PORTLAND, OR

Re-elected Congressman Bob Weygand speaks to an enraptured audience about the in's and out's of TEA 21 as ASLA Government Affairs Director Stan Bowman (right) and Byway Coordinator David H. Fasser, ASLA of the NY State Department of Transportation (left) are seated in the background.

At the 1998 ASLA Annual Meeting in Portland, OR, U.S. Congressman (RI-D), Bob Weygand, ASLA; Byway Coordinator David H. Fasser, ASLA of the New York State Department of Transportation; ASLA Vice President Professional Practice Patrick C. Moore, FASLA and ASLA Government Affairs Director Stan Bowman gathered to inform Landscape Architects on the importance of the Transportation Efficiency Act of the 21st Century (TEA 21).

Weygand explained how to get involved with your state transportation department: 1) Do a lot of research--How do they allocate their funds and what is their program?; 2) Find out some of the communities' needs. He made a challenge for action and stated, "We are stewards of this earth because we have chosen to be. Please become more involved because this is the only way we can become leaders of TEA 21." Fasser informed the audience on the structure and potential of the bill. He added, "As a Landscape Architect, nobody is going to come knocking on your door. Landscape Architects know how to interact with the community and mold the process so communities can develop their own goals."

Moore offered a political strategy for success. First comes the idea, then the money, and lastly a champion. A champion, for example, is a mayor of a community; these champions are the ones who make a decision of the project. See page ? for a breakdown of the TEA 21 Funding for Landscape Architecture Projects.