quickly? How would the peer improve the submittal? Take the comments seriously. The jury process is the same as having your peers review the submittal and evaluate your work. Be sure to benefit from a “pre-jury.”

Submit on time.
The most important piece of advice for a successful entry is to submit it on time. The 2012 entry deadlines are:

Entry forms and payment must be received by:

Friday, February 3, 2012, for Professional Awards
Friday, April 27, 2012, for Student Awards.
Submission binders must be received by:

Friday, February 17, 2012, for Professional Awards
Friday, May 11, 2012, for Student Awards.
In need of inspiration? View the ASLA 2011 Professional and Student award-winning projects.

José Almiñana, FASLA
ASLA Professional Awards Jury Chair
Andropogon Associates Ltd.

December 15, 2011 Edit

in Advocacy

President Obama Signs Repeal of 3% Withholding Law

via the ASLA Advocacy Network

Dear Advocates,

On November 19, President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 674, legislation to repeal the law that requires a three percent withholding on all payments from federal, state and local government. With the repeal of this law, small businesses, including landscape architecture firms, will not be forced to forfeit three percent of all payments received from federal, state, and local governments for services rendered under government contracts.

The three percent withholding requirement was originally passed in section 511 of the “Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005” (P.L. 109-222), which would have required federal, state, and local governments with more than $100 million in annual expenditures to withhold three percent of their payments for goods and services. As a result of the law, businesses and government entities could have been burdened with restructuring computer systems and training and hiring new accountants and office managers to assist in complying with the new accounting procedures. Moreover, many small businesses, including landscape architecture firms, would have been disadvantaged because the up-front tax withholding would severely restrict cash flow and could disrupt their ability to provide goods and services.

As a member of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition, ASLA has been working diligently to repeal this law that would have been onerous for many landscape architecture firms. Also, thanks to the advocacy efforts of ASLA members and other allied organizations who contacted their legislators, Congress overwhelming supported the legislation to repeal this law, moved it through the legislative process, and onto President Obama for his signature.

Thank you for your continued advocacy efforts.

Roxanne Blackwell
Federal Government Affairs Manager
The American Society of Landscape Architects

October 10, 2011 Edit

in Advocacy

ASLA Advocacy E-Summit

via Julia Lent, Government Affairs Director, American Society of Landscape Architects:

The Advocacy Summit is now taking to the web! In August, we announced that we will be holding quarterly webinars to give Advocacy Summiteers the opportunity to get the latest information on advocacy strategies and events as well as a chance to share what is happening in your chapter. Originally, the plan was to hold the first webinar today, but let’s just say that events conspired against us, so the first Advocacy E-Summit will be held Thursday, October 20 at 2pm ET – 1pm CT – Noon MT – 11am PT – 10am AK – 9am HI.

As you may recall, the suggestion for these webinars was given at the Summit. If you have a specific topic that you would like to address, a question to ask, or a success story to share please let us know!

Homework: To help organize the agenda for the E-Summit, please fill out this short 5-question survey, which can gauge progress and feedback on many of the topics we discussed in July: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AdvocacyQuarterly. Please complete the survey by COB October 14.

Webinar Login information:
Topic: ASLA Advocacy E-Summit
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011
Time: 2:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Meeting Number: 595 604 174 (This meeting does not require a password.)

September 14, 2011 Edit

in Advocacy

08.17.11 in Oregon RECAP

08.17.11 - PORTLAND

A hardy band of landscape architects hit downtown plazas during lunchtime. Clothed in spiffy “The Understory” shirts and carrying brochures that explained the profession, they connected directly to the public in public spaces. This approach had mixed reviews; some thought it was successful, some not so much. The successful tended to approach folks not already talking to their friends and just were sitting there, enjoying their lunch. Dave Walters from MIG suggested that next time a central station could be set up in a space without competing events, so that the public could approach us, instead of us advancing on them. People are wary of strangers approaching them while holding out a piece of paper; both Dave and Emily Hull, of Parsons Brinckerhoff, suggested we need to think up a showier way to convey our message and intrigue the public. The general feeling was that they had a fun experience and would certainly do it again, especially knowing the things that could be improved. (via Rebecca Wahlstrom & ASLA Oregon LANDbytes)

