You Can Make a Difference- Support NC A&T

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) is a public, historically black (HBCU) research university in Greensboro, North Carolina serving over 12,500 high-performing students and is one of only two HBUCs with a degree program in landscape architecture.

NC A&T has produced more African American landscape architects than any other accredited degree program in the nation and the world and has been instrumental in advancing diversity within the profession.

NC A&T needs your help to sustain their landscape architecture program and has an immediate need of $40,000 to purchase laptops for students. Donate now to help students continue their education during this time of distanced learning.

Earlier this year, NC A&T launched an emergency fund to help the general student body purchase basic necessities. The University’s hardships were then further compounded by COVID-19 and the pivot to distanced learning formats.

These unforeseen circumstances have drastically hit the Department of Landscape Architecture and are threatening the participation of its students. The Department is in desperate need of laptops for its students. Rather than being able to complete assignments in the studio, students must now have personal computers that can support the required software programs to complete their degree.

Donate now to help a student purchase a laptop that will help them graduate as a landscape architect.

NCASLA’s mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship. We are committed to fostering equity and inclusion within our profession, membership, and leadership.

Providing support to NC A&T is one of the single most important and tangible steps NCASLA can take to grow the profession, increase diversity, and strengthen the pipeline of representation of Black landscape architects.

NC A&T has an immediate need for $40,000 to purchase laptops. How much support can you give? Donate now.

Call for Action From VA ASLA Gov't Affairs Committee - BPOR Study of the Regulatory Status of Landscape Architects

We understand that there are NCASLA members who are also licensed in the state of Virginia. We want to pass along this information from our colleagues at the Virginia and Potomac Chapters.

CALL FOR ACTION!

BPOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OPEN 9/1 - 9/30

BPOR is currently undertaking a study to determine if landscape architects should continue to be licensed. The study will be completed in December 2020. BPOR is inviting public comments regarding the regulatory status of landscape architects.

Please see the BPOR Notice for Public Comments on the need to regulate select professions/occupations including landscape architects.

Public Comment is open through 9/30/20. 

ASLA Virginia and ASLA Potomac are calling on Virginia and Potomac chapter members as well as non-ASLA landscape architects to:

1. Contact your clients, architects and engineers that you work with, developers, government officials, and others who value the work of licensed landscape architects and ask them to submit their comments including stating support for continued licensure of landscape architects. Include this link: Notice for Public Comments to access the General Notice. The General Notice includes a link “Comment Forum” that provides access to the Public Comment portal; and

2. Please enter your personal statement of support for continued licensure of landscape architects via the Public Comment Portal.

Click Here for more information regarding the Impacts of Deregulation of Landscape Architects in Virginia.

Click Here for public hearing talking points to use in your public comments as well as share with your colleagues, clients, architects, engineers, and others who you are requesting to make a public comment.

https://www.vaasla.org/

Remembering Jerry Turner

Remembering Jerry Turner (1935-2020)

It is with a heavy heart to announce the passing of Jerry Mitchell Turner at the age of 84.  Jerry passed away at his home in Highland Beach, Florida, on July 21, 2020.  Jerry was brought back to North Carolina, his home, for burial by his family. 

Jerry was born on December 20, 1935 in Winston Salem, NC, the son of Vardy Mitchell and Mattie Irvin Turner.  He grew up in Fayetteville, NC where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Vann MacLaughlin in 1954.  Jerry enrolled at North Carolina State University graduating in 1959, one of a graduating class of three, with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Upon graduating he and Mary made Raleigh their home.  In 1969 Jerry founded Jerry Turner and Associates, Landscape Architects and Land Planners, otherwise known as JTA,  Over the next 51 years as President of JTA he oversaw the planning and design of hundreds of development projects ranging in size from several hundred acres for a master plan community, to small intricate designs of a residential client’s backyard. Jerry was a licensed professional in several states throughout southeastern United States but focused most of his career in the Raleigh and Cary area. He was a Planning Consultant to the Town of Cary prior to Town’s creation of a Planning Department. In 1975 he served as president of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He was on the Board of Directors of NC Design Foundation (1987-1988), The Home Builders Association of Raleigh and Wake County (1987-1988) and the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (1985-1986). He was also a founding member of the City of Raleigh Greenway Commission.  In 1997 he was honored as a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects that he proudly accepted at its annual convention held in Atlanta, GA.

Jerry had many other interests as well. He was active in the Raleigh Lions Club and an avid Jaguar enthusiast owning at least 20 different Jaguars throughout the years.  His model Jaguar car collection surpassed all others. He could slalom water ski and snow ski with the best of them. For a while he had a pilot’s license and flew his own plan.

Jerry’s legacy lives on in not only the projects he was involved in, but in the people that associated with him.  His ability to express and challenge designers to develop good design solutions, to think outside the box, to follow environmentally sustainable design practices even before it was acceptable, to test planning ordinances and zoning guidelines to create communities that value the principles of health, safety and welfare of their residence.  These standard principals were just a part of professional experiences he fostered.  He was a humble man, very accessible to everyone.  He led a very family-oriented firm where every employee was part of that family.  In good years Jerry would take the entire office and their spouses on an excursion to warmer weather in the Caribbean or on a trip to the ASLA National Convention. It was fun and exciting to work for him and with him. He will always be my Mentor.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary M. Turner, three children, Debora Turner Oster ASLA and husband Clint of Boca Raton, FL, Gregory Mitchell Turner and wife Dawn of Mt. Ulla, NC and Karen Turner Roberson and husband Keith of Cary, NC. He has four grandchildren, Carey Mitchell Oster and wife Coral, Christopher Lewis Oster, Dylan Mitchell Turner, Kasey Van Norris Turner and two great grandchildren, Pearl Vanda Oster and Clint Finn Oster.

