Fall 2008

IPLSA DUES FOR 2009 – SPECIAL PROGRAM

At the September IPLSA Official Board of Directions meeting, the Board voted not to raise the 2009 dues.  This is the second year in a row that the Board has taken this action.  Due to layoffs and cut-backs by some companies, contact the IPLSA office if you need to pay your dues in more than one payment.  We hope that this will help our members during this time of uncertainty. 

IPLSA 52^ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Mark your calendars for the 52^nd IPLSA Annual Conference to be held Wednesday February 11 through Saturday February 14, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Springfield.  The IPLSA Winnebago Chapter has put together a great line-up of educational sessions.  Speakers include David Doyle, Dick Elgin, Anthony Gregory, David Ingram, John “Steve” Parrish, Chris Pearson, Walter Robillard, John Stahl, and a panel discussion for the 4-hours of Statutes and Standards led by Jim Hankins. 

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SURVEYING ANNOUNCES “MUSEUM PREVIEW NIGHT”

The National Museum of Surveying is pleased to announce the first event at the new Museum in Springfield, Illinois.  “Museum Preview Night“ will be held on surveyor Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, Thursday evening, February 12, 2009 at the Museum which is literally across the street from the Old State Capitol where Lincoln served as Illinois State Representative and where he gave his famous “House Divided” speech.  The party will be held in conjunction with the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Annual Conference.  To celebrate Lincoln’s bicentennial birthday, Lincoln scholars from around the world will be in Springfield that day for symposia on Lincoln’s life.  So will we surveyors, to celebrate Lincoln and the opening of the National Museum of Surveying. 

Not all of the displays will be completed by that date, but the extensive interior renovations are complete, “Science on a Sphere” (one focal point of the Museum) is complete and a wide representation of early American surveying equipment is on display.  To accommodate our group and the Lincoln scholars and aficionados, that evening, the Old State Capitol Building (across the street) will be open for viewing and tours.  It will be quite a night for our Museum, its members and surveyors, generally.  Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served.  Tickets will be $15.00.

For more information, tickets and reservations, look for info at our home page or email info@iplsa.org.

LOOK TO IPLSA AS YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROVIDER

Attending an IPLSA Annual Conference is your best bargain to obtain your Professional Development Hours (PDHs).  You can obtain an average of 15 PDHs by attending the IPLSA Annual Conference, which is the best value for your money.  The average cost for attending a conference is around $700 (+/-) not including transportation, which is around $46 (+/-) for 1 PDH.  With three full breakfasts, two lunches and a banquet meal this is a real deal.  IPLSA sponsored seminars are also you best value to pick up additional PDHs.  A typical one-day seminar will give you 7 PDHs at a cost of under $30 (+/-) per PDH.  This cost is far below what the private seminar providers’ offer and the profits from the IPLSA sponsored events are used to help defer the cost of providing member services.  I wonder where the private seminar provider profits go.

IPLSA CHAPTER MEETINGS – WHY ATTEND?

When was the last time you looked forward to attending your chapter meeting?  Chapter meetings should be the life blood of IPLSA.  The best meetings not only get projects accomplished, but they also motivate members to become more involved.

Secrets to Successful Meetings

• Plan the mission of the meeting.  The best meetings are planned ahead when the president determines the purpose of the meeting.

·  Once a purpose is determined it should be shared with the members in the meeting announcement so they can be prepared to discuss the issue in hand.

·  If members have an issue they want discussed, they should ask that it be added to the agenda that is sent out in the meeting announcement.

Make it Private Meeting

• When making meeting reservations make sure you reserve a “private” room at the facility.

Start the Meeting on Time – Take Charge – Keep it Moving

• This seems like common sense, but it happens all of the time. Starting the meeting on time shows your members that you respect their busy schedules.  If you have a reputation of starting a meeting late your members will stop showing up on time pushing your start time later and later.
• New members or visitors should be introduced and be made to feel welcome.
• The leader needs to take control and keep control of the meeting at all times. The leader needs to take a position of authority - literally in the room and in his voice.
• If the discussion takes on that of a committee it should be assigned to a committee.
• One person should talk at a time and private conversations should not take place.
• One person should not be allowed to take control of the meeting.
• All members should have the opportunity to be heard.

Motivate the Membership

• While the president might be the leader the members share the responsibility of making it work.
• The key to getting members involved in the workings of the chapter is to get them invested. You might try having a brainstorming session.
• Topics could include: What is the worst thing about our meetings? What do we expect form our meetings? What do we expect from our state association?

Reward Attendance

• Sometimes getting members to attend takes bribery.  Think about having each member put in a dollar and the winner gets one half of the pot and the other half a stays in the chapter for a chapter project.
• Make sure the meeting offers something of value to the member whether it is the program, meal, or news of a project undertaking by the chapter or association.

Get Everyone Talking

• The president does not have to do all of the talking. Find ways to include members. Think about adding a feature called biography to every meeting. Two members could be assigned a meeting where they tell something about themselves, their family, their business or their hobbies.
• Have the member stand up when they address the group, which will make the speaker aware that they are talking and hopefully then won’t speak to long.

 Have Fun

· Even when the agenda has some important items you need to have fun at the meeting. Leave some time for socializing. 

End on a Positive Note

·  Always end the meeting on a high note. Summarize what has been discussed and accomplished during the meeting.  Go over any assignments that have been given out or items that need to be followed up.

·  If members leave the meeting knowing something got done, and that their input was valued, then they will not only think better of attending chapter meetings they will have a positive view of the association.

Meet Between Meetings

·  Ideally, monthly meetings shouldn’t be the only time that the officers meet.  The chapter leaders should be in touch via the phone or e-mails to discuss what should take place at the upcoming meeting.

NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS NEWS

The legislation creating National Surveyors Week was finally passed by Congress on ________.  The Resolution calls for the _______ week of March to be designated as National Surveyors Week in the United States and all state associations. Local chapters are encouraged to participate in an activity to make the public aware of the importance of land surveying and how land surveying and land surveyors played a significant role in the development of the United Sates of America.

SUNSET LEGISLATION TO BE INTRODUCED

The Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Act of 1989, as amended, will come to and end in 2009.  In order to continue to be licensed for an additional ten years, new legislation must be introduced into the Illinois General Assembly.  This process is called “Sunset” and requires all of the Design Professions to prove to the Legislature that they should continue to be licensed.  IPLSA has a committee reviewing the current IPLS Act to see if any of the language should be revised.  The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) will introduce the bill this fall and it will start through the legislative process shortly after the first of the year.

U.S. CONGRESS LOOKS AT AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE