PLSO The Oregon Surveyor March April 2020

Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon |  www.plso.org 5 From the PLSO Chairman to statewide. That same year, we did it right when Beulah Jones became the first female surveyor to join our organi - zation. By 1991, PLSO did it right when it saw a need to develop goals, like our 2002–2006 Strategic Plan that primarily focused on “InspiringMembers,” “Conduct- ing Outreach,” and “Fostering Excellence.” Similarly, between 2008 and 2013, our primary goals continued much the same. Through the Strategic Plan Committee and TimFassbender’s leadership, we have developed strategic goals as a means to an end. The 2020 goals are to increase membership, promote the profession, and to improve leadership. To be successful, these goals must be measured against a standard. So, to do it right, perhaps we should pause and reflect on our vision of a good surveyor and excellence in our profession as our standard. Membership is the lifeblood of an organi- zation, but it only takes one bad surveyor to bring our organization into disrepute. We need more members, but a mem- bership with common interests, character and virtue will strength- en and unite us into an organized body. Doing it right means that we separate ourselves by seeking quali- ty membership. Promoting the surveying professionmeans “moving forward” or “advancing.” Through marketing and advertisement, we desire the public to understand why it needs a Surveyor or why someone should become a professional land surveyor for our own preservation. Yet, promoting the profes - sion is more than self-promotion. It is a moral duty to society. Our cadastral sys- tem requires stability in order to preserve individual property rights. Without Sur- veyors, our cadastral system would be in chaos. Laws that define the practice of surveying are created to protect the health, safety and welfare of Oregonians, but the best defense to our cadastral sys- tem is promoting good Surveyors who are highly skilled, experienced, and well trained. Doing it right means that we sep- arate ourselves by promoting the idea of a good surveyor who has mastered the art and science of the survey. Finally, PLSO needs leaders who are able to guide others toward profession- al excellence and the ideal Surveyor. By definition, a professional, or someone becoming a professional, is either a lead- er or an emerging leader. According the United Sates Marine Corps, there are 14 leadership virtues: Justice, Judgment, de- pendability, initiative, decisiveness, tact, integrity, endurance, bearing, unselfish - ness, courage, knowledge, loyalty, and enthusiasm. These virtues belong to the high realm and lead toward goodness or happiness. On the other hand, virtues such as health, safety, and welfare be- long to the lower realms, which lends to our physical needs. Our State license re- quires us to meet the lower virtues, but doing it right means we separate our- selves by improving leaders who aspire toward higher virtues. Our strategic goals are a means to an end. Doing it right means we understand and work toward our vision. So, here is how we do it right. First, like my daugh- ter, we refuse to go along with the crowd and separate ourselves from those who do not meet our common values about what is right and wrong, good and evil. Next, in order to do it right, we separate ourselves from those who do not want or care to meet our standards of excel- lence. Finally, we do it right by inspiring leaders toward higher virtues. Are we doing it right? Since 1959, the idea to “do it right” hasn’t changed. Doing it right requires good character, mastery of the art, and science of surveying and leader- ship. The Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon has a history of supporting those common ideas of character, mastery, and virtue. My daughter started dancing when she was three and has refused to accept anything less than excellence in herself and in others. Although she is not a pro- fessional ballerina—yet—she has proven her character, mastery, and leadership in ballet. She is an example of what it looks like to do it right. In every performance, there is no shortage of critics and spectators, perhaps it’s time for us to join the dance and do it right.  x Photography: Copyright 2020 Elizabeth M. Hults / Hults Photography