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[ member news ]

BLSA Holds Picnic in Central P
ark
Welcome New NYSAPLS Members! BLSA Holds Picnic in Central Park
Thank you for joining our amazing team of professional licensees,
technicians, students, thinkers, leaders, professors, volunteers, and all-
around good people! Watch for your new member kit in the mail. In
addition, one of our membership committee members will be contacting
you by phone to welcome you.
Christopher J. Benben, Dobbs Ferry, NY – Associate Member
Matthew Insana, Cranston, RI – Corresponding Member
The Brooklyn Land Surveyors Association held their first-ever Picnic in
Congratulations New Licensees! Central Park on May 10th. Members came together in a potluck style
NYSAPLS would like to congratulate the following individual(s) who gathering to bring together surveyors and friends from across the five
have been granted the title of “Land Surveyor” as an official licensee in boroughs. The gathered at the historic survey bolt set by John Randall,
the state of New York: Jr., the famed surveyor behind Manhattan’s iconic grid system. The group
enjoyed good food, great conversation and beautiful weather.
Lukas M. Graf 51288 West Milford, NJ
All new licensees are granted a complimentary 1-year NYSAPLS Soldiers to Surveyors: NYSAPLS
membership and will be honored at the Awards Ceremony during the Members Attend Fort Drum Career Fair
2026 NYSAPLS Annual Surveyors Conference in Saratoga Springs.
NYSAPLS Members Jason Peterson, Jaqueline Dresser
and Paul Kocher represented the Land Surveying
A Message from NSPS Treasurer and Profession at an important event in May. A Career
New York Director, Patricia P. Brooks: and Education Fair was presented by the Fort Drum
In the May 27th Surveyor Says News and Views, Transition Assistance Program and the Fort Drum
published by NSPS, there is an excellent article on Education Center on May 15th at The Peak in Fort
funding cuts at the National Geodetic Survey (NGS). Drum, NY. Over 95 employers and over 30 education
Surveyors across the Nation and the public at large institutions from across the country were present.
greatly benefit from the work performed at the NGS, the oldest Jason commented, “We had another successful Soldiers to Surveyors
scientific agency in the U.S. The funding cuts are going to affect the event at the Ft. Drum Career Fair. The table saw a lot of traffic from
implementation of the new datums set to be released later this year. inquisitive soldiers and civilians in what a Land Surveyor does. Being
Surveyors rely on the NGS for many issues and the proposed funding former military myself, I recognized that look on their faces as they
cuts will impact our profession. The stalled rollout of the new navigated their way around the conference room; what am I going to
datums will take away opportunities to increase business. I ask all of do when I get out? They know, for whatever reason, they no longer want
you to contact Senators Schumer and Gillibrand along with your to be in the military, but they are quite sure how their skills transfer
Congressperson and request they fully fund the National Geodetic over to a civilian task or profession. With the heavy assist from Jackie
Survey. Feel free to use points outlined in the News and Views article Dresser and Paul Kocher, we effectively conveyed to the highly trainable
(https://multibriefs.com/briefs/NSPS/NSPS052725.php). potential employees that their skills as drone operators, artillery gunners,
infantryman and cartographers can be advanced further into a career as
Contact Chuck Schumer: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact a Land Surveyor.”
Contact Kirsten Gillibrand: https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/ Thank you, Jason, Jackie and Paul for your dedication, time and service
Thank you, to the great profession of Land Surveying!
Patricia P. Brooks, LS
NSPS Treasurer and New York Director This fantastic program is a weekly
Zoom meeting featuring live Q&A’s on
Committee Updates your favorite surveying topics. Every

Did you know ALL of our committees have a webpage with meeting Monday, the forum is hosted by a
minutes and other member resources? We post brief monthly updates rotating series of guest speakers who are among the best in the surveying
for all committees in our HQ news feature. But if you’re looking for business. It serves as a weekly meeting room for anyone wanting to learn
more details, visit our website committee pages and see what they’ve more. Whether you are a freshman in college or a 50-year Professional
been up to! Land Surveyor, we all have questions or we want help with that second
opinion: https://mentoringmondays.xyz/

8 EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 61 • NO 4 / 2025 • JULY/AUGUST