NSPS What are they doing?

What, in your opinion, should the NSPS be doing? And what would you be willing to get involved in if they took the lead?

Mark Mayer, post: 447493, member: 424 wrote: What, in your opinion, should the NSPS be doing?

1. Developing a program of on-line training.
2. Developing statements of policy regarding new technologies like drone mapping and laser scanning vis a vis licensure.
3. Developing model standard of practice (this is one thing that has been done although nobody knows it)
4. Publishing a journal, and providing content to the many state journals.
5. Sponsoring this website.

ALTA Standards
Federal legislation watch dog

On-line CEU Courses?
Protecting GPS frequencies

I just enjoyed a Surveyors Historical Society event last week that was co-sponsored by NSPS. Curt Sumner gave an address at the Dedication of the "Final Point" for Henry David Thoreau. This years event was to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Birth of Thoreau. Patrick Chura was on hand to give a few talks on Thoreau as a Land Surveyor.
Several other events were on tap, too, such as Ed O'Brien's talk n the history of the State Line dispute between MA and RI. I spoke on the MA Land Court!

I found out that the office of NSPS is staffed with only 4 people. I think that we can imagine the amount of work the day to day operations can take out of 4 people. The NSPS also is the sponsor of the National Trig Star program. I was the MA coordinator and it was an enjoyable experience for me, and I hope that some students learned a few things. At least they won't be asking, "Hey Mister, what'cha taking pictures of?"

Here's a shot of Patrick Chura, Mike Pallamary from
CA, and myself. MIke made a quick visit to the dedication on Thursday!

Don't forget the NSPS News Hour podcast.

One thing the NSPS is working on that many may not be aware of is a bid to host the FIG 2022 Congress in Orlando.

www.fig.net

They have yearly working weeks and every four years a congress. The last time a working week or congress was held in the western hemisphere was in 2002.

Mark Mayer, post: 447496, member: 424 wrote: 1. Developing a program of on-line training.
2. Developing statements of policy regarding new technologies like drone mapping and laser scanning vis a vis licensure.
3. Developing model standard of practice (this is one thing that has been done although nobody knows it)
4. Publishing a journal, and providing content to the many state journals.
5. Sponsoring this website.

Good points. I am NOT AT ALL IMPRESSED BY NSPS. I'd love to see their operating budget and expenditures and summary of what they have done constructive for OUR National Society of Professional Surveyors. Maybe I am dead wrong--probably am. Hope I am. I know they are pretty good at collecting annual dues--- as we sit here and get run over by GIS button pushers practicing surveying without a license.

Hopefully many of you have been to the FIG web page, there are a lot of excellent papers posted there from all of the congresses, working groups, commissions, etc. Part of your NSPS dues go to support FIG. Yes, it is true that if we did not support FIG those papers would still be available, but I believe FIG is a worthwhile resource to be associated with. I have been going to FIG meetings since 2006.

NSPS does lobby congress on matters of importance to surveyors.

I just visited the NSPS website. Look a their stuff on the FUTURE OF SURVEYING for everything they have written for 2017.
It is September, and I see absolutely nothing.

Look at 2016. I know I sound negative, but I surely don't see much. I recommend that one take a look at this.

Also, do a membership search. It search engine seems messed up. I used the name Smith, and found nothing. I also hunted for Curtis W. Sumner and found nothing.

The fees are large.

I saw a NSPS official, who will remain un-named, literally sound asleep with head bobbing at a state convention when the topic of the convention and the speech was about the very topic of The Future of Surveying.

The NSPS has some certifications that seem to me give certificates to people to practice surveying such as hydrograpy without a surveying license.

Looks to me like the head of FIG is exactly the type that is running over the professional land surveying profession in the US without a surveying license.

Their last set of minutes published on the site were in the fall of 2016.

Maybe I am totally off base, and won't object to being set straight if I am.

