July 26, 2011
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The world needs to know about landscape architecture, and 08.17.11 is the day it all begins.
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 step out of the Understory and tell your story to the world.
Details will arrive soon. But until then, share the movement with friends, coworkers and classmates. The public awaits.
Check out 08.17.11 on Facebook!
Check out a map of nationwide 08.17.11 Events!
Get your "Landscape Architecture: Your Environment. Designed." T-Shirt!
July 19, 2011
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via Michael Cowden, ASLA Nationals Public Relations and Communications Coordinator
Keeping the ball rolling with 08.17.11 > check out this Google Map of Nationwide Public Awareness Events!
July 19, 2011
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POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE RULE FOR REGISTRATION BY RECIPROCITY:
Board staff, the Licensure Review Committee, and the full Board have recently been struggling with the existing rule for registration by reciprocity and have determined there is a need to develop rule revisions. The Board solicits your input about this issue. For reference, the reciprocity requirements are contained in OAR 804 Division 22.
The current reciprocity rule applies the same criteria to a reciprocity request as are applied to applications for initial registration. The idea behind the rule is not bad – to set uniform standards for registration in Oregon. Certainly the Board does need to ensure sufficient education, passage of professional examinations, and demonstrated proficiency in the field. The primary problem with the rule is the requirement for documenting work experience under the supervision of a registered landscape architect (RLA).
The reciprocity rule essentially treats all reciprocity applicants, regardless of years of experience as RLAs in other states, as if they are at the beginning of their careers. Some applicants for reciprocity gained the required work experience many years ago. The companies or supervisors they worked for may not be available to sign-off on work verification forms. This makes documentation of supervised work experience difficult or sometimes even impossible for an applicant to obtain. The current rule does not allow the Board to consider how long the applicant has been successfully working as a RLA in another state as an alternative to supervised work experience.
The Board has asked the Administrative Rules Committee to work with the Licensure Review Committee and staff to consider alternatives to the current rule. Members of the Administrative Rules Committee will be called into service over the summer to early fall to help shape rule revisions. All are encouraged to share ideas and concerns with the reciprocity rule by sending comments by e-mail to oslab.info@state.or.us or by US mail to the Board office at 707 13th St. SE, Salem, OR 97301. The Board will be briefed at upcoming meetings in August and November of this year on input received via the Administrative Rules Committee or directly from registrants and other interested parties
Download the full 4-Page PDF OSLAB June 2011 Newsletter
July 19, 2011
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via Robin Gyorgyfalvy, ASLA
A ribbon-cutting event that took place on June 28, 2011 at the newly-minted Kansas Avenue Learning Garden was one of many steps being taken to make sustainability a part of daily life in central Oregon. Exactly one year ago, a design charrette led by ASLA High Desert Chapter’s Chelsea Schneider and Brian Caldwell, set out to transform a contaminated vacant lot that was formerly an old drycleaning site into a vibrant and interactive living classroom and learning garden. This challenging site is adjacent to The Environmental Center and within walking distance to the Boys & Girls Club and Amity Creek Elementary School. This unique project for teaching sustainability in an outdoor classroom was made possible through a partnership that was created between an environmental center, educators, and local landscape architects.
The main concept for the Learning Garden is to create a place where children can witness the growth of the seeds they plant and learn how gardens require care, hard work, and patience. Contact with the outdoors and making discoveries with weekly observations is a hands-on way to learn more about how communities and the environment can be sustained through growing your own food. Denise Rowcroft, sustainability educator for The Environmental Center says “It’s important that kids participate in building the garden so that they feel like they have ownership of it. We’re trying to get them involved in all aspects of the garden, from building fences, to showing them where food comes from – to teaching them about the health of the environment.â€
The design charrette began with understanding the constraints of the site, its history, and ownership. Amber Hudspeth, an environmental professional explained the pollutants and a decision was made to cap contaminants on site and to build up the garden beds. Educators were an integral part of the charrette describing what elements and features were needed to form a learning landscape to best teach in an outdoor setting. The Environmental Center needed to have this place convey its mission to “embed sustainability into daily life in central Oregon.†A wish list was composed for what would be desirable on the site, opportunities were discussed for the outdoor rooms and the different amenities in each room, and priorities were determined for phasing.
Chelsea Schneider, ASLA of WH Pacific in Bend developed conceptual images for the group to develop further. Chelsea says “With a personal interest in environmental education, it is really important for me to see that learning landscapes become a reality through a community process such as this one.†The results are stunning with volunteers providing their energy and talent, their labor, donations, and materials for construction and planting. Incredible highlights of this project are the garden art mural paintings created by the Boys & Girls Club that decorate garden boxes lining the neighborhood street and the growing plants that were started as seedlings in the Amity Elementary School classrooms. These “pick me beds†are free for the community to harvest, a great way to encourage community interaction and involvement in central Oregon at the Kansas Avenue Learning Garden located at 16 NW Kansas Avenue in Bend, Oregon.
Pictured: Chelsea Schneider, ASLA and the Garden Box Mural Paintings