08.17.11 - Portland

08.17.11 - Portland

08.17.11 - Portland

08.17.11 - BEND

Robin Gyorgyfalvy from the US Forest Services & Scenic Byways Program and Chelsea Schneider of WH Pacific organized the charrette for Alford Acres, a Habitat for Humanity urban farm project that not only grows food for the residents, but also gives the surplus to Common Table, a charitable café in Bend. As Robin said, they wanted to do an event that would be ongoing and show people that landscape architects can take the lead in substantial projects. The event brought permaculturists, planners, master gardeners, students, LEED designers, landscape architects and public artists all together at one table; allowing them an opportunity to make some powerful connections which will benefit the community in the future. Robin noted that during the work session there was a lot of talking and not much being put to paper; it took the LA’s in the group to translate the words into graphics. The executives from Habitat for Humanity were part of the design team and were amazed by the level of energy and creativity being generated in the room. Robin said that Bend’s main goal was to have an event that was demonstrative of what landscape architects did best; be collaborators and connectors for the community. All evidence points to a successful Understory launch in Bend –we’re looking forward to seeing what comes next! (via Rebecca Wahlstrom & ASLA Oregon LANDbytes)

08.17.11 - Bend

08.17.11 - Bend

08.17.11 - Bend

08.17.11 - SPRINGFIELD

Nicole Ankeney and Jake Risley, from the Willamalane Park and Recreation District in Springfield, knew that since there was just the two of them they were not able to field a big event, so they used technology to their advantage. A catchy and informative email was sent to the Parks and Recreation employee email list that explained the profession and gave some local examples of what their department of landscape architects did. Nicole reports that the response to the email was very positive, with people asking more questions and thanking them for their work. Springfield is a great example of bringing awareness not only to the public at large, but also to the people we work with everyday in a multi-disciplinary environment. (via Rebecca Wahlstrom & ASLA Oregon LANDbytes)

08.17.11 - Springfield

September 14, 2011 Edit

in Advocacy

The Story on the Understory

via ASLA Oregon LANDbytes SEPTEMBER 2011:

The Story on the Understory
By Rebecca Wahlstrom

What were you doing on 8.17.11? I hope that you were out in your neck of the world celebrating the launch of The Understory. If you haven’t heard of The Understory yet, the goal of this two-year public awareness campaign is to educate the general public about landscape architecture. Around 175 events were held across the country with landscape architects getting out and meeting the public, holding charrettes, media coverage – anything to get the word out. Springfield, Portland, and Bend held events; Springfield sent out a media package to their co-workers via email, Portland folks met people during the lunch hour in some of the downtown plazas, and the Bend participants held a charrette for a Habitat for Humanity site. Since this is just the beginning of the ASLA’s quest to inform the public, I thought it would be worthwhile to see how it went on 8.17.11, and see how it could be even more successful in the future.

8.17.11 BEND: Robin Gyorgyfalvy from the US Forest Services & Scenic Byways Program and Chelsea Schneider of WH Pacific organized the charrette for Alford Acres, a Habitat for Humanity urban farm project that not only grows food for the residents, but also gives the surplus to Common Table, a charitable café in Bend. As Robin said, they wanted to do an event that would be ongoing and show people that landscape architects can take the lead in substantial projects. The event brought permaculturists, planners, master gardeners, students, LEED designers, landscape architects and public artists all together at one table; allowing them an opportunity to make some powerful connections which will benefit the community in the future. Robin noted that during the work session there was a lot of talking and not much being put to paper; it took the LA’s in the group to translate the words into graphics. The executives from Habitat for Humanity were part of the design team and were amazed by the level of energy and creativity being generated in the room. Robin said that Bend’s main goal was to have an event that was demonstrative of what landscape architects did best; be collaborators and connectors for the community. All evidence points to a successful Understory launch in Bend –we’re looking forward to seeing what comes next!

8.17.11 PORTLAND: A hardy band of landscape architects hit downtown plazas during lunchtime. Clothed in spiffy “The Understory” shirts and carrying brochures that explained the profession, they connected directly to the public in public spaces. This approach had mixed reviews; some thought it was successful, some not so much. The successful tended to approach folks not already talking to their friends and just were sitting there, enjoying their lunch. Dave Walters from MIG suggested that next time a central station could be set up in a space without competing events, so that the public could approach us, instead of us advancing on them. People are wary of strangers approaching them while holding out a piece of paper; both Dave and Emily Hull, of Parsons Brinckerhoff, suggested we need to think up a showier way to convey our message and intrigue the public. The general feeling was that they had a fun experience and would certainly do it again, especially knowing the things that could be improved.

