Northern California ASLA Chapter

Mitch Wilks, ASLA, Chapter President

The Northern California ASLA Chapter Professional Awards 2011 Recipients: Cathy Garrett, PGAdesign, Inc.; Gary Strang, GLS Landscape Architecture; Karen Krolewski, PGAdesign; Melissa Erikson, The Planning Center DC&E; Andrew Sullivan, Office of Cheryl Barton; Scott Lewis, Scott Lewis Landscape Architecture; and Jason Rowe, AECOM Design and Planning.
Photo: Karen Verpeet

During the 2010-11 term the chapter welcomed April Philips (then president-elect), Sarka Volejnikova (vice president), Amy Cupples-Rubiano and James Ingels (directors) to their new positions on the Executive Committee (ExComm). They joined Chris Kent (trustee), Dave Mitchell (CCASLA delegate), Ann Baker (past-president and CCASLA delegate), Karen Verpeet (secretary/treasurer) and Tim Coppola (director).

ASLA Northern California Chapter/Friends of Sausal Creek Volunteer Workday at Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland.
Photo courtesy of Melinda Stockmann

The first event on the docket was the Winter Gala, held at the U.C. Berkeley Faculty Club in early December 2010. April Philips was introduced as an ASLA Fellow. John King, columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, and Clare Cooper-Marcus, Professor Emeritus, U.C. Berkeley, were introduced as honorary ASLA members.

Our Emerging Professionals (EP) program engaged newer professionals in landscape architecture. ExComm worked with members of the EP to create opportunities for networking, training, pro bono experience and mentorship. Efforts this past year included a pro bono conceptual site master plan for an Oakland elementary school, and a panel discussion: “Working Independently: Creating and Maintaining a Firm in Landscape Architecture.”
During Landscape Architecture Month in April our EP program held a walking tour of Mission Bay Open Spaces in San Francisco. The chapter’s Annual Meeting and Professional Awards were held at the Lake Chalet in Oakland.

The ASLA Northern California Chapter Emerging Professionals walking tour viewed open spaces in Mission Bay.
Photo courtesy of Kate Tollefson.

The chapter supported a screening of “Women In The Dirt,” a documentary by Carolann Stoney. The screening was followed by a discussion led by U.C. Berkeley professors Louise Mozingo and Linda Jewell, and featured Cheryl Barton and Andrea Cochran, both of whom were in the film.

This term has been capped by the selection of Laura Leuer as our Executive Administrator. The chapter looks forward to her organizational wizardry and some deep strategic planning. The ExComm has once again shed some members and gained others as we head into 2011-2012. It is a time of significant opportunity for the chapter. There are avenues available for building high visibility programs/roles.

In Memoriam
Tyler Fishman Manchuck, born and raised in Atlanta, earned her BLA at the University of Georgia, then moved to California. There she worked for Schwartz and Associates and April Philips Design Works before joining Shades of Green Landscape Architecture as a partner.

“Tyler was creating gardens, both literally and spiritually. It is nice to know that Tyler’s gardens will grow, thrive and live on. We will continue to create beautiful and thoughtful gardens in Tyler’s honor,” recalls Ive Haugelund, principal at Shades of Green Landscape Architecture.

 

Tyler Fishman Manchuck passed away December 9, 2010 at the youthful age of 35. See ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Fishman Manchuck was passionate about sustainability. She went to classes and courses to learn about water harvesting, Bay-Friendly Landscaping practices and stormwater methods, implementing sustainable materials, methods and practices into projects. She was a leader in SPUR’s Green Roof task force and volunteered as a planning commissioner in Mill Valley.

She is survived by her husband Chris Manchuck, her sister and parents.

 

To see other 2011 ASLA chapter reports click here.