I was speaking with an industry insider the other day and he showed me some statistics that said that the development industry is in solid shape for at least the next decade. That?EUR??,,????'???s a long time . . . But I do believe the numbers are real. Every bit of LASN research indicates the same thing. About the only place doing better than the USA is China . . . And you have to speak Mandarin to make any kind of profit over there . . .

Still, this country is not only building . . . It is building landscapes. There is one catch though . . . Who is doing the designs?

I probably should wait until all the research is in (we are collecting the data as I write), but from what I?EUR??,,????'???ve seen so far, the profession is both doing great and starting to flounder. On the one hand, there isn?EUR??,,????'???t a development worth speaking about that doesn?EUR??,,????'???t employ a Landscape Architect. On the other hand, there are barely enough Landscape Architects coming out of college to fill the need.

This is leaving the door open for architects, engineers, landscape contractors, computer hacks and Aunt Mabel to do the designs. I saw another statistic that said that an average Landscape Architect is pulling in better than $70K a year. In most parts of the country that?EUR??,,????'???s good money . . . and it is just an average. The more experienced you are the higher that number goes.

Heck, even Eddie George is back in the business . . . (Sorry, but it?EUR??,,????'???s the week before the Super Bowl). Believe me, he made a penny or two in the NFL and I doubt he?EUR??,,????'???d be working the kinds of projects he is if there wasn?EUR??,,????'???t a decent cash flow involved . .

Still, the profession is on the verge of gaining nationwide licensure, demand is sky high, development is going through (and even includes) the roof, the environment is a perpetual top-10 conversation item at cocktail parties, the money is there, the empty work stations are there . . . Only, who is going to fill the seats?!?

Now is the time that the ASLA needs to step up, not alone, but to the exclusion of any other profession, and set to the task of winning the hearts and souls of the college bound (read that ?EUR??,,????'??career bound?EUR??,,????'???) youth.

From the disaster-stricken south to the sprawling tentacles of suburbia, there is going to be nothing but an increase in demand for your services. But where are the Landscape Architects coming from?

I see Landscape Architects taking great pride in being featured on the home improvement shows . . . But that, if anything, makes the RLA seem more like Aunt Mabel than Donald Trump. Where is Weygand when a national spokesman needs to be seen in New Orleans? Where is Eddie George this Super Bowl weekend?

Where is Walker? Where is Halprin? Heck . . . Where are the past presidents and Fellows . . . And I really don?EUR??,,????'???t mean to pick on those guys . . .

I just know where they are not . . . and that is on the front page. Nor do we see them in front of a camera, nor in the pages of Time or Newsweek walking and talking the big projects, steering the public toward solid, responsible and exciting development.

Listen . . . I know it is not easy to get recognition . . . Believe me, I know. But now is the time to fill the schools with the next generation of RLA?EUR??,,????'???s. Push the profession into the spotlight. Push the profession into the public consciousness and conscience. The public is ready. The tools are available. The profession is worthy . . .

All you need is a working plan, a few details and a few good people to pitch the project . . . Hmmmm . . . Sounds to me like it?EUR??,,????'???s a natural . . .

?EUR??,,????'??+God Bless