Pub. 12 2017 Issue 1

19 Issue 1 2017 / UCLS Foresights www.ucls.org National Association of Realtors NSPS contacted the National Associ - ation of Realtors (NAR) about its Code of Ethics, stating “NSPS urges the National Association of Realtors to add the following language to Article 13 of its Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice document: REALTORS(r) shall not engage in activi - ties that constitute the unauthorized practice of Land Surveying and shall recommend that counsel of a professional land surveyor be obtained when the interest of any party to the transaction requires it. The NSPS-proposed statement is similar to an existing statement in the NAR Code of Ethics related to activities that may consti - tute the unauthorized practice of law. After further interaction, and NSPS responding to an NAR request for examples of the types of activities we are concerned about, the NAR Interpretations and Procedures Advisory Board responded that it sees no reason to add the NSPS proposed statement, add- ing that it feels confident that NAR’s overall Code of Ethics language is sufficient when it comes to “surveying activities.” Of course, NSPS disagrees with this and plans to read- dress the issue. Certified Floodplain Surveyor (CFS) There is rekindled interest for expand- ing the use of a joint NSPS/ASFPM Certified Floodplain Surveyor certification program to other states. The program is current- ly available only in North Carolina. Recent discussions about the expansion of the pro- gramwill be continued during the Tennessee Association of Professional Surveyors con - ference in March between NSPS Executive Director Sumner, members of the group (including the North Carolina Society of Sur - veyors) operating the CFS program in North Carolina, and some individuals in Tennessee to discuss possible implementation of the program there. Several of the state survey- ing societies have invited representatives of the group operating CFS in North Carolina (including NSPS Past President (2001) Gary Thompson) to make a presentation on how the programworks. NAD 22 NSPS representatives worked with NGS and representatives from other groups to develop template legislation for use by the respective state legislatures to revise/amend their state laws dealing with datums when NAD 22 becomes effective. The template can be accessed from the NSPS website, http:// www.nsps.us.com/resource/resmgr/NGS/ Template_Draft_-_Final.docx. Workforce Development During its Spring 2016 meetings, NSPS established a Workforce Development ini - tiative. Its purpose is to work in concert with the activities of the Future of Surveying Task Force and the respective state surveying so - cieties to develop a program that will create the framework for insuring the perpetua- tion of the surveying profession. Three state societies (Maryland, Oklahoma, and Virginia) have already initiatedWorkforce Develop - ment initiatives through their respective state governments/agencies. A page (http:// www.nsps.us.com/page/WorkforceDev ) has been set up on the NSPS website where information about NSPS and state society ef - forts can be viewed. Future of Surveying Task Force During a meeting of the Task Force, June 10 – 11 in Baton Rouge, NSPS took the reins as the “lead organization” for future ac - tivities of the group. The Task Force was originally initiated with NCEES support. It was surprising, and very rewarding, that from among the 18 organizations participating in the initial Forum meet - ing in January 2016, a total of 16 of those organizations sent representatives to this second meeting. NCEES funded travel for all groups to the initial meeting, but each organization was responsible for the ex - penses of its representative for the second meeting. Continued participation under this circumstance is indicative of the im - portance of this effort, and the dedication of so many organizations to the cause. Among the topics discussed were the re- sults from a questionnaire, prepared at no cost for NSPS and the Task Force by Gavin Schrock and xyHt magazine. Over 2,200 surveyors from across the country re- sponded. Three committees were formed to focus on critical issues that need to be addressed. NSPS is also working to have the Young Surveyors Network become more active in this effort. The NSPS 2017 budget includes mon- ey to fund the cost for the facilitator who worked during the first two meetings to provide that service again during a Spring/ Summer 2017 meeting of the Task Force. After the June 2016 meeting of the Task Force, three additional state societies (Maryland, Oklahoma, and Virginia) began Workforce Development initiatives that are working in concert with the work of the Task Force through their respective state governments or agencies. Davis Bacon Act NSPS recently sent a letter (http://www. nsps.us.com/resource/resmgr/Davis- Bacon/NSPS_letter_to_Dept_of_La - bor.pdf) to the Department of Labor (DoL) about the application of Davis Bacon prevailing-wage rates to the members of survey crews. The letter suggests that a recent statement by DoL related to the 2016 NSPS Year-End Activity Summary Report BY STEVE DALE – NSPS DIRECTOR, UTAH