4 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 47, No. 5 From the PLSO Office A s we begin a new membership year together, it’s always a good time for reflecting on what we got done the previous year and renewing the Board’s commitment to the association’s goals and values. Achieving the goals of a member-driven organization involves more than just setting objectives; it requires a collaborative spirit. Not everyone is going to agree with the decisions made by the Board of Directors on the role PLSO should be playing in the profession, and not everyone on the Board always agrees on every decision. Collaboration is not always easy. It takes work and a balance of empathy, open communication, and strategic negotiation. Recognizing and respecting diverse perspectives is crucial, as each person’s agenda often stems from unique experiences and objectives. Successful collaboration within PLSO hinges on finding common ground and making sure proposed activities align with the mission statement of our organization. Asking questions like: 1. Is This a Legislative or Educational Program? The founders of PLSO made legislation and education the first bullet point in the mission statement. Both play a pivotal role in promoting and advancing the profession. Providing opportunities for members to stay up to date on technological changes, protecting licensure at the state level, or lobbying for inclusion in public policy and infrastructure planning are all different goals that answer the mission statement. 2. Does it Work to Improve the Status of Land Surveyors in the State? This could mean a lot of things. Fostering strong advocacy and outreach programs to educate the future workforce, public, and policymakers about the profession’s value can help build recognition and support. This can also mean how public perception is handled. When discussing activities or suggesting prizes for contests it is important to consider if it increases public visibility in a positive light. This becomes difficult because “positive” is a relative idea. A good example of this is the recent discussion at the Board and member level about a CO2-powered pellet revolver being a member prize for the Youth Outreach Contest. While no doubt there are various opinions about the Second Amendment within our membership, Oregon law does not classify a pellet gun as a firearm, though it is illegal to shoot them within city limits. So, the question becomes, is this something that could cause a misunderstanding if mentioned to a teacher or Aimee McAuliffe, PLSO Exec. Secretary Reflecting on Progress and Embracing Collaboration Strategies for advancing our association’s goals Achieving the goals of a member-driven organization involves more than just setting objectives; it requires a collaborative spirit. By collaborating on initiatives and sharing resources, we can broaden our impact.
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