8.17.11 SPRINGFIELD: Nicole Ankeney and Jake Risley, from the Willamalane Park and Recreation District in Springfield, knew that since there was just the two of them they were not able to field a big event, so they used technology to their advantage. A catchy and informative email was sent to the Parks and Recreation employee email list that explained the profession and gave some local examples of what their department of landscape architects did. Nicole reports that the response to the email was very positive, with people asking more questions and thanking them for their work. Springfield is a great example of bringing awareness not only to the public at large, but also to the people we work with everyday in a multi-disciplinary environment.

This isn’t the end to The Understory, it is only the first chapter. As Scott Mizee, from Alta Planning + Design said, no marketing campaign can be completed in a day, repetition is a must. This is only the beginning of a two year campaign, so be on the lookout for other chances to get out there and make our face known to the community. You might want to ask yourself before the next opportunity to meet the neighborhood. How are you going to engage the public at the next event? If you had 30 seconds, what are the relevant points you want to express about your profession? Once the public has met you, what do you want them to do with the information? Do you want them to support parks initiatives that come onto the ballot? Appreciate how urban spaces are formed? Knowing exactly what we want as an outcome will help us focus our efforts and open up creative avenues to show the public our clever and resourceful ways. If you want to be sure to be a part of the next chapter of The Understory follow it on Facebook at facebook.com/theunderstory and keep a close eye on the Oregon ASLA website for more information. Your Environment. Designed.

September 12, 2011 Edit

in Advocacy

08.17.11 Nationals Report

August 15, 2011 Edit

in Advocacy

Landscape Architecture. Your Environment. Designed.

What if, for just one day, we all decided to let everyone know what the heck landscape architects do. That we create the very places used to live, work and play. That we connect cities. That we create experience. That landscape architecture is your environment, designed.

08.17.11 is that day. It’s the day the profession reintroduces itself to public. It’s the day where, for only your time spent during lunch, you’ll join the beginning of a new movement – a movement to get out and tell your story to the world.

It’s not too late to get involved. Here’s how:

Use this map to find out what’s happening near you or contact the closest landscape architect representative for further info.

Create your own lunchtime activity. Watch this video to get an idea. Use chalk to mark “Designed by a Landscape Architect” on your favorite landscape architecture project and hand out these campaign materials. This is also a great opportunity to promote your own projects. Email thedate@asla.org to add your activity to the map or for more event ideas.

Post pictures and videos from your event on Twitter, using the hashtags #landarch and #design. On Facebook, share your activities at the campaign page www.facebook.com/theunderstory.

Be there for the beginning. Take one hour to speak with one voice on one day for one profession, ours. Make 08.17.11 a landscape architecture day.

Portland Landscape Architects will meet in downtown Portland at Pioneer Courthouse Square and Director Park from 12-1pm on August 17th to talk to the public about landscape architecture. These two parks are some of the most used and beloved examples of landscape architecture in Portland. Our goal is for more people to understand what the field of landscape architecture is.

Landscape Architects are licensed professionals who design the places where we live, work, and play. We connect cities. We create experience. We design, protect, and preserve your environment. Landscape architecture is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates natural sciences, horticulture, architectural design, engineering, transportation and circulation design, historic preservation, and environmental education. We manage the relationship between the built and natural environment. Landscape architects design parks, urban plazas, roads, restored natural areas, zoos, shopping centers, stormwater runoff facilities, green roofs, and more.

August 5, 2011 Edit

in Advocacy

Call for Volunteers - FREE T-SHIRT!

ASLA Oregon needs your help!

Do you have one hour to volunteer for your profession?

The world needs to know about Landscape Architecture, and 08.17.11 is the day it all begins.

Check out this Google Map of 08.17.11 Events nationwide!

What if, for just one day, we all decided to let everyone know what the heck landscape architects do. That we create the very places used to live, work, and play. That we connect cities. That we create experience. That Landscape Architecture is your environment, designed.

08.17.11 is that day. It’s the day the profession reintroduces itself to public. It’s the day where, for only your time spent during lunch, you’ll join the beginning of a new nationwide movement – a movement to step out of the Understory and tell your story to the world.

In Portland, landscape architects will be at Pioneer Courthouse Square from 12-1pm on August 17th to spread the word. Please join us - you'll get a free t-shirt and the satisfaction of helping build your profession.

Interested? Email christopher@kochla.com for more information about the Portland event, and check out The Understory on Facebook for general information.

Volunteer Now!

FREE T-SHIRT front

FREE T-SHIRT back

July 26, 2011 Edit

in Advocacy

YEP! Landscape Architecture T-Shirts!

Get yours today!

Click here to shop!