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[ minutes, continued ]

Strategic Planning
Greg de Bruin, Chair
• Our last Strategic Planning retreat was in 2017. Our latest retreat is
scheduled for May 12-14, 2022 in Saratoga Springs. Requests have We have recently been made aware of email scams targeting
been sent to all regionals to send at least 2 representatives – with 1 our association. We wanted to inform you of a common cyber-
hopefully be a new young member who has not attended before. The attack that everyone should be aware of called “phishing”.
committee will be reaching out to regionals who have not yet responded. “Phishing” is the most common type of cyber-attack that
The committee is hoping for representation from 100% of our regionals.
affects organizations like ours. Phishing attacks can take many
Nominations forms, but they
Glennon Watson, Chair all share a common goal – getting you to share sensitive
• nothing to report information such as login credentials, credit card information,
Young Professionals or bank account details.
Heather Schultz Although we maintain controls to help protect our networks
• The YP committee is holding a webinar/Panel Discussion titled Tips & Tricks and computers from cyber threats, it’s important everyone is
Learned on the Job Friday March 25th at 12:00. Go to NYSAPLS website to on the look for suspicious emails.
register to view the event. The committee is also working a possible career
day at Fort Drum in conjunction with the Soldiers to Surveyors campaign. We’ve outlined a few different types of phishing attacks to
watch out for:
Pass the Gavel
(each regional director is invited to give on an update on their regional • Phishing: In this type of attack, hackers impersonate
activities, concerns, etc.) a real company to obtain your login credentials. For
Catskill – Jon Thompson – Catskill remains active. example, they could send an e-mail asking you to verify
Delaware Hudson – Don Stedge – Met in March. Dave Zigler discussed the your account details with a link that takes you to an
work of the NYSAPLS Ethical Practices Committee. DH is planning a group imposter login screen that delivers your information
trip again to Yankee Minor League game on July 30th. directly to the attackers.
Eastern – Brie Strom – Eastern’s Board of Directors has met twice since • Spear Phishing: Spear phishing is a more sophisticated
January. They send newsletters to their general membership. They are phishing attack that includes customized information that
planning an in-person BOD meeting in April. Wondering if NYSAPLS could
offer a Certified Flood Plain Surveyor certification program. Brie and Patti makes the attacker seem like a legitimate source. They
Brooks will meet to discuss. may use a familiar name and refer to NYSAPLS or your
Genesee Valley – Justin Rolison – 22 people attended the NYSAPLS 2nd local Regional in the e-mail to trick you into thinking they
Showing webinar on March 10th. They are doing a newsletter for their have a connection to you, making you more likely to click
members; trying to schedule a happy hour next week; looking for speakers a link or attachment that they provide.
for upcoming meetings. • Whaling: Whaling is a popular ploy aimed at getting you to
NOTE: AMBER ASKED THAT IF YOUR REGIONAL DOES SEND transfer money or send sensitive information to an attacker
NEWSLETTERS, TO PLEASE SEND HER A COPY SO SHE CAN STAY via email by impersonating a real NYSAPLS or Regional
INFORMED OF REGIONAL GOINGS ON. officer or board member. Using a fake domain that appears
Long Island – John Abruzzo – His regional is experiencing the same similar to ours or the regional’s, they look like normal
problems acquiring appropriations maps from DOT that others have emails from people you know and ask you for sensitive
expressed. LI is planning a general membership meeting for the near future. information (including usernames and passwords).
Mid Hudson – Tom Cerchiara – have had 2 good meetings lately (“Brooks
Lounge” meeting in January and a more recent one). Both were well Best Practices to Avoid Phishing Schemes
attended. Tom participated at a City of Poughkeepsie High School STEM Do not click on links or attachments from senders that you do
meeting. Tom mentioned Dutchess Community College microcredentials in
surveying related programs. not recognize.
Nassau Suffolk – Greg de Bruin – 29 attended the NYSAPLS 2nd Showing • Do not provide sensitive personal information (like
Webinar on March 10th. NS is planning a summer social event. usernames and passwords) over email.
Niagara Frontier – Brian Skalman – had a meeting in December. An • Watch for email senders that use suspicious or misleading
Installation of Officers meeting is coming up. domain names.
Northern – Robert Marvin – about 12 attended the NYSAPLS 2nd Showing
Webinar on March 10th. Pizza and beer were enjoyed by all. How to Report a Phishing Scheme
Westchester Putman – Rich Moravec – Their Board of Directors continue
to meet regularly. Rich’s daughter achieved an overall average of 97%! Forward any phishing attempts to the following
two organizations:
Unfinished Business
None 1. The Anti-Phishing Working Group at
New Business reportphishing@apwg.org
None 2. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at
Motion to adjourn by Donald Stedge, seconded by Tom Cerchiara, all in favor, none ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
opposed, motion carried. Note: If you ever receive a phishing text message you should
Meeting adjourned at 4:18 pm. forward it to SPAM (7726).
Respectfully submitted: Scott B. Allen, LS – Secretary
Thanks for helping to keep our members safe
from these cyber threats!

30 EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 58 • NO 3 / 2022 • MAY/JUNE