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complete any outstanding items. The by-laws committee, which I chair,
had been meeting for the past six months and we were all pleased that our
presented slate of changes were approved by the Board without issue. In the
morning I attended By-laws, Government Affairs, and the PAC committee
meetings. After the Awards Luncheon, I attended the Certified Floodplain
Surveyors meeting and a few “sidebar” meetings to prepare for the Directors
meetings. The late great Malcolm Shaw taught me the importance of being
prepared and knowledgeable on all topics to be discussed. Wednesday
evening, we had the Fellow reception with Stephen Powers as our guest
speaker. Stephen entertained and enlightened an audience of over 30
attendees with a presentation on the Forty Boundary Stones, set under the
direction of George Washington, that marked the original boundaries of the
Found it! Monument from the scavenger hunt held in ten mile square limits of Washington D.C., one placed at each mile. A field
conjunction with the Student Competition. trip to view the existing original and some replacement monuments was
offered by Stephen and we plan to return to Washington to take him up on
the offer. After the presentation, everyone gathered and enjoyed pizza and
corn hole into the night.
Thursday brought us additional morning committee meetings with the
report session of the Board of Directors starting after lunch. Minutes were
approved, guests were introduced, committee appointments were made,
and motions were approved so they could be ratified at the membership
meeting held directly after the report session. A new tradition was
introduced with a formal installation dinner for our incoming officers
Thursday evening and it was very well received. This was another event
where sponsorships helped defray the costs. As there is no registration
fee to attend the week long meeting, all expenses are the responsibility of
NSPS and/or the individual Directors.

Our Board of Directors meeting reconvened Friday morning with the
business session. The meeting was presided over by President Davey
Edwards of Texas, with support of President-Elect Linda Foster of South
Dakota, Vice-President Tim Murphy of Illinois, Treasurer Bob Miller now
of Florida, and Past-President Bob Akins of Ohio. It is such a benefit
to have representation from a wide geographic footprint to embody
the Society. A healthy discussion on our motion from the Fall meeting
regarding support of submitting a document to NCEES with proposed
Washington Monument
Model Law changes concluded with the overwhelming decision to
offices are great resources and eager to listen and reject the language as outlined in October but with the commitment to
learn about our interests. We can’t make a difference engage in further discussions on any revisions that may be contemplated
if we do not participate. to the Model Law. I was very proud to be the recipient of my Ten Year

With the Student Competition and Day on the Hill service award along with Tony Gregory from Indiana and Matt Morris of
behind us, the work of the NSPS Directors turned Montana. We briefly discussed our Fall 2024 meeting that will be held in
to committee meetings on Wednesday. The morning Albuquerque, New Mexico October 21st through 23rd.
began with a Directors Orientation. Rick and I Our business concluded at around 1pm, and after saying our farewells, we
always attend as a way to meet the new incoming made it home by dinner. I truly appreciate the opportunity to represent the
Directors and welcome them to the meeting. Due to New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors at the NSPS
time constraints, several committee meetings are held meetings, and I encourage any of you to reach out with any questions or
concurrently or have overlapping time slots. With comments. If there are any topics you would like me to expand on in a
remote meetings being held by the committees on a future ESS, please let me know!
regular basis, this does not pose any difficulties because
the majority of the work has already been completed Respectfully submitted, Patti Brooks
and the meeting is to put final touches on reports or
EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 60 • NO 4 2024 • JULY/AUGUST 15