letter from the president
Hello NMASLA members and friends! I hope that 2019 is off to a great start for you. We are excited as we look forward to this year and are hard at work planning several great events for our New Mexico Chapter.
Our first quarterly event of the year will be on March 1st. The event will be held at the State Capitol in Santa Fe where we will all get a chance to advocate for Landscape Architecture in the state of New Mexico. As you may be aware, the New Mexico Landscape Architects Professional Licensing Act (NM Statutes 61-24B) is up for sunset review this year. The NMASLA along with the state board and a lobbyist, that the chapter has retained, have been at work over the past year preparing for this review and advocating on your behalf. The good news is that it appears at this time that the act will be renewed during the 2019 legislative session. We still need to continue to promote the profession to our legislators to ensure the bill passes and that they understand the importance of Landscape Architecture in the state.
We hope that you will be all be able to join us at this 1st event of the year as we advocate together for licensure. Every voice of our membership matters. In the meantime, we encourage you to talk with your state legislator to discuss landscape architecture and its importance to your local community. So, mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information regarding our event at the roundhouse.
We will continue to let you know as we finalize dates and details for our three other quarterly events of the year. Please visit NMASLA.org to find the latest information on each of these events. Our website is also a great place to find the latest news and other great resources including, links to all our great sponsors which make our chapter events possible every year. So, please check them out.
This year we will also continue our collaboration with the ASLA Student Chapter at UNM. Watch for information so that you can participate in portfolio reviews, our Fall Student-Professional Mixer, and our yearly mentorship program.
It’s almost that time again. In 2019 LAs will be receiving notices from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department to renew licenses. This means now would be a good time to make sure that you are up to date on continuing education and to make plans to get those final education hours in. NMASLA will work to make as many credits available as we can for our Q2 education event, and we will keep you informed of any other events that may help you to complete those credit hours.
As always, we are working on increasing our membership. So, if you know osomeone who we should reach out to become a member, please let us know! The benefits of being a member easily pay the cost of membership several times over. If you would like to become more involved with NM chapter of ASLA we are always looking for volunteers to serve on committees and help with events throughout the year. Please contact me if you are interested in serving in some capacity.
If you have questions, ideas for events, or need any support from NMASLA please let us know. We can’t wait to see you all at our 2019 events!
PUBLIC AWARENESS SUMMIT RECAP
NMASLA was one of the 48 participating ASLA chapters at the 2019 Public Awareness Summit in January in New Orleans (#aslapr2019). We had fun brainstorming public awareness strategies for 2019 and beyond. Think landscape architecture advertising Mad Man style! Other discussions centered on building a stronger relationship between national initiatives and chapter awareness efforts, utilizing honors and awards programs for public awareness beyond the profession, and planning for World Landscape Architecture Month (stay tuned for more information).
NMASLA is planning to better utilize social media as an outreach tool and to promote landscape architecture projects in New Mexico regularly throughout the year.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Jitka Dekojova jitkad@dpsdesign.org
"Left Brain/Right Brain: Working Together for Whole Brain Solutions”
"Left Brain and Right Brain Working Together for Whole Brain Solutions” offers strategies for developing solutions to manage the water resources central to all of our lives.
We are all working on water issues, designing and managing water efficient landscapes, creating and defending water policies, filtering stormwater while stemming soil erosion, growing food sustainably, re-vegetating disturbed land, growing networks to educate people locally and regionally.
Together we can work smarter and more cost-effectively to create positive change in the way we manage water in our communities.
Throughout the Summit, the presenters will offer ideas, strategies and examples of all aspects of water infrastructure, including engaging the community as water advocates.
aclp mixer - january 2019
“Another great urban designers professional mixer was held on January 24 at Rio Bravo Brewing Company. NMASLA worked with AIA Albuquerque, Urban ABQ, APA NM and ASCE to organize this event. Councilor Isaac Benton gave a short talk about urban streetscapes, highlighting the importance of urban trees.
If you have an idea for a speaker or location space, please contact jitkad@dpsdesign.org.”
April is World Landscape Architecture Month!
“As every year in April, we are planning to celebrate The World Landscape Architecture Month (#WLAM2019) by showcasing the work of landscape architects in New Mexico (and beyond). NMASLA will be participating in the National ASLA Instagram takeover on April 28. Stay tuned for more information. If you would like to actively participate, contact Jitka Dekojova - jitkad@dpsdesign.org “
2019 Student Portfolio Review
NMASLA will be hosting a portfolio review for UNM landscape architecture students and planning students with a focus in landscape architecture. Professionals will provide constructive criticism for 2-4 students at a time before rotating to a new reviewer. Students should come prepared with an up-to-date printed portfolio and a positive attitude.
The portfolio review will be held on Thursday, February 28th at Bow and Arrow Brewery at 5 PM. If students need rides, they should get in contact with Bonnie Strange at bonnie@groundworkstudionm.com.
NMASLA members create a new resource for beautiful waterwise landscapes called 505Outside.com, brought to you by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority.
After months in development, the Water Authority’s new landscaping website, 505outside.com, launched in November—accompanied by an electronic newsletter. It offers watering and plant selection tips and provides information about the Water Authority’s landscaping rebates. Sign up for our newsletter.--and start prepping for spring!
This project is brought to you by a few of our NMASLA members including Amos Arber, Jill Brown, and Sara Zahm. Other team members include Katherine Yuhas and Carlos Bustos from the Water Authority along with Alexa Verardo, graphic designer and Real Time Solutions, website designer.