2008 VA-ASLA President’s Message from Kevin T. Barnes, LA 

VA-ASLA Members and Colleagues – 

On September 11, 2007 Terry Clements attended her last Executive Committee (ExComm) meeting as an active officer.  Terry has served in some capacity on the ExComm since 1993, most recently as our Trustee.  Whether you recognize it or not, we have all benefited from Terry’s dedication and passion for our profession.  I could go on to provide a synopsis of all Terry has done for us, but my message should look forward.  Terry’s concerns for our Chapter are expressed in her closing notes.  I’ve chosen to include these notes as a part of my message to you, our members and colleagues, to provide a foundation, rather a challenge for the year. 

Terry Clement’s Notes on VA-ASLA from the September 11, 2007 ExComm Meeting at UVA: 

"This fall's BOT meeting [in San Francisco] is the last where I will be representing Virginia and today's meeting is my last Executive Committee meeting as the sitting trustee. It has been a pleasure to serve as trustee. This fall represents a change for me, as I've served in some capacity on the Executive Committee almost continuously since 1993 when I moved to Virginia to start teaching at Virginia Tech. Throughout this entire time, I've been very fortunate to have wonderful mentors: Barry Starke, Patrick Miller and Rob McGinnis; and fabulous colleagues: Vaughn Rinner, Dick Gibbons and Billy Almond. They share common characteristics that exemplify a commitment to the profession and the quality of their personal integrity. They are committed to the society values promoting and supporting the profession of landscape architecture. They give their time, passion and abilities to the profession. They stand by their commitments. You can trust each at their word and that they will follow through and complete those things that they've committed themselves to. What wonderful role models for service and as individuals. 

Now that I am moving to a regular member status, I have a couple of requests of the VA ASLA Executive Committee. I suspect that these come from many other chapter members.

• Do something to demonstrate the value of my monthly dues on a regular basis;
• Let me know what's going on, what the chapter is doing and what issues I should be paying attention to;
• Plan events and publicize them enough in advance so that I can plan on attending, and remind me as the date approaches;
• Provide a summary of those events that I can't attend;
• Silence is not healthy to our organization. I am a member because of what the ASLA stands for. I want to know what the chapter is doing; and
• When a task is at hand, tell me what you need and ask me to assist."

 As our Chapter looks toward the coming year, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a few initiatives I plan implement to work toward meeting Terry’s challenge. 

• Sponsorship Program
  During the fall of 2007 a few members of the ExComm formed a Short-Term Sponsorship Committee to design an Annual Sponsorship Program for our Chapter.  We completed the Annual Sponsorship Package in December and began making calls to potential sponsors.  A successful Annual Sponsorship Program should provide a solid financial base allowing our Chapter to offer more opportunities to our members.  Now that we have developed a package, we plan to continue an Annual Sponsorship Program year after year.
• Chapter Coordinator
  Again, during the fall of 2007 the ExComm interviewed and worked with Teri Commander, of Chesapeake, to assist with assembling our Annual Sponsorship Package.  As we worked with Teri on this specific project, we hoped to gain some comfort with her organizational experience and knowledge of association building.  Teri’s resume and experience are long and polished, most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Chapter of AIA.  I am pleased to report Teri will be supporting us as Chapter Coordinator in 2008.  She will play a key role in the operations of our association.   As Teri begins her tenure with our association, I’m certain each of you will detect a significant change in the effectiveness of VA-ASLA.
• V-LAnd (Virginia electronic Landscape Architecture news digest)
  Establish regular quarterly email communications informing our members of upcoming events, highlighting Landscape Architects in local news or projects of interest, providing brief summaries of events occurring in the previous quarter, and any important news from the ExComm.  I plan to roll out the first issue in late January 2008.  V-LAnd will also provide another opportunity for our sponsors to air their messages to our members.
• Awards Recognition and Membership Directory Publication
  This will be the most time consuming initiative, but well worth the effort.  Our 2007 Award winners are long overdue the recognition they deserve.  The publication will show off the award winners’ work, provide an alphabetical listing of individual members and associates, and provide another avenue for our sponsors to advertise their messages to all this publication will come in contact with.  The first publication will undoubtedly be the most difficult, but once we establish a template we can build on, the others to follow will be easier to develop.  This will become a biennial publication celebrating the award winning work of our members.
• CIP Grant Application
  It has been over five (5) years since VA-ASLA has sought grant funds from National ASLA’s Chapter Initiative Program.  The goal of the Chapter Initiatives Program is to provide ASLA chapters with financial resources to develop grassroots projects to help implement the ASLA strategic plan and advance the profession of landscape architecture.  Through this program, chapters may receive matching funds for projects through ASLA to complement money already raised by the Chapter.  In August of 2008, I plan to work with the ExComm and Teri Commander to submit for a grant.  We will develop an initiative focusing on growing the profession in Virginia to be implemented in 2009.  

There is a need for several other initiatives concentrating on visibility and communication.  However, I feel as a volunteer organization we need to begin small, and implement a strong foundation of programs to build stability and strength. 

Last but not least, during 2008 our Licensure Committee will be working hard to protect, if not advance, our practice’s status.  LAVA has already made tremendous strides, but we will all need to do everything we can to support this important committee. 

After reading through Terry Clements’ closing notes and the initiatives we plan to undertake in 2008, I hope each of you feel the desire to channel any enthusiasm for our profession into action.  Visit our re-launched website at www.vaasla.org and visit the Project Opportunities heading.  Also, feel free to contact me to find out how you can show your passion for Landscape Architecture.  

Have a great 2008! 

Kevin T. Barnes, LA
Landscape Architect
Lumsden Associates, PC
4664 Brambleton Avenue, SW
Roanoke, Virginia  24018
Phone: 540.355.6240