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National Society of Professional Surveyors

Director’s Report: Fall 2024

By Patricia P. Brooks, LS, NSPS Director – New York

The Fall 2024 meeting of the National Society of Professional Surveyors led us
to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The meeting was held at the Embassy Suites
October 20th through 23rd, within walking distance of Old Town, but a week too
late for the famous Balloon Festival.
The schedule started with a welcoming reception and directors’ orientation on
Sunday evening; a great opportunity to network and catch up on the last six
months of news from across the nation.
Our first meeting at 7am Monday morning was a gathering of all the
committee chairs. It was noted that the operations manual for committees is
outdated and lacking in detail and direction. A task force was created to
review the creation, operation, and dissolution of committees. A Committee
on Committees so to speak.
Meetings continued throughout the day, with the Regional Council meetings,
Certified Floodplain Surveyors Board, Bylaws & policy review, public relations,
Scouts, Education, ALTA/NSPS Standards, Government affairs, PAC, and Young
Surveyors Network. Tuesday morning meetings were held by Membership,
Military, Workforce development, and Nominations committees. As it is necessary
CST Winner – Award winning State CST Director, Ricky Brooks
to hold multiple meetings at one time, committee reports are presented Tuesday
afternoon at the Board of Directors Report Session. A few highlights:
Great Lakes Council- It was decided that the format of future meetings will be
discussion of 3 or 4 topics of major concern as determined by the State submitted
reports instead of just reading our State reports. The first topic affects PLSS States
and the NCEES module that is being created for testing in the applicable States.
The general consensus is that each State should be responsible for including
PLSS topics in their State specific exams. It was noted that each State has a
“Member Board” member as well as an administrator at NCEES and each State
should become familiar with who those individuals are. Another topic was
licensure de-coupling; it was just passed in South Dakota and allows a candidate
to take the land surveying exam without attaining the required experience first.
The license is later issued after the experience is gained, and the pros and cons
were discussed with varying opinions. The final topic involved right of entry.
There are still many States that do not have such laws, and in Iowa, some Counties
are instituting regulations that require a permit in addition to the statute
requirements. The permit requirements include payment of fees and extensive
insurance coverage extended to each adjoining landowner.

Government Affairs- A comprehensive update of legislative activity can be
found on the NSPS website under Advocacy, Government Affairs, GAC Reports.
Alaskan Tripods – Photo exhibition at American Indians Arts Museum
Among the highlights: NSPS is preparing a one page information sheet to provide
to our state legislators explaining why the National Spatial Reference System
(NSRS) datum modernization legislation is needed. NSPS is encouraging State
societies to team up with Congressional Delegations when they host policy-
oriented events in their respective States and Congressional districts.
Opportunities to discuss federal issues at local venues, as well as a free daily
newsletter, may be found on the website “Punch Bowl News”. The three topics
selected for our Lobby Day to be held on March 18, 2025 are 1. Workforce

14 EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 61 • NO 1 / 2025 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY