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President Elect: Cory Shupe - Blu-Line Designs

VP of Member Services: Jesse Bell, MGB+A

Education and Licensure Member-at-large: Greg Boudrero, MGB+A

Secretary: Robert Donigan - Logan Simpson Design

Why Mentor? Today, more firms are scraping for smaller

contracts, in more diverse market sectors, and with less

resources than in several decades. Why is now the time for a

practitioner to take additional time out to mentor a student?

In 2009, leaders in the Utah chapter of ASLA and USU’s

LAEP program met to discuss the greatest threats to the

next generation of practitioners. The resultant discussions

pointed time and again to the divide that separates future

practitioners—students in BLA and MLA programs—from

current practitioners. With an unusual show of leadership,

ASLA’s leadership endeavored to strike at the heart of the

problem, forming the Catalyst Committee. The group’s

express purpose was to break down the divide that

separates professional practice from academe. And central

to that mission was the creation of a bridge between

students and experienced landscape architects.

It is highly unlikely those reading this will have had a

mentor as a student. It is equally unlikely that any readers,

when they were students, would have turned down the

opportunity to work one-on-one with a mentor. The “great

divide”, as the Committee called it, is nothing new. However,

today, in the midst of the Great Recession, students are

straining for any means to assure that they are best prepared

graduates in the country. They—just like their professional

colleagues—are seeking any leg up on the competition.

Utah ASLA and LAEP are committed to helping them get

that competitive advantage over regional competitors like

Colorado State, the University of Arizona, and Texas Tech, as

well as programs across the whole of the U.S.

What can you do? Simply put, we need at least 32

practitioner-mentors. This academic year will be the pilot

launch of the program, and will pair one mentor with each

student in his/her final year of the BLA and MLA programs.

The program calls for you to pull back the veil on the

professional life of a landscape architect, whether in private

or public practice, in a for-profit or not-for-profit setting. It

asks you to speak into the life of a young person whose hope

is that they might learn from your hard-won experience.

In short, it asks you to open your world to your mentee

for 2-4hr a month. Those hours—whether visiting a site,

sitting in on a public meeting, or commenting on that first

interview—will be invaluable to them, and often will involve

little more than the mentor extending an invitation.

In the U.S., mentor programs in landscape architecture

programs are almost unheard of. Utah’s ASLA members

have an opportunity to distinguish themselves as leaders

nationally. And, in so doing, to give the next generation of

landscape architects a better shot at bridging the divide. If

you have 5 or more years of professional experience, is an

ASLA member, and are willing to help a young person, please

submit a Mentor Application form by Sept. 1 to: Alicia Smith,

Executive Director of UASLA. alidarmonsmith@gmail.com

John Kennedy Nicholson, 62, beloved

husband, father, brother and uncle, died July

9, 2010, at the University of Utah hospital.

John grew up in a loving family in Lawrence,

Kan. At age 13, he traveled throughout Europe

for a year with his parents. This trip unlocked

a passion and curiosity for “how cities work”

that would lead him to his profession as

an urban planner. At the University of Kansas, where he

obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees, he met

the love of his life, Jane, and the two were married in 1970.

Feeling a draw to the Mountain West, they moved to Casper,

Wyo., then to Salt Lake City, and 31 years ago to Logan.

A 30-year career as associate professor in the Department of

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at Utah

State University was fulfilling in every way. He loved working

with inspiring colleagues (many of them close friends) and

with so many bright students over the years. He embraced

the challenges and continuous learning that came with the

position.

Some of the most satisfying professional experiences for

John included: working on the Salt Lake City Olympic bid

in the early 1980s (which helped pave the way for the

successful 2002 bid), two Fulbright teaching fellowships in

Germany (1987-88 in Bremen, 1994 in Dresden), developing

and fostering an exchange program between the landscape

architecture programs at USU and the University of Ljubljana,

Slovenia, planning/leading several spring break study trips

for LAEP students to Paris and Berlin, and several stints as

a guest professor in the Master of Landscape Architecture

program in Bernburg, Germany. His many experiences in

Germany, most often with Jane, a German teacher, led to a

knowledge and love of the culture, fluency of the language

and lasting cross-cultural friendships.

John loved Logan and wanted to contribute to the

community by making it an even better place. He served

many years on the Historic Preservation Commission,

the Downtown Alliance, and most recently the Bicycle/

Pedestrian Commission.

John had many talents and interests: gifted musician,

designer and woodworker, enthusiastic athlete (windsurfer,

skier, biker …) “yurt” designer/builder, fly-fisherman,

adventure planner for the family - but perhaps his most

impressive talent was in raising two wonderful, loving sons

who want always to honor his memory.

Diagnosed almost two years ago with lung cancer, John

continued to live life to the fullest. He made it his mission to

be active every day, taking daily ski tours, bike rides or hikes.

The joy experiencing the beauty of nature brought was a

powerful cancer antidote. He was an inspiration to all who

watched as he faced the physical and emotional challenges

of really LIVING with a terminal diagnosis.

John is survived by his wife, Jane; and sons, Patrick and

Paul. His passing leaves a mighty void in their lives, but the

countless memories of his beautiful life will help sustain

them.

In lieu of flowers, John would prefer a donation to the John

Nicholson Scholarship Fund for graduate students in the

Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental

Planning, Utah State University, 4005 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT

84322-4005.

A memorial service for John was held on August 7th.

Published in Logan Herald Journal from July 12 to July 25

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Thanks!
Alicia

In addition to the Summit powerpoint presentation, there are several new or revised tools available on the website, including:
·         Advocacy Day 101 – planning your advocacy event
·         Coalition building toolkit – ideas and strategies for building relationships with other organizations
·         Tips on hiring and working with a state lobbyist
·         Handy links to the state bill tracking system; the Advocacy Network; and the ASLA Public Policies.
 
On another front, the crisis resulting from the oil spill is a timely reminder for chapters to utilize the Disaster Preparedness Handbook.  This system was created in response to the hurricanes of 2005.  If your chapter is not already using this manual, please take a few minutes to look through the handbook and discuss with your chapter ExCom.

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If you have any questions about the Summit or any of these tools, please contact me.
Julia
 
Julia M. Lent
Government Affairs Director
American Society of Landscape Architects
Phone: 202-216-2330
jlent@asla.org

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