June 25, 2022
Inside this issue
TOP NEWS
NEWS
WHY ADVOCACY MATTERS
TAKE ACTION!
CHAPTER ADVOCACY NEWS
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE BOARDS
ASLA CONFERENCES & OPPORTUNITIES

  TOP NEWS  
  Biennial Federal & State Legislative Priorities Survey  
 

The Government Affairs Team launched the biennial Federal & State Legislative Priorities Survey on May 4. This survey drew 1553 respondents. ASLA's Government Affairs Advisory Committee and government affairs staff will begin the process of analyzing the results of the survey to provide an update to the Executive Committee during its summer meeting in August.

 

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  NEWS  
  State Legislative Update  
 

As of June 14, fifteen states remain in legislative session. The team continues to track nearly 200 occupational licensing bills. The state Government Affairs team also continues to work closely with the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) and has begun to strategically plan for 2023 legislative sessions.  

 

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  August is National Site Tour Month  
 

August is National Site Tour Month! On a recent Florida Chapter webinar, Florida State Representative Nick DiCeglie stated, "I like to get out and see these projects firsthand and meet the people behind the businesses." Site Tours are a personable and memorable way to educate local, state, and federal policy makers on the profession. ASLA advocates are essential stakeholders in promoting ASLA's advocacy priorities, including licensure, and are well-qualified to provide elected officials with an overview of the profession's contributions in your community. All chapters are encouraged to host a site tour this August or later this year. To learn how to host a site tour, download our "Guide to Hosting Tours with Elected Officials."

 

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  Inaugural Class: Women of Color Licensure Advancement Program  
 

On June 1, ASLA announced the inaugural class of the Women of Color Licensure Advancement Program. The program is designed to support women of color in their pursuit of landscape architecture licensure and provide mentorship opportunities that position women for success. The program aims to increase racial and gender diversity within the profession and was inspired by ASLA's Racial Equity Plan of Action, which was released in 2020. The first class of the program includes 10 women who are among the most statistically underrepresented groups in the profession of landscape architecture. The class includes women based in Hawaii, California, Washington, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, and Florida who are involved in private and public practice and landscape architectural education.

 

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  WHY ADVOCACY MATTERS  
  Louisiana: Defeating Universal Licensure  
 

On March 26, ASLA activated the iAdvocate Network urging Louisiana Chapter members to urge their State Representatives to amend SB 483 - Universal Licensure - by exempting the Landscape Architecture profession. This campaign produced 29 messages to state representatives, with roughly 15% of chapter advocates participating. Of these 29 individuals, 23 of them were "new" advocates.  

Simultaneously, the state Government Affairs team advised and encouraged chapter leadership to explore their network for relationships with state legislators. If there was any chance to exempt Landscape Architects from SB 483 it would be the result of a personal relationship. Fortunately, the Chapter obtained an amendment sponsor Representative Barbara Reich Freiberg in the final days of session. Rep. Freiberg is the daughter of Dr. Robert S. Reich, FASLA, the individual credited with establishing the landscape architecture program at Louisiana State University, and sister to Bill Reich, ASLA, a longtime ASLA member.  

With the assistance of Chad Danos, FASLA, and Bill Reich, ASLA, we submitted an amendment and talking points to Rep. Freiberg. Due to our amendment efforts, along with the efforts from other occupations and professions, the bill was killed. We expect the Senate sponsor of the bill, Sen. Stewart Cathey, to reintroduce the legislation again next year.  

 

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  House Passes Water Resources Development Act  
 

Recently, the House of Representatives voted 384-37 to pass H.R. 7776, the reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act, commonly known as WRDA. Along with supporting traditional Army Corps of Engineers projects such as developing and maintaining U.S. ports, harbors, waterways, dams, and levees as a means of facilitating navigation and promoting commerce, the measure would take steps to address environmental degradation, climate change, and inequality. ASLA will continue to monitor this important legislation and, when possible, promote the use of nature-based solutions and other landscape architecture techniques.

 

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  African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act  
 

ASLA, along with the American Institute of Architects and 160 other organizations, has expressed support for the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act. ASLA's advocacy on behalf of the measure has been translating into progress in Congress. In recent months, both the House subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands and the Senate subcommittee on National Parks have held hearings on this legislation.  ASLA will continue to support this measure and encourage its passage in both chambers. 

