From The Publisher April 1996 "Architecture and landscape architecture share virtually nothing in terms of professional scope of practice. The complexities -and potential threats to public health, welfare, and safety- of designing a structurally sound building and its interior are immense. The same cannot be said of preparing the landscape surrounding such buildings." - Philip Bujakowski, AIA California Council Director of Governmental Relations "Send $100.00 a piece to the ASLA to pay for the lobbying effort". - Recent mailer from ASLA in California. "An addendum to the (Blind Person's) Guide Dog legislation . . . ." - One of the more recent legislative strategies to maintain licensure in CA. These three statements have several things in common including the arrival upon my desk at about the same time. The first is an excerpt from a letter by Mr. Bujakowski to a member of the California State Assembly titled "AB3164 - Landscape Architects Board Proposed Merger - OPPOSE I guess if you had notions of merging with the Architects you had better count on some heavy negotiations. The second comes from a mailer, apparently sent by a body of the ASLA, to LA's and those concerned stressing the need to pay more for the lobbying effort. LASN has inquired into how those money were being spent and have yet to hear from the person supposedly in charge of the funds. This is why we support the effort of the California Landscape Architects Political Action Committee (Fax # 714-838-0727). This PAC is under strict accountability for its monetary incomes and expenditures. The problem with sending more money to the ASLA is that you just can't be sure where it is going or if it is actually doing any long-term good. The third statement is from a conversation with a concerned and informed Landscape Architect who seemed to have the documentation to show that the lobbying effort pretty well centers upon the amendment to and adoption of a bill settling/delaying a decision until about the same time the Architects come up for review. Tagging along with the Guide Dogs?!? Please say it ain't so!!!---!!! FLORIDA BEWARE > > > Don't rely on a good lobbyist and a few well-placed slaps on the back. Get to the Public!!! Get to the Public!!! Get to the Public!!! www.Gettothepublic.com :-) !!! Did I mention at roughly the same time that the states appointed committee was preparing to make its recommendation about LA licensure, at least one Californian Chapter of the AIA held their "Open Space Awards" in which no landscape architect was a Judge nor was there verbiage (as well as I could tell) even acknowledging the LA Profession. Did I also mention that according to a conversation in February I had with a high ranking member of the CLCA (California Landscape Contractor Association), they were never officially contacted by the ASLA in search of support, or even to express good will during this whole current Californian Situation. Of course, this could be because of all the flak generated on whether actual work experience was a indicator of acquired knowledge for testing purposes. . . . Sniff . . . Sniff . . . Sniff . . . Only when first constructed with concrete and steel, should one not care if there is fire on the bridge :-() OK. Now I can't/won't say for sure who's doing what with the money, and I surely don't want to accuse anybody of wrong doing, but somebody is doing something wrong! I suggest we forget all of the above and get out there and be the kicker instead of the kicked ! ! ! How ? You say . . . I'm glad you asked . . . . As you know, there is an election this November and as your unofficial candidate I would start by setting a substantial budget for "Licensure Defence" and then immediately allocating 30% to the California Effort to affiliate themselves with the Dogs (it is just too darn late for anything else and this does get us an extension) and 70% into Florida. Now, you other states looking at sunset activities would start to get from the budget in three months but being the second largest state in numbers of Licensed LA's and a current hot spot for media activity and attention, Florida has to be the immediate focus. The first month's money from National ASLA would be to assess the legislative atmosphere, document friend v. foe, assess potential alliances, determine resources for mass communication with constituents in targeted districts. The next two months allotment would be used to produce and distribute Public Service announcements promoting the symbiotic relationship between the public and the practice of Landscape Architecture with a message attacking crime, violence and injury in parks and open spaces. Advertising, supporting and influencing should be the focus of the ASLA.