Pub. 10 2015 Issue 1

www.ucls.org 4 Issue 1 2015 / UCLS Foresights BY STEVE KEISEL From the Editor T he other day, I was having a brain cramp while attempting to select a worthwhile editorial topic. For inspiration, I used that amazing tool, known as the internet, and googled “What to write in an editorial.” Actually, I was procrastinating this as - signment and was using the internet for entertainment. Anyway, Google provided me with over 78,000 hits, but the first sev - eral pages where limited to the “how” and not the “what” that I was hoping to find. Since I like to know what I am supposed to be doing, I thought it best to look at the “how” before selecting the “what.” For my editorial education, I selected a WikiHow link, which provided me with the following three suggestions: 1. Pick your topic and angle. Editori- als are meant to influence public opinion, promote critical think - ing, and sometimes cause people to take action on an issue. Your topic should be current, interest- ing, and have a purpose 2. Get your facts straight. An edito- rial is a mix of fact and opinion; not solely the writer’s opinion, but the opinion of the entire staff. Your fact collection should include objective reporting and research 3. Keep it user-friendly. Typically, editorials are for a fairly quick, captivating read. They are not meant to go on for pages and pages, belaboring the point. Nor are they meant to make the av- erage Joe feel as if he’s missed something. Make sure your editorial isn’t lengthy or overly esoteric As directed in step 1 - I need to select an editorial topic or angle - something that will promote critical thinking or cause peo - ple to take action. Ya right, we’re talking about surveyors here! Critical thinking, taking action, and surveying should not be used in the same article and heaven forbid – the same sentence. I’m not sure if these three activities should be allowed in the same room. Nevertheless, I want a subject that is current, interesting, and has a purpose. Umm, the USGS height modernization project is current and does have a purpose but not sure about it being interesting. What about the ongoing licen - sure by education / experience debate? I believe education and licensure are inter - esting and they definitely have a purpose but unfortunately, but unfortunately the subject is not always current. Something about our membership might make for a good article. Current - always? Interest - ing – Maybe? Having a purpose – probably not? These ideas remind me of the 1970’s Meatloaf song “two out of three aint bad.” Recently, the Point of Beginning mag- azine conducted a Salary & Benefits survey wherein the characteristics of the typical land surveyor were identified. Assuming that the membership of UCLS is similar to the national cross-section of survey - ors - you work full-time, are salaried and licensed in two states Additionally, you are 53 years old, have nearly 27 years of pro- fessional experience, and possess either a bachelor’s or associate’s degree The business for which you work does surveying, civil engineering, or both; is privately owned and has 18 full-time employees. Furthermore, the types of surveying include boundaries, GPS, con- struction site, topographic and geodetic work. Your income is about $71,000 and you’re very satisfied with your work. (Think end-of-day satisfied, not-dealing- with-an-unreasonable-client moment.) Your challenges at work include com- peting companies and low bids; finding and retaining qualified workers; adapting to new technology; the economy; and gov- ernment regulations. You have invested in new technology to keep up with and hope- fully get ahead of the competition. You