 

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  Landscape Architecture as a STEM Discipline  
 

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will begin accepting nominations of Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) codes for potential inclusion or removal from the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.  ASLA will resubmit a nomination for landscape architecture's CIP code 04.0601 to be included on the list.  The deadline to submit nominations is August 1st.  Last year, ASLA nominated landscape architecture for inclusion on the list and provided DHS with materials that demonstrate landscape architecture as STEM, include the white paper Landscape Architecture is a STEM Discipline

 

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  TAKE ACTION!  
  ASLA & Army Corps of Engineers  
 

Do you work on Army Corps of Engineers projects? In recent surveys, ASLA members have identified their increasing work on Army of Corps of Engineers projects, including projects that focus on stormwater runoff, flood control, sea-level rise, damaged shorelines and natural landscape protection, and more. ASLA would like to hear from members about their experiences working on these projects, so that we may work with policy makers to improve processes and projects. Do you work on Corps projects? Tell us about your experiences working with the Army Corps of Engineers

 

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  CHAPTER ADVOCACY NEWS  
  ASLA Florida Advocacy  
 

On Thursday, June 9, the State Government Affairs team participated in a Florida Chapter Laws & Rules for Florida Landscape Architects webinar. The team provided a review of national legislation that had an impact on the profession, an update on ARPL and its recently announced results of a state-wide occupational licensing survey of Louisiana voters, a review of the Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture adopted by CLARB, and a report on the Women of Color Licensure Advancement Program. The team also assisted in preparing Emily O'Mahoney, FASLA​, ASLA President-Elect for her National ASLA update, which covered the release of the ASLA 2021 Annual Report, Torey Carter-Conneen's participation in The Economist Impact's 2nd Annual Sustainability Week conference, and the registration launch of the ASLA 2022 Conference on Landscape Architecture.

 

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  LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE BOARDS  
  State Board Vacancies  
 

Please help us fill open vacancies on state landscape architecture boards, both professional and public member vacancies. If you, or a public individual you know, submits an application for a vacancy, please kindly inform ASLA Government Affairs staff.  

Delaware 
Public Member (1) - Information to serve on the board is provided by the Division of Professional Regulation.

Indiana 
Public Member (1) - Please contact Board staff for information on the vacancy.  

New Hampshire 
Professional Members (1) & Public Member (1) - If you are interested in becoming an OPLC Board Member, please contact Customer Support at customersupport@oplc.nh.gov

Oregon 
Public Members (2) - If you are interested in Board membership, you can read more about Executive Appointments and download an Interest Form (PDF) at the Governor´s website. Or you may contact the Board office for more information on Board membership. 

Pennsylvania 
Professional Member (1) & Public Member (1) - Please contact Board staff for information on filling the vacancies. 

Rhode Island 
Public Member (1) - Please submit your "Letter of Interest" and "Resume" to Donna.Costantino@dbr.ri.gov.

Vermont 
Professional Member (1 Advisor) - To apply for an Advisor position, please fill out this form

Wisconsin
Professional Member (3) & Public Member (1) - If you are interested in applying to serve an application can be submitted to the office of Gov. Evers.

Do you know of a board seat vacancy? Please kindly inform ASLA Government Affairs staff

 

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  ASLA CONFERENCES & OPPORTUNITIES  
  ASLA Annual Conference: Early Registration Open  
 

The ASLA 2022 Conference on Landscape Architecture offers over 120 courses, allowing attendees to fulfill their professional development hours (PDH) over four days. Additionally, the ASLA EXPO will provide hands-on access to products from over 300 manufacturers and suppliers.

Register here: https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowASL221/ 

8 Education Tracks

 

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  ASLA Founders Club  
 

In honor of ASLA's founding in 1899 and Olmsted's birthday, join us in the celebration by continuing the legacy of the Olmsted family and ASLA's commitment to the profession by joining the Founders Club - a new monthly giving program that allows the ASLA Fund to continue our mission of investing in global, social, and environmental change through the art and science of landscape architecture.   

Join the Founders Club today with any of the following gifts: 

  • $18.99 per month  
  • $200 per quarter  
  • $1899 annually 

For more information or questions about the ASLA Fund, contact Judy Mehlman, 202.216.2366

 

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