Amid Beautiful Fall Color... 1997 Annual ASLA Meeting Garners Kudos! by Kay Tiller, Executive Regional Editor The lush, southern landscape of Atlanta, Georgia served as a beautiful location for the 1997 Annual ASLA Meeting in November. City lights, still twinkling from the excitement of the Centennial Olympic Games last summer, beckoned Landscape Architects and industry professionals to one of the most popular annual meeting ever. Among the "differences" in the meeting this year was the return of the Monday evening "Closing Banquet." At the behest of President Donald Leslie, I understand, this lovely tradition--at which the new officers are inaugurated and the dance music is something other than "hard rock,"--was held in the Marriott Marquis Hotel Ballroom, and was a great hit with those who stayed to attend it. Of course, the "hard rock" crowd got all they wanted the previous evening at that Gala. Held at the restored Fox Theatre in downtown Atlanta, the Egyptian themed celebration drew some costumed attendees. Among the most interestingly costumed couples were past ASLA president Bob Mortensen and his wife Janie. Janie swathed herself in gold lame, and came as a mummy; Bob resembled the proverbial archaeologist who searched the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. It was great! At the Opening General Assembly on Saturday morning, President Donald Leslie introduced Ambassador Andrew Young as Keynote Speaker, who, prior to being the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, served two terms as Mayor of Atlanta, and was instrumental in bringing the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games to his city. His informative address challenged Landscape Architects to work with the land, and to improve it for generations to come. The education sessions were designed to appeal to every segment of the landscape architectural profession and were extremely well attended. Six separate track discussed specific projects, and brought generalities into focus: Landscape Architecture in the Civic Realm, Emerging Areas of Practice, Rediscovering the Garden, Historic Landscape Preservation, Techniques and Practice Management. There was certainly something for everyone! The speakers and panel leaders included all types of authorities, from honorary ASLA member Grady Clay, to professors from many university Landscape Architecture programs, to a number of practitioners both from the private and public sectors. Interestingly enough, one of the best attended sessions covered "getting a Piece of the Federal Pie," and was led by Betsy Cuthbertson, former liaison for ASLA, along with a number of other professionals and governmental authorities. Some attendees expressed a desire to change the format of the Alumni parties, opting to go somewhere else to have their own party rather than "thrown into" a room with hundreds of other people. Others voiced dissatisfaction with the tours all being on Friday, as attendees had to come in early and pay an additional hotel night to get on the tours. It was suggested that having the tours on each day, spreading them out during the meeting, would perhaps be better. Well-known and well-loved University of Massachusetts Professor, Julius Fabos, FASLA, was presented with the prestigious President's Medal by outgoing ASLA President Donald Leslie. Each ASLA President has the honor of bestowing the President's Medal on the person who he or she deems has given the most to the profession and to the society. Leslie himself received the medal at the 1994 San Antonio meeting from then President Tom Papandrew. Great plans are already underway to celebrate the ASLA Centennial Celebration, to be held at the 1999 Annual Meeting in Boston (where it all began). A special medallion has already been struck, and Barry Starke, FASLA, urged attendees to wear them during the meeting. If you are interested in participating in either the 1998 convention in Portland, OR or the 1999 Centennial Celebration in Boston, MA, please call 202-898-2444. 74 Seminars followed six educational tracks of interest (far left) at the 1997 ASLA Meeting, and were well attended by enthusiastic practitioners. Landscape Specifiers enjoyed a broad display of innovative products and services on the Expo Floor (Left).