Legislative Day a Success

ATLANTA, GA

1998 President of the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (GA/ASLA) Brad Nestor, ASLA reports that a recent meeting between Landscape Architects and local legislators proved very successful. Nestor, a Landscape Architect with Atlanta-based Niles Bolton Landscape Group, worked with President-Elect Suzanne O'Neal, ASLA, to lead the local chapter in its first annual Legislative Day-- what he considers a "definite step in the right direction."

Last year's successful grass roots effort to block the governor's committee to eliminate the Board of Landscape Architects is credited to GA/ASLA's decision to hire a full-time lobbyist to help defend the effort. By taking a "more pro-active approach," Nestor explained, the chapter will now be able to "keep the board on solid ground." The chapter has since become more involved in bills and committees, and Landscape Architects will meet next year on a joint committee with professional engineers, surveyors and architects to talk about legislative issues that affect all of the professions; according to Nestor, "we will go there to build bridges, not burn them."

In addition, practitioners have joined an Allied Design Council-- made up of Landscape Architects, architects, graphic artists, environmental artists and interior designers-- to discuss issues of relevancy to this large member base, and to show a great cooperation between creative designers in Georgia. For more information, contact Brad Nestor at 404-365-7630.