Letter From the President,
Michael McGrew, ASLA
Are we meeting your needs?
From time to time, we need to go back to the source and see if we are fulfilling our purpose as a chapter and providing a valued service to professional members. The PGASLA Constitution states under “purpose” that:
the Chapter shall promote the profession of landscape architecture and advance the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship.
How are we addressing these issues right now?
Advocacy
The addition of CEUs and the reconstitution of the Missouri professional board to include more landscape architects in the past year has been largely driven by our associates at MALA. They are continuing to work at several outstanding items, including recognition by Missouri of landscape architects as a prime consultant. On the Kansas side, we have continually monitoring that there are no immediate threats concerning the status of landscape architects. We have also engaged in grassroots advocacy with an earlier Legislative Action Day in coordination with MPRA. Volunteers are developing a similar strategy for Legislative Action with KRPA. There has also been discussion about a licensure celebration for newly registered landscape architects in Kansas and Missouri to keep our profession in the mind of folks in Jeff City and Topeka.
At the National level, the ASLA Advocacy Network continues to promote and monitor legislation that is relevant to all landscape architects in the region. At the city level, PGASLA has collaborated with the emerging KC Design Alliance and is committed to having a presence to raise awareness of design and its value to the Kansas City business community and general public.
Education
Of major note this month is that the Prairie Gateway Chapter has been approved as an Educational Provider through the LA CES program. The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System is a partnership between ASLA, CELA, CLARB, LAAB, and LAF to assure that educational sessions are of sufficient quality to be approved. We now are able to submit courses and continuing education programs that can be registered and certified to ease the process of maintaining licensure.
We are one of only a few ASLA chapters that holds monthly educational sessions through our LINKS program. These events are continuing monthly with our excellent volunteer network, and we are pursuing the possibility of hosting similar events in the Wichita area.
Communication
The best way that we can address your concerns is when we get direction from you. The Executive Committee meets monthly to discuss chapter concerns. If there is an issue regarding ASLA, PGASLA or the profession or an event that we can promote, please bring it to our attention by contacting us or attending a meeting. We have received some great thoughts and comments in recent weeks and we are working hard as a chapter to address your concerns and come up with new ideas. Executive Committee meetings are typically the second Wednesday of every month in the PGASLA / AIAKC office (1801 McGee Street, Kansas City, MO) at 5:30pm. All meetings are open to PGASLA members. This month, the Executive Committee meeting is scheduled in Manhattan, Kansas in conjunction with the KSU Student Chapter of PGASLA.
Fellowship
We have a lot of meetings in our calendar, and we have made a big effort to provide services across the chapter region. We will also look at continuing the highly successful monthly Social Hour concept we began in the summer of last year. Of particular note is the great work being done by our dedicated volunteers in Wichita. If you are in South-central Kansas, be sure to check regularly on events in your area. Along with our Manhattan meeting, our calendar is filled with events across the PGASLA region:
April 2nd – Deadline for the PGASLA Awards Call for Entries. All entries must be submitted to the PGASLA Office by 5pm.
April 2nd – Early-bid conference registration for the Central States ASLA conference ends. Check out the schedule of events and speakers for the largest landscape architecture conference in the region.
April 20th – LINKS Event concerning Historic Cultural Landscapes at the AIA / PGASLA Office at 1801 McGee in KCMO.
April 22nd-24th – 2010 Central States Conference in Oklahoma City.
April 23rd – Short course on Modern Mobility In Kansas City, Kansas will introduce information on Personal Rapid Transit.
April 30th – Monthly Wichita Design Industry Cross-over Social Hour at the Anchor at 5:30 p.m. The event is open to all PGASLA< AIA, and IIDA members in the Wichita region. RSVP to Dave by 5 p.m. on April 28th.
May 6th – Ochsner Hare & Hare celebrates it’s 100th anniversary with a Leadership Symposium about Placemaking featuring ASLA President Gary Scott, PPS President Fred Kent, and APA President Bruce Knight. Early bird registration ends April 2nd.
May 13th – Johnson’s Garden Center Meet & Greet at their Wichita distribution center featuring guest speakers, food, and drinks. RSVP to Dave by 5 p.m. on May 6th.
May 19th and 20th – A seminar on Landscape Preservation: An Introduction will be held in Topeka, Kansas in cooperation with the Kansas State Historical Society.
May 22nd – PGASLA Awards Celebration in Kansas City, Missouri.
We hope to see you soon.
Mike McGrew
2010 PGASLA President
2010 PGASLA Awards
Each year, the Prairie Gateway Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects honors the outstanding contributions to the practice of landscape architecture. Awards are given in the following categories Design (built), Design (unbuilt), Planning and Analysis, Research and Communications.
Award competitions are further separated into professional and student categories to recognize the achievements of both practitioners and students.
This year’s submissions will be judged by a panel of architects, landscape architects, planners and artists from the Maryland ASLA Chapter. Awards will be presented at the Awards Celebration on May 22, 2010. The Celebration will be held in Kansas City, Missouri at 1801 McGee, Suite 100.
Thank you to our Silver Level Sponsor
Thank you to our Bronze Level Sponsor
Job Opportunities . . .
Landscape Architect (1-3 years of experience)
LAND3 Studio, L.L.C., Landscape Architects and Planners are looking to hire a Landscape Architect with a BLA or MLA from an accredited University. This individual must have a minimum 1-3 years experience and be highly motivated, dependable, and proficient in the use of current versions of AutoCAD, Photoshop, InDesign, and Sketchup; experience with other 3-D visualization software is a plus. Candidate must have excellent graphic, technical and verbal communication skills. LAND3 is a small studio with a diverse palette of projects and design experience. We specialize in traditional Landscape Architecture, sustainable urban design, green roofs, parks & sportsfields, and development planning. Please e-mail your resume to broth@land3studio.com. See our web site at www.land3studio.com EOE/M/F/V/D
