2 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 47, No. 6 The importance of PLSO membership and involvement has never been stronger, as was vividly displayed by the near demise of the Southwest Chapter. After more than six months of no activity, John Minor, Walter White, and Derek Windham stepped up as chapter officers. Other chapter members have committed to attend the chapter meetings. Thanks to all who helped to resurrect this chapter. In order to deal with this type of situation when it happens again, and it will happen again, the Board of Directors formed a committee to look at this issue and how it could be addressed under our bylaws. If the bylaws are inadequate, then recommendations from the committee will be taken into consideration. So, let’s shift gears and talk for a little while about codes and canons of ethics, which could be called ethical behavior for professional land surveyors. I did a quick, random search of some websites of various state societies. What I found is there is much similarity amongst the samples, although one stood out with its thoroughness and examples. The New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors has 10 articles (canons) that once stated are then further amplified by listing examples of behavior that would violate the article. There is one exception to this pattern, and that is Article 6. This will be compared to the corresponding canon from PLSO and the National Society of Professional Surveyors. PLSO Canon 5. “I will avoid improper solicitation of professional employment.” NSPS Canon 6. “A Professional Land Surveyor should use care to avoid advertising or solicitation that is misleading or otherwise contrary to the public interest.” NYSAPLS Article 6. “It shall be considered unprofessional and inconsistent with honorable and dignified conduct and contrary to the public interest for any member of the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors to advertise Land Surveying services in self laudatory language, or in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the profession.” Then, under the heading “Guide to Professional Practice under the Canon of Ethics” Article 6–1, the following are considered to be permissible: a. “Professional cards and other factual representations in recognized dignified publications …” b. “Brochures and other factual representations of experience, facilities, personnel, and capacity to render service …” c. “A statement of a practitioner’s name or the name of his or her firm and statement of his or her type of service posted on projects for which he or she renders services.” d. “Preparation or authorization of descriptive articles for the lay or technical press …” e. “Permission by a Land Surveyor for his or his name to be used in commercial advertisements such as may be published by dignified notation acknowledging the Land Surveyor’s participation in the project described.” If you have some spare time, I would encourage you to take a look at the PLSO Code of Ethics and the NSPS creed and canons first, then maybe a few other states. Go to the PLSO website under Resources > General Research, then scroll to the bottom of the page to see links to all of the state societies. Note that not all states have their canons or code of ethics available to non-members. From the PLSO Chair Scott Freshwaters, PLS, PLSO Chair of Board After more than six months of no activity, John Minor, Walter White, and Derek Windham stepped up as chapter officers for the Southwest Chapter. Other chapter members have committed to attend the chapter meetings. Thanks to all who helped to resurrect this chapter. Engagement, Ethics, and Evolution Strengthening Professional Land Surveying Organizations
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