THE NEVADA TRAVERSE - Nevada Association of Land Surveyors

The
President’s
Report
by
Raymond R. Hebert, PLS
I would like to thank all of you for a great 1 st Quarter.
The Nevada Traverse went out as an “all surveyor’s” issue
March 1, 2012, on time and along with some poignant articles
gathered by our illustrious editor and chief, Terry McHenry.
Now that the board is in its respective place for the year I
would like to thank you all for your hard work. While there
are a few hiccups in the runnings without an Executive
Secretary, most issues have been worked out and have set
the underpinnings of a new beginning. Trent Keenan and
Terry McHenry have combined efforts to sort out the data
base issues and migrate to an Excel format. For the 2012
year, an effort is underway to clean up long standing issues
with the last inherited reporting system. Trent disbursed the
funds to the local chapters in early March. The tax forms for
the organization are virtually finished by J&W Enterprises
(Trent’s Accountant) at a fee of $750, with no resulting tax
payment necessary. Vern Little has, with the help of Chris
Marini, migrated the website to Network Savants. It is my
understanding that Vern is trying to work out a way to upgrade
the site and/or re-write the script to allow for placement of past
issues of The Nevada Traverse as a historical data base. Glen
Armstrong has filed with the Secretary of State a current list
of Association officers.
Major kudos go out to Dorothy, Crissy and Nancy for
putting on a near flawless conference at the Silver Legacy.
The Executive Board has reviewed and signed an MOU for
2013 with CLSA to repeat the performance at the Silver
Legacy next year. The 2012 conference was well attended
by approximately 500 attendees; 33 percent were Nevada
personnel. Approximately 46 sessions were held addressing
LS Review, easements, Technology, Geodesy, Boundary, Nevada
and California Law, zoning, communication, NV and CA state
boards, FEMA, subsidence, water rights, solar, business and,
topped off with a wonderful presentation of a Mock Trial,
scripted by Gary Kent and featuring a real judge and attorneys,
with the following cast of players: the Honorable David Hardy,
2 nd Judicial District Court, Michelle Stone and Agnes Hanley
from Chapman law firm, Curt Chapman, Carl C. de Baca,
Armond Marois and Matt Vernon. I can hardly wait for next
year. The NALS scholarship Auction netted in the area of
$16K, which is a new benchmark for our association.
As you all are aware we owe many “thanks” to Marty and
Rhonda for being the driving forces behind funding, and finding
and repairing instrumentation to be sold on behalf of the
students. Added to the NSPS Foundation we have the following
amounts to draw from for our students: 1) NALS Endowment
Account $72,741.47(can use $7,741.47); 2) NALS Scholarship
Account $38,826.53(can use $3,826.53);3) NALS Equipment
Account $29,672.19; 4) Tom Foote Scholarship Fund $10,220.
Consideration is being given to distributing the $16K so that
we can support our GBC College program, and Scholarship
Account. In addition to this amount the Monsen Scholarship
was upped to $2,000 for the next deserving student.
It is my understanding that all three local chapters have been
active and have had a cross-section of excellent speakers,
drawing members to meetings in the neighborhood of 30-40 for
4 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 39, No. 2, 2012
Photo by Steve Shambeck
Lahontan and Southern Chapters, and 10-15 attendees to the
Great Basin Chapter. Thank you to the local chapters, and keep
up the good work.
Education wise, Trigstar and Career Days are drumming the
beat of getting students interested in surveying as a profession.
Collectively, Trigstar has presented the examination to
approximately 350 students north, south and east in Nevada.
Career Day presentations have presented to approximately
1400 students in Las Vegas area, 200 students in the Reno area
and about 100 students in the Elko area. Needless to say we
need to continue to search out opportunities of exposure to land
surveying as a viable profession, given that ours is an aging
profession with declining numbers of licensees, coupled with
the affects of supply and demand. Thank you to all that are
participating.
The NALS Board is currently exploring two possible venues
of presentation this fall to support PDH requirements: 1) A
Round Table on RS2477 (Brett Lane and Steve Parrish), and 2)
NRS and Subdivision Map Act (Michael Kidd). Speak up if you
know of other opportunities for PDH credits.
Membership wise we are sitting at about 200 members strong.
The following is an approximate breakdown: 70 Southern
Chapter Members; 58 Lahontan Chapter Members; 9 Great
Basin Chapter Members; 11 LSI Members; 4 Corresponding
Members and 3 Associate Members. The balance of membership
is made up of sustaining members and student members.
NALS Lapel Pins and Shirts are for sale, along with other
items. See the back pages of The Nevada Traverse for the
recently revised order form.
Legislatively, we are in an off year. Brett Lane has encouraged
the Board to stay vigilant regarding review of upcoming
legislation for the 2013 legislative session. Brett encouraged
the chapters to discuss with their legislative chairs any
proposed legislation of concern. NALS will soon be opening
dialog with Bruce Arkell for lobbying services for the 2013
Session.
The Davidson monument was officially “Christened” on the
north side of Boomtown Casino. The monument and plaque
lie in a fenced off area along side of a period bronze horse and
cowboy (how fitting). A group of approximately 75 people from
the NALS/CLSA Conference attended the event, which included
board members from both associations, plus the Boomtown
manager, with Paul Pace presiding.
We were well represented at the recent Western Federation of
Professional Surveyors meeting, as Nancy Almanzan and Matt
Gingerich attended. It is interesting to note the membership
status for each of the 14 states, as well as CLSA’s direction
towards a PDH requirement.
NSPS is in the throes of assimilating ACSM. In doing so,
we may be looking at a re-structuring of the dues in terms of
affiliation with the national organization. Paul Burn and Carl
C. deBaca are keeping a close watch on this process. NALS is
working on how to address this change as it affects Nevada.
Dialogue on this matter will be continuing. See the latest NSPS
Report in this issue of The Nevada Traverse, from our Nevada
NSPS Governor, Paul Burn, PLS.
The next NALS Board of Directors meeting will be held in Elko
on Friday, July 20th , 2012. I ask that everyone plan accordingly,
and try to attend the Great Basin Chapter picnic the following
day, Saturday, in support of your eastern chapter.
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