Fall 2007

PLANS FOR THE 2008 IPLSA CONFERENCE IN HIGH GEAR:

The Chicago Chapter is firming up the details for the 2008 IPLSA Annual Conference to be held February 20–23, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Springfield. 

IDFPR MEETING:

The IDFPR Land Surveyors Licensing Broad met on Wednesday, August 29 in Springfield.  First on the agenda was Roy R. Frank Jr., PLS, Associate Professor of the land surveying program at SIUC.  Professor Frank had requested a meeting with the board to discuss the Definition of Related Science (Section 1270.15) under the current IPLS Act Administrative Rules. 

Professor Frank explained the problem he and others were having when asked by students to advise them on what courses they should take to satisfy the related science requirement. The problem was more specifically described as part c) Additional Basic Sciences (including but not limited to: Geology, Geography, Dendrology, Astronomy, Biology, Soil Mechanics, and Engineering Sciences) – 20 semester hours.  Professor Frank stated that there was no problem with this list, but the words, but not limited to, presented the problem.

Professor Frank distributed a list that he had put together of courses offered by SIUC at SUCE (their surveying course was recently approve by the board) and some community colleges around the state.  The list expands the courses in the present rule, which was drafted in the early 1990s. Professor Frank further pointed out that the items in the current list are courses and no actual degrees. 

Professor Frank asked the board to look over the list to see if they had any problems with the courses listed and if they had any others that they would consider adding to the list.  He pointed out that Computer Science Technical, Resource Management and Universities Study degrees are not on the list, although students with these degrees are applying for the surveying course and the board may want to consider them.

Professor Frank stated that when a student asks a faculty member or guidance counselor if a particular course will be approved, they need to be sure that it will be approved. He said that when someone from academia gives a student an opinion of what will be approved makes them liable for that opinion.

After several minutes of discussion, Chairman Green asked Professor Frank to create a list of courses with descriptions from SIU and the community colleges that he felt should be “science” courses and submit it to M. David Brim, Designs Licensing Manager of IDFPR, who would then distribute the list to the board members for their review and approval as a recommended list.

Professor Frank told the board that there were 47 people enrolled in the SIUC Fall CE 461 Surveying Course held at Joliet, Illinois and 80 students in the beginning course at Carbondale. He also said that the surveying course is growing at SIUC and they are currently looking into a recognized surveying specialization certificate program within civil engineering. 

NCEES MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA:

IDFPR Land Surveyors Licensing Board Chairman G. Thomas Green attended the annual meeting of the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES)   He reported on the surveyor forum and the discussion of GPS machine control activities.  Some states have put the practice under the definition of land surveying if the data is changed or in anyway or manipulated.  Chairman Green noted that in these states, the land surveyor is able to do some design work under the definition of land surveying. It was noted in some states like Illinois, this manipulation could mean designing, which could constitute engineering.

IPLSA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE  LOOKS AT CHANGES TO COMMITTEE PROCEDURES:

Carol Sweet-Johnson, PLS, IPLSA President-elect and Chair of the Planning and Goals Committee, reported to the executive committee, at their meeting on August 4^th, that she was looking at a way to get the IPLSA committees more involved.  IPLSA President Jim Rose and others on the committee had discussed how to improve on the committee process at previous meeting. 

The plan under discussion is to have committees meet a minimum of 2 times a year, once at the annual conference and once before or following one of the following three IPLSA Official Board of Directions meetings, which are held in May, September and December of each year. The committee meeting would start around 9:30am and go to 11:30am.  The board meeting would start at 11:30am and go to 1:30pm with lunch being served.  This concept would begin with the annual conference in February 2008 and the May 2008 board meeting. It is anticipated that chapters presidents could assign some of their members who serve on committees to also be delegates to the board to lesson travel to Springfield.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SURVEYING UPDATE:

David Lee Ingram, PLS and chairman of the National Museum of Surveying, Inc. Board of Trustees, recently issued the following Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/29/07

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY at the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SURVEYING

In one of those moments that bring joy to the heart, construction for renovations began on August 15, 2007, at the new home of the National Museum of Surveying in Springfield, IL.  Brad Rushing with Landgrebe Interior Construction brought in staff and equipment on the 15^th and immediately went to work removing old carpet, ceiling, and other items that had to be out of the way.  The immediate task at hand is to prepare the basement storage areas so that the National Museum of Surveying and the Under the Prairie Museum can start furnishing their respective storage areas and move in their collections in anticipation of a spring 2008 opening.

Since purchasing the building on March 1, 2007, the National Museum of Surveying had been preparing for this day by dreaming about interior layout for the building, firming up lease arrangements with prospective tenants, and working with architects.  Architect Wally Henderson worked with us for several months and recently turned the project over to the firm of Graham & Hyde who are the firm that designed the original building. Their combined efforts are leading to a well designed, functional layout that will serve us for years to come.

In other news, fund raising efforts are progressing with many nice donations showing up in the mail on a daily basis.  Of particular note in recent weeks is the increasing level of participation from surveying chapters across the nation.  From North to South, East to West gifts from chapters is arriving in amounts from $500 to $15,000.  And there must be something special if the name of the chapter includes the words “North-East” as evidenced by two of our larger gifts.  The North-East chapter of Texas sent a gift of $2,000 and the Northeast chapter of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association (IPLSA) sent a gift and pledge totaling $15,000.  The Two Rivers Chapter of IPLSA sent $5,000 earlier this summer. If all the chapters from across the country participated we would put a very large dent in our mortgage and construction costs.

A very special gift arrived in the mail from the student chapter of South Western Community College in Sylva, NC.  These students, according to Professor Peter Messier, took it upon themselves to raise $300 for the Museum.  Friends like these students are indeed very special to the Museum.

Elsewhere, individual gifts and state society gifts are coming in, but there is still a long way to go before we open our doors.  The Board of Trustees is currently receiving applications for a Director of the Museum and hope to have staff on board by the end of October.  Grant applications are being submitted for other sources of funding with an optimistic outlook for success.