We could also talk about the Certified Surveyor Training program, and the Hydrographic Surveying Program! The NSPS is not going to be a policing organization as the States al have different laws, and Boards to govern Land Surveyors. I can hardly find it the fault of NSPS that your Board is not pursuing unlicensed practitioners.
NSPS is a non-profit so their finances are available to view. Have you asked the office of NSPS yet? They are actually very approachable,

Foggy, I agree with what you are saying. The point I am trying to make is that our National Society of Professional Surveyors seems to be (or should be) our supporting agency for the profession. I know they won't police violations, but my problem is that I cannot see what they are doing. Our profession needs a national advocate. And if non-profit, that is fine, but the fees that are being paid are being used for something, and I just haven't noticed anything net positive, while at the same time, this profession is getting overrun by GIS, and in fact the cat may be out of the bag. I know what is being done by volunteers and members is well meant, but without good NSPS leadership and a mission that is solid, we have nothing. Again, maybe that is not the case, and I am just missing something.

ONe of the scant minutes indicated they were up to 17,000 members. I think the annual fee is at least $200 and corporate is a lot higher. With just minimal annual dues, that would be $3,400,000. What are we getting from that which is directly in line with the NSPS mission statement on the first page of their website?

Aside from the very long list here (already) they co-administer the CFedS program.

As a previous "governor" to NSPS for 14 years under the old structure, I was often asked the same question: what is NSPS doing for me? Why should I join or support this organization? My answer is: NSPS does what YOU want it to do. Everything it does today is based on requests from members. Everything it will do in the future is based entirely on requests from members. Depending on which state you are licensed in, membership is approximately $40.

ps - for my 14 years, I worked pretty much year around on the many projects that were going on. NSPS meets only twice per year, but the work is continuous. Today, I am a member of the Trig-Star committee, and that takes a LOT of my time, but that is one thing that NSPS does:expose surveying to thousands of high school students per year.

Iƒ??m not against NSPS and I think there is some good stuff that they are working on. I do find a few things funny though.

I just think itƒ??s funny that in NSPS News and Views there is often an advertisement (G-Source Technologies) to outsource your drafting to what seems like an overseas place. I donƒ??t know why, itƒ??s not wrong, but it just feels wrong.

As for the CST and all the other certifications. I like that option for people who are not an LS and I think itƒ??s good to have a standard or take a test to prove it. What I donƒ??t agree with is the annual fee that is attached to the certifications. I pay an annual fee to keep my license but I legally need a license to practice land surveying so Iƒ??m getting something for my fee I guess. I just donƒ??t see what NSPS is offering for the CST annual fee. It feels like a money grab.

CFedS also kinda seems like a money grab. I canƒ??t see the value in that one unless perhaps itƒ??s required for a contract for some reason. It doesnƒ??t allow you to do legally do anything. You still need to be licensed in the state you are surveying in.

Just my two cents. But Iƒ??m all honesty I think NSPS needs to stick around and continue to support the surveying profession however it can.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

CFedS is most definitely not a money grab. Out west it is required for all work done for a government on tribal lands. It deals with a lot more than the PLSS.

John Hamilton, post: 447547, member: 640 wrote: One thing the NSPS is working on that many may not be aware of is a bid to host the FIG 2022 Congress in Orlando.

No. For the love of God, no.

We have so many vibrant, diverse cities with unique local culture, geography, and history where we could host our foreign colleagues. But whenever a location for a conference or convention is being sought Orlando is always on the short list, if only because it's easier for the organizers.

Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlestown, Philadelphia, Boston, et al.. Anywhere but Orlando, the Applebee's of cities. 😉

James: well, I thought DC would be the best place, that is where it was last time. But, you have to get a majority of countries to vote for the US (sort of like a United Nations). As far as I know (when I was at FIG in Finland in June), our competition is South Africa and maybe someone else, I can't remember.

You have to put together a bid package, and appeal to the various countries to select you. The voting can be very close. The justification for Orlando is that it is easily accesible from overseas, and has LOTS of hotels at a reasonable price (that was the negative about DC). Being near to Kennedy Space Center was a plus for me. And many delegates bring their families, so Disney is an attraction.

I agree it is not a "great american city". But the head of the US FIG delegation and NSPS agreed that Orlando was more of a benefit than a negative to our bid. FIG is very Euro-centric and more recently asia-centric. Very little participation from South America. It was also felt that Orlando was easy to get to from South American countries and hopefully they could attract some delegates from there as well