Pub. 13 2018 Issue 1

www.ucls.org 18 Issue 1 2018 / UCLS Foresights National Society of Professional Surveyors 5119 Pegasus Court, Suite Q, Frederick, MD 21704 Phone: 240-439-4615 * Fax: 240-439-4952 www.nsps.us.com June 11, 2018 Dear NSPS Members, After carefully scrutinizing all of the factors associated with a proposal to raise NSPS membership dues, and hearing from the NSPS Directors who represent the respective state societies, the NSPS Executive Committee is asking for your support of a dues increase of $10 per year. This increase is necessary in order for NSPS to remain fiscally solvent in supporting its projected five-year budget. As with any enterprise, the cost of doing business continues to rise and, in the case of NSPS (and the state societies), revenues are declining due significantly to lower membership levels resulting, in part, from increasing numbers of retiring s urveyors. As always, the emphasis of NSPS leadership and staff is to be responsible for each expenditure, and being transparent in doing so. The amount of effort required to represent 17,000 members is daunting, and is not taken lightly. NSPS leadership and members commend the staff for their efforts to manage this task and still remain fiscally responsible. This request itself is a result of the staff looking to the future and watching out for our needs. The NSPS leadership team also realizes that each state society needs to have its membership ratify this change, and to make requisite changes to its MOU with NSPS. If a dues increase were to be approved now, NSPS really wouldn’t see any actual revenue increases for six months to a year. The NSPS Executive Committee would also like to thank the NSPS Directors for their input and general support for this necessary dues increase. Most ExCom members have been d irectors or g overnors and realize the anguish associated with asking membership to vote to raise dues. We believe that all NSPS members recognize the importance of a strong national organization supporting the role, and yes survival, of our profession. As you have all witnessed, there are more issues each year requiring our attention and advocacy efforts. With this increase in the number and impact of issues, the support and proactive engagement of all the s urveyors in the nation is essential in all aspects of our profession. We would also like to encourage d irectors and members to identify and educate, those who are not yet members and stress to them the importance of joining our ranks. We can certainly use more input and ideas. With your continued support we can make this profession that we all love even better than it already is. Yours Truly, Kim H. Leavitt, PLS, NSPS President