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[ message from
headquarters ]

I hope you all had a great summer! Over • The Finance Committee met to discuss a dues structure
the summer months, your headquarters for the newly proposed “Retired” member category.
staff, committees and board of directors They suggested a fee of $100 at the July Board Meeting,
kept busy with several ongoing projects: which was accepted by the board. In addition, they highly

• The Annual Conference Committee encourage each regional to consider discounting their fees
is working plans for the NYSAPLS for this new member type as well.
63rd Annual Surveyors Conference • The Land Surveyors Political Action Committee has
and Exhibition. As of now, we are still brought in over $500 in donations with the recent dues
planning for an in-person conference. However, with the invoice mailing. They also attended a fundraiser for
news of the “Delta” variant causing increases in infections Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul in July, who became
across the state, we are also working on a contingency plan the first woman Governor of New York State shortly after.
“just in case”. More conference details will be announced
later this fall. • The Legislative Committee met in early July. Chairman
Jason Graf along with Patti Brooks, Gregory J. de Bruin
• The Bylaws Committee presented a new “Retired” member and Amber Carpenter, met with the NYS Board of
category to the membership as a potential new category. Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology (NYSBELSG)
It was officially passed at the special membership meeting in June to discuss the definition of land surveying. In
held on July 16th with a total of 126 votes (119 for, 5 addition, committee member Gerry Emborski is drafting
against, 2 abstained). You can view the revised bylaws on language for the 2022 Datum, which now scheduled to be
our website by visiting www.nysapls.org/bylaws. released in 2024 (or later).

• The Education Committee spent the majority of the • The Membership Committee met to discuss the logistics
summer planning the upcoming conference courses. In of the application process for the new “Retired” member
addition, they are excited to announce our Fall Workshop category. In addition, they are researching other state
Series to be held in-person with Mike Hyman of Carlson associations to consider additional benefits that may assist
Software, see page 24 for details. The NYS-Specific Exam our membership. They regularly review membership reports
Review Workshop will also be held in-person this October, monthly and personally call new members to welcome
see page 22 for details. Although our next workshops will be them to our organization.
held in-person, the committee has also been discussing the
benefits of holding events virtually vs. in-person. Watch for • The Nominations & Awards Committee met in July to
a poll to be sent out to the membership in the near future. discuss the candidates interested in serving on the 2022
Executive Board. They are formulating their slate of
• The Ethical Practices Committee has reviewed 9 cases this officers which will be presented at the upcoming Board
year (to date) and report to the NYSAPLS Board of Directors of Directors Meeting on September 25th. Per our bylaws,
regularly. They are currently working on a professional after the Sept. board meeting, members have an additional
ethics panel discussion to be held at the annual conference 7 days to make an additional nomination by petition,
focusing on best practices and how to avoid a complaint. signed by 20 members. Following the 7 day cut-off, and at
least 21 days prior to the November board meeting, letter

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EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 57 • NO 5/ 2021 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 5