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.