Now it seems that fuel has been added to the fire with a report taken from a letter to ASLA membership, written by a nominee for president-elect Jerry Soesbe. According to that letter, more than 5,900 ASLA members have quit the Society over the last six years. Even so, the ASLA continues to claim a solid membership count at around 10,000. With more than 1/2 its members leaving the Society it becomes apparent why the ASLA recognizes so many ?EUR??,,????'??Landscape Architects?EUR??,,????'?? outside the realm of registration.

Why have so many left? Ask one who has and you?EUR??,,????'???ll hear a repetitive, ?EUR??,,????'??The only benefit I get from my ASLA membership is a subscription to LAM, and I don?EUR??,,????'???t need to spend $200 to get a subscription.?EUR??,,????'?? What has happened to the ASLA? When will they ever learn?

Back in the early and mid 80?EUR??,,????'???s, the ASLA would hold their Annual Meeting and draw between 3,000 and 5,000 professionals. During that time, the ASLA?EUR??,,????'???s magazine was neatly repackaged, registration was still a priority, the number of landscape architects was increasing and the profession was growing so strong there became room for additional publications like LASN. That was back in the days of Ed Able, the then Executive Director of the ASLA. Then, of course, someone got the bright idea of hiring a new executive director, David Bohardt, whose previous role was the head of a society of morticians, and the ASLA has been dying a slow death ever since.

Maybe the ASLA should change its name to the ASPP for American Society of Posy Planters and let the IRLA handle the task of strengthening the profession. Believe me, I have the greatest respect for the thousands of volunteers who have worked their tails to the bone for the ASLA, but the facts are that the Annual Meeting attendance has consistently declined to a low, last year, of barely 1,500; the once vaunted LAM is now winning awards by representing the profession with a Lawn Mower (the old garden variety lawn mower, circa 1950) on the front cover (and on news stands nationwide); ASLA ?EUR??,,????'??Presidents Award?EUR??,,????'?? winners are raising their arms and quitting the Society; neither president-elect nominee even mentioned registration in their ?EUR??,,????'??Concepts and Aims?EUR??,,????'??; and registration is now, in effect, a hindrance to increased membership.

Am I writing this to rip the ASLA or to rip David Bohardt? Not at all! It just so happens that those are the facts and none of us, especially LASN, prefers this to be the situation. The profession of Landscape Architecture has the potential to be one of the most influential and beneficial professions to grace the earth. Only through registration and a strong Institute/Society will the profession reach that plateau. If you are a Registered Landscape Architect or someday hope to be, the time is now for you to take a stand and make a difference.

?EUR??,,????'??+Good Luck and God Bless