The Oregon Surveyor Sept/Oct 2018

10 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 41, No. 5 OrYSN Corner By Christopher Glantz, PLS I ’m feeling a mixture of sadness, nos- talgia, and excitement for what’s to come as I sit here reflecting on the last three years of my life. I find myself in a similar position to the Land Surveying profession. I’m aging out of the Young Surveyors Network (YSN) and I need to find a few dedicated young surveyors to help usher in the next generation of the Network I’ve called home for the last three years. It’s bittersweet because the Passing the Baton YSN has given so much to me, and I don’t feel like I’ve given enough back. For me, value comes from hard work and I have one last task to do before I feel like I’ve earned the gifts I’ve received. Finding young surveyors who want to be involved is harder than finding a Li- censed Land Surveyor right now. They’re starting careers, families, or they might think they don’t have what it takes to Finding young surveyors who want to be involved is harder than finding a Licensed Land Surveyor right now. step up and make a difference. One of the lessons I try to impart to each young surveyor I encounter is that no matter how much “experience” they have, they can all make a difference, especially in a profession which is starving to find new members. All it takes is a little initiative. I’ve only had a few mentors in my life and I’m glad to have found them. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and they were also there to let me know when I got off track. As I find myself at the end of my YSN career, I ask myself a few questions about men- torship: How do we become mentors? What does it take? Where does someone learn to become a mentor? My college professors didn’t teach me and my class- mates to become mentors, nor did they say that someday someone will look up to me and expect support. That’s a lot of responsibility. Holding someone’s ca- reer in your hands is one of the greatest responsibilities we will ever have, no mat- ter how many boundaries we resolve. If we’re not prepared for that type of re- sponsibility, who is to say that we’re ready for any type of management position? All too often we see great surveyors in management roles, but what does being a great surveyor have to do with being a great mentor or good person? My an- swer to that is “nothing!” I can’t help but wonder if surveying will be ok in the future. I love this profession and the people I’ve met in it, but I feel as though we lack focus and a vision for the future. I understand that it’s a tough balance when you run a business or a department, but we should never lose sight of what’s important: the longevity and the success of the profession. How do we do that? Invest in your employees and their future. Lead by example and they will take care of you and your clients. Learn to impart what you’ve learned. Pass the baton.  x