never take that from you.” But Ron replied, “No, Mike. I’m stepping down from the board, and I want you to take over. I have family commitments, and you’re ready to lead Utah on the WFPS board.” I was humbled that someone who had served so long and with such distinction had handpicked me as his successor. Thanks to Ron’s encouragement, I accepted the role, and I’m still carrying on his legacy today. Like Ron, I’ve chaired WFPS and taken over every committee he led, including the legislative and conference committees. I’ve done so with pride because Ron mentored and prepared me for this responsibility, and I’m proud to follow in his footsteps. Over the last decade, Ron and I developed a wonderful relationship. His sense of humor could always brighten a room. I’ll never forget the UCLS dinner when we all introduced our wives. As I stood up, Ron called out from the back, “That’s not the woman you had with you in Idaho, Mike!” That was classic Ron — he could lighten any moment, even during heated discussions, with his perfect sense of timing. There are countless stories I could share — like the time in Oakland when our cab driver nearly wrecked us five times between the restaurant and the hotel. Or the time Carla from Washington almost got us into a fight over college football. Ron and I would often reminisce about those WFPS trips. While they were filled with hard work to advance the profession, they also brought us closer as friends. In 2019, I had the privilege of nominating Ron for the UCLS Lifetime Achievement Award. Sadly, I couldn’t attend the ceremony because I was at the WFPS Conference, but I’ll never forget the call I got from Ron the following Monday. “Was this award your doing, Mike?” he asked. I proudly answered, “Of course it was — congratulations, old man!” Ron wasn’t just a fellow surveyor to me — he was a mentor, a friend and someone who will always hold a special place in my heart. Rest in peace, my friend. In Ron’s spirit, let’s move forward with the WFPS report. In my opinion, one of the most significant benefits of WFPS is the collaboration between the 13 member states. For instance, if UCLS faces challenges in passing a bill through the legislature, CLSA might have already navigated a similar legislative process on the same issue. CLSA can provide guidance, insights, ideas and lessons learned to assist UCLS in achieving success. Here are some highlights from each state, as summarized during our last meeting in June of 2024. Highlights From the 13 Western States Alaska (ASPLS), Gary Gervelis: ASPLS was not in attendance. The 2025 ASPLS Conference will be held Feb. 19-21, 2025. General information about APLS can be found on their website, alaskapls.org. Arizona (APLS), Mike Fondren: Current membership is 405. After the Senate refused to agendize the House bill, which would extend the Arizona Board of Technical Registration (BTR), APLS and APLS members participated in a grassroots effort to ensure the continuation of licensing in Arizona. Ultimately, a new bill was introduced that extended the BTR. Unfortunately, some troublesome restrictions were added. APLS thanked NCEES and WFPS for writing letters to support this effort. APLS will be hosting a strategic planning meeting in the fall where they hope to leverage the momentum of their Young Surveyors Network to allocate resources to outreach and member engagement. More information about APLS can be found on their website, azpls.org. California (CLSA), Kevin Nehring and Kristie Achee: The California Board of Registration is polling licensees regarding their interest in continuing education. More information about CLSA can be found on their website, californiasurveyors.org. Colorado (PLSC), Todd Beers: Current membership is 347. PLSC is pleased to announce that legislation has passed that mandates the Department of Registration to promulgate rules to establish continuing education requirements for professional land surveyors. PLSC will assist in the development of continuing education UCLS Foresights 23
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