NCASLA Election Results Announced

The North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (NCASLA) is pleased to announce the results of the recent election.

Elected to the one-year term of President Elect is Hollie Colony, ASLA.  Brian Starkey, ASLA, was elected to a three-year term as Trustee.  The Treasurer position, a two-year term, will be held by Crystal Ross, ASLA.   Associate Member at Large will be occupied by Saeideh Teymouri, Associate ASLA. Member at Large- Communications is to be filled by Emily Rothrock, ASLA, while Dan Lambert, ASLA, will round out the Member at Large- Awards position. Two section chairs were also elected: Charlotte- Darneka Waters, ASLA, and Triangle- Bentley Ruggles, ASLA. 

“We're thrilled to welcome these new members to the NCASLA Executive Committee! These individuals have already proven their dedication to landscape architecture throughout their professional careers. I'm looking forward to the expertise they're bringing to the Executive Committee, and I'm excited about the ways they'll advance the mission of NCASLA," said Kevin Barnes, 2019-20 NCASLA President.

Incoming members of the Executive Committee shall assume office in October 2020.

ASLA Elevates Two NCASLA Members to Council of Fellows

Please join us in congratulating NCASLA Members Kofi Boone and Matthew Langston, for receiving the honor of being elevated to Council of Fellows!

Kofi Boone, ASLA

North Carolina State University

Kofi Boone, ASLA
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Nomination in Knowledge by the North Carolina Chapter

Kofi Boone has made significant contributions toward the collective knowledge and understanding of community-engaged design and social equity through his leadership in both academia and practice for over two decades. From popularizing the correlation between race and attitude as a landscape analysis factor to pioneering the use of mobile technology to document landscapes, he has laid a foundation for the pursuit of environmental justice and social equity through design. Kofi’s scholarship on cross-cultural engagement methods has expanded the toolkit available for landscape architects working in communities different from their own, and he has become a leading voice challenging the historical legacy of colonization and championing the contributions African Americans have made in shaping and maintaining the American landscape. Kofi has a sustained record of award-winning and nationally recognized scholarship in equitable community-based design strategies, focusing his work on ecological and human-made disasters, ranging from rebuilding flood-damaged landscapes to supporting communities that have been marginalized by structural inequality, urban renewal, and displacement. Through collaborative engagements with communities recovering from hurricanes and flood damage, Kofi applies equitable community design practices to resilient design strategies. Kofi’s commitment to education earned him the 2019 Most Admired Educator in Landscape Architecture by Design Intelligence.

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Matthew D. Langston, ASLA

Landworks Design Group

Matthew D. Langston, ASLA
Landworks Design Group, Charlotte, NC

Nomination in Service by the North Carolina Chapter

Matt Langston has led the profession at every level, effectively developing and defending policies to enhance the status of landscape architects statewide and nationally. His leadership on North Carolina’s Landscape Architecture Practice Act was critical to its success and he became a sought-after adviser for other states’ licensure efforts. Matt served as member-at-large for legislative affairs in the state chapter for many years. He founded and was treasurer of the North Carolina Landscape Architects Political Action Committee for sixteen years. At the national level, during his time as an ASLA trustee, Matt served on and chaired the Government Affairs Advisory Committee. His leadership extends to his work in building bridges with allied professional organizations, such as the North Carolina Bar and Design Professionals Liaison Committee, the North Carolina Recovery Coalition, and the Wildlife Friendly Development Program. His valuable insights and practical solutions to the urban forestry staff were instrumental in updating the City of Charlotte Tree Ordinance. In addition to his extensive work at a policy leadership level, Matt cofounded and serves as president of Landworks Design Group, a multidisciplinary design firm, where he manages operations and mentors young landscape architects.

LEARN ABOUT ALL 19 NEW MEMBERS OF THE ASLA COUNCIL OF FELLOWS

Register for the First NCASLA Legilative Affairs Lunchtime Chat

Join NCASLA Trustee Brian Starkey and NCASLA government relations attorney Whitney Campbell Christensen as they discuss the history of landscape architect licensure in our state and why it is critical that we stay engaged with our Legislature to protect it. They will provide an overview of NCASLA’s important work at the Capitol and tips that all members can use to stay engaged in the legislative process.

If you have questions, you can submit them in advance or ask them during the webinar. 

We look forward to seeing you at our first quarterly Legislative Affairs Lunch Time Chat!

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS LUNCHTIME CHAT
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
12 - 1 pm ET

Registration is open now through 10am on the day of the event, July 28, 2020.

This virtual event will be through Zoom, and a calendar item will be sent after registration information is confirmed.  Use THIS FORM to register.

ASLA and CELA Oppose Trump Administration Nonimmigrant Student Exemption Modifications

 The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) strongly oppose the United States Department of Homeland Security’s modification of temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online courses during the fall 2020 semester.

Please read the full press release here