kabonski, post: 447599, member: 1518 wrote: I??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 it??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 don??t know why, it??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 it??s good to have a standard or take a test to prove it. What I don??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 I??m getting something for my fee I guess. I just don??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 can??t see the value in that one unless perhaps it??s required for a contract for some reason. It doesn??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 I??m all honesty I think NSPS needs to stick around and continue to support the surveying profession however it can.
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If CFedS were priced according to the value of the course it would be a money maker. At 1200 it's a bargain.
John Putnam, post: 447608, member: 1188 wrote: 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.
Is it legally required by the state or is it just some contract requirement the government throws in there?
Don??t get me wrong, if it??s a contract requirement and you want that job then you have to pay up and get it I guess. Just doesn??t seem like a true license to do anything.
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thebionicman, post: 447620, member: 8136 wrote: If CFedS were priced according to the value of the course it would be a money maker. At 1200 it's a bargain.
True that. It is a veritable gold mine of useful info.
kabonski, post: 447628, member: 1518 wrote: Is it legally required by the state or is it just some contract requirement the government throws in there?
Don??t get me wrong, if it??s a contract requirement and you want that job then you have to pay up and get it I guess. Just doesn??t seem like a true license to do anything.
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Paying up is a very small part of it. What you are getting is a certification in cadastral surveying. I'm sitting for the final next month and I can tell you its tough.
Frank Willis, post: 447580, member: 472 wrote: I think the annual fee is at least $200
I know from my involvement with TAPS that a number of states have worked out arrangements with NSPS so that 100% of the state's members become members of NSPS at a greatly reduced amount per member. In Tennessee, our NSPS dues are $40 this year.
My understanding of the rational for this is that over all their budget would go up slightly, but more importantly when lobbying on our behalf, the more members they represent, the more impact they can have.
John Putnam, post: 447608, member: 1188 wrote: 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, Would you elaborate on CFedS dealing with a lot more than the PLSS? IMHO other than the initial training module, it only deals with the PLSS. If you are talking about the rectangular PLSS when you say PLSS, I agree. The training and continuing education contain a lot of information on non-rectangular surveys in the PLSS.
Gene Kooper, post: 447649, member: 9850 wrote: IMHO other than the initial training module, it only deals with the PLSS
My experience was that the CFedS training only dealt with the PLSS in the same way that learning Latin only prepares you to read Latin.
When the TSPS joined in with NSPS and started collecting the extra $40 for joint membership, there were those that decided to stop paying dues to everyone and not be a member anymore.
They also dropped out on supporting scholarships they created and others that are available in the area.
Without support, these things will cease to exist in time.
Many are of little benefit to me and many others, still they represent all surveyors on a national level, whether they represent everyone's views or not, that is another topic.
Read about the the Demise of ACSM it may tell you something about the future of NSPS.
I thought this was pertinent-
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/nsps.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/NSPS_JGAC_Government_Affairs.pdf
Sounds like they are pretty busy to me. I have spoken to Curt a few times in the past two years, and we works very hard for the profession.
It seems like the lobbying efforts are mostly to create federal government work. I'm not really in favor of pork projects and certainly not benefited by them. Maybe there's more that I am unaware of. Just looking at the newsletters, this is the impression I get.
