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Ethics Committee: The committee met on June 5th. They reviewed LS PAC Committee: The committee continues to stay current on
two new complaints received since their last meeting. They also reviewed their regular filings with the NYS Board of Elections. Regular reports
a section of the real property law involving the acceptance of maps and are shared with the board of directors bi-monthly. You can also find the
discussed reaching out to the county clerks in NY to address some of committee’s publicly filed reports on the NYS Board of Elections
their concerns. The committee received confirmation from the NYS website here. In the search by committee filter, type “NYSAPLS Land
Office of Discipline regarding a complaint they filed. An investigation has Surveyors Political Action Committee”.
been opened. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for July 10th.
Nominations and Awards: The committee is looking for
Finance Committee: The committee’s draft of the 2025-2026 candidates interested in serving on the Executive Board. Officer
association operating budget was accepted by the Board of Directors on position descriptions can be found here. If you or someone you know
May 30th. The draft included a small increase of dues (approximately is interested, please contact our Nominations and Awards Committee
2.5%); increased expenses to help cover the cost of sending a Chair, Kaleb Winters.
representative of the Young Professionals Committee to the NSPS fall and
spring meetings; outlined income/expenses for the annual conference Public Relations: The PR Committee met on April 24th and May
in Saratoga, spring workshops, webinars, magazine, strategic planning 22nd. With the help of our PR Firm, the Martin Group, the PR Committee
and more. Thank you to our directors for sharing the draft with your has secured two on-air segments regarding Land Surveying. In April,
regional members and for providing your input for a smooth adoption. Spectrum 1 news story aired a clip with Jeremy and the Ranger School
Students and the need for more land surveyors. And last week, Tamara
Government Relations Committee: The committee met on May
15th. They discussed the Indemnification Bill (S.04591/A.07379), and Starr met with Colliers Engineering for a segment “Tamara Tries”,
agreed to move forward with a memo in support. They also discussed the where Tamara learns to be a Land Surveyor for the day. Once the clip
Not-for-Profit Corp Bill (S.05392/A.0483) which involves out-of-state airs, we will be sure to share it on social media. The PR Committee has
nonprofits providing engineering services in New York State, specifically also been discussing deed theft issues and how NYSAPLS and Land
for wetlands rehabilitation. The committee opposes this bill. They also Surveyors can support or prevent this from happening. The committee
reviewed their plans for the draft of the 2022 datum legislation. The has also begun prepping for their summer “benchmark hunt”
committee will present the datum draft to the Board of Directors at the campaign – which will also highlight some historic benchmarks in
May 30th meeting to seek approval, with the goal of having it ready to seek New York. If you have any suggestions, please send them to Heather at
legislative sponsors over the summer and fall. Committee representatives, heather@nysapls.org. The PR Committee has also revised their poster
Roy Garfinkel and Jim Thew attended the NYS Association of County Clerks for their campaign on reaching out to Town & City planners and should
Summer Conference held May 18 - 20, 2025 in Lake George, NY. They also have a final version ready for mailing by this summer.
met with the Strategic Planning Committee on June 3rd to review their Strategic Planning Committee: The committee met on June 3rd.
strategic task progress. Their next meeting is TBD. They held a check-in with the Government Relations Committee to
Membership Committee: The committee met on April 28th and review the status of their tasks. The Government Relations committee
again on June 9th. The committee welcomed Steve Willard to the highlighted the positive impact of their collaboration with DOT. They
committee. The committee reviewed the in-state at large membership also proposed targeting other state agencies to improve access to
list and modified the student membership type to allow students to resources and educate members. The Board of Directors accepted the
select a regional. The committee will reach out to Queens and City to see proposal to hold the next strategic retreat at Fort William Henry in Lake
how NYSAPLS members in those regions can join those regionals. The George, NY on April 30 – May 2nd. Members can view more about our
committee also discussed inactive regionals, and how they can assist in current strategic plan (2023-2025) and review each committees’
reorganizing them to become more active or re-districting to better task progress at https://www.nysapls.org/page/Strategic2023. The
improve member activity. Dues invoices for the 2025-2026 membership committee’s next meeting is scheduled for July 22nd.
year have been created and are now available online. Paper invoices will
be mailed July 1st. Workforce Development Committee: The committee met on
May 14th. They welcomed new committee members Mary Johnson and
Minimum Technical Standards (MTS) Committee: The committee DJ McCutcheon. They reviewed the updated website and suggested
met on April 24th. Roy announced Neal Klettke as a new member of the further changes. Visit our NEW Workforce Development website here:
committee. The committee noted the NYS Board of Engineering Land https://www.nysapls.org/page/workforcedevelopment. The committee
Surveying and Geology’s survey committee is actively reviewing the draft
standards alongside the review of their own guidelines. The committee discussed the challenges of finding volunteers, including the time
discussed potentially holding a meeting with the NYS Office of Professional commitment and the requirements to become a merit badge counselor.
Discipline (OPD) together with the Ethical Practices Committee (EPC) in In addition, they working on putting together a wage survey for New
an effort to understand how OPD operates, including their staffing and York surveyors. The survey aims to gather comprehensive wage data
process for handling complaints. Their next meeting is TBD. for the profession. Their next meeting is scheduled for June 18th.

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