5 Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon | www.plso.org From the PLSO Office other members of the public? Would it bring negative attention to the association? Many members felt that it was not in the best interest of the association to connect any sort of gun to youth outreach and implored the Executive Committee to redress the Board. You may remember that the decision was reversed. It was not a unanimous vote. (The prize for promoting the profession to youth is now a $400 cash prize, and you may learn more at www.plso.org/ outreachcontest.) One week after this vote a student approached a middle school in Wisconsin with a pellet gun and was shot and killed by police after he aimed it at them because it looked like a standard firearm. There is no easy answer. The Board is made up of people who must do whatever they think is best for public perception. Another, more positive, way to elevate the status of land surveyors is to form partnerships. Forming partnerships with other organizations, businesses, or community groups enhances our image in many ways and increases our ability to achieve goals. By collaborating on initiatives and sharing resources, we can broaden our impact. One such example involves a cross-profession partnership that our Executive Committee, Pioneer Chapter President, NSPS Liaison and Marketing Taskforce participate in with American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon (ACEC) and American Institute of Architects Oregon (AIA). The group met in June at David Evans & Associates to discuss intersecting goals and possible ways to collaborate. The next meeting is scheduled for October. Our second exciting partnership focuses on elevating the status of land surveyors within the Pacific Northwest region and involves a multi-state partnership with Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW) and Idaho Society of Professional Land Surveyors (ISPLS). To be a good partner to Washington and Idaho, and make sure we are addressing the goals of our own state, the Board appointed a PNW Marketing Task Force to identify clear strategic goals. From that Task Force, Chair-Elect Dan Nelson and I take those goals to the Multi-state Task Force (Washinton and Idaho are organized in a similar fashion). At those meetings, we work together to bring new ideas to the table and create an actionable plan together. Our first step on this project is working with Aaron King, who created our last video (https://vimeo. com/plso), on creating a regional narrative, which will be sponsored by Frontier Precision. The goals of the partnership accumulate to making land surveying recognizable as a first-rate career choice and necessary service to the public. King is currently traveling throughout our three states, filming scenery footage. I look forward to sharing more information with all of you as more details are solidified. 3. Does it Help Promote High Standards of Conduct? Talk to any land surveyor and they’ll mention working for the protection of the public on more than one occasion. For those who aren’t aware, PLSO adopted a Code of Ethics on October 23, 1999 (www. plso.org/about). Other ways we strive to promote high standards of conduct always connect back to providing continuing education and advocating for licensure. The Emerging Leader Program, chaired by Jeremy Sherer and introduced at last year’s conference, has been a new way for new members to hone their leadership abilities as they advance in their career and hopefully take on volunteer leadership positions within PLSO. All these programs—offering continued professional development, advocating for supportive legislation, serving as a proponent for high standards—all play into our ability to attract and cultivate new talent, and increase our impact on society. Together, these efforts help to elevate the role of land surveyors, ensure their expertise is recognized and valued, and drive the profession forward in an ever-evolving landscape. www.bigredm.com Advertise to Support Your Association! Contact us today! Ronnie Jacko | 503-445-2234 | [email protected]
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