by and gave the same packet of information to Miriam Harmer, senior policy advisor. I will need to follow up. Rep. Curtis’s Staff Visit I kept the appointment with Rep. John Curtis’s staffer named Troy Dougall (son of John Dougall from Utah, who is running for John Curtis’ Utah District 3 House Seat). He had an open afternoon, so we spent an hour together discussing all three issues in the packet, as well as the surveying and mapping workforce shortage in Utah. His fiancé’s sister is in the middle of rethinking her college major choice, and he thought she would be interested in surveying and mapping. He was quite positive about each program but seemed most interested in Rep. Curtis’s involvement in the TAP Pilot for the 2025 NDAA program. I will follow up with Troy’s progress in this area. This concluded my visits to members of Congress and Senate. Each appointment constituted an initial visit and will require subsequent follow-up visits to discuss not only this issue but others as they arise. It is about building relationships. NSPS Workforce Development (WFD) Committee Meeting Some interesting statistics: • 300 million survey monuments in the USA. • 37,000 licensed surveyors in the USA. • After 20 years, 50% of engineers leave the career. Trent Keenan, the new committee chair, put together a promotional packet he calls Surveying 101, which will soon be available to all states. I plan to discuss this document at length with Chris Donaghue, UCLS Education Committee chair, when it becomes available. NSPS has really provided some excellent promotional resources and training. This has already started to have an impact over the past year with what seems to feel like an increase in awareness of the surveying and mapping profession. Some of the successes include: • Some states have approached the FFA program in their local areas, resulting in increased higher education enrollments. • Used GIS to attract new students. • State organization will establish a budget for recruitment and WFD. • Certificate programs at local technical schools (magnet or focused HS). • Contact city commissioners or council members about workforce development. • Repeat, repeat, repeat the surveying profession message. • State affiliate organizations (UCLS) to create a focus on WFD. • Get chapter presidents involved and committed to WFD and promotion. • Oregon PLSO produced a video ($6,600), and they have divided the foundation money into outreach and scholarships. Suggestions for things to do in Utah and the UCLS include: • UVU to pursue a possible surveying technology certificate MTech (previously Mountainland Technology). • Keep and report a running tally of all the outreach events in our state. • Put together a little suitcase with promotional materials (101 packet) for each chapter to use. • Collaboration with adjoining states may help pay for a marketing/recruiting person and call this person a career ambassador (outreach), which includes a nameplate and a gas voucher. • Hold a “Day on the Hill” in Utah. Education Committee They are just getting organized by a newly appointed chair. Nothing to report at this time. Western States Director’s Council • Provided a report on behalf of Utah since the NSPS Fall Meeting (September 2023). • A letter of reconsideration was written by the UCLS Executive Board requesting that the Utah DOPL review their decision to not cite a county planner who, according to the complainant (a private surveyor), was practicing surveying without a license. This case has caused quite a stir among the licensed surveyors in the state. DOPL decided not to overturn their decision, and the UCLS dropped any further comments or responses to DOPL. Board of Directors Business Meeting • A Military Committee was formed by the NSPS for the purpose of strengthening the relationship with the existing military personnel in the private sector and, in particular, the surveying and mapping profession. • Committee reports were made. • Announcement of new officers was made: ˚ Davey Edwards, President ˚ Linda Foster, President-Elect ˚ Tim Murphy, Vice President ˚ Craig Amey, Secretary ˚ Robert Miller, Treasurer ˚ Bob Akins, Past President • Nominations, appointments and elections for 2024-25 were held. • The fall meeting was held in October 2024 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. UCLS Foresights 10
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