South Carolina
There are some winds of change in South Carolina that every landscape architect should know about. It has been more than 15 years since any changes to our licensure laws have been made. In 1994 the Land Resources Commission became part of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Land Water and Conservation Division. The amendment addressed the agency consolidation and was uneventful. Thus, for the past 15 years, South Carolina landscape architects have enjoyed a peaceful existence with the support of the licensure board and the helpful guidance of Sheri Moorer, program assistant with the South Carolina Landscape Architect Registration Program. Earlier this year, two independent events threatened to disrupt that peaceful existence but, at the same time, opened up some intriguing opportunities.

The first event was the internal discussions between DNR and South Carolina’s Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulations (LLR) about a possible move of our regulation program from the former to the latter. Although the possibility of this move has always existed, it still came as somewhat of a surprise. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to find out as much as possible about the ramifications of the move itself. That way we as a group can formulate an opinion regarding the future of the South Carolina Landscape Architect Registration Program. For those who do not know, LLR is the state agency that was created to administer most professional organizations and presides over our allied professions such as architecture, engineering, and surveying.

The second event that occurred earlier this year was a move to change the law regulating our profession with regard to the practical experience required for a landscape architect to gain prior to sitting for the LARE (licensure exam) and who may preside over that experience. The request for this change was not made by a landscape architect or with the knowledge of SCASLA or the Landscape Architects Advisory Council. Since it is our policy to require that all practical experience occur under the supervision and guidance of a licensed landscape architect, we were against this change. Through swift action by the executive committee and several SCASLA members at large, this action was stopped…for now.

As a result of these two events, it has become apparent that the time is upon us to act to not only preserve but also update licensure laws in South Carolina. We feel that it is best to be proactive in this process and help guide any changes that may occur with regard to who regulates our licensure and how it is done. Therefore, the executive committee of SCASLA is planning to conduct several town-hall meetings around the state to gather ASLA members’ and nonmember landscape architects’ opinions regarding this important issue. Members of the committee and our newly hired lobbyist, Cary Chamblee, will be on hand to discuss issues surrounding the proposed move and our licensing laws, including the possible addition of continuing-education requirements.

Since these topics affect all landscape architects practicing in South Carolina, it is important to hear from as many individuals as possible. An announcement will be forthcoming with the time and location of the town hall meetings. If you have any questions in the meantime, contact David Lycke, ASLA, at dlycke@hlainc.com.

Florida
“Designing Off the Grid” Conference and Expo
Thursday–Saturday, July 23–25, 2009
Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa, Fort Myers, Florida
$375 full registration for members, $575 for nonmembers, $100 for students

The Southwest Florida Section welcomes you to Fort Myers for the 43rd Annual Florida Chapter ASLA Meeting and Expo! We invite you to refresh, renew and reenergize yourself at the wonderful Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa. “Designing off the Grid” is an appropriate theme for this year’s conference given the urgency to reduce energy consumption and because Fort Myers is the home of Thomas Edison, the father of “The Grid.” Registration prices increase after July 15. Please contact the Florida Chapter of ASLA with further questions.

Illinois
Burnham 100 x 100
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington Street, 5th Floor South
$25 for professionals, $15 for students, $200 for firm sponsorship (includes up to four participants)
The Illinois Chapter invites you to celebrate the 2009 Centennial of Daniel Burnham’s “Plan of Chicago,” joining Chicago and the Midwest Region’s leading landscape architects at the Burnham 100 x 100 Visioning Charrette. We will “Make No Little Plans” in a day of intellectual discourse on the role of landscape architecture in determining future sustainable visions. Bring your favorite drawing materials and contribute to the graphical depiction of Chicago and the Midwest’s next 100 years. Final products will be incorporated into future ILASLA marketing materials and selected for contribution to the September Burnham Centennial Exhibition, “Big, Bold, Visionary: Chicago Considers the Next Century,” as well as for future traveling exhibitions. For more information, visit www.il-asla.org or contact Ken Horinko at khorinko@tgda.net or 312-337-9145.

Minnesota
Harlan Lehman and Steve Goltry’s award-winning photographs showcase the dramatic setting of the Minnesota chapter’s photography workshop this June at the Guthrie Theater and Gold Medal Park, located on the Mississippi riverfront. After an in-class session focusing on digital photography basics, taught by professional photographer Steve Silverman, the class headed outdoors to test their new knowledge at the many nearby landscapes designed by MASLA members, including recent work by URS (Mill Ruins Park) and Simonet Design and Hesse Roise (Water Power Park). During afternoon sessions led by landscape architects Bryan Carlson and Rich Koechlein, a team of judges reviewed participants’ downloaded images and gave top honors to Lehman and Goltry. These photos and images by 26 runners-up can be seen at http://stevesilverman.blogspot.com.

New Jersey
Gallery Talk with Jennifer Gray
In Situ: Architecture and Landscape
Saturday, July 11, 2009, at 11:30 AM
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
11 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019

In Situ: Architecture and Landscape draws from the rich collection of the Museum of Modern Art to examine the diverse attitudes toward landscape over the past 100 years. Audiences will learn about the historical context and significance of the artwork in this exhibit through analysis and exchange of ideas with Jennifer Gray. For more information, contact MoMA at info@moma.org or 212-708-9400.