June 25, 2022
Inside this issue |
| TOP NEWS NEWS WHY ADVOCACY MATTERS TAKE ACTION! CHAPTER ADVOCACY NEWS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE BOARDS ASLA CONFERENCES & OPPORTUNITIES |
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TOP NEWS
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Biennial Federal & State Legislative Priorities Survey
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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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August is National Site Tour Month
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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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WHY ADVOCACY MATTERS
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Louisiana: Defeating Universal Licensure
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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
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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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Landscape Architecture as a STEM Discipline
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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!
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ASLA & Army Corps of Engineers
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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
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ASLA Florida Advocacy
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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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ASLA Founders Club
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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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