From The Publisher March 1999 Bigger and Better Profession . . . Just think . . . 100 years ago, Frederick Olmsted, Jr. and a couple of his contemporaries were sitting around the club trying to get a little recognition for their work as Landscape Architects, and behold, born is the ASLA. That makes this the 100th anniversary of the Society and official naming of the profession. Back then, the world was beginning to enter the build'em high and don't spare the resources phase of progress, and Olmsted was a second generation visionary who preceded the Teddy Roosevelt "save it for future generations" movement, and whose father was in a large part responsible for the development of the National Park Service. So what am I teaching you . . .? Most of you learned this stuff in your 101 years. Now hardly a building goes up where there isn't an ordinance to landscape the perimeter and restore the urban feel. Demand for Landscape Architects is on the rise . . . . But landscape architectural numbers are still low . . . very low. Pete Kirsch, EVP of ASLA, recently was quoted saying that there are only "30,000 Landscape Architects" compared against 200,000 Architects and 400,000 engineers. He further went on to say that there are now "13,000 members of ASLA." Unfortunately, Kirsch had to exaggerate just to get us to the low numbers!?! Actually there are only 16,500 Licensed/Registered Landscape Architects in the United States, and only 10,000 non-student members of ASLA, and only 7,000 or so full members. (i.e. real Landscape Architects.) It's not that there isn't room to grow, nor is it that no one wants to join, but instead the profession has an inferior licensure strategy and it is costing you money and the profession numbers, and the society members, and you money . . . well you get the picture. Now with Stan Bowman gone, ASLA doesn't even have any one leading the legislative A-Team . . . . What needs to happen is that landscape contractors and landscape designers with more than "X" years experience need to be allowed to test for a Landscape Architectural license, and the states need to be coerced into tighter enforcement of the licensure laws. This is clearly in the public's interest, in that a licensed Landscape Architect knows better (or at least should know better) than to plant a noxious weed plant in an exposed setting, and knows better than to plant a tall bushy tree that will block the neighbors' view, and knows better than to specify inferior pavers in a high traffic setting, and knows better than to put a play structure over 2 inches of sand . . . . and the public is also bettered in that they can hold landscape plans as an asset on their home and can bid and work the completion of the plans in phases as their budget permits (at a more competitive price). Again, the current situation is such that these inferior professionals, (i.e. contractors and designers) are being grudged out the business in the fear that they are/will steal the business, when in fact they could and should be brought into the fold, allowed to practice, and solicited for their support of the licensure laws. Business will increase and so will your professional status! When a 100-year-old society, promoting a profession with the public impact of Landscape Architecture, has gained an average of only 70 full members a year . . . something is off center. . . The Society is pumping out exaggerated numbers, the profession is crying for support, licenses are being delegated away, but, at the same time, the public is coming around to your side . . . . Now, at the 100th year, is the time to throw away that elitist atmosphere, open the doors to the peripheral professions, promote others to take the test and gain a license, and start a path of real growth. Now is the time, now is the time, now is the time . . . . Bigger and Better landscapearchitect.com . . . Now is also the time to check out landscapearchitect.com . . . More than 100 landscape architectural firms have recently added their profile to the site and more are being added every day. This is a great opportunity to generate more exposure for the profession and generate more business for you . . . . Bigger and Better World Premieres . . . And if you think that's a bright idea, keep your eye out for the little light bulbs throughout this issue of LASN. That light bulb means that you are looking at a World Premiere product introduction or a World Premiere advertisement. There are 50 such in this issue alone. More and more, the advertisers are turning to LASN to introduce their "newest of their new" to reach the Landscape Architects and development professionals. More and more, you should turn to LASN to find them . . . . See you all in Boston . . . . . George