Benson Syndicate? Or just lousy surveyors?
We're lucky in Oregon. Most of the surveys were actually done on the ground. Granted, some were no so great. Not that we haven't had trouble with fraud. Read "Looters of the Public Domain" by SAD Puter. The 2nd part of the book is by another author and takes place in California.
Reproductions come up every once in a while on Ebay. There's some there now.
I have been trying to decide whether it is a good business decision to enroll in the CFeds training program. The cost is $1,200 and time to study, plus the commitment for CEUs in out years which is not cheap either, in addition to possible travel costs. This a large investment for a small company.
I have never seen any figures from BLM or BIA how much contracting funds has actually been allocated to current CFeds out there since the program inception. Has anybody seen these figures? I would like to know, by state, how much contract dollars has CFeds generated for the profession.
How much personal time in hours did it take you to get through the modules?
I have heard that CFeds is a good training program from people that have taken the course, but experience counts more in my book.
Any current CFed like to say how much revenue they have received by having this certification? Any stories about your experience as a CFed contractor? Is it really worth it?
Benson syndicate was only part of the problem. Prior to Benson there were quite a number of shortcuts being taken by some. John Benson saw that others were not running all their lines and is purported that is what sparked his interest in his infamous undertakings.
I just read an ironic account of how John Benson prepared a report for the gov't detailing other's semi-fraudulent work in the year's just prior to his group's dirty work.
CFedS>William
I easily spent over 200 hours on the course.
If I lived in a PLSS state I would have trouble understanding why everyone hasn't gone through this course!
Although I am in a Colonial State I feel like I can market enough that recovering my investment and covering the continuing ed requirements shouldn't be a problem. might take a little while, but I've got some ideas swirling around my noggin...
You can't plant the seeds today and expect fruit tomorrow....
Read the regs regarding CFedS..there are some things that only they can do for the government...
> I have never seen any figures from BLM or BIA how much contracting funds has actually been allocated to current CFeds out there since the program inception. Has anybody seen these figures? I would like to know, by state, how much contract dollars has CFeds generated for the profession.
For me, the total is zero dollars.
Any work I've received has been a result of working directly for the tribes under state authority. As such, they could have just as easily hired the low-baller down the road with no certification. Currently, there is NO requirement that they hire a CFedS, you need to understand that.
It still boils down to convincing your client that you bring more to the table than the low-baller.
-Jeff
Would there be a list of the CFEDS in your area William? Call a few of them to find out if any have reaped a windfall of new work and profits. I only know a couple and none of them have said that they have got any work from the certification. However, all said they felt the course very good and worthwhile. That was about a year ago when I talked to them so this may have changed.
The BLM created the BIL to help the tribes in Oklahoma manage some of the land issues and I felt that these BIL's would help secure work for the CFEDS. Maybe it will just take time but our tribes, if not doing work that involves any private land generally have techs on staff that do all their work internal. It may be different across the country but you rarely see anyone of non indian culture working for any of our tribes.
I like the program based on what everyone that has taken it has said so maybe it will pay off for those somewhere down the road. But in the economic times we now have then I understand that 'somewhere down the road' needs to be a little more immediate on return for investment.
And Congrats Don!
With the extreme budget restraints BLM seems to be in now and for the foreseeable future, I question whether the CFeds program will continue. I heard that Roger Green is retiring in July and Dennis Mouland is already gone as of June 3rd so program continuity may be a problem. I wonder what the long term strategy is for BLM? I have heard that they have severe funding problems in a few states so I can't imagine that they have any funds for contracting.