From The Publisher March 2000 Some things never change Can you believe it?!? I thought we were beyond this (and we were), but Pete Kirsch is barely out the door and LAM publisher Todd Stedman decides to take it upon himself to break the truce and send out an inflammatory promo piece about LASN claiming, upon other things, that LASN is telling advertisers that we are the official publication of the ASLA!?!?!? Sure . . . LASN has the largest commercial circulation in the market . . . . sure LASN has the most advertising . . . sure LASN has the most reader response . . . sure LASN has more color photography . . . but just because we've been successful doesn't give Stedman the right to use/abuse the ASLA's good name by printing slanderous information about LASN . . . . Where has this Stedman guy been the past 15 years? I'd like to meet anyone who thinks LASN is the official publication of the ASLA!?! What was he thinking . . . Stedman goes on to say that 60% of LAM's readership do not read LASN on a regular basis . . . OK, that is probably true . . . LASN doesn't get sold at Barnes and Noble and we don't go to students or company receptionists for the coffee table, so to say that 60% of LAM's readership doesn't read LASN is actually a compliment. Then Stedman goes on to challenge LASN, who has its second BPA Audit completed and printed for review (BPA is the most respected audit company for trade type magazines in the world . . ask any advertising agency and they'll confirm this . . . ) to "prove its claim" about readership. OK . . . The fact is that LASN can produce a detailed demographic profile on virtually every single reader. Please call LASN at 714-979-5276 for a copy of our BPA Audit and we'll happily send it to you in that same day's mail. If you want to see the records, please stop by our office any working day and I'll gladly open the files for your perusal. Now back at you . . . LAM, who tried to, but didn't get a BPA Audit a few years ago and now is attempting to get the consumer oriented ABC Audit, is so "proud" of it's circulation numbers that they purposefully printed the postal audit (a yearly requirement) in the most garbled fashion permissible to try and confuse those who understand its meaning. (see LAM Volume ???, Number ??? December 1999) Please, Mr. Stedman, send me a copy of your demographic breakdown today and remember, I am not a Landscape Architect, so please don't count me as one in your report! Oh, that's right, you don't have an audit . . . And who did you say did your readership survey??? Wasn't it the "Your Best Friends" accounting agency?? I know, lets get five (5) Landscape Architects, I'll pay for it, to come to our office and look at our demographic readership profile cards and then go to your office and look at the check stubs of your subscribers, we'll let them tell the profession who has the records and who is just a sour loser . . . . I certainly hope that whoever the ASLA hires to replace Kirsch will have the strength to control this rogue activity of Stedman and rekindle the cooperation between ASLA and LASN that has lead to such things as the current coalition between the ASLA, CELA, CLARB and the profession at large to raise $1million dollars in support of professional licensure . . . When we work together good things happen . . . Speaking of working together, LASN recently met with Chapter representatives of our Local SCC/ASLA Chapter to see how we can strengthen our ties and working relationship. Many great things were suggested and future meetings will prove to be fruitful for all involved . . . Good things happen when we work together . . . On a sadder note . . . Many of you already know that Past ASLA President, Professor Jot Carpenter, passed away on February 17th. Mr. Carpenter was giving a pro licensure speech to the Ohio State House when he collapsed and ultimately succumbed after several hours of emergency surgery. Jot had been a steady source of information to LASN and had on many occasions over the years let us know when we were right and just as equally let us have it when we were wrong. . . . The whole profession will miss Jot Carpenter . . . .