From The Publisher February 2000 They're all saying good-bye . . . Just when I get to the point of complimenting Pete Kirsch for getting the ball rolling with the licensure program and commenting on how things are changing . . . Bam . . . there they go again . . . Things are changing . . . Of course, I'm speaking about the recently announced departure of the one and only Pete Kirsch, EVP & CEO of ASLA, who is moving on to head an upstart Internet company called Enginenumber9 (E9). Here is the official release: "The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) announced the resignation of Peter A. Kirsch from the position of ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO, effective February 1, 2000. He has accepted the position of President and COO of the start-up Internet company Enginenumber9 (E9). Jim Tolliver, currently serving as ASLA Director of Education and Public Affairs, has agreed to assume the newly created position of the ASLA Management Team, providing executive leadership during the period between Kirsch's departure on February 2 and the arrival of the new CEO. Tolliver has previously served as the chief executive of two other associations. The search for a new CEO has already begun. Nominations are being gathered for a search committee to be comprised of two ASLA Trustees, one Chapter President, two members-at-large, and a Landscape Architecture Foundation representative. ASLA President Janice Cervelli Schach, FASLA will make the committee appointments next week. Kirsch has promised his assistance in the search for a new CEO and as a resource to make the transition easier. He credits his tenure at ASLA for paving the road to his new position. 'I have never had a more difficult decision in my life than to decide to leave ASLA,' Kirsch told a group of Society members. Enginenumber9.com is the builder and owner of community websites for the future. The internet company employs new and emerging technologies in a complete package - offering visitors to the website the ability to personalize their on-line experience." LASN will be tracking the ASLA's progress in hiring a new CEO. For additional updates, check our on-line news resource at www.landscapearchitect.com. Hey Pete . . . I'll be sorry to see you go . . . we've had our differences, but you kept us on our toes . . . Good Luck and stay in touch . . . . . Last Slash at Clinton Boy . . . I've never seen anyone able to control the media better than Clinton. Not only was virtually every camera angle during his State of the Union speech set to show the standing ovations of the Democratic party (as opposed to the non-standing, non clapping Republicans), but the sound monitors were obviously set to that side of the room as well. Lost in the record 90 minute speech was the fact that Clinton hopes to initiate more than 61 new federal programs - more than one a week - over the last year of his lame duck presidency. How fast could we pay down the National Debt if we just pay it down and not increase spending by some 300+ Billion a year. . . ? He does make for a great speech maker, though, all the way to his "I love You" thrown at an unresponsive Hillary. Although Freud stepped in when he talked about Gore's efforts to make a more "Liberal . . . I mean Livable " community. Oh well, Clinton's on his way to legacy land . . . We'll miss you, Mr. President . . . You certainly kept us on our toes . . . .